February 21

9:30 am

FH 107

The Spring Adult Convocation The Christian Response to Poverty in Charlotte: Past and Present is presented by Michael Marsicano, president and CEO, Foundation for the Carolina. Learn about the historical role of the faith community in times of economic stress, and of new initiatives on unemployment, mixed income housing, homeless children, and poverty in our school system.

Read Marsicano's remarks at Covenant here.

Lent Term: February 28 - March 28

FH 205

9:30 am Sunday OR

6:30 pm

Wednesday

A Bible study led by Joan Watson, will be held on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. The lessons taught on Wednesdays will be repeated on Sunday mornings.

The Christian life is intended as a sacred journey. It is to be a life lived joyfully and purposefully in the presence of God and by the abundant grace of God. Often such an ideal eludes even the most faithful. Without awareness, we can slip into living a "ho-hum" kind of existence with little hope of change. Sometimes we even find ourselves driven by compulsion, harnessed by fear, haunted by shame or guilt. During these weeks we will explore "the sacred" around us and within us as we seek to live more faithfully our own sacred journey.

FH 207 beginning March 7

Note new times for sessions on March 14 and 21.

Poverty Series: March 7, 14 and 21

The Peace and Justice Committee and Local Outreach Ministries offer a three-week series on Poverty in Charlotte. As the economy struggles to regain its strength, thousands in our community are without permanent shelter, many are hungry, and we have thousands of children in our school system who are homeless. What is the impact on those who struggle? And what is our Christian response to those in need?

This is a follow up to Michael Marsicano's remarks on February 21. Read his remarks here.

• March 7, 9: 30 am: Using the CrossRoads Charlotte video "Let's Talk - Fortress Charlotte - Eye to Eye," Dianne English of the Community building Initiative leads a small group discussion on individual responses to community needs
• March 14, 10:45 am: Carol Hardison (Crisis Assistance Ministry) and Darren Ash (WISH Program - workforce Initiative for Supportive House) discuss social barriers to success, new initiatives, and how Covenant can be instrumental in nurturing life skills.
• March 21, 10:45 am: Mary Nell McPherson (Freedom School Partners) and Annabelle Suddreth (A Child's Place) describe the painful problems of, and possible solutions for, Charlotte's homeless (especially children) and children in poverty
• Note: For the March 14 and 21 classes, child care will be provided for grade 5 and younger. For middle schoolers, Claire Lowrance will teach a class during that hour.

Study Group

10:00 am

10:45 am

10:45 - 11:30 am Sermon Discussion in FH 205: All are invited after the 9:30 worship service to discuss the scripture of the day using the sermon as a launching point, spearheaded by Covenant member Bill Whitley.