Greetings,One of the important actions taken by ourMission Committee and approved by our Sessionwas to registerCovenantPresbyterianChurchasa“Matthew25Church”withourdenomination.ThePresbyterianMissionAgencyofthePresbyterianChurch(USA)describesitthiswayonourdenominationalwebsite:Matthew25:31–46callsallofustoactivelyengageintheworldaroundus,soourfaithcomesaliveandwewakeuptonewpossibilities.Convictedbythispassage,boththe222ndand223rdGeneralAssemblies(2016and2018) exhorted the PC(USA) to act boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed,imprisonedorpoor.

Let’stakealookatwhatJesussaidinMatthew25:ForIwashungryandyougavemefood,Iwasthirstyandyougavemesomethingtodrink,Iwasastrangerandyouwelcomedme,Iwasnakedandyougavemeclothing,Iwassickandyoutookcareofme,Iwasinprisonandyouvisitedme…TrulyItellyou,justasyoudidittooneoftheleastofthesewhoaremembersofmyfamily,youdidittome.(Matthew25:35-36,40).

WearepresentlyshowingthislogoonthefrontofourSundayworshipbulletin:

Thiswillalsobeasigntobedisplayedinourcourtyardoverthesanctuarydoors.Imentionthisbecauseaswe“regather”followingthesharedtraumaofpandemic,itisnaturalandreasonabletoask:Whoarewe?”Theansweris:WEareaMatthew25Church!Andthismeansthatwecareabouthumanneedandsufferingallaroundus.WecarebecauseJesuscares!Thisgivesusourpurposeindaysahead.

MysalvationthroughoutpandemichasbeentheopportunityIhavehadtovolunteeratMisiónPenieleveryFridaythroughoutthislong,longmarathon.Ithasbeenmeaningfulandpowerfultoputgroceriesintothehandsofthoseingreatneed,aswellasgivetreatstothechildrenoffarmworkersinImmokalee,toseetheirgleeandhearthem

THE CLARION: THE NEWSLETTER OF COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, AUGUST 2021

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say“Thankyou”inheartfeltways.WorkingtherehasbeenagoldenopportunitytoliveandexperienceChrist’sMatthew25calltoeachandeveryoneofus.Emergingfromthispandemichasbeenaslow,arduousprocess,tobesure.Inthemidstofallthat,IencouragemembersandfriendsofCovenanttoprayerfullyask:“Whoarewegoingtobe?”IhopethatweallwillbeledbytheHolySpiritinbeingcreativeaboutshowingforthwhatitmeanstobeaMatthew25church.EverytimeIseethelogoonthebulletinandwhenIseethesigninthecourtyard,itisandwillbemyprayerthatChristshowsusthatway!Pleasejoinmeinthatprayer.GraceandPeace,

PastorJeff

CUBAPARTNERSHIPNEWSOnSunday,July11,Cubamadeinternationalnewswhenpeoplefromaroundtheislandtooktothestreetstocall attention to their government that the food, health and medical supply shortages had reached anunbearablecrisispoint.Otherprotestsaroundthiscountrybegantomakethenewsaswell,butthemessaginghadandcontinuestohaveadifferenttone.

PeasetakeaminutetoreadtheirGeneralCouncil’slettersenttothePCUSACubaPartnershipNetworkandthose with local church and presbytery partnerships. Let’s honor their requests for solidarity in thesechallengingtimes.

FromtheGeneralCouncilofthePresbyterian-ReformedChurchinCubaThePresbyterianReformedChurchinCuba(IPRC),faithfultoitsvocationofservicetoourpeopleandtoitspatrioticandindependenceroots,faithfultoitscalltoalwaysseektheKingdomofGodandHisjustice,wewanttomakeacall:

• ToourCubanpeopletoremaincalmandavoidatallcostsviolentsolutionsto thesituationofsocialinstabilityandpandemiccrisiswelivein.

• ToourStateandGovernmenttomaintainthedignitytowhichwehavealwaysbetonasanation,tomaintainopenchannelsofdialoguetodealwiththecriticalsituationinwhichwearelivingandtoavoid,atallcosts,violence,asthemostgenuineexpressionofthefactthatweareonecountry.

• ToourPresbyteriancommunities,topraywithoutrestforpeaceanddiscernmentforourrulers,forthetranquilityofourcitizensandforthehealingofourpeople.Mayourdiscourseofgoodwillbethevoiceweraiseatalltimesandmaywebemediatorsinthesearchforpeacefulsolutionstothesituationinwhichwelive.

Weaffirmthatthegospelwehavebeencalledtopreachwillalwaysbegoodnewsfortheworld,justiceandpeacefor"theleastofthese"andabundantlifeforallCreation.Forthiswewillcontinuetoworktirelessly.

ToGodbetheglory!IPRCGeneralCouncilJuly13,2021

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PeacemakingCommitment“IfyouaskaPresbyteriantodefine“Peace”,you’llgetlotsofanswers,andthey’remostlyallcorrect.Peace istranquilityandcalmandquietandrespectandallthosethingsthatweaskofourchildren,atleastforafewblessedmomentseverynowandthen.Peaceiswellbeing,wholeness,health,safety,security,civilityandallthosethingsweexpectfromourcommunities.Peaceisdiplomatictreaties,international accords, global conventions, mutual aid, disaster relief and all those things that createunderstandingamongnations.Peacefindsitsexpressioninmanyways,takesonavarietyofformsandisevidentinboththemostintimateandexpansivepartsoflife.Andaspeopleoffaith,webelievepeace--inallitsexpressionsandforms–isagiftfromGod.”“TheWorldNeedsPeace”PresbyterianToday,June20,2021NationalPresbyterianWomen’sOnlineChurchwideGathering“RejoiceinHope”August5,2021,4-6pmPWalloverthecountry(andworld)willgatheronline!ThisOnlineChurchwideGatheringEventwillbelivestreamedonFacebookandPW'sGatheringpage.Allarewelcome!WhenistheGatheringOnlineEvent?August5,2021,4–6pmET.DoIneedtoregister?Nope!DoIneedaZoomaccountorlink?No!TheGatheringEventwillbelivestreamed!Watchatwww.presbyterianwomen.org/gathering(PW’sGatheringwebpage).AllCircleswillwelcomeyourfeedbackattheirSeptembermeetings.

Rev.Yamilka,pastorofoursisterchurch,ElFuerteinCárdenas,sendsthefollowingupdate:• WordsofAppreciation for themedicinesandvitaminsthatarebeingsent throughaCanadianshipping

company(thesearetheonesJuanPabloOlivainvitedustocollectlastmonth).Theywillsendphotosoncetheyarrive.Thankyou,Olivafamilyfororganizingthiscollection!

• AllchurchgatheringactivitiescontinuetobesuspendedasthenumberofCOVIDcasescontinuetorise.• Theirwaterfiltration/distributionministryhasremainedopen.Thecommunitycancomeanytimeinthe

morningtofillcleancontainerswithfilteredwater.Allsafetyprecautionsareobserved.• Thechurchgardencontinuestoflourish,withproducegoingdirectlytochurchmembers.• PastorYamilkaandherfamilymovedintoanewlyrentedhousespaceonthechurchcampus.Partofthe

dormsusedtohousegroups(andwhereouryouthstayedin2019)wererenovatedtocreateanewhomeforthefamily.Theyaresettlinginverywell!

• ApackageofbasicfoodsupplieswasreceivedthroughaMiamicompanybyanotherpresbyterianpartnerattheendofJuly.Photosbelowshowhowtheyaredividedupintosmallerpackagesandsharedwiththeirolderandhealthcompromisedmembers.

• Vaccinationsavailablerequire3doses,soittakesabout4monthsforsomeonetobefullyvaccinated.• PrayerscontinuetoberequestedforourbrothersandsistersofElFuerte.

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CovenantPrayerShawlGroupThe Covenant Prayer Shawl Group will resume meeting Tuesday,September 28 at 10am.Meetings are the fourth Tuesday of everymonth in Room 207. New members are always welcome. Yarn,needles and crochet hooks are available. Come join us forconversationandfellowship.

MondayEveningZoomGatheringsResumeonAugust2nd!6:45–8p.m.Newandcontinuingparticipantswelcome!

Usetherecurringlink:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89637088932

America’sUnholyGhosts:ExploringRacistRootsofOurFaithandPolitics

The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. challenged us to investigate the “ideational roots of ourhate”.Thisstudyinvitesparticipantstothatinvestigationinaformatthatbeginseachweekwithashortvideoclip,hostedbyminister,authorandactivist,JoelEdwardGoza.Weeklytopicsincludethefollowing:

August2: TrainedtoForgetandPerpetuatingWhiteSupremacyAugust9: DesigningScarcityandCreatingaRacializedGodAugust16: RewritingtheRulesAugust23: HarmonizingScripturewithWhiteSupremacyandResurrectingDignityAugust30: FaithfulResponse

Thisstudyandguidedweeklydiscussionwillbringparticipants intoagreaterawarenessof therootsofracismwithintheAmericanChurchofthepastandpresent.Thissubjectmatterisuncomfortableatitsbestandpainfulatitsworst.Wecaneasilyunderstandwhyithasbeenaltogetheravoidedbymostchurchgoersfor as long as it has.As the corebeliefs of our country are laidbareby theCOVID-19pandemic, policebrutality, public outrage, and the political climatewe live in,we have an opportunity: to authenticallyconnecttotheGodinwhomwemoveandhaveourverybeing.

The hope of this study is not incite debate, division, or discord; rather to create space for reflection,compassion,andnewunderstandingandtobeguidedbythefollowingbiblicalteachings:

Genesis1: WeareallcreatedinGod’simage.Acts10: Godlovesdiversity.Jeremiah9: Godlovesjustice.Matthew25: Wearecalledtoserveoneanother,mostespeciallythemarginalizedandoppressed.

Foradditionalquestions,pleasecontactBarbSheets(bsheets@covpcfm.com)orRuthDeYoe(ruthdeyoe@gmail.com).Pleaseconsiderbecomingapartof

thismonth’sgatheringonMondaynights!Thereisspaceforall!

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YOUTHMontreatUpdateOurgroupwillbeatMontreatfromJuly31-Aug7.PleasebeinprayerforthestudentsandleadersastheylearnnewthingsaboutGodandeachother.Thisisanincredibletimefortheyouthandissomethingtheylookforward to all year. Please pray for safe travels, and that we all stayhealthythroughouttheweek.

TeamAppWeareattemptingtostartanewwayofcommunicatingasayouthgroup.PleaseaskallthestudentsandparentstodownloadtheTeamAppfromtheAppStoreoronGooglePlay:www.teamapp.com

Oncedownloadedcreateaprofileandsearchfortheteam:COVENANTPCFMYOUTHOurcurrentlogoisapictureofthefrontofthechurch.We’llworkwiththestudentstodesignanewlogo.Submitarequesttobeaddedtotheteam.AnyquestionscallRobertoTapiz239-989-2271.

AugustYouthScheduleSunday,August1 NoYouthGroup(atMontreat)

Sunday,August8 NoYouthGroup

Sunday,August15 YouthGroup11:30am-1:30pmSunday,August22 Lunchforstudentsandtheirfamiliesfollowingchurch(DetailsTBA)

Pleaseplantoattendaswetalkaboutplansforthisschoolyear.ItwillalsogiveyouachancetogettoknowthenewDirectorofStudentMinistries,RobertoTapiz.

Saturday,August28 YouthGroupOuting(DetailsTBA)Sunday,August29 YouthleadworshipserviceatCovenant

Allstudentswillhavetheopportunitytoparticipateinworship.ThosewhowenttoMontreatwillalsohighlighttheirexperienceswiththecongregation.

PresbyterianWomenBibleStudyBookletsAvailableStarting8/22!We’regettingreadyforourCirclestostartournewBibleStudyinSeptember.Thisstudyappearstobelighterthanour(appropriate?)LamentfromLastYear’sstudy!Our2021-2022Studyisentitled,WhatMyGrandmothersTaughtMe:LearningfromtheWomeninMatthew’sGenealogyofJesusbyMerrylBlair.Theadvancesentoutsays,“Tamar,Rahab,Ruth,Bathsheba, andMary—Matthewnames thesewomen for a reason.HowmightJesushaveheardthestoriesofhisgrandmothers?WhatmighttheyoungJesushavefeltasheheardabouthisfamily?Whatmightthestoriesofthesewomenhaveaddedtohissenseofidentity,aspartofaparticularfamilyinaparticulartimeandplace?”ThereareninelessonsinthisstudyandCircleswillholdtheirfirstmeetingsinSeptembertostudyLessonOne.AllthreeCircleswillmeetinRoomF205ontheirrespectivedateinthesecondweekofthemonth.(LydiaCircle9/9,9:30am;NaomiCircle9/13,12:30pm;DeborahCircle9/14,10am.)The“Grandmother”StudyBookletswillgoonsale(cost$10)intheCourtyardbeforeandafterworshipstartingAug22.EachCircleLeader(orrepresentative)willbeavailableatthePWTabletoanswerquestionsaboutCirclesandPWevents.Questions?ContactMembershipCoordinator,MarionVale863-234-9658andleaveamessagewithyourquestion(s).MarionortheCircleLeaderwillgetbacktoyou!

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NewChurch-WideCurriculum

Weareexcitedtoannounceournewchurch-widecurriculumcominginSeptember!FollowMe:BiblicalPracticesforFaithfulLivingisafaithformationcurriculumbasedonpracticesJesusdidandtaughtustodoasfaithfulfollowers.Writtenforpeopleofallageswhowishtoliveouttheir faith, thisnewcurriculumexamineswhere thesepracticesarefoundintheBibleandhowthey’vebeenusedinChristianfaith.We will find the practice in the Bible.We will find the practice allaroundus.Wewillfindthepracticethenandnow.Wewillpracticethepractice.WewillFOLLOWJESUS!ThiscurriculumisintergenerationalandhasopportunitiesforustogathermorefullyasweexplorehowtoactivelyFOLLOWJESUS.

BlessingoftheBackpacks/BacktoSchoolSunday

OnSunday,August8th,wewillblessbackpacksforourchildrenandyouth(eventheadultswhohavethem)aswereturntoatimeforlearninginschoolandthechurch.Wewillpassouttagstoattachtobackpacks,bags, luggageorwhateveryouwanttouse.Wewillberemindedto“BeLoved,BeKind,BeYou.”So,bringyourbagandjoinusaswebeginthenextsegmentofourjourney.

ChurchWorldServiceSchoolKitsOurnewcurriculumwillstartnextmonth.However,asapreparationfortheIntergenerationalSession,weaskfordonationsofschoolsuppliesforthebagswewillputtogetheratthatsession.Thisisanexcellenttimetopurchasetheseitemswiththeback-to-schoolsales.Thesebagswillgotothoseexperiencingneed,duetovariousoccurrences.Pleaseadheretothislistasprinted.Bringyourdonationstothechurchinadvance.Anyquestions,pleasecallBarbSheets.Foreachkit,youwillneed:

• 1pairofbluntscissors(roundedtip)• 3,70-countspiralnotebooksortape-boundpadsof8x10.5”ruledpaperorpads

with200-210sheetsofruledpaper.Donotincludefillerpaper.• 30-centimeterrule(12”)• 1handheldpencilsharpener• 6newpencilswitherasers• 1largeeraser(nopencilcaperasers)• 1boxof24crayons(only24)

L.I.F.EGoesOn!OneofourmissionsatCovenant,theLeeInterfaithforEmpowerment(L.I.F.E.),reliesoninvestmentsfromindividualcongregantstobringtheKingdomofGodtoLeeCountyandfightforajustsocietyforallofitscitizens.L.I.F.E.asksindividualsineachofits14memberchurchestoinvest$200(ormoreifable)tosupportthisimportantwork.OurCovenantleadershipteamforL.I.F.E.ispleasedtoreportthatourcongregantshaveinvestedatotalof$3,700atthehalfwaymarkofthisfiscalyear.Ourgoalistoraiseinvestmentsof$6,000.Willyouhelpusmeetthatgoal?PleaseconsiderseriouslymakinganinvestmentinL.I.F.E.bysending$200ormoretoL.I.F.E.atPOBox62692FortMyersFL33906.“L.I.F.E.GoesOn”withyourhelp!

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CovenantLibraryNeedsVolunteers!AsCovenantstartstoreturntoitsactivities,weneedhelpgettingourLibrarybackontrack. WeplantoopenourLibrary(tentatively)Sept12andtoopen,weneedvolunteers.BeforeandafterworshipstartingAug8,you’llfindatableoutsidetheLibrarywithinfoaboutourLibraryandwaysyoucanhelpkeepitgoing.

• Dropoffyourdonationsofrecentbestsellers*thatyouhavebeenreading!Also,thebooksthatyouborrowedinearly2020cannowbereturned.(*Currently,weareonlyacceptingthemostrecentbooks.)

• LetusknowyourWishListofbookstofindinourLibrary.Wewillalsohavethelistofbooksthatareavailableinourlibraryand,ifavailable,wecanloanyouthatfavoritebook!

• Findoutaboutour“Leasure”TimeBookGroupthatwillstartmeetinginpersonintheLibraryonthe4thThursdayofeachmonthat11AM.OurSeptember23selectionisBornACrimebyTrevorNoah.Youcanborrowacopyorgetonthewaitinglist.

• Children’sBooksareavailabletoborrow! WeareworkingonourChildren’sareaintheLibrarytoencourageregularvisitsfromouryoungerbookworms!ParentsandkidsareencouragedtosignupasLibrariansforaSunday!

An incredibly special Thank You to Librarian Sue and Librarian Della for“checkingusout”throughtheyears!ThepagesofThank“Yous”thatweoffertoourfaithfulLibraryvolunteers,SueChristenburyandDellaBoveycould fillanovel! Through theyearsSueandDella(andsomeothersbehindthescenes)werecategorizingbooks,coveringbooks,shelvingbooks,andrecommendingbookseverySundaytothosewhostoppedbythelibrary.Whileeverythingwasshutdown,DellaretiredtoTexasandSueisnowlookingforwardtolessvolunteerhours.TheiryearsoffaithfulDeweyDecimalworkhavemadeourCovenantLibraryatruetreasure.

“Leasure”TimeBookClubWillKeepZoomingEveryThursdayat2pminAugust!Covenant’sbookgroupwillmeet“intheZoomRoom”Thursdaysat2pmfor40minutestosharethebookswe’rereading. Wehopedtomeet inpersontodiscussTrevorNoah’sBornaCrime:Stories fromaSouthAfrican.However,wepostponed(again)our in-personmeetinguntilSept23.Ournextselection[KristinHannah’s,TheFourWinds(2021)]bumpstoOct28.StartingAug8,we’llhavetablesoutsideourlibrarybefore&afterworshiptoloanoutSept&Octbooksortogetonthewait list. We’llalsohavepreviousbookclubselectionsavailabletoborrow.Ifyou’dliketoreceivetheThursZoomlink,contactBeverlyCampbellatcampbell.beverly@gmail.comor631-457-9661.Bookswesharedthismonth:• TheHornet’sNest:ANoveloftheRevolutionaryWarbyJimmyCarter(2003)• CodeNameHelene:ANovelbyArielLawhon(2021)• TheLastThingHeToldMebyLauraDave(2021)• EarlyWarningbyJaneSmiley(LastHundredYearsTrilogy,Book2)(2016)• TheAll-GirlFillingStationsLastReunionbyFannieFlagg(2014)• TheCuriousIncidentoftheDogintheNighttimebyMarkHaddon(2007)• CanYouKeepASecret?BySophieKinsella(2004)• I’veGotYouUnderMySkinbyMaryHigginsClark(2014)

Children’sbooksthatweareenjoyingwithourgrands(andgreat-grands)!• BlueberriesforSal&MakeWayforDucklingsbyRobertMcCloskey(1976)

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CovenantPresbyterianChurch2439McGregorBlvd.Ft.Myers,FL33901Phone:239-334-8937

Website:www.covpcfm.comEmail:info@covpcfm.com