Covenant Presbyterian Church - Charlotte, NC

Adult Groups and Programs

Share, Learn, support, grow

Whether on Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings or other times during the week,
adults of all ages and stages gather to live into faith together.

First Sunday Congregation Wide Sunday School

Sunday, October 1
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall and on Zoom

Join us as we once again kick off First Sunday. We'll have Dr. Warren Kinghorn joining us to discuss Hope and Connection in an Age of Anxiety: A Conversation on Mental Health and the Church. Dr. Warren Kinghorn is the Esther Colliflower Associate Research Professor of Pastoral and Moral Theology; Co-Director, Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative; and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center.  

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Reimagining Paul: Romans

Noon Bible Studies at Covenant

The apostle Paul wrote prolifically to the early Church.  In September, we will continue our examination of the context in which Paul wrote, the churches he wrote and how his words still bring life to our faith 2,000 years later by reading the book of Romans. Join the journey with your Church family by subscribing for daily emails by using the link below or pick up a bookmark on campus to read along in your bible.  
Whether or not you are reading the book of Romans, we invite you to join us for Wednesday nights at 6:30pm beginning September 13 for a discussion of the book or Romans.  We will meet in room FH 207 or on Zoom.  
Click here to view the session from September 13.
Click here to view the session from September 20.
Click here to view the session from September 27.
Tuesday Noon Uptown Bible Study
Uptown Bible Study is always open to all. Every Tuesday at noon at the Foundation for the Carolinas.  No prior reading or attendance required, come as you are, enjoy conversation, fellowship, spiritual growth, and bring your own lunch.  For more information, email Grace Lindvall.

Prayer in Scripture Bible Study
Join us at noon every Thursday on the Covenant Campus in room WC203.  No prior reading or attendance required, come as you are, enjoy conversation, fellowship, spiritual growth, and bring your own lunch.  For more information, email Shea Watts.

Life Groups at Covenant: Starting in September

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New Life Groups are launching this fall. These groups are a wonderful way to connect with others on the journey of faith. New groups will begin meeting September 13, are welcome to all, and will focus their attention on five essential practices for Christian Living outlined in Adam Hamilton’s book The Walk. Groups will focus largely on conversation and no outside reading or preparation is needed.  

Jenny Porter Life Group:  Jenny is a mother of four grown children and grandmother to three.  She and her husband Charlie, joined Covenant the summer of 2022 and look forward to connecting with other members via a new Life Group.  She is hopeful that this small group willl bring meaningful relationships as we grow in the body of Christ.  This life group will meet in person every other Wednesday at 6:30pm on the Covenant campus beginning Wednesday, September 13.

Bill Fryling Life Group:  Bill and his wife Meg have been members of Covenant for 2+ years after spending 30 years at Westminster Presbyterian. They have 3 adult children and a dog named Birdie.  The group was started last year with about 8 men of the Church and meets once a month. The host picks the topic.  Each meeting lasts  about 2 hours while they enjoy food, fellowship and fun.

Stephen Grotz Life Group:  Stephen lives in uptown Charlotte with his wife, Lara, toddler, Kamran, and two senior dogs. He looks s forward to hosting a Men’s Small Group every Thursday night from 7-8pm at Old Mecklenburg Brewery (in South End). He hopes this is a time to vent, laugh, build community with each other, and grow in our faith so that when the dog eats the baby’s dirty diaper, we can lean on each other before anything hits the fan. You do not have to have kids, a spouse, or dog to join this community but willingness to tolerate each others challenges and ‘dad’ jokes is a must.

Mary Ellen Vernon Life Group:  Mary Ellen is new-ish to Charlotte and Covenant.  She works at Union Presbyterian Seminary and enjoys gardening, live music, prayer labyrinths and trying out new restaurants.  Mary Ellen hopes that many "ages and stages" will be represented among us as we share and receive wisdom from our different lives and faith journeys.  This life group will meet every other Wednesday at 6:30pm on the Covenant campus beginning September 13.

Thomas Lineberger Life Group:  Thomas enjoys hiking, camping, and dog walks with my 2 pups. Meagan and Thomas have loved being a part of the Covenant community and are drawn to the Young Adult program. In an effort to bring together our diverging calendars and still plug in at church we ended up starting a young adult couples life study as a space to engage and grow. We meet every other Wednesday, from 7:30 - 9:30 in the Fellowship Hall room 201.

Hunter Hoover Life Group:  Hunter is the husband of our church bass player, father of two grown daughters, ENT for 30 years and leader of 3 men's small groups. One group consists of young dads from Convenant who meet around my backyard fireplace every Tuesday night from 7-8. We welcome others who want to journey with us.

Mary Kate Sykes Life Group: Mary Kate Sykes is Covenant’s Pastoral Resident for Education. Mary Kate grew up in Charlotte and at Covenant and has a deep love for this community of faith. Her own faith has been shaped by small groups and specifically, through opportunities to connect with other women seeking to live faithfully during an often-demanding time of life. This women’s group will meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 6:30PM on the Covenant campus starting September 20th.

Grace Williams Life Group (The PATH):   Grace has been a member of Covenant since January of 2020 when she was immediately drawn in by the incredible Young Adult Community after moving to Charlotte post graduate school. Grace loves leading the PATH Young Adult women's group where a group of early 30s 'ish' women, emphasis on the ish, spend time together in scripture and in fellowship intentionally building community in Christ as we navigate this phase of young adulthood together. PATH meets the 1st and 3rd Monday evening of each month on Zoom and gathers for in person socials at members' homes or at places in town to spend time together in person on an adhoc basis as well. We will be kicking off the Fall season with dinner at Grace's home in Plaza on Monday September 18th.

Groups by Day of the Week

sundays

Childcare is available from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the first floor of the Education Wing.
WC = Welcome Center, EW = Education Wing, FH = Fellowship Hall
Men's Bible Study
Men ages 30 to 60 interested in issues of faith and Scripture
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: WC 204

Fellowship Class
Largely adults (singles + couples) 60+ with weekly conversational presentations by Covenant members.
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: FH203
First Sunday Congregation Wide Sunday School
Time: 9:30 a.m. (First Sunday of Each Month)
Location:  Fellowship Hall  Room 207

People Class
Adults who enjoy vigorous dialogue on a variety of topics
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: FH 201

Presbyterian Women's Circle – Elizabeth
Time: 5:20 p.m. (2nd Sunday of the month)
Focus: Dinner and Crafts with Center for Women of CCT

Tuesdays

Tuesday Uptown Bible Study
Enjoy lunch hour with lively conversations
Time: Noon
Location: Foundation for the Carolinas

Presbyterian Women's Circle – Susanna
Time: 2 p.m. (Second Tuesday of the month)
Location: Sharon Towers

Presbyterian Women's Circle - Ruth
Time: 9:15 a.m. (3rd Tuesday of the month)
Location: To Be Determined
Presbyterian Women's Circle – Anna
Time: 12 p.m. (Third Tuesday of the month)
Location: FH105

Presbyterian Women's Circle – Deborah
Time: 1:30 p.m. (Third Tuesday of the month)
Location: EW212

Presbyterian Women's Circle – Lydia
Time: 10:30 a.m. (First Tuesday of the month)
Location: EW212

Wednesdays

Open Table Programs
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.  Location: Fellowship Hall
For: All

thursdays

Women's Bible Study
Time: 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Location: FH 201

Prayer in Scripture Bible Study
Beginning September 14, there will be a new bible study focusing on prayer in scripture. No prior reading or attendance required, come as you are, enjoy conversation, fellowship, spiritual growth, and bring your own lunch.
Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Location: WC203

Caregiver Support Group
Meets second Thursdays every month at 11 a.m. in the Parlor
Do you provide care for a spouse or loved one? Talk with peers about shared challenges in this supportive space. Contact Katherine Kerr.
Presbyterian Women's Circle - Miriam
Time: 6:00 p.m. (4th Thursday)
Location: WC 204

Presbyterian Women's Circle - Naomi
Time: 12 p.m. (1st Thursday)
Location: FH 105

Presbyterian Women's  Circle - Hineni
Time: 6:30 p.m. (1st Thursday)
Location: WC 204


Presbyterian Women

Presbyterian Women (PW) is among the most active and longest standing organizations at Covenant

You can find a circle, or small group, most any weekday to enjoy Bible study, book discussions and fellowship. Covenant offers 11 Presbyterian Women circles to meet every need. To get connected, please contact Serenitye Taylor or click the Circle contacts below.

Online Pledge Payments
We are excited to offer the option of making your PW pledges online.  Online payments should only be used for pledges, not for books or retreat payments. Your contributions will be accounted for in the same manner they are via the manual process. This will free up administrative duties for the PW Circle Treasurer and Covenant Accounting Department.

Women's Retreat, February 2 -4 2024

Women’s Retreat- We are excited to announce our new location for the women’s retreat! We are headed to Greenville, SC. Mark your Calendars! You do not want to miss it! For more information, please contact Serenitye Taylor.

2023-2024 Presbyterian Women's Circles

  • Abigail Circle, Parlor, 2nd Mondays, Noon, Pat Taft - Book Study - The Brushstrokes of Life by Anne Neilson
  • Anna Circle, Welcome Center 204, 3rd Tuesdays, 12 p.m., Nancy Sutton – The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Abrams
  • Deborah Circle, 3rd Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m., Martha Stearns - Book Study
  • Elizabeth Circle, 2nd Sundays, 5:20 p.m. Janet Delery – Dinner and Crafts with Center for Women of CCT
  • Hineni Circle, Welcome Center 204, 1st Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., Amy Capitano and Sarah Wilson, “Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor"
  • Lydia Circle, Fellowship Hall 205, 1st Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Katherine Lawson --  PW Study- Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke-Acts
  • Naomi Circle, Fellowship Hall 105, 1st Thursdays, 12 p.m., Martha Isaacs – Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
  • Susanna Circle, 2nd Tuesdays, 2 p.m., Judy White – PW Study- Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke-Acts
  • Esther Circle, 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 5:45 social 6 p.m. start time, Cara Mitchell

Small group Frequently asked questions

How many people are in a Small Group?
Generally 6-10. Groups may begin small and invite new members. After a group grows beyond 10 members, it may divide into two groups!

How often do Small Groups meet?
Either once a week or once every other week, with regular breaks to rest and start fresh. We suggest that your group meet in three seasonal sessions, Fall: September – November; Spring: Advent, January, Lent; and Summer. We also suggest that your group meet weekly for at least three months before considering whether to meet weekly or every other week.

What happens in a Small Group meeting?
 Small Group meetings include time for checking-in about life, discussion or activity relating to the group’s chosen material for faith formation (scripture, books, art, video, etc), discipleship questions and commitments, and prayer.

How long are Small Group meetings?
 Generally, small groups meet for an hour and a half. This allows groups to dig deep both into the lives of one another and the content they are studying. Groups may add a meal and informal time together, as well.
Who leads Small Group meetings?
Small Groups begin with a facilitator, perhaps one who has been trained in the Refresh Retreat and who attends monthly Refresh gatherings for leaders. If groups continue to meet for more than six months, group members are trained to facilitate, so that no one gets tired and everyone learns to lead. All small group facilitators, members, and those interested in small groups are invited to attend Refresh offerings.

What kinds of Small Groups are there?
 Small Groups may be organized around common interests, neighborhoods, ages and stages, or any number of other reasons why people tend to connect with one another. If you are interested in being part of a group for a particular purpose that isn’t represented, please contact Grace Lindvall.

How long do Small Groups stay together?
As long as they are healthy and continue to have a common purpose. Small Groups are asked to complete a Group Health Evaluation near the end of each seasonal session to determine whether or not the group will continue into another season.

What if I don’t want to continue with my Small Group?
Be honest! Express your feelings and concerns to your group and let them know when you plan to leave the group. How do I become a Small Group facilitator for a new group or a group that splits from a larger group? Contact Grace Lindvall to begin your journey as a facilitator.