Cornerstone June 2016

CORNERSTONE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | JUNE 2016

Covenant families built relationships while serving the people of Belize during Spring Break. “The greatest impact isn’t necessarily going to be in Belize,” Middle School Ministry Director Whitney Bell said, “but seeing how God uses those experiences to impact Covenant and Austin.” Read about the trip on pages 5–7.

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 CLARK WEATHERBY 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 ELIZABETH CHRISTIAN, ALISON MEANS, PAUL MOWRY, JON WASSON PHOTOGRAPHY CHERYL BANKS, TERRY COLE, ELIZABETH CHRISTIAN, HILARY PITTMAN, STEPHANIE SCHULTZ, MAGGIE TATE 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

WITH PURPOSE

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Being sent changes everything 3

COMMON GOOD

Covenant’s work with refugees is a blessing for all 11

A blueprint for tackling tough issues with love 4

LIFE TOGETHER

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IN GOD’S HANDS

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PRICELESS SHOES

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REDEEMED MINISTRIES

BOOKING IT TO ZAMBIA

Mission focuses on large youth population

Proper footwear results in surprising outcomes 9

LAST GIFT FROM A PARENT

Specific wishes give you peace of mind

Belize trip is fruitful despite late change 8

SOONER THAN YOU THINK

The right time to have “the sex talk” is now

New friendships, fresh insights among benefits 5

CALL THEM CHRISTIANS

CLERK’S CORNER

Session explores many exciting initiatives 16

FINANCE UPDATE

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Austin not immune to human trafficking problem Summer activities at Covenant

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

WITH PURPOSE The knowledge that you are “sent” To my shock, in the third quarter our coach called for a pass changes everything. that was to come my way. I can still remember the feeling in the When I entered middle school, I huddle when I realized Coach had made a decision to play on the sent in a play for me. I sprinted to seventh grade football team. my position and ran as hard as I Before then, basketball had been my favorite sport, but I had come could to get open for the pass. I remember the ball sailing through to realize football was the dominant sport that folks followed and the air, catching it in my hands and then being immediately tackrespected. While people liked led for a gain of about six inches. basketball, they LOVED football.

Needless to say, the coach never called another pass play and our After a week of tryouts, I learned season ended that afternoon.

I had made the team and was named the team’s starting wide I knew that day football was not receiver. This may sound like quite an accomplishment except for me. I wound up focusing on for two issues: 1. Everybody who basketball for the rest of middle tried out made the team. 2. Our school and high school. I wanted coach had explained on the first to play a sport where I was conday of practice that we had an sistently sent out with a purpose, amazing running back and we rather than standing on a field. would never throw the ball.

Being “sent” changes everything.

True to his word, the coach called only two plays throughout the This summer at Covenant, we year: “run right” and “run left.” will engage a teaching series on This meant I would block the Sunday mornings that will look at person in front of me and the the first half of the Book of Acts. action never got close to us.

In chapter one, Jesus’ final words remind us, “you shall be my witOur team made the region playnesses to the world.” In other offs and in our first-round game, words, we are sent out by God to declare the hope of the resurrecwe were losing by quite a bit. tion and to exhibit the Kingdom

of God to the world. What a wonderful cause to live for!

What does it mean, for instance, that we do not live in Austin, but rather God has sent us to Austin?

That we will not be traveling over summer, but we are being sent on a trip that has a divine purpose?

That our graduating high school students are not going to college, but are being sent there?

Being a Christian is to understand our primary call is as God’s sent people...and being “sent” changes everything.

I am gateful to be on this journey with each of you!

JOYFULLY,

THOMAS DANIEL SENIOR PASTOR

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COMMON GOOD Euthanasia. Black lives matter. Gun control.

Legalization of marijuana. Gender fluidity. Muslims and Christians. Artificial intelligence, smart robots and the nature of the human soul. Wealth distribution among wealthy for-profit companies and poor communities. Reintegration of ex-convicts.

Our moral responsibility to Native Americans and children in the foster care system. And, of course, Republicans and Democrats.

These topics are a sample of the issues tackled in just two days at the Q conference in Denver this past April. According to Ethan Burris, a conference attendee from Covenant, each of the topics could have provided the material for an entire weekend or, said the University of Texas professor, “a full semester of analysis, discourse, research and debate.”

Ethan was part of a small team from Covenant.

Q — which stands for questions — is a TED-like

conference and platform that seeks to inspire Christians to seek the renewal of all things in Jesus Christ. The Q strategy is to bring people together, expose them to new or different perspectives, have a conversation, and then find ways to collaborate for the purpose of individual and cultural renewal.

Learn more on the Q website (qideas.org).

The Covenant team participated in the conference to prepare for Q Commons, an Oct. 13 event Covenant is hosting in partnership with Q. That day, Covenant will be the meeting point for important conversations about the common good in Austin.

Ethan expressed initial concern on the divisive content on the April conference agenda. “In a room of more than 1,200 people, each one of these topics has the explosive potential to devolve into shouting matches where people talk past one another.” Ethan

Danny Barnes

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was concerned that there would be some intense conversations and a level of discomfort.

appreciating a diversity of thought, cultivating civility and seeing a little bit of God in all of us.”

But he said “a beautiful thing happened.” At a panel with Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, a conservative evangelical Christian ministry, and Ted Trimpa, who leads an advocacy group that lobbies in support of gay rights, the two men talked with one another. They discovered mutual interests and passions to solve social problems together. For two years, Daly and Trimpa worked together to pass legislation, attract resources and coordinate efforts to battle sex crimes and trafficking in Colorado.

CherryLynn Burris, another conference attendee, returned to Austin optimistic. “I came away with a renewed understanding that listening with an open heart and mind to those with different interpretations and opinions is the way to advance discussion.

And that a compassionate response in any given situation, even when opinions differ, tempers flare and feelings are hurt, is the best model of a Christian I can be. Approaching differences with love is the way to find common ground to make progress.”

Amy Sint, another Q Conference attendee from Covenant, agreed. “The two men joined forces, leveraging their connections and knowledge of the legislative process to pass anti-human trafficking laws in Colorado. The men accepted their significant differences to protect vulnerable children, and in the process, they became great friends.

Amy said the two-day conference inspired her and many others to re-evaluate their goals, their organizations and their own views. She said she and other attendees left with ideas about how to “overcome our habits or fears to meet needs and address suffering in our local and global communities.”

“Their success and partnership is a testament to the power God has to spark great things,” Amy continued. “That starts with embracing difficult topics,

Covenant members and guests will get a chance to be inspired at the Q Commons event on Oct. 13 at Covenant. Stay tuned for more information.

SUBMITTED BY JON WASSON

LIFE TOGETHER During Lent, about 300 adults gathered weekly in Covenant Groups to share their lives and journey to the cross together.

Intergenerational groups, adult groups, young adult groups, and groups for men and womemet in homes, at restaurants or at Covenant. Over the course of eight weeks, the groups explored 4

the Rule of St. Benedict to consider how to live out their faith more intentionally. They shared stories and prayed for one another. Many participants shared that the experience yielded new friendships and insights, and a deeper sense of belonging. (Read group member quotes on the next page.)

The majority of the groups that met for the first time during Lent have discerned God calling them to continue sharing their lives together. Our hope is that Covenant Groups continue to cultivate authentic, deep relationships that God might use to transform lives. If you would like to get involved in a Covenant

Group, you may sign up for new fall groups in August. If you would like more information or to get involved before fall, visit covenant.org/covenantgroups or contact Jon Wasson at jwasson@covenant.org.

“At the risk of sounding absurdly corny, I will say there may not be enough positive adjectives to describe how our group has nourished my faith. These six women Pictured left to right Greg and Julie Winn-Neff, Nick and Alison Means, have become close, keeper friends Marc, Hilary and Avery Pittman, Andrew, Levi, Aga and Lila Crump in a short time. When they say, ‘I am praying for you,’ I believe them, and this reliance adds a depth and gratitude to our friendship that may not appear for years in a more conventional friendship.”

“Before participating in this group, I felt like one small fish in a very large pond (being new). Participating in the group helped me to make new friends and to understand what being part of a church should really be about. I have learned so many things about growing my faith, focusing on what’s important and what it means to have spiritual friendships. I really think everyone should sign up to be in a Covenant Group!”

“This box will never be big enough for an adequate reply. Short answer: in SO many wonderful, meaningful ways.”

IN GOD’S HANDS It was in God’s hands …

Though it always is, the family mission trip to Belize felt particularly that way this year when Middle School Ministry Director Whitney Bell learned in January that Ebenezer Church, the church Covenant worked with last year, had a leadership change.

The change was described as “tumultuous” and the Covenant team was informed that their March visit might be distracting.

The 15 students and 14 adults set to go on the trip had been meeting since August, talking about and setting expectations based on the previous year’s trip. With the troubling news from Belize, the team prayed for God to lead them. “We packed up and went to Belize unsure of our work,” Whitney said.

Once there, the Covenant group met with Tim Tam, Word at Work executive director. (Word at Work is the organization Covenant partners with in Belize.)

The team narrowed multiple work options to a few: 5

digging a foundation for a local church, tutoring and mentoring kids in an afterschool program aimed to protect them from human trafficking, and working with the only hospice care in the country.

The different projects enabled Covenant team members to use their own gifts. “There was a deep richness in having people do different things,” Whitney said. But she emphasized, “The number one goal of the trip is the missional discipleship of Covenant’s people. It’s less of the idea of us serving there, more of us going, getting fed and coming back filled to minister to those around us. The greatest impact isn’t necessarily going be in Belize, but seeing how God uses those experiences to impact Covenant and Austin.”

Whitney said while Covenant’s original ministry partnership with Ebenezer Church is on hold, the team is hoping God will make the way for that relationship to continue. Until then, Whitney and the rest of the team are thankful the partnership has expanded to many different areas.

The Belize team starts meeting in August. The stories below highlight the experiences of some of Covenant’s Belize travelers. If you and/or your family is interested in learning more about the trip, contact Whitney at wbell@covenant.org.

James Wittenberg, a dad on the trip, said his daughter Rachel dragged him to Belize and the trip surprised him. “It was one of the most intense times of reflection that I’ve had on my faith.”

James said: “It’s so easy to communicate with God when you’re struggling and in times of great need.

But as a young adult, you work hard to refine your judgment and the decisions you make. If you work at that, life can be comfortable with few struggles.”

James said listening to the young people on the trip, he remembered a time when he saw the world with different eyes. He was struck by kids’ “energy and purity of passion” and encouraged them to embrace the experience. “You will remember this all your life,” he told the kids. “Tap into the connection you had in Belize. It will help you in years ahead” Tess McCarty “My goal was to see God, because people had said He was so present in Belize,” Tess McCarty said. “I was expecting to see God in a big, massive way.

To say I had high hopes was an understatement.”

Tess was part of the digging group. “I dug dirt every day for five hours. I was getting jealous and a bit angry with God as I listened to members of the hospice group tell really emotional and moving stories about their work. I was trying to relate, but all I could think of was digging, digging, digging …”

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It was late in the trip when Tess talked to Whitney about her concerns. Whitney reminded Tess of the story of Elijah who looked for God in a big wind, in the earthquake and in the fire, but when he sat in between rocks, he felt God in a small breeze.

The day before leaving Belize, Tess chatted with Katelyn Richards, wife of Student Ministry Director Nathan Richards. “It was a small conversation,” Tess said, “but God came to me in that conversation. He told me why I was in Belize—to do things that I usually don’t do—and He told me how I could use my knowledge at home. It was not to do mission work, but to look up, put my phone down and see people.”

Tab McCarty, twin sister of Tess, said Belize made her reorganize her priorities. “Being a Christian, we are told God first, then other people, then ourselves. I knew that before going to Belize but I would put down the Bible, and focus on school and friends. In Belize, everything changed.”

Tab, also on the digging and tutoring projects, was touched by an experience with one small, quiet girl.

The girl asked Tab to tutor her, yet when the two got ready to work, the girl repeatedly put her head down. Tab worried she wasn’t doing her job properly—until she looked at the situation differently.

“We stopped doing homework and started talking,” Tab said. “I realized our goal wasn’t finishing homework. We were there to build relationships.”

Marjon Ahmadian is a planner. In fact, she has a life plan; she made it alone without help from the world or from God. She wants to be a gynecologist who protects women’s rights. She hoped the trip to Belize wouldn’t sway her plan.

Marjon, a future University of Texas student, was on the hospice team. On the first day, she asked a doctor how he deals with all the death. He told her when he knows the time is coming, he starts to put up a wall— a wall that reminds him death is part of the circle of life.

Helping with the hospice group, Marjon felt like she had a purpose. Anticipating her return to Austin and life without the same sense of purpose, she decided to put up a wall of her own.

But for Marjon, the wall didn’t work. She couldn’t separate herself from the work she was doing or from the people she met, and she decided to let herself fall. Marjon said she fell outrageously in love with the people of Belize.

Back in Austin, the trip didn’t change Marjon’s mind about her life goal, it just changed her way of thinking. “I still want to be a gynecologist,” she said, “but now I’m on a journey. No matter where we are, we are okay because where love and generosity are, God is there, too.”

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PRICELESS SHOES Clients served by Street Youth Ministry (SYM) generally take one of three paths to escape the streets: find a job, reunite with family or go to school. In this story, one of a series, a volunteer’s in-kind donation paid big benefits for one young man.

The subject was shoes – what a street-dependent youth was wearing, what he replaced them with, and how the connection he made with SYM changed his life.

When he first ran into Terry Cole, Gage was walking uncomfortably and noisily down Guadalupe Street wearing flip-flops that were biting into his feet. As Terry struck up a conversation, he learned that Gage was frustrated about his footwear. He needed real shoes so he could get a job, and he could find none.

“I offered to walk with him to our tiny office and let him look through some donated shoes,” Terry recalled. “He agreed. Not a big deal—or so I thought.”

As they walked, Terry worked to start a conversation. How could he be praying for Gage? he asked.

“I’m good” was the quick answer. The trip was interrupted repeatedly as Terry stopped to check on clients. “When I started the ministry in 2008,” he said, “I can remember walking up and down The Drag several times in an hour trying to meet clients. Now it can take an hour just to walk one way down our ‘area’ because we stop and check in with everybody.”

There, in a cardboard box delivered weeks before by a student volunteer, was a collection of walking boots once worn by members of a college marching band. One of them fit. Terry coupled the gift with a pair of new socks, purchased by a supporter on Smile.Amazon.com.

Gage watched patiently, and waited.

Gage rubbed the cuts on his feet, pulled on the socks and tried on the shoes. He exclaimed with a big smile, “You have no idea how long it’s been since I had shoes that fit right!” He slipped the offending flip-flops into the trash can with great satisfaction.

Eventually, they reached the “office,” a small room provided courtesy of St. Austin’s Catholic Parish.

Terry let him go through boxes of donated toiletries and clothing, and he gathered a few items. When

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he turned to leave, Terry asked again, “How can I be This situation is very familiar to Terry. “I was able praying with you?” This time, Gage paused and said, to give him direction right away,” he said. “Long “Help to forgive.” Terry asked if he cared to share for story short, he got help from social workers to whom. “To my surprise, he did and began telling me get enrolled in ACC, got his financial aid, and now about his father and why he left home at 15,” Terry he’s going to college classes this semester. He’s a said. “I provided guidance counseling on forgivedeclared double major in engineering and music!” ness, including integrating the Gospel and some of his own faith beliefs he had shared. He left with a “We wish all our stories turned out so well so lot to ponder.” quickly,” Terry said. “Our clients are creative and resourceful. We know there is always a way! In In the days that followed, Terry had the chance to Kingdom values, what was the value of those shoes, provide Gage employment counseling at SYM’s socks, toiletries and college textbooks? I think they weekly job club gathering. “The thought of taking will turn out to be priceless.” a ‘soul-sucking’ entry-level job paralyzed Gage.

The anxiety was palpable. I suggested college as a To see the in-kind donations most useful to SYM, go possible way to gain confidence and open different to needs.streetyouthministry.org. doors,” Terry said. Gage really wanted to, but didn’t know how to overcome the hurdles to get in.

SUBMITTED BY PAUL MOWRY

REDEEMED MINISTRIES When you hear the phrase “human trafficking,” what do you think of? Many think of the transportation of people from one country to another, using coercion, fraud or drugs to provide labor or services, including sex.

The crime is international in scope, and several organizations have been created to combat it, and to rescue and rehabilitate the victims. One such organization is the International Justice Mission (IJM), which was introduced to Covenant members earlier this year when Joe Farrell

of IJM delivered a sermon and Joy Baskin staffed an information table between services.

You may be surprised to learn that human trafficking occurs right here in Austin. Covenant’s mission committee is partnering with the IJM and with Redeemed Ministries, a Christian anti-sex trafficking organization that operates in Austin, Houston, Dallas and Chicago.

Redeemed was founded in 2005 with the mission: “to bring Christ’s loving redemption and

amazing liberation within our communities by providing environments conducive for holistic healing and guiding adult survivors of domestic sex trafficking to healthy, productive and independent living.”

Trained volunteers seek out local victims of trafficking, establish connections with them, persuade them to leave the “life,” provide 9

them shelter and rehabilitation, and marshal resources with a goal of restoring them to a happy, productive, normal life.

Redeemed finds victims in motels, residences, on-line, on the street and at sex-oriented storefront businesses. They operate with the cooperation of Austin police.

Redeemed volunteers work in teams. For every outreach team working with victims inside an establishment, a team outside is praying for them.

Covenant members and/or small groups wishing to learn more about Redeemed can look for announcements in upcoming Covenant Matters. There are several ways to help right now:

Redeemed provides a 30-day assessment for a victim at one location, followed by 12 to 18

• Pray for the staff and volunteers in their outreach.

months

Calli Norris is director of operations for the Austin branch.

She’s an Austin native who spent several years fighting trafficking overseas, then returned home in 2012 and joined Redeemed.

She’s one of two paid staff members here; everyone else is a volunteer.

of

• Pray for victims.

• Attend a Redeemed orientation to learn about the mission.

• Teach a Bible study or life skills class – crafts, cooking, computers, etc. – at a rehab location.

healing and restoration in a second location. Last stop is a

• Join an outreach team.

(Redeemed also has a team that works in a group learning format with women serving in the Austin city jail system.)

transitional home in Houston.

“First and foremost,” she said, Over the past four months, when asked how Covenant can three women from Austin have support the ministry, “Redeemed entered the program. Currently, would like you to pray for our Redeemed in Austin has 75 volministry and the victims we serve. unteers working with as many as To combat the evils of human 40 victims. The organization was trafficking, we need prayer supfeatured in a 2014 anti-trafficking port above all else.” film “In Plain Sight.”

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For more information, contact Karen Maxwell at (512) 413-3336 or karen.maxwell12@gmail.com.

You may also contact Calli at calli@redeemedministries.com or visit redeemedministries.com.

SUBMITTED BY PAUL MOWRY

CALL THEM CHRISTIANS Covenant’s work with refugee families continues to be a blessing to the families, but perhaps even more so to the volunteers. Thais Kilday is one such volunteer. “I am touched and honored and grateful to be part of this ministry. It has definitely been a step out of the boat, and it feels like God is smiling,” she said.

Thais said the Covenant team has “fallen in love with our family.” She provided an example of how the church has stepped up to show God’s love.

second-floor balcony. Though the apartment is not up to current code, the railing was grandfathered in.

Apartment management would not change the situation, but would allow Jen to make an adjustment.

Jen purchased wire fencing and spent hours attaching child-safe fencing to the balcony of the Covenant-sponsored family’s second-story apartment balcony, and to the balconies of the other refugee friends they had met. The father of that family posted a Facebook picture of Jen working. Team member Mohsen Ahmadian translated the post:

During Holy Week, Covenant member Jen Genovesi saw the two-year-old son of the refugee family put his head through the railing on the family’s “Because of my children’s safety, this lady has purchased a new fence and placed it over our balcony.

This reminded me of a poem by Parvin Etesami:

“Preacher asked his son: ‘Do you know what it means to be a Moslem? To do no harm and to serve the people and worship God, are the keys to a good life.’

Said the Son: ‘In our city there is such a Moslem with such criteria, but he calls himself a Christian!’”

To volunteer for this ministry, contact Jeanne Ditta at jeanneditta@juno.com or Ann Brown at atbrown@utexas.edu.

SOONER THAN YOU THINK I was not yet expecting to start laying the foundation for “The Sex Talk” with my five-year-old son.

Though recently, we were on the playground and a slightly older

girl was sharing WAY too much about things she had witnessed between her mama and her last two boyfriends. I knew a friend might tell my kids more than I

was comfortable with when they reached middle school or even fifth grade, but I wouldn’t have thought my five-year old would hear about this now.

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My husband, Nick, and I had the privilege of attending Mary Flo Ridley’s, “Sooner Than You Think,” the parent education night hosted by the Preschool and Children’s Ministry in April. Mary Flo is a mother of three grown children. She has been sharing how to talk to your kids about sex for more than 20 years. Her explanation is simple and full of God’s beauty . We are already unfolding this story with our son rather than waiting to have an uncomfortable conversation with him when he hits puberty.

Mary Flo is adamant that we talk to our children about sex, or our culture will and it will happen far sooner than we’re prepared for.

This information is too important to be left to schoolyard conversations, so Ridley and her husband started them early. They taught their kids to tell their friends, “We already learned about this at home,” and to walk away. By starting so young, they established themselves as the experts so their kids didn’t rely on bad information from their friends.

To start us on this journey, Mary Flo encouraged everyone to answer the question “What is the main thing about sex that I want my children to know?” Knowing your central truth enables you

revisited the conversation: “Do you remember asking how your sister would come out of my belly? Well, now that you’re older, I want to share a little more with you about that!”

to steer your conversations on sex toward this answer. For Mary Flo and her husband, that answer was “Sex is a gift from God intended for marriage.” That allowed them to focus on the beauty and boundaries of sex.

To keep conversations ageappropriate, she encourages giving children accurate, simple explanations and holding off on conversations about the dangers and pressures of sex until kids are older. She also encourages starting early with anatomically-correct names so these terms aren’t new when you have more serious conversations closer to puberty.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, my son asked, “How will the baby get out of your body?” I didn’t have a great ageappropriate answer, but thanks to Mary Flo I do now. I recently

He was interested, so I continued: “Do you remember how we talked about everything having a seed or an egg? Well, every mommy has an egg and every daddy has a seed, and by God’s design, they come together to form a baby in the mother’s womb, a special place in the belly God made to grow babies. When the baby is ready to come out, the mommy feels squeezing in her belly and these feelings help push the baby through an opening between the mommy’s legs. Isn’t that amazing?!”

Now our five-year old knows it’s the parents’ job to talk to their children about sex (though he doesn’t know that word yet) and that it’s not okay for him to talk to his friends about it. I’m amazed how confident and prepared I feel to have these conversations. I’m so glad I can start building trust now so he’ll come to me later when he has tough questions.

If you’d like to learn more, visit Ridley’s website at maryflo.org SUBMITTED BY ALISON MEANS

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LAST GIFT FROM A PARENT Sometimes, the loss of a loved one is sudden. These types of losses bring sorrows and challenges, and my prayers are with any of you who have gone through an unexpected death in your family.

All too often, however, we lose our parents at the end of long illnesses. This article is geared for families dealing with this sad and unfortunate scenario. That said, we’re hopeful that anyone in the Covenant community, whether or not you’re grappling with an aging and ill loved one, can glean useful information from my experience.

My mother, Jo Anne Christian, passed away last November. She was diagnosed in early August and gone a scant four months later.

Mom did so much right. She was in complete control of her treatment (or lack thereof.

She declined chemotherapy when told she could not be cured of the lung cancer that would eventually take her life); she stayed active until the very end; and she spent her final days telling people she loved good-bye

in a dignified, memorable, happy way. This has proved to be of enormous comfort to my siblings and me because we know that, while she did not want to exit stage left quite this soon, she did so with an abundance of faith in God and on her own terms.

However, I fervently wish we’d had time to do a few things before Mom died. I wish we had all gathered with her in her home and walked through the house, hearing stories, understanding why she kept this knick-knack or that book, and working together to joyously divide the treasured heirlooms with her help, not sadly and in the midst of grief after she was gone. I wish she’d had time to write notes to each of us and to capture family lore that we need to know. So much was stored in her very bright mind, and we’re now left without our encyclopedia.

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On a more practical note, I wish she’d had a large three-ring binder with everything—insurance, wills, house information, etc.—all in one place.

4) Make a video or write letters to each of your loved ones and tell them the family stories they need to know after you’re gone.

Finally, I wish that she had named a neutral third party as the executor of her estate. Instead, one of my siblings and I are handling this very challenging task. Yes, complicated, even with a modern will, a trust and everything else one is told to put in place.

It’s awfully hard to muscle through the steps of executing an estate when you are grieving a parent.

5) Be specific about who you want to have which heirloom. Consider doing this as part of a family gathering. Try to make it a celebration of a lifetime of collecting things that mean something to you.

So here are some ideas for gifts you can leave your family, with the biggest bonus being the peace of mind that comes from knowing your wishes will be handled as you would have hoped: 1) Talk to your children about your faith. Make sure they know that you believe in God and in the resurrection of Jesus. This is the most amazing comfort you can impart.

2) Describe the type of funeral you want in detail and put as much of it in place or in writing as you can. Many people write their own obituaries—my father did; it was enormously helpful.

3) Make a notebook with your important papers, and include passwords for all online accounts.

6) Consider revisiting who your executor will be.

Prayerfully think through if you want to leave this job to one of your children or if it would make more sense to have a trust company or attorney handle it. Meet with the prospective executor and other beneficiaries while you can still talk through your wishes.

Covenant Presbyterian Foundation supports Covenant Presbyterian Church by assisting donors to be Faithful to Generations, during and beyond their own lives, by receiving and growing their gifts, and using them to help fulfill the donors’ glorification of God. For more information, visit covenant.org/foundation or contact Duane Dube or any trustee: Elizabeth Christian, Everard Davenport, Dianne Erlewine, Larry Faulkner, Helene Maham, JoAnne McIntosh, and Megan Poore.

BY ELIZABETH CHRISTIAN

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BOOKING IT TO ZAMBIA On July 13, Covenant members attend additional Cheryl and Emily Banks, and training programs.

Jaco Botes (who recently moved Covenant’s Zambia to Washington, D.C.) along Action Committee with the Rev. David Diercksen is paying for tuition and Michelle Taft, Seguin First and transport to Presbyterian Church, will travel to Livingstone to Zambia. Along with their personal attend the extra items, the team will pack 312 conferences. pounds of books they will use to help launch children’s ministry in “Our hope is that Lusaka, Zambia. after this summer, these five will be “That’s a lot of books for five of us able to lead these to get to Zambia and that’s not teachers’ traincounting our own bags,” Cheryl ing conferences, said. “But I know God will help us which we think find a way just as He has always will be a sustaindone on these trips.” able approach to launching chilOnce a medical mission trip, dren’s ministry,” the focus changed last year Cheryl said. “We’re training trainand now the group provides ers so they can carry on in the teachers’ training for children’s future!” ministry. This shift recognizes the large youth population of It will be winter and the dry Zambia. More than 47 percent of season when the team is in Zambians are under 17 years old.

Zambia. Cheryl said it’s typically in the 40s and 50s at night and in The small team from Texas is the 70s during the day. She also partnering with Liezl Pienaar, who said it’s usually windy and quite led the training conference last cool in the shade. The women year, and Rev. Lovemore Nyirenda. on the trip wear skirts or dresses Those two, along with three (below the knee) and men wear others who attended the 2015 slacks, and Cheryl said, they teachers’ training conference, will always dress in layers. Also, they

haul their flannel pajamas out of storage for the trip. Other essentials are shower shoes, refillable water bottles and a Bible.

Cheryl said, “We ask for prayers for the team, the ministry, the training and all the children and families who will be touched through the children’s ministry.”

If you are interested in learning more or getting more involved, contact Cheryl at Cherylbanks5@gmail.com.

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CLERK’S CORNER Grace and peace in the name of Christ from your Session! In April, we held the annual congregational meeting. Required by our Book of Order, this meeting gives us a chance to speak to the congregation about our finances, receive reports from the Foundation and all our committees, and for Thomas to speak about our year and our future.

We also remember members who passed away during 2015.

In April, we continued to study and pray around a possible vision statement. We accepted the financial audit of our 2015 books, which came with a clean and unqualified report. April was also the last meeting for our class of 2016 elders. If you see

Paul Askenasy, Jennifer Maham, Deb Rieber, John Ruwwe or Frank Sheppard, thank them for three years of service. It has been a pleasure to serve beside these elders. What changes we’ve seen!

In May, we welcomed the class of 2019 elders: Cheryl Banks, Dustin Johnson, Jim Rumbo, Kathryn Sedberry and Harold Skaggs.

We look forward to the gifts and passions this new class brings to Session at such a pivotal point in our congregational life.

Our new elders jumped right in, as we had a packed agenda.

Fuller Seminary presented how we can be intentional about being more missional. Fuller presented a challenging and exciting

FINANCE UPDATE Financial Update

For Year Ended April 30, 2016

GENERAL FUND Revenues* Expenses

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Actual

Budget

$1,152,389 992,895 159,494

$1,174,559 1,082,976 91,583

BUILDING FUND Total Loan Balance Principal Reduction YTD

$5,242,068 816,581

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PLEDGE TOTAL

$4,085,268

opportunity for Covenant, which will start with our pastors and leadership and move to the full congregation. Join us in praying to see God’s will for Covenant and our Institute for Missional Leadership.

The Opening Doors update is good news. At presstime (May 24), we have received over $3 million in pledges. Combined with the Covenant Foundation’s $1 million match, our total is exceeds $4.4 million.

I hope you have had a chance to enjoy one of the programs our dedicated musical staff has prepared, concluding with the Sanctuary Choir Concert on June 5. It is a wonderful time of the year to hear the many ways Covenant makes a joyful noise unto the Lord!

CLARK WEATHERBY

CALENDAR OF EVENTS MISSION PRESBYTERY AT COVENANT

MIDDLE SCHOOL MISSION TRIP

Friday, June 3 - Saturday, June 4

June 18-24 Oklahoma City, Okla.

SUMMER WORSHIP SERIES CONTINUES

Book of Acts, Sunday, June 5 – Aug. 28

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE STARTS

SANCTUARY CHOIR CONCERT

Sunday, June 19 Three services: 8:15, 9:30 and 11:05 Contemporary

Sunday, June 5 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church (901 Trinity)

REEL MINISTRY

July 6 – August 3, 7 p.m. in FE 200 STUDENT MINISTRY – FLOAT THE COMAL RIVER

Monday, June 6, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES DAY

Tuesday, July 5, 10 a.m. in FE 200 SENIOR ACTIVITIES DAY

Tuesday, June 7, 10 a.m. in FE 200

FUN IN THE SON

HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER NIGHTS

High School Bible Retreat July 10-15 South Padre Island, Texas

June 5, 12, 26 and July 17 and 24 Meet at the church, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

ZAMBIA MISSION TRIP MANOS BACK-TO-SCHOOL COLLECTION

July 13 departure

June 5, 12, 19 and 26 9:30 a.m. on the patio

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

MIDDLE SCHOOL POOL PARTIES START

Sunday, July 24, 9:30 and 11 a.m. in FE 400 (Check in like normal)

Wednesday, June 8 5 p.m. (visit covenant.org/studentministry)

TRIUMPH SPORTS CAMP

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL MEETING

All first-time and youth helpers Thursday, June 9, 6 p.m. in FE 200

Monday, July 25 – Thursday, July 28 1 to 4 p.m. in FE 400 (Contact ahellison@yahoo.com)

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

June 13-17 9 a.m. to noon, FE 200

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3003 Northland Drive Austin, TX 78757

OFFICERS AND STAFF OF COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DEACONS

ELDERS

CLASS OF 2017

CLASS OF 2018

CLASS OF 2019

CLASS OF 2017

CLASS OF 2018

CLASS OF 2019

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

Rhonda Brink-Green Diane Davis Sue DiCristofaro Judy Gunnels Laura Hargrave Christy Heimsath Margaret Hobgood Marsha LeGrand Lori Magruder Laura Marra Dave Maxwell Karen Maxwell Elizabeth McBride Susie McCaleb Emily McGinnis Marta Meyer Jim Palmer Alice Sessi Bill Short Richard Swallow Doug Vreeland Deon Wright Larry Zatopek

Julia Alejandre Leslie Bagby Lynn Brown Don G. Davis Karen Ellis Jason Florey Karen Jones Gina Lento Sarah McCracken John McFarlane Juan Medrano Sarah Ott Jennifer Palm Monique Penner Bob Peterson Deborah Robertson Jen Russell Amy Sint Allison Small Haden Spencer Monroe Talley Beth Voorhees Diane West

Joe Denton Susan Holman Thais Kilday James Marroquin Clark Weatherby

Matt Dow Kelly Dwyer Jack Kern Regina Schlotter Sharyn Westmoreland

Cheryl Banks Dustin Johnson Jim Rumbo Kathryn Sedberry Harold Skaggs

FOUNDATION TRUSTEES CLASS OF 2017

CLASS OF 2018

CLASS OF 2019

Dianne Erlewine Joanne McIntosh

Elizabeth Christian Everard Davenport Megan Poore

Helene Maham Larry Faulkner

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 Jon Wasson, Associate Pastor of Discipleship Christy Milam, Director of Preschool 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

Sunday Worship Times: Traditional Services 8:15, 9:30, and 11 a.m.

Contemporary Service 11:05 a.m.