Cornerstone Covenant Presbyterian Church | August 2013
About Corners Cornerstone Contributors Interim Senior Pastor Paul Parsons
Cornerstone is the bimonthly publication of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Cornerstone provides in-depth articles on the events that take place on and off campus and the people who make them happen.
Clerk of Session Melanie Williamson Business Administrator Duane Dube Editor Stephanie Schultz Design and Layout
Content includes the Pastor’s letter, Session news, member and staff spotlights, and a calendar of upcoming events. Find more information on the events online and in Covenant Matters. Download the paper version of Cornerstone online at covenant.org/publications. We will update the Cornerstone blog as we receive content at blog.covenant.org.
Aaron Arnold
We need you! Contributing Writers Joy Durrant, Susan Holman, Jeff Horn, Jack Kern, Kristin Schell, Chesney Szaniszlo Photography Aaron Arnold, Stephanie Schultz Special Thanks to Kay Austin, Paul Mowry, Brian Sparks, Jan Vanderpool
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To make Cornerstone better, we need your help! The content will be more interesting and more fun with more writers. If you have something you want to write about or want us to write, let us know. While we can’t promise that every submitted article will appear in the printed version of Cornerstone, we will publish all appropriate stories on the blog. We also need photos of events. If you have suggestions for Cornerstone, email us at publications@covenant.org or stop by the office in Covenant Hall.
stone 2 Dear Friends
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What it means to live in our “glory” 3
Covenant’s First Face
An effort to eliminate violence against women 12 Lamplighters Study
Meet Melissa, Covenant’s newest addition 4
A Strong Foundation
Join us as we dive into the Corinthian letters 13
Covenant Preschool and Child’s Day Out Program 5
A Family Affair
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Party on the Patio
Join Covenant for this special event
16 Finance Report
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For the period ended May 31, 2013 17
Chesney’s decision to leave ordained ministry
Clerk’s Corner
Welcome our new clerk, Melanie Williamson
Congratulations Andrew Chapman and Russ Mowry 9 Thursday’s Child
A Vision for Covenant
A note from the Stewardship Committee 15
7 Ministry Milestones
Circle Bible Study
Learn about God in Exodus and Deuteronomy
Christy Milam shares her Covenant journey 6
Joy at the UN
Calendar of Events
See what’s coming up this fall
Volunteer Extraordinaire
A Q&A with Covenant volunteer Paul Mowry
Table of Contents 1
Dear Friends Many of you have heard me tell the following story before. I share it with you again because, as I prepare to leave Covenant, it’s my belief that it tells Covenant’s story so well, both past and future. High in the mountains of North Wales near a town called Llanymawdwy lives a shepherd named John Jones with his wife, Mari, and his black and white dog, Mack. One misty summer morning, Elisabeth Elliot stood watching through the living room window as John, on horseback, herded the sheep with Mack. A few cows stood quietly chewing their cuds in the corner as about 100 sheep moved across the dewy meadow toward the dipping pens. Mack, a champion Scottish border collie, was in his glory. He came from a long line of working dogs; he had sheep in his blood. This was what he was made for. This is why God put him on earth. It was a marvelous thing to watch him circling to the right, circling to the left, barking, crouching, racing, herding, nipping, his eyes constantly on the sheep, his ears listening for the commands from the whistle in John’s mouth. Sometimes, Mack would come to a halt, tense and quivering, eyes glued to the sheep 2
but obedient to the command to stop. The shepherd could see what the dog could not. “Do the sheep have any idea what is happening?” Elisabeth asked Mari. “Not a clue,” she answered. “And how about Mack?” Elisabeth says she will never forget Mari’s answer. “The dog doesn’t understand the pattern, only obedience.” There was something going on in that Welsh pasture that morning well beyond conditioned reflex or blind obedience. Elisabeth
was watching two beings who, in every sense of the word, were “in their glory.” A shepherd who had given his life for sheep, who loved them and called them by name, protected them and guided them. A man who loved his dog; a dog who adored his shepherd, whose trust in that man was absolute, whose obedience to him was immediate and unconditional, and whose will was surrendered to the shepherd’s will. (Taken and adapted from Declare His Glory, edited by David M. Howard, InterVarsity Press, 1977, pp. 129140, “The Glory of God’s Will,” an address given by Elisabeth Elliot Leitch at the 1976 Urbana Missionary Conference)
Servanthood and surrender. That’s how Covenant began, by serving the neighborhood in which you were placed. You found needs and filled them. You saw ways to help, and you put your hand to the job and made the community better, the city better and the world better. As the years went by, you listened to your Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, and you did what He showed you and said “no” to things He did not want. In all of
this, you lived into your “glory,” that very reflection of God’s heart that He made you to be. This was what you came to be known for, for mission, for serving others; it’s part of your core identity. The deep down impulse for your service was, and is, a love affair with the living God through Christ.
That’s your future, Covenant. I couldn’t be more proud of you. I couldn’t be more hopeful for you. Even though I will be in another pasture, I will continue to try to be the best border collie I can be, and I hope you will follow me in doing the same here in Austin. With respect, affection, care and a heart that will never stop loving you,
Covenant’s First Face When entering Covenant Hall, visitors are greeted by a friendly face. Melissa Martin is the church’s new receptionist and scheduling coordinator. A stay-at-home mom for the past three years, Melissa feels that God put Covenant in her path. “I couldn’t be happier,” she said. “I love working with the public and love helping others.” Melissa has worked in property management as a human resources administer and account assistant, and was involved in onsite management for 11 years. She grew up in Lake Jackson, Texas, and moved to Austin in the early ’90s. Though she left Austin to move back to the coast, she quickly returned. Melissa’s husband, Randy, owns a local surfboard business in Austin. Together, they have one daughter, 10-year-old Zoe, the light of her life. 3
A Strong Foundation Covenant Preschool and Child’s Day Out provides a foundation for kids and their families to grow on. Since 1971, the preschool has given hundreds of children the opportunity to learn from uniquely qualified teachers in a friendly, respectful Christian setting where kids learn by playing, experiencing and discovering. According to Covenant Preschool Director Christy Milam, the cooperative nature of the Covenant program, in which parents are helpers in classrooms every day, sets the preschool apart. “The school has a sense of community. We are able to truly connect families in similar life paths. Parents see and participate in what we do every single day,” Christy said. Twenty-year Covenant teacher Lynda MacQueen said that being a co-op makes it more fun. “I really like to meet and get to know the parents.” Parents assist teachers as they instruct kids using a play-based teaching philosophy. “From birth to age five is the best time to make a positive and profound impact on children,” Christy said. “In recent years, there’s been some pressure to become a more 4
academic program. Yet both experience and research continue to show that playing is the best way for children to learn.” “Kids learn through play, and through experiences,” Lynda agreed. “We offer our students things to do and discover. They can get dirty and wet and play outside every day. Ask kids years later, and the things they remember are the field trips and the water days.”
at home. We don’t feel it’s necessary to introduce computers in our school at this young age,” Christy said. “We have our students for four hours a day; we use this time to give children tactile experiences and opportunities to develop socially and emotionally. They need consistency to gain independence and learn how to simply ‘be’ in society. ‘How do I share?’ ‘How do I play with others?’ The idea that kids will learn these things is taken for granted.”
As technology continues to advance, many preschool programs are incorporating iPads and computers as main elements in the preschool day. “As high-tech and snazzy as these tools may be, they can be accessed by children
Lynda is not the only experienced Covenant teacher. Jean Pravednikov and Linda Lisby both have more than 10 years of Covenant experience. Another four teachers on staff have been teaching at Covenant for at least
five years. These teachers partner with families to help them raise their children. “Relationships developed through the co-op nature of our program enable families to feel that they can approach us with parenting issues,” Christy said. “Many of our parents seek tips for potty training and how to handle sibling relationships with new babies. Our teachers provide this amazing role of advice givers and confidantes. That’s really the greatest gift that we share.”
No Advertising Needed To be part of this experience, most families are willing to wait. “Covenant Preschool and Child’s Day Out has always had a waiting
list,” Christy said. “Two things, word-of-mouth and reputation, have carried this school for as long as I’ve been a part of it. Our location helps too.” Christy has been at the helm since 2008 and has been part of Covenant’s Children’s Ministry since 2002. Christy added, “Our staff educational requirements are higher than those of many half-day programs. That word carries very quickly. Many families from other churches come here.” Additionally, Covenant Preschool is challenged to pass rigorous state tests. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) recently established the Texas Rising Star (TRS) program for childcare providers. TRS visits the school twice
a year and has given the school four stars (the highest level possible) for the past two years. In addition, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services licenses the school during an annual visit. Reflecting on her years at Covenant, Lynda said of the kids, “The way children haven’t changed is that they are still really excited about whatever you bring them. They bring enthusiasm and a freshness to class every day. “I love the children. This preschool has a very Christian environment. I feel like Covenant is an outreach church. It does a lot of good in the community through the preschool.”
A Family Affair Preschool director since 2008, Christy Milam has been a Covenant employee since 2002. When her eldest child, Ben, was approaching one year old, she applied to be a Covenant caregiver. Though she had to cancel her first interview for a family emergency, her second interview proved fruitful. After a year as a caregiver, Christy became Covenant’s childcare coordinator. Ben was often at the church with Christy, and soon he entered the preschool. “Suddenly, Covenant is everything!” Christy said. “The church became our home from a 5
need for a part-time job. I started working, the kids started school, Whitney started coming to worship with me. This is where our family has its foundation. James Lee baptized both my boys in Eaton Hall.” Prior to her jobs at Covenant, Christy worked in hospitality, marketing and communications and was about halfway through post-graduate classes needed for teaching certification when she took a hiatus to direct local theater. After six years and a Frontera Fest Best-of-Show for directing, Christy left to raise her family. Ben is now a sixth grader and little brother Max is a fourth grader. She and her husband, Whitney, enjoy running, camping and watching their boys play soccer. After the first year as preschool director, which included a move into the Fellowship and Education Building, Christy’s job has gotten easier. She said that while there is always something to figure out relative to new families and changes brought about by society, key systems are in place. Christy’s
favorite part of her job is sharing in weekly Chapel with the children. “I always think that for some of these kids, this may be the only time they set foot in a sanctuary. I want them to feel comfortable, and feel the peace and love that lies within those walls.” Gayla Stuart, Covenant’s director of children’s ministries, said, “Christy is so effective in her job because she is a great communicator and an empathetic listener, and she is a mom herself. She has firsthand knowledge of what parents experience as they raise their kids.” “It’s fun being on a school calendar,” Christy reflected. “You get a real feel for milestones, and understand and appreciate the significance of those milestones in families’ lives.” Families, in turn, appreciate all that the preschool has to offer, partnering with teachers and staff and providing a strong foundation, with God at the center, to grow on.
Party on the Patio It’s hard to believe with temperatures in triple digits every day that fall is just around the corner. And though Covenant members won’t be needing sweaters any time soon (unless the air conditioning is turned up), those interested in fall classes, groups and events will get a preview of what’s ahead on Sunday, Sept. 8, at Covenant’s annual Party on the Patio. The party will take place between morning services, from 6
9 to 9:30 and again from 10:30 to 11. Covenant encourages all to attend worship or check out a Sunday school class at 9:30. According to Interim Associate Pastor Munn Hinds, the focus of the event will be on fellowship. “Members and visitors can expect to reconnect with old
friends, meet some new people and pick up information about Covenant’s fall offering. A comprehensive list of all Covenant classes and groups will be available,” he said. Covenant will continue to offer its wide array of fall classes. Information about these classes,
as well as news about additional new classes, will be available at the Party on the Patio, in Covenant Matters and online at covenant.org. For questions about the Party on the Patio or for more general information about fall classes, contact Maureen Crawley at mcrawley@covenant.org.
New fall classes (as of press time) include: Human Trafficking Awareness Seminar: Covenant will host a two-week information session the first two Wednesdays of “our” fall. Laurie Cook-Heffron, from the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault at the University of Texas, will present on Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m. in FE 200. Our pastors will lead the Sept. 11 meeting. This session will be run in worship service format. The Lord’s Prayer: The Covenant pastors will teach a Wednesday night class, which will start on Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in FE 200. The class is titled “The Lord’s Prayer.” Class leaders will delve into the prayer and its meaning. Emotional and Spiritual Fitness Group: Covenant’s new Emotional and Spiritual Fitness Group will focus on understanding human emotions. Participants will learn how their responses to human emotions affect their attitude, how they communicate, and ultimately how they relate to others and to God. The group will meet Mondays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Donald Zappone at dzappone@grandecom.net.
Ministry Milestones Covenant’s Denominational Affairs Committee is charged to identify candidates to be Presbyterian pastors. The committee makes recommendations to Session. Session then determines whether to take the person under its care while the person attends seminary and progresses through the
ordination process, typically of Mission Presbytery. The Denominational Affairs Committee nurtures and assists the individuals as they move through a comprehensive process of preparation for ordination as Teaching Elder (formerly Minister of Word and Sacrament) in the PC(USA). 7
Recently two people under the care of the Covenant Session completed milestones.
Please pray for the Mowrys and the Chapmans as they enter their new exciting seasons of life.
In May, Pastor Russ Mowry was ordained a teaching elder and installed as associate pastor of youth and family ministries in The Presbyterian Church, Sewickley, Pa. Russ’s wife, Jessica Gerber Mowry, a child of Covenant, completed her chief resident year in pediatrics in June and expects to give birth to the couple’s first child in August. Jessica and Russ express their appreciation to Covenant for the support he received through the ordination process.
Covenant currently has no inquirers or candidates under care in seminary. Please look around you. In the Presbyterian Church, discernment of one’s call is in part supported or affirmed by fellow church members. Is there someone you know at Covenant who may be called to serve as a pastor? Talk to them. Talk to a member of the Denominational Affairs Committee. You may be just the person God is calling to help another recognize his or her calling to ministry; maybe even that person is you.
Also in May, Andrew Chapman graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary earning a masters in divinity. Andrew is seeking his first call, at which time he too will be ordained as teaching elder and installed as pastor. Andrew and his wife, Tiffany, have been members of Covenant for more than a decade. Their daughter, Cora, celebrated her first birthday in July. The Chapmans also express their appreciation to Covenant for the support they have received.
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Members of the Denominational Affairs Committee are Doris Beseda, John Blitch, Don Davis, Fran Langfitt, Frank Sheppard, Jack Kern, Jane Fallin, June Briney, Lee Polson and Sandra Pruett. Submitted by Jack Kern
Thursday’s Child Chesney Szaniszlo has been a parish associate at Covenant for 11 years, and has been on ‘loan’ from our congregation to the Live Oak New Church Development in Leander for four year as its pastor for care and hospitality. She recently asked Mission Presbytery to begin the process to enable her to be released from ordained ministry. She shared this blog with the Live Oak congregation. Recently, I asked Mission Presbytery to begin the process that will allow me to be ‘released from ordained ministry.’ That’s church speak for giving up my ability to be recognized as a minister of the Word and Sacrament (or teaching elder) in the Presbyterian Church (USA). I was born on a Thursday, and the saying about Thursday’s child has always seemed to resonate with my life. My mother told me I somehow seemed to consistently choose the more difficult path. Once again, I seem to have left the safety of the known for the “You’re doing what?” option. I’m not quite sure where God is leading me or what my future ministry will look like. I suspect it will look quite different from the
ministry I have done within the Church during the past 12 years. When I made the choice to become ordained, I spent a long weekend at a convent whose occupants had taken a vow of silence. I had quiet time to sit and listen for God’s voice. I very clearly heard God offer me a choice. I felt assured that He would use me whether I chose to accept a call to ordained ministry or not. At that time, I chose ordained ministry. I have no doubts that in the past 12 years God has used me for His purposes, and for that I am truly thankful. Life is often not as clear cut as we would like it to be, and it is certainly the case in mine that the journey never seems to conclude but just continues on, sometimes taking a quite unexpected turn. This year I found myself back at the same crossroads I visited 12 years ago when God offered me a choice and promised to use me whichever path I took. This time, however, I have chosen to give up the specific tasks of ordained ministry and am stepping out into the unknown, ready to see what non-ordained ministry God will call me to next.
This has not been an easy decision to make, but it is the right one. Who I am, my faith in God and my love for His church has not changed; I am simply changing the role I play in His kingdom. As I transition from pastor to member, I ask for your prayers and support as well as your patience as I continue to seek God’s leading in this new role. Those of you who are ‘nuts and bolts’ people may wonder what this will mean for the congregations of Live Oak and Covenant. As of the end of August, I will no longer be on staff at Live Oak or function as a Parish Associate with Covenant. Currently, my family plans on continuing to worship at Live Oak and participate in the life of the Church.
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Volunteer Extraordinaire Paul Mowry is at the church a lot! From coordinating furniture pick-ups to helping the mission committee move forward on specific tasks, praying or working with the homeless, Paul is a task master. A church member since 2006, he immediately started working with Movin’ and Groovin’ and in 2010, he started most of his additional volunteer jobs. Although he didn’t mention it in his interview, the former newspaperman is an excellent editor from which this newsletter benefits. Q: What things do you do at or in connection with Covenant? PM: Coordinator, Movin’ and Groovin’; treasurer and Humanitarian Mission Subcommittee chair; Mission Committee; member, intercessory prayer team; treasurer, Religious Coalition to Assist the Homeless (a CPC-supported mission) Q: What is your favorite volunteer activity? PM: Movin’ and Groovin’ Q: What skills did you take from your work life? PM: Cox Enterprises, for whom I worked most of my newspaper career, provided a variety of experiences, from journalism to production to IT. That left me some ability in writing, organization, project management and numbers. I learned how to run spellcheck in Word and to turn numbers red in Excel! Q: Do you have a memory from Movin’ and Groovin’ you would like to share? 10
PM: Yes, I do. When M&G began years ago, Andrew Hawkins and his pickup truck were the mission. To get an idea what that meant, turn that sofa sleeper in your family room on its end and just ease it through a doorway—by yourself. With Andrew as its anchor, the mission grew beyond serving IHN families. His faith in God was indomitable and his spirit infectious. If Andrew said furniture for a twobedroom apartment would fit into a 16-foot trailer, it fit. If he said three volunteers, two of them on Social Security, could get that furniture up to a third floor on a hot summer afternoon, have time for three pickups before rush-hour traffic, and live to tell about it, they did. If Andrew said someone would let the Suburban and trailer back into the main line of traffic after he darted past and down a right-turnonly lane, someone always did. He was the heart and soul of the mission, a laughing, loving, praying, Christian servant, relentlessly in motion, always in thought, and ever-thankful to God for his many blessings. Every morning he spent an hour writing his prayers into spiral-bound
notebooks, and each of us knew our names were in some of them. He loved to drive and talk about scripture, sometimes so intensely he would coast through repeated pleadings to “Go right, Andrew,” before realizing he’d missed his street. It didn’t matter. He was highly skilled in the art of the U-turn. Andrew coined the name Movin’ and Groovin’. Andrew came up with the motto: “It’s all God’s stuff, we just move it around.” And it was Andrew who, one evening late last December as he battled cancer from his bed at Brackenridge Hospital, read an emailed request from a Lakeway pastor to assist a family of nine that had lost everything in an apartment fire. He called me at home. “We’ve got some stuff we can give them, don’t we?” he asked. We
did, and we discussed a response. “Get some rest,” I urged him as we hung up. That was 6 p.m. Dec. 29. Twenty-six hours later, Andrew passed away. The Movin’ and Groovin’ team, and his many friends at Covenant and elsewhere, remember him best through the words of his favorite hymn: “Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord until me!”
Joy at the UN Joy Durrant attended the 57th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) last spring, representing the Presbyterian Women and the Presbyterian Church. Joy, who was installed as the moderator-elect of the PW Synod of the Sun in July, served as one of 70 Presbyterian delegates. She will share more about her experience at the Women’s Fall Kick-Off Brunch on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 10:30 a.m. in FE 200. All Covenant women are invited to reconnect after the summer and learn about opportunities for Bible study, mission and fellowship. This is Joy’s story about her conference experience.
The CSW was an insightful time that included meeting some of the 6,000 attendees from all over the world who joined together to eliminate violence against women and girls, the theme of this year’s CSW. One in three women worldwide has experienced some form of violence in her lifetime. Our host was the Presbyterian Ministry at the UN (PMUN). This small, talented staff works hard to educate Presbyterians about the United Nations and to advocate for the PC(USA) at the UN. The PMUN is housed in the Church Center at the UN (CCUN).
The Presbyterian delegation joined forces with Ecumenical Women at the United Nations. Ecumenical Women was founded in 2000 to enhance and reinforce the collaboration of churches and ecumenical organizations advocating for women’s rights at the annual United Nations 11
Commission on the Status of Women. I was part of a small delegation of Ecumenical Women that advocated at the U.S. Mission to the UN. We discussed many concerns with U.S. representatives including that our country is among a handful of UN member states that have never ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women. I was fortunate to receive a UN grounds pass, so I attended many panel discussions at the UN on various topics: Violence, Economics and War; Safety of Women Journalists; Reclaiming Public Spaces for the Empowerment of Women and Girls; Plans to Intensify Efforts for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation; Violence Against Women in War Zones; Men
and Violence Against Women: Seeking Solutions; and GenderMotivated Killings of Women, including Femicide. I heard stories that made my spirit soar and stories that broke my heart.
conclusions were published; no agreed conclusions were reached at the 56th CSW. While numerous positions of Ecumenical Women were included, there is work for next time.
I attended a panel discussion, sponsored by the UN Women, titled Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was on the panel and spoke about the need to end violence against women. Ban Ki-moon said, “Only when women achieve gender equality will the world have sustainable societies and economies.“
My time in New York was a rich time of worship. Every morning, I attended a worship service at the CCUN led by representatives of different organizations. One Sunday, I worshipped at the oldest continually ministering Presbyterian church in the U.S, the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens, founded in 1662. The following Sunday, I worshipped at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. Covenant’s own Rev. Becky Jones gave a God-glorifying sermon.
With Ecumenical Women, the PC(USA) delegation advocated that our positions be included in the agreed-to conclusions, the final outcome of the 57th CSW. We were relieved that the
Lamplighters Study When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? Ink spilled onto a page in familiar script telling the news of the day and signed with love? Letters are a rare commodity these days, communication is more likely to come in the form of a text or Tweet™ than pen and paper. What if your mailbox were filled with letters every day? Can you imagine the excitement and anticipation you would feel? 12
The Bible has been called God’s love letter to us: 66 books filled with truth and instruction for daily living. This year Lamplighters Bible Study will dive into books 46 and 47 of the Bible, the Corinthian letters. In 57 AD, the city of Corinth was a corrupt mess and the early church established by the Apostle Paul was falling apart. Unable to navigate the storm of sin, divisions and worldly temptations around them, members from the house of Chloe sent a cry
for help to Paul. Paul received the letter filled with bad news from the congregation he loved and responded with the Corinthian letters. Paul wrote 1st and 2nd Corinthians troubled and heartbroken for the church. His letters advise how to apply spiritual wisdom to worldly problems. “Paul’s letters read amazingly current, filled with tough love and wisdom. It’s like getting a note filled with advice — even a reprimand — from your grandmother or favorite aunt,” said Kristin Schell, a member of Lamplighters. Beginning its 28th year, Lamplighters will dig deep into scripture to study God’s word in 1st and 2nd Corinthians through inductive Bible study, weekly teaching, small group discussion and prayerful fellowship. Lamplighters Bible Study begins the week of Sept. 4 and offers various locations and meeting times throughout the week. All Lamplighters use a coordinated lesson schedule and weekly lecture
providing a strong sense of community for the women who participate. In addition to convenient meeting times, Lamplighters offers free childcare on Wednesday mornings for infants (3 months and up) and toddlers. “I think we will discover we have a lot in common with the people of Corinth,” said Kristin. “Gratefully, through Scripture we can draw wisdom from the ways of the Word, not the ways of the world. Lamplighters offers an encouraging community to tackle the tough together.” For more information about Lamplighters, visit lamplightersbiblestudy.com. Interested women may register for the study of Corinthians online or at the Party on the Patio. Submitted by Kristin Schell
Circle Bible Study All women are invited to join Covenant Presbyterian Church Circles as the group begins its fall study, An Abiding Hope: The Presence of God in Exodus and Deuteronomy. These Old Testament books reinforce what it means to be a people called by God and to live within the presence of God. This year, Circle groups will follow the Israelites’ story of freedom from bondage to covenant, of a
journey from meaningless existence to holy calling. Covenant Circles join in community with Presbyterian women worldwide who are doing this study. Covenant has five Circles that meet monthly during the school year for Bible study, prayer, fellowship and mission. These groups, named for women in the Bible — Deborah, Dorcas, Esther, Lydia and Sarah-Elizabeth – have been at Covenant since 1965
and offer a place of welcoming friendship for new and old members. Morning, noon and evening groups are available. Find a time that fits your schedule at covenant.org/women, or contact Circle Coordinator Bonnie Hartmann at (512) 345-4181 or bonnielhartmann@gmail.com. Submitted by Susan Holman
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A Vision for Covenant Covenant’s Stewardship Committee is working to encourage year-round giving in the form of time, talents and money. Activities of the committee will be guided by the church vision, which Session is currently working on. In this issue of Cornerstone, Jeff Horn, Session liaison to the Stewardship Committee, updates readers on Session’s work developing the Covenant vision statement.
What is Session Up To? In addition to the mandatory and necessary managing of church business, Session has been and continues to be involved in creating our vision. This project of discovery has been prompted by our vision casting exercises. During this phase of vision development, no ideas are off the table. Vision Casting • Articulating • Crying • Defining • Dreaming • Laughing • Listening
• • • • • •
Loving Praying Questioning Reevaluating Sharing Studying
Why are we working on a mission? Because Paul says so: Pastor Paul and Apostle Paul. It might seem that creating a vision for Covenant is too big a challenge for one small body of elders. Yet Apostle Paul says, “no way, Jose.” Through Pastor Paul’s gentle leading, we have been emboldened to ask for more than a forecast, more than a three-year plan. We are seeking God’s wisdom for the words
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that will provide a foundation for how we act as a church. Understanding the distinction between the definitions of mission and vision is necessary for all of us in order to all be on the same page. Our mission is the what: what we do. Our mission statement tells us what we are to do: service, evangelism, worship, discipleship and fellowship. As an example, the Stewardship Committee determined its “what” is to create a culture of generosity. Our vision is the how: how we do our mission. The vision paints a picture of what our events, for example, will feel like. The vision tells us what visual, emotional and aesthetic message these events should impart to people. The vision guides how a certain program will empower our people to be transformed and join our mission. The Stewardship Committee identified four words that paint a picture of how its events or testimonies can move people to adopt a lifestyle of generosity: engaged +, spirit-driven, joy-full, free (from the love of money and from the fear of talking about money).
Stewardship Committee members named these four words to conjure up a picture (a vision) in their minds of what kind of church Covenant will strive to become, to be the soil out of which generosity will grow. Guided by these words, the committee will steer clear of any kind of stewardship-related event or activity that neglects to truly engage people; set people free from the power of money, fear and control; leave people bored or sad rather than joy-full; and that sidesteps the Holy Spirit.
The current Session members have committed themselves to the collective goal of developing our Covenant vision this summer. The group is setting aside the time needed to flesh out ideas and thoughts. They have promised to expose personal weaknesses, let go of personal agendas and struggle with each other to bring out the best of what we all have to offer to this process. In addition to working on this during a large majority of our normal Session meetings for the past three months, we have scheduled two additional longer meetings for the purpose of bringing something cogent to the congregation. We will roll out this new vision in a variety of ways:
• The pulpit will be a place where these words will surely be utilized to help us move forward together.
Be with us in prayer as we ask for God’s supernatural power, wisdom and understanding, and His guiding light to lead us in this effort.
Ephesians 3:20-21
• Town hall gatherings are a valuable tool for communicating and will surely be a part of this new strategy.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
• Every committee will use this as a foundation for the budgeting process and how each does its work.
Submitted by Jeff Horn, Stewardship Committee
Clerk’s Corner Five elders—Paul Askenasy, Jennifer Maham, Deb Reiber, John Ruwwe and Frank Sheppard— joined the Session in May. The five immediately started working with the rest of the Session to cast a vision for the future of Covenant. The Session continues to work on the vision, which included a two-part, in-town retreat held in July. So far, our theme is abundance: abundant passion for God, abundant mission and abundant community. Further discernment and refinement are ongoing.
Also in May, we held a congregational meeting to approve a change in the terms of call for Jill Williams. Given our budget difficulties, Jill (and Paul, whose contract did not need congregational approval) showed strong leadership by returning their salaries to pre-raise levels. Other dedicated staff members took cuts to their salaries rather than reduce programming in their areas. Covenant is blessed to have such a giving and team-oriented staff. 15
The Session invited Tom Mitchell to attend Covenant and find his community of support here. He was away for a six-month period to give the congregation and Tom the separation needed to orient toward his new role as friend rather than pastor. Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry provided him guidelines for his participation. The Session will review the arrangement twice a year. We welcome him back to our midst. The Interim Associate Pastor Search Committee, looking for a temporary replacement for Tom since January, concluded its work by recommending to the Session that we hire Munn Hinds, Jr. Munn’s first day on campus was June 1 and he is already at nearly full speed with his duties. Please
take the chance to make him feel welcome. Mission Presbytery met in June at Schreiner University in Kerrville. Covenant was wellrepresented by Paul Askenasy, Jane Gamel, Jan Skaggs, Marv and Bretna Hackert, Nola Ross, June Briney, Jeff Horn, Munn Hinds, Paul Parsons and me. Various Presbytery committees made reports, four candidates were presented for ordination, and youth delegates to the Youth Triennium were commissioned. A new translation of the Heidelburg Catechism, approved by the General Assembly and recommended to Presbyteries for their affirmative vote, passed.
In June, Session continued the vision-casting exercise. Session also received a letter from Chesney Szaniszlo informing us she has requested that Mission Presbytery release her from her ordination vows. Chesney has been a Parish Associate at Covenant while serving Live Oak Presbyterian Church, a new church development in Leander. She is not giving up her “Kingdom work,” merely the role she currently plays. Please let her know that you have appreciated her service to Covenant and that you look forward to seeing where God will lead her.
Finance Report FINANCE UPDATE FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MAY 31, 2013. Actual Budget YTD Variance YTD YTD Actual GENERAL FUND v Budget Revenues Pledged Offerings $1,045,052 $898,964 $ 146,088 Unpledged Offerings 178,791 168,305 10,486 Miscellaneous 19,185 24,017 (4,832) Total Revenues 1,243,028 1,091,286 151,742 Expenditures 1,178,231 1,250,017 (71,786) Rev Over (Under) Expenses 64,797 (158,731) 223,528 Gifts Principal BUILDING FUND YTD Paid YTD Pledged Gifts $ 13,887 Unpledged Gifts 35,450 Total Gifts/Mortgage Pmts 49,337 $43,895 Summary of YTD Financial Operating Results for Period Ended May 31, 2013:
Annual Budget $2,169,000 650,000 56,000 2,875,000 2,944,928 (69,928)
General Fund revenues are ahead of our seasonally adjusted revenue budget by $151,743. Expenses are below our seasonally adjusted spending budget by $223,529. • Mortgage interest was $129,370 and was included in Year-‐To-‐Date General Fund expenses.
• •
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Calendar of Events Preschool Summer Camp Session IV
Senior Activities Day
Aug. 5–9
Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. in FE 200
Senior Activities Day
Christian Entertainer Keith Coast
Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. in FE 200 Movie to be announced in Covenant Matters
Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m. A fun show for the whole family
Reel Ministry: An Unreal Dream
Children’s Choirs Resume Rehearsals
Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. in FE 200
Sept. 4
Student Swim Nights
Human Trafficking Awareness Seminar
Aug. 7 and 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Burnett House Find out more at corestudentministries.org
Sept. 4 and 11 at 6:30 p.m. in FE 200 PW Fall Kick-off Brunch
Student Ultimate Frisbee
Sept. 5 at 10 a.m.
Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. at Lucy Reed Park Find more information at corestudentministries.org
Party on the Patio
Sept. 8 at 9 and 10:30 a.m. on the patio Camp Mission Club 56
Aug. 12–14 Contact gstuart@covenant.org
Wednesday Night Dinner Service
Teacher Training
Digital Down Low for Parents
Aug. 25 in FE 300 Sunday School Training at 9:30 a.m. Club 56 Training at 10:30 a.m. Contact sgrooms@covenant.org for more information
Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. Demystify the IDKs of social media and smartphones
Wednesdays beginning Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. in FE 200
Explore Membership
Wednesdays beginning Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. Journey Youth Choir Resumes
Aug. 25
Special Class: The Lord’s Prayer
Wednesdays beginning Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in FE 200 AISD Begins Classes
Aug. 26
Career Transitions
Thursdays beginning Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Adult Choirs Begin
Aug. 28
Austin Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Sept. 19–22 in Marble Falls 17
3003 Northland Drive Austin, TX 78757
Officers and Staff of Covenant Presbyterian Church Deacons
Elders
CLASS OF 2014
Class of 2015
CLASS OF 2016
CLASS OF 2014
Class of 2015
CLASS OF 2016
Breece Adams Marilyn Adams Matt Bair Donna Barksdale Lynn Bell Steve Bissell Julie Bou Allan Carmichael Lynda Chapman Jay Corder Cara Cotham Jim Foster Jacquez “Joc” Gaines Bretna Hackert Bonnie Hartmann Elizabeth Hilton Barbara Knisely Bill Mange Lacy Ruwwe Carol Sheppard Lisa Sledge Sharon Smith Tom Smith Brent Stover Diane Swanson Beth Voorhees
Susan Ashton Jill Baumhover Wendell Bell Sylvia Betts Rusty Burnett Carolyn Carmichael Steve Caskey Allison Crutchfield Dianne Erlewine Pansy Flick Jane Gamel Keith Ging Garrett Hall Patti Hansen Elizabeth Harrell Bill Hawkins Shannon Knisely Jack Kriens Loretta Kriens Larry Loessin James Marroquin Emily McGinnis Gwen Morton Patrick Schmidt Gary Vliet Becky Wells Sharyn Westmoreland Paul Wynkoop
Mike Austin Jennifer Carsner Jane Crowe Kay Davenport Dustin Johnson Michael Knisely Bill McCaleb Andrea Moen Julie Moore Ken Moore Jennifer Palm Ryan Palm Bob Peterson Cherry Raley Jack Skaggs Allison Small Bridgette Stahlman Emily Taylor Gwyn Theodore Donna Thomas Steve Thomas Kristen Tritle Kathy Willis Shannon Windham
Joy Durrant Jeff Horn Jan Skaggs Laura Tuma Clark Weatherby
Don Davis Evangeline Herring Chuck Ruesink Melanie Williamson Cindy Young
Paul Askenasy Jennifer Maham Deb Rieber John Ruwwe Frank Sheppard
Foundation Trustees CLASS OF 2014
Class of 2015
Class of 2016
Dianne Erlewine
Dave Ferguson Jack Kern Mary Teeple
Larry Faulkner JoAnne McIntosh Tana Taylor
Program Staff Paul Parsons, Interim Senior Pastor Beth Bishop, Director of Lay Ministries Thomas W. Brown, Director of Music Ministry Duane Dube, Director of Administration Munn Hines, Interim Associate Pastor for Age and Stage Ministries William Leonhardt, Director of Student Ministries Christy Milam, Director of Preschool John Schmidt, Organist Stephanie Schultz, Director of Communications Gayla Stuart, Director of Children’s and Preteen Ministries Jill Williams, Associate Pastor for Congregational Care Ministries