Cornerstone February

CORNERSTONE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | FEBRUARY 2015 D*NOW 2015 was an incredible weekend! Our theme was “Reclaim. Restore.

Repurpose.” More than 80 students spent two days in January studying the life of Paul, while staying in homes around Austin. Students served in the community, and shared intimate worship and deep teaching times. It was amazing to see God work.

ABOUT CORNERS CORNERSTONE CONTRIBUTORS SENIOR PASTOR THOMAS DANIEL

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/cornerstone. We will update the Cornerstone blog as we receive content at covenant.org/blog.

HILARY PITTMAN

We need you!

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JACO BOTES, MELISSA GASKILL, EMILY MCGINNIS, PAUL MOWRY, WHITNEY MUSITANO, LINDA RUTHERFORD, KRISTIN SHELL, ALLEN WEEKS PHOTOGRAPHY WHITNEY BELL, TIFFANY CHAPMAN, PAUL MOWRY, HILARY PITTMAN, LINDA RUTHERFORD, STEPHANIE SCHULTZ, ALLEN WEEKS, JULIE WILLIFORD SPECIAL THANKS TO PAUL MOWRY, BRIAN SPARKS

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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

PASTOR LETTER

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Being a church that sends people out 3

SENT TO THE WORLD

Experience mission; opportunities abound 12

Be a readable, faithful letter to all 5

THE TURQUOISE TABLE

DOING LIFE TOGETHER

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MISSIONS POSSIBLE

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SUPPORT AUSTIN KIDS

THE TOUGH GET MOVING

CLERK’S CORNER

Dream budget approval thrills Session members 16

Partnering for education and youth 10

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN NEWS

Register for the 2015 Churchwide Gathering

Freeman Estate enables missions to grow 9

JOYFUL NOISES IN CUBA

Ringing handchimes with Luyanò youth

Sharing encouragement, accountability and love 7

MENDING MINDS, BODIES

Samaritan Center provides affordable care

Colorful front-yard tables enable new connections 6

WALKING ON WATER

FINANCE REPORT

For the period ended December 31, 2014 17

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Covenant-based mission grooves in 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

PASTOR LETTER As I write this letter, I am reflecting on the weekend visit of Darrell Guder. Darrell is an author, a professor, a lecturer and above all, a close personal friend whom I credit with keeping me in the ministry.

I’ve told this story before, but with his visit, I was reminded again of the huge difference Darrell has made in my life. His philosophies so match my hope for the church. It was his lecture that I heard as a first-year seminary student that convinced me that I indeed was called to be a pastor.

That first year at Columbia, I had just come to faith as a Christian and I was very excited about the Kingdom. But when I showed up at seminary, my experience did not match my expectations. I felt like we had taken a grand vision of the Kingdom and reduced it to a very small vision of institution and denomination. I thought, “Is this the scope of our vision? We’re all into our positions on issues and how we stand within the church. Do we know that the rest of the world is passing us by and isn’t paying attention anymore?”

I was less than two months into seminary and I said to Beth, “We’ve made a terrible mistake. We are not supposed to be here.”

As Beth and I were making plans about what to do with our lives, I met Darrell, who was a guest lecturer in one of my classes. Darrell talked about the Kingdom that day. He talked about God; he talked about Jesus. Darrell talked about how we were supposed to be a church that builds people up, changes lives, and prays for each other so we can go out into the world and be the world changers that God wants us to be.

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I approached him after the lecture with tears in my eyes and I asked, “Where have you been? Can I talk to you more?”

Little did I know that would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I wasn’t looking for a mentor, but I got that and so much more from Darrell.

Needless to say, I was thrilled to welcome Darrell to Covenant and that so many of you got to meet him.

His visit and our interactions reminded me that it is possible to combine intellect and heart. Darrell is a great scholar, and he also loves my family and me. It was good to discuss the sermon for Sunday, as well as to reconnect on a personal level, talking about marriage, children, aging and all the things that close friends can discuss. We again shared meals and, more importantly, shared our mutual vision for the Kingdom.

In our Digging Wells sermon series, we are talking about that vision as we discuss the four pillars

of the church found in Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

These four pillars – scripture, fellowship, generosity and prayer – are the focus of “Digging Wells.” These are the biblical basics that are Darrell’s mantra for the path to a missional church, a church that sends people out to do God’s work.

The Holy Spirit is moving within our community. God is shaping us to be sent out as a light to our neighbors, our city, and the entire world. I am grateful to be on the journey with each of you.

JOYFULLY,

THOMAS DANIEL SENIOR PASTOR

SENT TO THE WORLD During a cold weekend in Janaury, Covenant welcomed Dr. Darrell Guder to Austin. Guder, a professor of missional and ecumenical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, talked about what it means to be a missional church today, in a postChristendom society. Guder’s 1998 book: “Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America” serves as the basis for his talks, which he makes throughout the world.

To get his audience on the same page, Guder defined Christendom and missions. Christendom, he said, is the hundreds of years that western civilization considered itself formally and officially Christian. Guder’s book defines

it as “the time in which the Christian religion was the protected and privileged religion of society and the church its legally established institutional form.”

“The power and privilege that we have had as a Christian church is gone,” Guder said. “We are now in a period of rapid secularization; current culture is moving away from the church.” As examples, Guder said zoning boards don’t even like churches, and calendars have changed. “It’s hard to get a permit to build a church because churches aren’t taxed. Calendars start the week on Monday, not Sunday like they used to.”

The end of Christendom is a legacy we must deal with, Guder

said, and that means dealing with a society that has many prejudices and misunderstandings of what it means to be a Christian.

The meaning of mission is also misunderstood. “Mission has become a major cliché,” he said.

“It means everything and it means nothing.”

“Congregations view mission as one of several programs of the church. It has a secular meaning when companies talk about their corporate missions. This means we have to work hard to understand what we are talking about.”

While missions have led to expansion of world Christianity, Christianity in North America has 3

intervened in the lives (of his soon-to-be disciples) and called them to be disciples.”

In the same way, Guder said that we are gathered not by our decisions, but by God’s grace. “Every Christian community is the result of God’s action. We think we are Christians because we decided to be. No!” Guder said. “We know Christ because Christ wants us.

Jesus called those whom He desired. moved from a position of dominance to a loss of numbers, power and influence within society.

Mission, according to Guder’s book, is not merely an activity of the church; it is the result of God’s initiative rooted in God’s purposes to restore and heal creation. As such, mission means sending; it is a key biblical theme describing the purpose of God’s action for human history.

“Mission is not something we do when we cross a boundary and go someplace else. It is the church all the time,” Guder stressed.

“The outcome of being together is that God does something to us: He sends us. We are the result of God’s action, gathered in worship to be equipped and sent. We are a community centered on Christ.

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“The end of Christendom is messy, but it’s incredibly generative. Newness is happening. In fact, today’s church is closer to the New Testament church than ever in history. We didn’t know what ‘strangers and aliens’ meant until recently,” he said. “We have reduced the Gospel to what it meant for our own personal salvation, but it’s for the salvation of the whole world.”

Guder said the four gospels were written to communities that already knew the point, knew that the outcome is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the text, the people are experiencing the way in which Jesus draws people in and makes them into disciples so that they will be apostles.

“There’s not a single instance of anyone applying to be a disciple,” Guder said. “In every case, Jesus

“You all are here because God continues to be faithful.

Discipleship is not an end to itself. Disciples are called by Jesus because they are going to be apostles. In our gathering, God equips us for the real reason that God has us exist. He sends us; He missions us to be apostles to Austin, and to the world. “ Biblically, the church is not an end in itself; the church is an instrument to God’s mission to heal the world, Guder said. We come to church to build a foundation based on the four pillars – prayer, scripture, fellowship and generosity, and are sent out. Ultimately, we all exist to be witnesses to God’s love in Jesus Christ. Are we equipped to go out and save the world? Are we living up to God’s challenge to be a readable, faithful letter to the world?

THE TURQUOISE TABLE A couple years ago I was stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. I had a big dream, this vision, of living in a community where neighbors knew and loved each other well. I knew a handful of our neighbors, but for the most part our interaction was limited to friendly waves from the car, brief chats at the grocery store and our annual Memorial Day block party.

I wanted to take The Great Commandment seriously and felt a tug at my heart to open our doors wide and invite neighbors, friends and even strangers into our lives on a more regular basis. But, I didn’t know how.

God answers prayers in winsome ways.

In October 2013, prompted by a last-minute party I was hosting, I ordered an unfinished picnic table from Lowe’s. It was the simplest picnic table you can imagine. Quite ordinary, really.

week three, both spontaneous and planned gatherings were happening regularly at the turquoise table.

Now a familiar sight, the turquoise table has become a meeting place—kind of like the old village well—for neighbors, friends, and even strangers, to hang out and do life together. The table has spurred a front yard revival in our neighborhood—a welcome place to gather and share God’s love.

Then something totally unexpected happened. My sister-in-law put a turquoise table in her front yard in San Antonio. Next, a friend across town in Austin put one in her front yard. Before long, I was hearing of turquoise tables popping up in neighborhoods across America and even as far away as Uganda. All these people had a common desire — to connect on a deeper, more meaningful level with people in their community, right where they live.

Until I saw it. And, I knew.

The simple, wooden picnic table was destined for our front yard. After the party, I painted the table bright turquoise (Sherwin-Williams Nifty Turquoise, if you’re wondering) and placed it under a magnolia tree, close to the edge our lively street.

That’s when life changed. From day one, people started dropping by. Within hours of putting the table out front, someone who needed to get out of the house—a neighbor I’d never met—walked past and stopped to talk. We sat at the table and started a friendship. Next, curious people from across the street stopped by and stayed for a cup of coffee. By 5

In our own Covenant community, Amy Skaggs says about the turquoise table in her front yard, “One of my favorite things about the turquoise table is that it is not intimidating. I had a friend text this week to see if she could bring my daughter and me lunch at the table. She didn’t feel like she was imposing if we sat outside at the table and I’m not sure we would have had lunch together otherwise.”

After church that day, Jennifer Palm posted on Facebook she wished Santa would bring her a turquoise table. Two days later she found a gift certificate to Lowe’s and a bottle of turquoise spray paint on her front porch with a gift tag that read: To Jennifer Palm ~ who loves others well. Despite much speculation and detective work, the gift giver remains anonymous.

In a recent sermon “In the Gap” (covenant.org/ in-the-gap) based on Isaiah 61:1-4, Thomas Daniel shared the story of the turquoise table as an example of one way we could move beyond the church walls and into the world. “Jesus is coming. In the meantime, we are called to roll up our sleeves, stand in the gap and love until that day. God has sent us to one another—to do life together and live in community. The world is made up of little pockets of people right where we live, people we are called to love and know by name.”

God created us to be in community with one another. As Romans 12:13 puts it: take every opportunity to open your life and home to others (The Voice). The creative ways in which we may cultivate community are as limitless as God’s love calling us to do so. As for me? I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for an ordinary place filled with extraordinary love called the turquoise table.

SUBMITTED BY KRISTIN SCHELL

DOING LIFE TOGETHER Part of getting out of the boat is what Covenant Senior Pastor Thomas Daniel calls “doing life together.” Early in November, Covenant’s Sunday worship scripture was 2 Timothy 1:1-7. In this letter from Paul to Timothy, Paul describes the relationship of the two men—Paul being the older, wise mentor to Timothy.

Thomas said that such relationships are rare in this day and age. Inundated with “friends” on numerous social media platforms, our connections are weak and it seems many of us are lucky if we even know basic information about our so-called friends.

Harold Skaggs and Joe Muck, two Covenant members, buck that trend. The two have had a deep 6

relationship for many years. They talked about it at the contemporary worship service on Nov. 2.

Joe said that the two met when he was growing up in the church. Joe was a friend to Cameron Gray, the daughter of Jan and Harold. “When Cameron passed away early in college, Harold and Jan surrounded me with love,” Joe said. “This was the point where our relationship started growing. I went from being Cameron’s friend to Joe.” Harold said, “It was cool to have the porch where they could hang out and just be,” adding: “Jan is involved too. She’s the nurturing person.”

“I’m well aware that Harold doesn’t have all the answers,” Joe continued. “But if the relationship were only about intellectual answers, I would consider it a failure. The best things from Harold are not words. I’ve not learned a bunch of answers. I’ve learned how to be a man and how to love.”

Harold has slowed down. “I’ve learned to be patient. Our purTiffany Chapman Photography pose is to encourage Joe, keep him accountable and just love The two men don’t check in every day or meet at a him, and now welcome Emme (Joe’s new wife) into regular time and place. “We’re very loose,” Harold our circle.” said. “We get together for an issue or a need.

Generally, Joe calls and says, ‘I need some time.’

Harold and Joe are a good example of a deep friendAnd we make the time.” ship where the two hold each other accountable for doing what God wants them to do. Do you have Joe agreed. “We tried meeting weekly, it didn’t work a similar friendship? Do you have someone to do well. I know that whenever I call, they answer and life with? Thomas suggested that the test is to ask will always make time for me. yourself: “Who knows how to pray for me?”

MISSIONS POSSIBLE Last year, Covenant received a generous bequest from the estate of charter members Marvin and Maurine Freeman. Marvin was a member of the committee that bought the land on which Covenant sits today; Maurine, passionate for helping the needy, helped establish the first clothes closet at Covenant. Marvin died in 1998, and Maurine in 2009.

Their names are on the photo of the charter document that hangs near the Sanctuary.

Session elected to let the Mission Committee allocate a portion of this bequest to benefit missions at Covenant. The committee undertook a careful and deliberate discernment process

to identify how best to use this unexpected gift.

The committee began by reaching out to currently supported ministries, asking for a brief answer to the question, “Would your ministry be in a position to use these funds during the next three years and, if so, how might you do so?”

Based on responses, we prayed, 7

discussed and brainstormed.

Over several meetings, the committee decided to use the funds to support children in a developing country and education in Austin, and to reach out to those most in need in our community.

We then requested detailed information from the ministries whose suggestions fit those priorities and, after more prayer and discussion, solicited formal proposals from three. We asked the ministries to present their requests before the committee.

In addition to meeting our priorities, we wanted projects that offered opportunities for personal involvement by Covenant members and that conceivably could be sustained after the three years covered by the Freeman bequest.

We are pleased to announce funding of three projects made

possible through the faith and generosity of the Freeman family: 1) Expansion of Manos de Cristo education programs, including those at Covenant. Covenant has a long-standing partnership with Manos, which provides a variety of services, including a food bank; clothes closet; dental clinic; and English, computer, citizenship and Spanish literacy classes. This funding supports Manos staff for project coordinating, increasing teaching capacity at the main location and providing childcare for those in classes. Volunteers are needed to teach and support classes at Covenant and the Harmon campus. Email Frank Sheppard, frank-sheppard@att.net.

2) The Freeman Good News Children’s Ministry. This project will establish a network of teachers to bring the Gospel to every

child in every village in Zambia.

It expands on a long-term ministry of mission trips to Zambia to minister to medical needs and plant churches, and moves into a one-on-one partnership with Rev. Lovemore Nyirenda.

Covenant members are called to participate in program development, prayer, training, children’s conferences, financial support and participation on the ground in Zambia. Email Deb Rieber, rieberco@gmail.com, or Cheryl Banks, csebesta@austin.rr.com.

3) Austin Voices in Education and Youth. Covenant has supported Julie and Allen Weeks in bringing God’s love to the St. John neighborhood for more than a decade.

Since 2010, the Weekses also have worked to support students and families in schools. This year, Covenant adopted Webb Middle School. This project supports the Webb Family Resource Center in serving more than 300 families a year and enabling expansion of adult education. Additionally, Covenant members can volunteer in a wide variety of ways for the Weekses, including mentoring a student, answering phones, helping at teacher appreciation and community events, career counseling and more. Email Julie at julie.weeks@austinisd.org.

SUBMITTED BY JACO BOTES

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SUPPORT AUSTIN KIDS This month, Covenant is highlighting Austin Voices for Education and Youth, a nonprofit directed by Covenant missionaries Allen and Julie Weeks. Over the past decade, the Weekses have been ministering in St. John, a low-income neighborhood with a high immigrant population. Their approach is to mobilize neighbors to improve the community and problem-solve, especially at schools. In 2007, Webb Middle School and Reagan High School, where St. John children attend, both faced closure due to academic performance. The Weekses gathered parents, teachers and students, along with local churches, nonprofits and city/county agencies, in an all-hands-on-deck effort to support the schools.

The results have been dramatic; both Webb and Reagan are thriving and receiving national attention as examples of school turnaround.

One strategy used was starting family resource centers to provide wraparound services to help stabilize struggling families. Today, the Weekses direct centers at five AISD schools, serving 1,500 families each year. “Teachers told us that many Webb families were moving several times a year, causing

students to miss weeks of school at a time,” Julie said. “By providing help with employment, housing, transportation, healthcare and other services in a friendly, school-based center, many of Webb’s highest-risk families have overcome difficult situations.”

Covenant has been helping support the Weekses with volunteers at many St. John events, including HopeFest, a family resource fair that brings over 4,000 attendees and 100 exhibitors to Reagan High School each fall for a celebration of community. Covenant formally adopted Webb in 2014. The Weekses are looking for volunteers to come beside Webb students as mentors, to help provide furniture for families through a partnership with Covenant’s own “Movin’ and Groovin’” ministry, and to support the many events this spring in St. John, including a “prayer walk” on Feb. 7 and the annual St. John Unity Walk and Festival on April 25. For more information about helping Austin Voices, contact Julie at (512) 797-4847 or julie.weeks@austinisd.org. Sign up to volunteer at covenant.org/signup.

SUBMITTED BY ALLEN WEEKS

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THE TOUGH GET MOVING Movin’ and Groovin’ (M&G), Covenant’s used furniture ministry to families exiting homelessness via the Foundation for the Homeless (FFH)/Interfaith Hospitality Network and other Austin organizations, recently completed a very successful 2014.

In addition to serving approximately 150 families, M&G gained many volunteers. Covenant members provide about 75 percent of all donations.

Here in a nutshell is the M&G operation: Through the Covenant website and other, multi-agency websites in the area, we solicit donations of “gently used” furniture, those items that are necessary when a formerly homeless family returns to a small home or apartment, usually with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Our definition of “gently used”: no major stains, cuts, holes or other signs of serious wear; something you would give to a friend.

We use Covenant vehicles to make pickup and delivery runs on Saturdays. We aim to pick up items and deliver them to families on the same day.

When we are unable to do that, we take the items to a warehouse provided free of charge by Pastor Abraham Perez of the Iglesia Familiar Ebenezer church on Cameron Road, near Reagan High School, a location central to the primary geographical area we serve. The connection between M&G and Pastor Abraham was made thanks to Julie Weeks, whose Partners in Hope mission with her husband, Allen, works directly with churches of the area to provide support for parents of students in the St. John neighborhood. (See story, page 9) Partners in Hope is one of those “other” organizations that Movin’ and Groovin’ serves. We also help families associated with the Salvation Army Shelter 10

for Women and Children, Street Youth Ministry, Casa Marianella, Lifeworks, Caritas, local and federal veterans’ agencies, the Travis County Health and Human Services Department, and others. FHH/ IHN families remain our top priority; when inventory permits, we expand our services. The only requirement of recipients is that they be under some form of case management, which improves their chances to succeed in the new phase of their lives.

In 2014, we partnered with two mission-oriented churches. First came the Potter’s Wheel Sunday school class from Bethany United Methodist Church led by Bryan Buchan. The group sends a team of helpers one Saturday each month. Bethany, host to FFH/IHN families four or five weeks each year, was already a key M&G partner. Virginia Conklin has for many years handled the donation and distribution of smaller household items. Dave Baron is a member of the regular Saturday M&G crew.

An Austin Stone missional community group, led

by Dannon King and his wife, LeeAnn, was next to

adopt M&G. Members help one Saturday a month.

Dannon participates most others Saturdays, too.

Any survey of resources that make Movin’ and Groovin’ go would be incomplete without including Jack Fredine. Jack, 75, is a nationally ranked racquetball player. Jack’s year included two serious automobile accidents, one in which his brand new Subaru Forester struck a deer head-on. He refuses to slow down, despite the fact that he recently began chemotherapy for his fifth bout with cancer.

M&G is thankful to God for blessing us with the strength, the opportunity and the desire to fulfill this important role in support of families in need. We’re pretty sure He keeps a close, protective watch over us as we lug those heavy dressers or sofa-sleepers up stairways to those second and third floors, so we try to watch those words we utter when those fingers or toes get smashed!

“Well, darn!”

SUBMITTED BY PAUL MOWRY

Jim Robinson also deserves thanks. He frequently hops in his pickup to get “spot” donations through the week, donations that can’t wait until Saturday.

WALKING ON WATER Many at Covenant recently studied John Ortberg’s “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.” Its message: Jesus calls us to consider the incredible experience awaiting us and to take that step to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives—extravagant faith rather than boring safety.

on the church campus or halfway around the world, will transform your life as much as, or more than, the lives of those you serve.

Covenant’s mission policy encourages every member to participate in a mission experience. God is a missionary God, calling us to go and do: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit the prisoner, make disciples. In short, to get out of our boats and walk on water with him. Mission experience, whether 11

If you feel Jesus is calling you out onto the water but you aren’t sure how to start, our many vibrant ministries doing His work here in Austin and beyond have ways for you to participate. In addition to the ministries supported by the Freeman Estate and discussed elsewhere in the newswletter, here are a few more possibilities:

evening college leader dinner. Contact Chris Fisher, (512) 669-1577, cfisher@austin.younglife.org

Street Youth Ministry. Hold a sock or blanket drive, prepare breakfast food or sandwiches once or twice a week, join a Bible study or prayer walk. There are many ways to support this ministry. Contact Terry Cole, (512) 553-3796, terry.cole@gmail.com

Navigators. Help with Monday morning Women’s Club or Friday night English class for international students, or with individual Bible study during the week. Invite MBA students to join in family activities. Contact Daniel at danielevans4@sbcglobal.net

Northeast Austin Young Life. Support a UT college student leader who visits high school campuses weekly to build relationships with students for the sake of Christ: take them to lunch or coffee, talk and pray with them; host a student or college leader retreat at your lake or country house; donate to the cost of summer retreat for a high school student or provide a work day for students to earn money toward camp ($750 total); provide food for the Monday night YL Club; host a Sunday

Cuba Ministry. Provide medicines and other materials for our sister church in Luyano, Havana. Join the next group to visit in summer or fall, 2015. Contact Jack Kern, jackckern@sbcglobal.net

e3 Partners. Join e3 Partners on a churchplanting trip to the Toposa people of Sudan in spring 2015. Contact Patricia Caroom, patricia.caroom@e3partners.org

If you have a particular skill or passion that doesn’t fit any of these, please contact Melissa Gaskill, mlg6310@sbcglobal.net. God is calling you!

SUBMITTED BY MELISSA GASKILL

MENDING MINDS, BODIES The Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care is a non-profit interfaith counseling center whose mission is to improve the mental, physical and spiritual health of adults, children and families in Central Texas. The Center aims to provide accessible and affordable mental health care, particularly to children and families who have no health 12

insurance and veterans struggling with the emotional wounds of war. The Samaritan Center strives to serve everyone, regardless of the ability to pay.

Covenant member Don Zappone works part-time as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) intern at the Samaritan Center.

Upon retiring from his first career,

Don went back to school and received a master’s in professional counseling. “I enjoy working at the Samaritan Center due to its wonderful collegial atmosphere and support. I am able to see low-income individuals, couples and families on a sliding fee scale basis who might not otherwise be able to afford mental health services,” Don said.

“We are thrilled—as much as one can be in a crisis situation—to have found the Samaritan Center, and are so grateful that our daughter is seeing one of your therapists. You are a Godsend.”

—Mother of a teenage client The Center was founded 40 years ago on a holistic philosophy that there is a close relationship between the mind, body, spirit and community and that optimal healthcare is achieved only by caring for all four. As professionally licensed mental health counselors trained to incorporate an individual’s own spiritual beliefs and values in the counseling process, staff members understand spirituality can provide a source of comfort and strength during troubling times.

In the past few years, the Samaritan Center added an integrative medicine program, which provides acupuncture, Chinese

medicine, biofeedback, neurofeedback, massage, yoga and tai chi. Combining these nontraditional therapies with traditional talk therapy treats the physical symptoms of mental health problems (such as insomnia, anxiety and pain) that cannot be treated by talk therapy alone.

“The Samaritan Center completely changed my life. It would be a huge detriment to our veterans to not have the Samaritan Center’s Hope for Heroes program. Having a safe place to go and deal with some of the issues I was having after returning from combat helped me so much.”

—Hope for Heroes client Addressing an enormous issue and an alarming statistic: 22 veterans a day are taking their own lives, the Samaritan Center created their Hope for Heroes Program in 2007. Samaritan employees fill a critical need

providing mental health and integrative medicine services to more than 3,500 veterans and families.

The Pentagon estimates 40 percent of returning veterans will need mental health care for severe depression, PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Nearly 50 percent will receive no treatment.

There are almost no services for family members. Through Hope for Heroes, those who have served our country and their families experience increased mental health and wellness, improved relationships and a sense of hopefulness for the future.

For more information, contact the Samaritan Center at (512) 451-7337. To make a donation, visit samaritan-center.org and click Donate Now. SUBMITTED BY WHITNEY MUSITANO, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, SAMARITAN CENTER

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JOYFUL NOISES IN CUBA In October 2013, I made my first trip to Luyanò with 13 others. It was an eye-opening experience. The people are loving and joyful. I took a set of handchimes, hoping children and youth would use them.

Fast forward to summer 2014. I saw a photo of the Cuban youth group working on a project. I was certain the chimes had not been used, so I asked Jack Kern to send an email asking if I could work with the group during our fall trip. Jack received an answer the same day—a resounding “yes!”

In October, five Covenant people packed as much as we could into 10 bags—medical supplies, gifts for children, yarn and fabric for the sewing circle, baby clothes, and anything else we could fit. Victor Mikeska, a group member, took a lot of medical equipment. He met with Rolando, a cardiologist and Luyanò member, to give it to him. Rolando was overwhelmed and so grateful.

Our small group was interesting, and we shared lots of fellowship and laughter. Upon our arrival

in Havana, we had a little scare. Our visas were at the airport, but we were delayed going through immigration. Finally Jack talked to an official who told us we had to talk to a doctor. What?! We had filled out health forms as we arrived but didn’t think much about it. Finally the officials said “You’re from Texas.” Jack tried to explain that we were 200 miles from Dallas, where a patient had recently been diagnosed with Ebola. It didn’t matter. We had our temperatures taken before we could leave the airport and then to our surprise, every day in Luyanò and even when we went to the seminary in Matanzas.

The highlight for me was the opportunity to work with the youth group. After youth night where the kids—and members of our group—sang, danced and played games, I met with the youth group to work on handchimes. They were so excited and quickly learned handchime basics. We had 90 minutes together. On Sunday, they decided to play for church. (I didn’t know until they started setting up.)That day, Christmas came early to Luyanò: the youth accompanied Maylin, who played “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger” on violin.

Since then Maylin has been teaching the youth group and Yaimi has been teaching her Sunday school class “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” to practice their alphabet. Maylin has sent me photos and some audio files of the playing at Christmas that are wonderful.

SUBMITTED BY LINDA RUTHERFORD

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PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN The 2015 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women is June 18-21 in Minneapolis. Themed “One Body, One Spirit,” the 2015 Gathering will be an opportunity for Presbyterian women from across the country (and the world) to gather for worship, education, community-building, fun and renewal. Participants enjoy workshops, tours, forums, speakers and worship. PW’s triennial business meeting also takes place. Budget, leadership and programmatic emphases are decided. The Gathering takes place every three years.

Many programs and all activities at the event explore the

theme in the context of a diverse, faithful sisterhood. Programs include: Conversation with the 2012–2015 PW Churchwide Moderators, Count Me In! Including People with Disabilities in the Life of the Church; The Domestic Workers Movement; and more. The gathering offers book groups, a spirituality center and exercise classes.

To learn how to make meeting and hotel reservations, go to covenant.org/2015PWgathering.

Contact Cheryl Banks at (512)-789-2696.

PW would also like to thank Covenant members and groups

for supporting the Equal Exchange/Presbyterian Coffee Project. With your help, the group sold 156 bags/canisters of coffee and cocoa for a total in sales of just over $900! All the coffee served at the 2014 PW May Spring Luncheon, Fall Kick Off Brunch and Girls’ Night Out was Equal Exchange coffee.

Equal Exchange, with partners like Covenant, is changing the way trade happens around the world. Each purchase directly benefits and strengthens the hardworking people and communities that make these delicious products possible.

SUBMITTED BY EMILY MCGINNIS

CLERK’S CORNER One of Session’s bigger, more time-consuming tasks is to approve the annual budget based on the congregation’s pledges and church needs. An exciting moment during that process was approving the “dream budget” submitted by each of the committees and staff. I’m a bookkeeper, so I probably find this kind of stuff more interesting than most people, but the joy

came in realizing that we had asked staff and committees to dream and God, through the congregation, provided for those dreams. The Session spent some time at our December meeting having each liaison report on the dreams and the budget narrative that had been proposed by each committee. A few highlights include: funds that will allow the Denominational Affairs

Committee to shepherd any new inquirers about ordained ministry who might ask to come under our care, money to make our facilities more hospitable for guests, more 15

opportunities for congregational care through a cancer care and support ministry, a mission trip to Belize, new robes for children, and facility maintenance, including more reliable wi-fi. We restored some previous personnel cuts and eligible staff received a 3 percent cost of living increase.

An even more exciting discussion occurred around how we should steward the funds that were pledged over and beyond the dream budget. After much discussion in December, prayer over the following month, and more discussion in January, Session voted to follow the Biblical command to love our neighbors as ourselves by dividing the pledges evenly between missions and

debt reduction. We joyfully give out of the abundance with which we have been blessed and also remember our responsibility to be debt free as soon as possible. By accelerating principal payments, we avoid paying interest.

We heard a report from the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee. The group is working to discern who God might be calling to be the associate pastor of discipleship. Please pray for wisdom and stamina for them.

pray for this group as it develops recommendations Finally, we reviewed the rolls of active and inactive church members. Elders and deacons contacted people who had not been active in some time. At the end of the process, the official membership of the congregation stands at 1,377 members. Many thanks to Maureen Crawley, assistant to Thomas Daniel, for her tremendous work in this effort.

A task force is looking at the Sunday morning schedule with an eye on worship, discipleship and fellowship. Many of you have shared your opinions through a survey. We appreciate it! Please

BLESSINGS,

FINANCE REPORT

Financial Update

For Period Ended December 31, 2014

YTD YTD Actual Budget

$ 2,870,400 $2,843,500 2,669,519 2,843,177 200,881 323

GENERAL FUND*

Revenues

Expenses Net Surplus

BUILDING FUND

Total Loan Balance

$ 6,511,819 Scheduled Principal Payments YTD 109,731 EXTRA PAYMENT-­‐MATCHING FUND! 772,000

*Information presented is internally prepared and subject to audit adjustments.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS EXPLORE MEMBERSHIP CLASS

AUSTIN PRESBYTERIAN PILGRIMAGE #39

Sundays in February, 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Feb. 26 – March 1 at Camp Buckner in Marble Falls jwhite@austin.rr.com

VISIONS ACTIVITIES DAY

Tuesday, Feb. 3, in FE 200 at 10 a.m.

COVENANT’S GOT TALENT

Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. in FE 200 PRAYER SERIES FINAL MEETING

Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 6:15 p.m., FE 200

CROP WALK

Sunday, March 1, at Camp Mabry ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS

Thursday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. in FE 200

VISIONS ACTIVITIES DAY,

Tuesday, March 3, 10 a.m. in FE 200 COVENANT PRAYER WALK

Saturday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m.

Webb Middle School Family Resource Center (601 E. St. Johns Ave.)

PRESCHOOL FUNDRAISER

Saturday, March 7, 5:30-8:30 at Santa Rita Cantina DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME STARTS

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 6:15 in the Sanctuary BELIZE MISSION TRIP FOR YOUTH MOMS LUNCH BUNCH

March 15-22

Monday, Feb. 9, at 11:30 a.m in FE 107 VISIONS LUNCHEON JAZZ SUNDAY

Tuesday, March 17, at 11:45 a.m. in FE 200

Sunday, Feb. 15, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Traditional Services No Contemporary Worship Jambalaya lunch after services

PW SPRING GATHERING

VISIONS LUNCHEON

PALM SUNDAY

Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 11:45 a.m. in FE 200

Sunday, March 29

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE

HOLY WEEK NOON SERVICES, SANCTUARY

Wednesday, Feb. 18, at noon and 6:30, Sanctuary

March 30 and 31, and April 1 at 12 p.m.

Followed by light lunch

March 20-22 at Mo Ranch

COUNTERFEIT GODS TEACHING SERIES

Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 6:15 in FE 200

17

3003 Northland Drive Austin, TX 78757

OFFICERS AND STAFF OF COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DEACONS

ELDERS

CLASS OF 2015

CLASS OF 2016

CLASS OF 2017

CLASS OF 2015

CLASS OF 2016

CLASS OF 2017

Susan Ashton Jill Baumhover Wendell Bell Sylvia Betts Rusty Burnett Carolyn Carmichael Steve Caskey Lynda Chapman 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

Pat Beckham Charlene Cole Daphne Corder Al DiCristofaro Allison Dwyer Marv Hackert Tom Hutchison Barbara Knisely Dorothy Layne Patsy Martin A.V. Ootsey Kathleen Reish Mike Rhoades Ruth Rhoades Will Schmidt Carol Sheppard Florita Sheppard Brent Stover Lee Terrell Lorrie Terrell Adele Trigg Greg Wilson Sandy Youman Wesley Young

Don Davis Evangeline Herring Chuck Ruesink Melanie Williamson Cindy Young

Paul Askenasy Jennifer Maham Deb Rieber John Ruwwe Frank Sheppard

Joe Denton Susan Holman Thais Kilday James Marroquin Clark Weatherby

FOUNDATION TRUSTEES CLASS OF 2015

CLASS OF 2016

CLASS OF 2017

Dave Ferguson Jack Kern Mary Teeple

Larry Faulkner JoAnne McIntosh Tana Taylor

Dianne Erlewine

PROGRAM STAFF Thomas R. Daniel, Senior Pastor Thomas W. Brown, Director of Music Ministry Duane Dube, Director of Administration Jill Williams, Associate Pastor for Congregational Care Ministries Christy Milam, Director of Preschool John Schmidt, Organist Stephanie Schultz, Director of Communications Stacey Grooms, Director of Children and Preteen Ministry Nathan Richards, Director of Student Ministries Jerry Wise, Contemporary Music Leader Derek Nafe, Creative Arts Producer