Highland Covenant Church

Winter 2015
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
High land C ov enant
Highland Covenant
The Story Begins...
“Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the
whole story” (Acts 11:4).
inspired by the courage of Ruth. And we’ve only
just begun!
We are well into our journey through The Story,
an abridged and chronologically arranged Bible
that is helping us understand the “Big Story” of
Scripture. I have been impressed in the level of
engagement, from original artwork to children’s
Sunday School to adult conversation groups. It is
clear that for many of us the Bible is coming alive
like never before. We’ve explored the mystery of
creation; counted the stars with Abraham;
watched Joseph’s transformation; walked through
the Red Sea with the newly liberated Hebrews;
heard the Lord’s voice at Mt. Sinai; wandered in
the wilderness; wrestled with the violent conquest
of Canaan, learned about the Judges; and been
During December we will weave the particular
chapters into the themes and story of Advent as
we prepare to celebrate Christmas. In January
we will move into Israel’s struggle to hold onto the
land. In February, as we enter Lent, we will turn
our attention to Israel in Exile and the growing
hope of a Messiah. Keep reading, learning, and
asking questions, and remember that the goal is
not just to know The Story, but to understand
how your story is shaped and directed by it.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor James
Inside This Issue: Pastor James · Sundays at Highland · Committee News · Leadership Update · Highland Christian School · Community Notes · UpcomingPage
Events1
WINTER 2015
Sundays at Highland
Winter Worship Schedule
“The Story”
DATE
TEXT
MESSAGE FOCUS
MESSAGE TITLE
December 6
Chapter 10
Samuel offers us a model of “listening leadership”
who warns against a king,
but the people are taken with Saul.
“Standing Tall, Falling Hard”
December 13
Chapter 11
In David we see that God honors
heart and friendship, not size, status, or power,
promising to build David’s “house”.
“From Shepherd to King”
December 20
Chapter 12
The sad story of David’s undoing
and the ripple effects
“The Trials of a King”
December 27
Chapter 13
Solomon – a paradoxical king
filled with wisdom and folly.
“The King Who Had it All”
January 3
Chapter 14
The dark side of kingship appears, ushering in a
sad period of civil war and unfaithfulness.
“A Kingdom Torn in Two”
January 10
Chapter 15
God raises up prophets to call Israel to repentance – they are powerful and ignored.
“God’s Messengers”
January 17
Chapter 16
Demonstrating what happens when people do/do
not trust the Lord, Israel falls and Judah remains
– with Isaiah offering hope.
“The Beginning of the End”
January 24
Chapter 17
Once again people are not able to live faithfully
and face another exile.
“The Kingdoms’ Fall”
January 31
Chapter 18
God never abandons his people as they seek to
live holy lives in an often unholy culture.
“Daniel in Exile”
February 7
Chapter 19
God shows his faithfulness is ending the exile, but
rebuilding is hard.
“The Return Home”
February14
Chapter 20
Esther shows us God’s sovereignty and human
agency working together.
“The Queen of Beauty and Courage”
February 21
Chapter 21
The people are freed to rebuild and start over –
they are encouraged to listen (through preaching),
pray, and act righteously in the land.
“Rebuilding the Walls”
February 28
Chapter 22
The incarnation as the turning point of history.
“The Birth of the King”
March 6
Chapter 23
The gospels present Jesus as King (Matthew),
Servant (Mark), Man (Luke), and God (John).
“Jesus’ Ministry Begins”
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HI GHL AND COV ENANT
Christian Education
Gratitude
One of my most heart-warming Thanksgiving
memories is of my daughter Addie sharing, “I’m
thankful for loving me” when she was two. At that
moment, our little person saw beyond all of our
material stuff to the importance of a loving family.
How do we cultivate the spirit of gratitude in our
children and ourselves beyond the fleeting month of
November?
Pastor Mary shared a book with me called Seamless
Faith: Simple Practices for Daily Family Life by Traci
Smith. In it, I discovered “Gratitude Café” which
has become a tradition in our house. About once a
month, we gather around the table with a pot of
peach tea and a plate of cookies. Then we take
turns sharing what we’re grateful for. Sometimes
it’s simple things like the sun shining but often it’s
sweeter things like having a baby brother.
Gratitude Café is a time that helps us focus on
God’s abundant blessings in our lives. In the book,
other suggestions and variations are given such as
having older children write down five things they’re
thankful for before sharing. These notes can be
saved in a box and read again on New Year’s Eve.
A simple practice that has helped me hone my
personal sense of gratitude is writing down three
new things I’m thankful for each day. I got this idea
from a Ted Talk by Shawn Achor titled “The
Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to
Performance.” In this talk, he describes how we can
rewire our brains to be happier. He found that
people who wrote down three new things they were
grateful for each day for twenty-one days in a row
have brains that “start to retain a pattern of
scanning the world, not for the negative, but for the
positive first.” Journaling about my blessings each
night before bed helped me to appreciate the
tremendous amount of love surrounding my family
during my dad’s recovery from brain surgery last
summer and it continues to help me have a more
positive outlook on my daily life now.
1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
His love endures forever.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will
for you in Christ Jesus.
~Allison Fleischman
Advent
Christmas staging FIX!
The season of preparing for the coming of Christ
begins Sunday, November 29. Families can pick up
a copy of An Illustrated Advent: Engaging Practices
for the Season to help guide them through the
season. Choose to do weekly devotions, daily
activities, coloring pages or have fun with the "Flat
Wisemen."
With the busyness of the holiday
season it is way too easy to skip right over Advent.
Just a little preparation can make this a meaningful
and important time for your family.
On November 14, the CE and Worship Committees
jointly sponsored a morning of cutting, sewing and
bedazzling our Christmas costumes and backdrop.
It was a wonderful turnout and
much work was accomplished,
with even more in the process of
being done at people’s homes.
Thank you to those who
organized, provided treats and
those who showed up to help.
Emily Amadon · Louise Conner · Becky Esser · Allison Fleischman · Caryn Hayes
Andrea Nelson · Soida Palacios · Gretchen Peterson · Mary Peterson · Sue Peterson
WINTER 2015
CE Team Members
Page 3
Christian Education, continued
Children’s Sunday School—2nd through 5th grade
Sunday school has been going very smoothly, the
kids seem to be enjoying what they are learning and
enjoying their time together.
I hope everyone has been getting the parent sheets,
and able to talk about things at home as well. Here
are some questions I am highlighting from the last
few weeks.
Week 1 What is your favorite part of God’s creation?
Why? Why do you think God created it?
Week 2 Have you ever read something in the Bible
and thought, That’s impossible! Is anything
impossible for God? What can you learn from
Abraham about waiting for God’s plan to come true?
Week 3 Has anybody made a promise to you and
then not followed through, like the drink tester did
to Joseph? How did that make you feel?
Week 4 Why do you think people stubbornly refuse
to see God when he makes Himself know in creation
and everyday circumstances? If somebody totally
refuses to acknowledge God, what should you do?
Week 5 What do you think is the most important of
the Ten Commandments? Why? What do the Ten
Commandments show us about God’s character?
Week 6 How can you live more boldly for God?
Name one way that you want to trust God more in
your life.
Have fun discussing these questions in the car or at
the dinner table!
Many blessings,
Caryn Hayes
Children’s Ministry Mission Update
In November, our church kids partnered with the
preschool families to fill water bottles with coins to
benefit Covenant World Relief's Project Blue.
Children were encouraged to pray while drinking
the water and to collect coins in their bottles all
month. The money raised will help build wells in
places like India and bring clean water to many. The
children first heard about Project Blue during the
summer when they set up lemonade stands during
coffee hour and in local neighborhoods.
Preschool—1st Grade Sunday School
Page 4
Also this fall, we unveiled our very own Kids Congo
Clinic located in the Children's Worship room.
Highland has committed to support a clinic in the
Congo and the kids are learning all about it. As part
of Children's Worship, kids can spend time
learning, praying and pretending in the clinic. We
are also learning several phrases in Lingala, a
language spoken in the Congo, such as "Yesu,
Akumisama!" which means "Jesus, may He be
praised!" We are also learning Away in a Manger in
Lingala.
HI GHL AND COV ENANT
Congregational Care
Congregational Care Committee Update
Bridal Shower for Marla Bustad
Congregational Care has had a busy fall discerning
and responding to the care needs of members and
friends at Highland Covenant.
Our committee
meets monthly and oversees the situation for those
who are unable to worship with us regularly or may
just like a friendly chat.
On
October
4th, Jeanne
Denman and
Sharon Pakkala hosted a
bridal shower
for
Marla
Bustad in the
H e r i t a g e
Lounge.
It
was a lovely
occasion with
T o n y a
Wishart sharing devotions
with a “Disney Theme.” Marla’s finance is currently
employed at the Disneyland Theme Park in Los Angeles. Because Marla and Christopher Hartwell will
make their home in the L.A. area, gifts were limited
to cards with gift cards included to avoid shipping.
The wedding is planned for February 20th. The
shower was well attended and enjoyed by all!.
We have also organized a few meals and sent flowers
when needed. Louise Conner oversees the prayer
chain during the week and Nelma Anfinrud takes
over at other times. Anyone requesting prayer has
their need sent to all the members of the prayer
chain in a timely way. During our meeting we often
send cards of encouragement or sympathy to those
who have experienced family loss, plus birthday
greetings to our college students living away from
home.
Caroling at Covenant Shores
Join us for caroling, cookies and visiting friends at
Covenant Shores Retirement Home on Mercer
Island from 1:00-2:00 pm on December 20th.
Community Nurse Notes—Journey to Jerusalem
Have you ever wanted to travel to Jerusalem? Now
is your chance! Come join us as we walk, yes walk
(or run, bike or swim) to Jerusalem. We will “leave”
Highland Covenant Church on Sunday January 3rd
and plan to “arrive” in Jerusalem on March 27th,
Easter Sunday. As the crow flies, if the crow flies in
a straight line, the distance we need to travel is
6,783 miles. We will have 84 days to make the
journey. So.... as a congregation we will need to
travel 81 miles per day!
This is a community effort. All ages and abilities are
encouraged to participate! Individuals track their
steps during the week turning in the results at the
end of each week. Each participant is assigned a
number so their number of steps will remain
confidential unless they choose to share, although
we may hand out prizes on occasion. Totals will be
Kathy Holmgren · Kay Swanson · Sharon Pakkala · Jeanne Denman
Carol Lider · Dave Shelton · James Amadon
WINTER 2015
added together moving us as a congregation closer
to Jerusalem.
Each participant will receive a packet with cards to
record their steps, a sheet for each week describing
the theme for the week, a suggested thought and
some health tips to ponder. There will also be a
conversion chart you can use to convert some
popular exercises into steps.
This is a fun way to fulfill those New Year
resolutions of strengthening your mind, body and
spirit. Watch for more information and your
opportunity to sign up in December.
If you would like help to with this please send me an
email at [email protected].
~Carol Lider
Congregational Care Team Members
Page 5
Discipleship
The Story/Growth Groups
As Highland has embarked on the journey through
The Story, the adults have gathered in small groups
to discuss how God has spoken to us during our
reading or worship time. We encourage you to join a
small group if you have not already! Here is what
some of our facilitators have been saying about this
time together.
“Thank you so much for inviting us to facilitate a
small group. Our times together have been a joy.
Everyone in our group is keeping up with the reading and seems to truly enjoy being together and discussing the Bible. It’s been a great way of getting to
know each other better, and we look forward to being together.”
Highland Winter Retreat
Save the Date!
Highland Winter Retreat is just around the corner –
January 29 – January 31
We hope you will join our church family at Cascades
Camp and Conference Center near Yelm,
Washington at the end of January! This is a great
time to connect with Highlanders as we spend time
relaxing, playing, and listening to God’s word
together, surrounded by His beautiful creation.
Stay in one of the comfortable lodge accomodations
and make a weekend of it; or, spend the day with us
on Saturday. This annual event has something for
all ages. Spend time chatting with friends (and
making new ones); go deeper into The Story with
Pastor James; sit and reflect as you look out on the
lake; or perhaps take a horseback ride or participate
in the infamous Highland talent show - you set the
pace.
You won’t want to miss this wonderful opportunity.
Be on the lookout for registration packets, and be
thinking about who you can invite – someone may
just be waiting for you to ask!
Women’s Retreat
It was a small group of
women from Highland who
attended the Women’s Retreat this year, but good fellowship
and
teaching
abounded.
Discipleship Team Members
Eric Sonsthagen · Sandy Clay · James Amadon
Jae Park · James Jeremiah · Kimberly Johnson
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HI GHL AND COV ENANT
Discipleship
Men’s Retreat at Cascades
The Men’s retreat is always a highlight marking the
end of the summer. This year was no exception. The
theme of Risky Faith was explored by Tim Morey,
who founded and serves as the lead pastor at Life
Covenant Church in Torrance, California. He also
serves on the Evangelical Covenant Church's
national church planting team and as an adjunct
professor at Fuller Seminary. Tim provided great
insight into Risky Faith through great humor and
real life stories. His openness and ability to share
personal struggles was refreshing and inspiring.
This was also the inaugural playing of the Highland
Games where men competed in many feats of skill
and strength. From the caber toss, to the stone
throw, many grunts and groans were heard. Roars
echoed out when someone managed to throw a
hatchet and have it stick or land a bullseye with a
bow and arrow. The bagpipes set the stage for the
games and those lucky enough to win an event were
handsomely rewarded with a Snickers bar.
There was even a fly fishing clinic put on by a
couple of veteran fishermen where us novice casters
learned about different types of rods, casting
methods and flies. I was eager to put what I had
learned into practice and headed out on Elbow Lake
in a canoe. After an hour or so, it was getting close
to dinner time and was time to head back to the
dock… but God had other plans for me as I hadn’t
caught anything yet and He couldn’t let me come
back empty handed. I gave it a few more casts with
no luck and swung the canoe around to pick up the
fly to attach it to the pole. I reached down to grab it
and … splash! Seconds after diving into the lake I
realized that reaching down to pick the fly up was
not a good idea. After making it to the shore and
emptying the canoe of water, I took inventory and
everything was accounted for… except the fly. I
regained composure and made it back to the dock
where Rod Wishart was quick to point out that I
appeared rather wet for fishing in a canoe.
It was a long squishy walk back to the tent to get a
change of clothes and take a shower; with much
time to reflect on the walk I was glad that no one got
hurt and somehow nothing got lost… except for that
fly. Upon hanging my clothes up to dry I noticed a
bug on the pant leg and tried to shake it off, but it
wouldn’t budge. After a closer look, it looked just
like the lost fly. In fact it was! Another men’s retreat
and another highlight of my year!
~Eric Sonsthagen
Under Construction
The church library is coming together, but there is
still a lot to do! We have some beautiful and
functional new library furniture, and are glad so
many different groups have been able to utilize the
space. The windows will soon be replaced by
gorgeous new stained glass windows, generously
commissioned by Mike and Kathy Holmgren. The
new windows will be the same shape as the existing
windows but will bring greater depth and symmetry
to the room.
the checkout clipboard we will be using so that we
can keep track of where things are. We also welcome
your book requests and recommendations as we
continue to update the collection.
~Kimberly Johnson
Meanwhile, the books themselves will still need a bit
more organization. Once the room is open again,
don’t let the lack of order keep you from browsing or
borrowing, though! If you would like to borrow
library materials, simply fill out your information on
WINTER 2015
Page 7
Missions and Evangelism
Curriculum Night
Club Jubilee
We were delighted to have 35-36 teachers join us for
the Curriculum Night dinner at HCC. This was the
largest turn out ever! What a wonderful time God is
leading us through with the teachers and staff of
Highland Middle School.
This has been an exciting year again for Club Jubilee. The Innovation Club has started and we have
the pleasure of serving one meal a month to the
group of 40-45 people. Innovation Club is a weekly
life-skills club taught by Thomas Taylor, one of the
Club Jubil e e
Clubs. Students
at-risk
of
f ail ing
their classes are
selected to
be part
of the club.
India Vision Trip
For the last several months a group of ladies has
been meeting to explore the possibility of a vision
trip to India. With some disappointment, we have
recently decided that the timing is not right at this
point and have canceled plans to go in January
2016. We will continue to keep the idea alive for the
future. If you are interested in joining a group like
this, please talk to Holly Bustad.
HMS and Jubilee Elves Gifts
It is our privilege again this year to provide
Christmas gifts for three of the families across the
street at Highland Middle School.
Highland
Christian School staff will join us this year as well.
In addition to HMS gifts, this year we have
committed to providing gifts for three families from
the Jubilee Elves Program. This program serves
neighborhood families whose kids come to the
Jubilee Center and need some help, especially
around the holidays.
HMS Families who need some extra help are
selected by school staff and are given a chance to
participate by filling in a form with information and
ideas for us to use when purchasing gifts. Then
you, the generous people of HCC are given the
opportunity to select someone to buy for. You will
then shop, wrap, attach the gift tag and return to
church by December 13th. All the gifts will then be
delivered to the school in time for families to pick
them up before school lets out for winter break.
What a privilege we have to serve our community
Gifts for Jubilee Elves are due by December 6th.
Mission & Evangelism Team Members
Our
HCC
v olunteers
are
a l s o
helping out
w i t h
snacks, tutoring,
and just hanging out with the students. It is a
blessing for our volunteers as well as the students’
lives we touch.
Baby Brigade
In Baby Brigade anyone who wants to help can join
us in room 108 on the third Wednesday of each
month at 10:00 AM to make items for babies and
small children. These items are then taken to Care
Net in Issaquah. Care Net is a nonprofit organization that provides helpful support to young mothers
and families that can’t meet their own needs. At
Care Net there is a room where people can get new
and slightly used clothing and supplies for their babies and young children.
We have made blankets, nursing aprons and burp
cloths. Next we are going to make dresses for little
girls out of pillowcases. If any of you wants to join
us to help cut out fabric, pin seams, or sew please
join us and if you can’t join us but you have or want
to buy flannel fabric or pillowcases to donate please
leave them in the office with the words “Baby Brigade” noted on the items.
Julie Stapelman · Holly Bustad · Donna Anderson · Jim Stiger
David Reigel · Cathy Johnson · Joel Johnson · James Amadon
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HI GHL AND COV ENANT
Missions and Evangelism, continued
Bothell Church Plant
Sharing the Harvest
Beginning in October, we began gathering with our
launch team every Sunday evening at Emmanuel
Presbyterian Church (a church in Bothell that has
welcomed us to use their building for this early season of church planting). We've loved getting to worship so regularly with this committed team and we
are grateful for the meaningful community that is
forming among them.
On October 24th 12 Highlanders headed to Yakima
to pick up apples for the Sharing the Harvest fundraiser. This event benefits an organization in the
Central African Republic that does sustainable
farming in rural communities in the hopes of creating sustainability. Covenant churches in the greater
Pacific Northwest take orders and purchase bags
before hand. Wiley Heights Covenant Church Yakima hosts, and works with local farmers to get all
the apples donated. Volunteers pack apples, press
cider,
and
have
a
great
time.
We've also been discerning how we might serve the
Bothell community. One Sunday in October we
came alongside the United Methodist Church in
Bothell, which prepares and hosts a community dinner every Sunday night. Some guests come for the
food, and others for community. We were glad to be
included both in the preparation and as table hosts
during dinner. This month, we are partnering with
Emmanuel Presbyterian Church to provide food for
families at Maywood Hills Elementary School who
depend on the school to provide meals and miss
these meals during winter break. It has been beautiful to see our team eager to serve and we look forward to determining more ways we can be giving of
our time, talents and resources as a means for loving our neighbors in and around Bothell.
We continue to be so grateful for your support, encouragement and prayers for us and for this church
plant. As we head into 2016, please pray:
-That we would grow as a missional community
-For continued opportunities to love and serve our
neighbors in Bothell
-For many in Bothell to come to know the saving
grace offered through Jesus
Joyfully,
Bill and Claire Strunk
Remember as you're eating you're pies, and apple
sauce this season, take a moment to pray for the
Central African Republic, and the farmers in Yakima. Thanks to everyone who participated! Can't
wait until next year.
Covenant World Relief
In November, Highland Covenant Church and Highland Christian School jointly raised $ 11,065 for
Project Blue, a project of Covenant World Relief
working to bring clean water to places around the
world. The money raised is enough to purchase 10
wells in India, 5.5 wells in Cameroon, 553 water
filters in Kenya or 76 new toilets in Honduras.
Thank you for your generosity.
Renewal Food Bank
Renewal Food Bank has put out a call for
volunteers to help during Food Bank hours on
Tuesdays, from 4:00-6:30 pm. If you can help or
have questions, please contact Rich Bowen at 425736-8132 or [email protected].
As the
numbers below show, the Food Bank serves an
amazing amount of people in our community.
2014 to 2015 Year to Year Comparison:
Total People Fed
2014
2015
25,418
29,136
10,650
11,260
Increase of 14.5%
Food Bank Visits
Increase of 5.7%
WINTER 2015
Page 9
Music and Worship
As we enter Advent and prepare for the birth of our
Savior, we have an opportunity to reflect on the
exciting kick off of fall worship at Highland
Covenant Church. It is such a blessing to be able to
come to church to worship every Sunday. Some of
the highlights included:
Activities During Advent
The Story Begins
In addition to weekly worship services, there are
many ways to celebrate the upcoming Advent
season at Highland. On Saturday, November 28, we
gathered at 9:30 a.m. to begin to decorate the
sanctuary for Advent. There is something very
special about gradually adding the lights and greens
to our church. On Saturday, December 12,
Highland Covenant will continue the tradition of our
annual Christmas potluck with tables festively
decorated to reflect the season. The entertainment
for the night will be a dinner concert including
performances by members of our congregation and
a festive singing of Christmas carols. If you are
interested in participating, please contact me at
[email protected].
In September, we launched The Story as part of our
weekly worship emphasis for the 2015-16 year. As
Pastor James and other speakers lead us through
the Bible in the 31-week sermon series, we see the
way the Word of God fits together in a seamless
grand narrative. If you have missed a sermon in The
Story,
please
visit
our
website
at www.highlandcovenant.com/sermons.html. To
help us keep track of where we are in the journey,
we have a growing display of art pieces along the
sides of the sanctuary taking us on the road
through the Bible. So far, we have added seven
original pieces reflecting the path from creation to
the battles in Joshua. We are excited to see what
each new chapter brings. If you are interested in
participating in the growing art project, we have lots
of
chapters
left!
Please
email
me
at
[email protected] and I can send you a list of
opportunities.
Seating for People in Wheelchairs
The worship committee would like to extend a
huge thank you to the properties committee for
shortening one of the pews in the sanctuary to
accommodate people in wheelchairs. It has been a
concern for some time that we did not have a
dedicated location for wheelchairs in our
sanctuary. We will be observing to see if this is
successful or if there are other enhancements we
can make to it easier for wheelchairs to fit.
Music and Worship Team Members
As we enter Advent and prepare for the birth of our
Savior, we have an opportunity to reflect on the
exciting kick off of fall worship at Highland
Covenant Church. It is
As always, I would like to offer my thanks to all of
the Highlanders who participate in our worship
services every week. From the beautiful music
provided by Tony and the worship team to the
ushers who faithfully greet members and visitors to
the unseen guys in the sound booth, we are so
blessed to have people willing to volunteer their time
to make each Sunday meaningful. Thank you for all
you do to make worship wonderful at Highland.
Thanksgiving Eve Service at BCRC
We are grateful to our friends at Bellevue Christian
Reformed Church for hosting a night of worship,
thankfulness, dessert and giving on Thanksgiving
Eve.
Jenny Cobbley · Tony Mullin · Chris Lindberg · Craig Sawyer
John Bustad · James Amadon· · Liz Bales
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HI GHL AND COV ENANT
Properties
The Properties Committee has had an interesting
year. We have great members who really care about
eh church structure with the goal of maintaining
this wonderful asset. We are led by Tom Nelson.
Below is the list of some of the projects we have
completed, plus some exciting prospects for the
future:
 Roof maintenance and repairs is in place for the

next several years.
New drains and a sump pump have been
installed to hopefully eliminate flooding in the
lower levels.
Upcoming:
 Installation of new carpet in the nursery and
Sunday School rooms downstairs
 The remodel of the Heritage Lounge
 New signage for the outside of the church
 The remodel of the Nursery
 Repainting of the church exterior. (We hope to
have help from members and friends of Highland
with a BBQ to follow—sometime next summer).
Thank you for your prayers and generosity! We
have a beautiful facility and want to take care of it!
The Construction Has Begun!
As of Tuesday, December 1st, work on the Library/
Heritage Lounge has begun. The work will take
somewhere between six to eight works to complete
and while the work is being done, the room will be
closed off from usage. Thank you for the flexibility
of the groups that have been relocated as a result
of the construction.
Forest Hayes · Craig Peterson · Mike Holmgren
When the work is complete, all will be welcome to
enjoy the beauty and comfort of the newly designed
space. Find a book from the shelves, sit on one of
the new couches or chairs, and enjoy the light coming through the new stained glass windows, with
beautiful images representing the Trinity.
Properties Team Members
Josh Cobbley · Matt Peterson · Tom Nelson
WINTER 2015
Page 11
Youth
HCC Youth Visit the Seattle Labyrinth—Seattle Center
On Sunday, August 30, a group of seven youth
headed into Seattle to walk the Labyrinth. After
lunch together in the Center House, the group
walked over to the gigantic orange labyrinth painted
on the black asphalt in front of the Experience
Music Project building. Pastor Mary gave a short
introduction to what a labyrinth is (and what it
isn’t).
A labyrinth is a pattern with a circuitous pattern
within it and it was first found on pottery. We
learned that a labyrinth is not a maze; there is only
one path to the center and there are no wrong turns.
The type of labyrinth that is used for walking can be
described as a walking meditation or path of prayer.
There are many different designs, although they are
mostly constructed in the form of a circle,
symbolizing unity, oneness or wholeness. Since
there is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth,
everyone can walk at their own pace and on our
walk we encountered young and old and even some
in strollers. Everyone had a different experience and
here are some of the comments that were heard
from our group after the walk:
“In a maze you get lost.”
“Hard to feel how far you are. I got confused. You’d
think you know when you’re going to get there but
you know you are (going to get there) and it gave you
time to think.”
“Someone said ‘You are going the wrong way.’”
Thanks for New Places to Sit in the Youth
“I wonder if you stretched it out straight how long it
would be.”
“I liked the middle.”
“I thought the middle could be like a challenge you
could overcome. You walk to it, get there, and then
coming back out, you’re thinking about how you got
there.”
“It was easy to stay on the path but you had to
choose to stay on it.”
For those interested, the design at Seattle Center is
based on the oldest surviving Christian medieval
labyrinth, the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth of
France. The Chartres labyrinth was constructed in
1201, and is characterized by eleven circuits (or
concentric circles surrounding the center) and the
six petal flower in the center of the Seattle Center
labyrinth.
Room!
Three new couches are being enjoyed downstairs in
room 108. This room is used weekly on Sundays for
Confirmation and occasionally for youth group and
other youth events (and likely during the week by
other groups.) Thanks to Pastor Mary for selecting
and overseeing delivery of the comfy new couches,
and a big thank you to Highland for supporting the
youth budget that make possible this kind of addition!
Youth Team Members
Mary Peterson · Craig Conner · Lisa Hanson · Rod Wishart
Maria Morin · Tonya Wishart
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HI GHL AND COV ENANT
Youth, continued
The Highland Youth Lock-in Sometime During the Fall of 2015!
Our daughter Christina recently attended the
amazing Highland Youth Lock-in. We asked her what
the event was about and what she thought about it.
We thought it would be fun to record her responses
and share with the rest of our church family.
Legend: CP: Christina’s
Neelam, C: Christina
parents
Richard
and
CP: So Christina, what was this youth lock-in all
about?
C: The lock-in was about having fun with everyone
together and learning about God’s word.
CP: That’s great to know, so how many youth
came to the sleepover?
C: I don’t know because I did not count! But I do
know that many kids brought their friends with
them. It was also extra special to me because my
childhood friends Suhas and Spandana could come
too!
CP: So tell us some of the activities or games
you played at the sleepover?
C: One game that I really enjoyed a lot was called
“ICE BOWLING”. Basically you arrange toy blocks
on the ground and try and knock them off using ice
blocks. How cool is that, literally. J Two teams
competed with each other. My team won!
This other game we played was a lot of fun too –
basically there was a frozen t-shirt that was put in
ice. You had to break the ice and we had to “warm”
the t-shirt so that somebody in our team could put
it
on.
That
was
also
a
lot
of
fun.
The third activity was “capture the flag” – one team
hides their flag on the upper level of the church and
the other team hides their flag on the ground level.
There are many more rules that are hard for me to
explain to you. Let’s just say this was a lot fun too.
– these are very salty fried onions. We watched a
movie at 1 am. We slept at 2:30 am. Then in the
morning we had a breakfast. Breakfast was cereal
and greek yogurt.
CP: Wow Christina, you sure did have lots fun!
So when you think about the sleepover for what
are you thankful to the Lord Jesus?
C: (Christina thinks for a minute at this point) First
of all I thank the Lord because He has given me a
very wonderful church family. I also thank the Lord
that everything worked out so well and no one was
hurt. Also the good friendship that I have at
Highland and that my friends (Suhas and
Spandana) had fun also makes me very thankful.
Lastly I am thankful for Ms. Tonya, Pastor Mary and
everyone else that worked so hard in putting this
together!
CP: OK Christina, that sure is great to know.
Complete this sentence – “If you are a youth you
should come to future youth events at Highland
because…”
C: …we have a really fun time, we played lots of
games, we ate candy and watched movie. Also
because the grown-ups that organize this are very
kind and fun to be with, they are also so energetic
CP: Any closing thoughts?
C: No closing thoughts.
CP: Hmm…we are sure those games must have
made you very hungry. So what was for dinner?
C: We ate lots of candies which was great. We also
ate lots of pasta and lasagna. We also had funyuns
WINTER 2015
Page 13
Youth, continued
Odd Sundays (What Happened to Youth Group?)
What are Odd Sundays? “Youth
group” has traditionally taken
place on Wednesday nights at
Highland. However, starting
back in October of this year, this
youth gathering changed to a new day and time Sunday nights. The youth team was hoping that
more youth would be available on Sunday nights (it
turns out that this age group is pretty busy with
sports, school activities, and homework!) And the
name change was just for fun. The event is called
“Odd” Sundays because we meet the first and third
Sunday of each month (odd) at 5:01pm-7:03pm
(also odd).
The format of this evening is to meet in the Highland
gym, have some dinner together, have some crazy
active fun, and then talk about some of the “odd”
things that Jesus said. The crazy fun that has
happened so far includes Bubble Soccer (see the
separate article on this unique event!), Backwards
night (yes, you can wear pants backwards!), and
Turkey Bowl MMXV. And we’ve explored some of the
“odd” things that Jesus said such as:
“Come follow me, and I will send you out to fish for
people.” Matthew 4:19
“…whoever takes the lowly position of this child is
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew
18:1-5
“…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or
drink;”
Matthew
6:25-27
Odd.
Just
odd
enough to be the
truth!
Bubble Soccer
For our first “Odd Sunday” event, we went big! We
went Bubble Soccer! For anyone who is not familiar
with this amazing sport, it involves climbing inside
of an inflated “bubble” with a cylindrical hole in the
center (like a tunnel, but the outside is giant bubble
wrap). Once you are secure with the harness over
your shoulders (like a backpack, but you’re inside
it!) you grasp the two grips in front of your body
with your hands, and attempt to stand up. And
then, you try to become familiar with walking again
– without the advantage of seeing clearly in front of
you. And if you are brave, you might attempt
running.
“bumping” into each other, sometimes accidentally,
sometimes not so accidentally (Lexi Martin! Queen
of the “knockout” bump!) There may have been a bit
of soccer actually played, but it turned out to be
more fun to just move around and bump into walls
and other bubble people. Conditions did get a bit
warm inside the bubble, which actually made the
exit a little easier (yes, you could slip right out if you
were sweaty enough). What a crazy fun night! And
yes, it fit right in with our theme “Odd Sundays!”
A few of the super brave (Mary Amadon and
gymnast friend Ashley) began doing summersaults.
A few brave souls found themselves upside down,
feet in the air. Then there was a fair amount of
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HI GHL AND COV ENANT
Youth, continued
Princess Bride and Nutella
Highland high schoolers enjoyed Friday the 13th
with a movie night: The Princess Bride, pizza, and
Nutella! Apples, croissants, Wheat Thins, pretzels,
breadsticks,
marshmallows,
shortbread (and
spoons) were dipped in Nutella. Then many movie
lines were recited together - from the opening scenes
to the conclusion as Wesley and Buttercup are
finally reunited. And as we all know, there is no
more noble cause than true love. And Nutella.
Turkey Bowl Pictures with lots of ….
Save the Date—Camp Fundraiser February 28
Highland backs up its belief in the value of the
camping ministry by having a policy of sending
“Every Kid to Camp.” This means that after the
family pays the deposit, Highland will cover the
remainder of the cost of camp (excluding extra
activities).
This is made possible through the
generosity of the members of the Highland
congregation.
February, during a special
refreshment time, we will have our annual
fundraiser to send “Every Kid to Camp.”
WINTER 2015
Page 15
Leadership Update
Update on Pastor James’ Studies at Duke Divinity School
In August, I began a Doctor of Ministry degree
program at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC.
With an emphasis on Christian leadership, the
program “seeks to integrate practical ministerial
experience
with
structured
theological reflection. Study of the
church’s scriptures and traditions
is
paired
with
study
of
contemporary leadership theory and practice,
encouraging deeper understanding of the sources,
nature,
and
character
of
authentic Christian leadership
and enhancing the critical skills
of persons engaged in the
direction of congregations of
church-related institutions.”
some great connections with members of my cohort,
who come from all over the country. I have already
learned things that have changed the way I pastor at
Highland. I will take 8 more classes over the next 2
year. These courses
build to the heart of
the
program,
an
independent research
project
that
will
culminate in a lengthy
thesis paper. If you’re
interested in learning
more, you can go to
divinity.duke.edu/
admissions/application-information/doctor-ministry
-dmin.
I just completed my first two courses, “Introduction
to Christian Leadership” and “The Old Testament
and Leadership.” The classes were great and I made
Thank you for your support as I work my way
through this program.
Treasurer’s Report
Highland is enjoying another financially successful
year. From January 1 through October 31 we
enjoyed a $28,760 surplus. Looking at a whole
year, from November 1, 2014 to October 31, 2015,
we enjoyed a $70,576 surplus. I have the month-by
-month numbers for those interested.
Since
monthly numbers fluctuate wildly, they can be scary
and anxiety inducing some months and euphoric
others. Overall, we are doing fine financially. More
important, our various ministries that our income
supports, as noted in the committee reports, are
succeeding.
~Jim Anderson
Financial Secretary’s Report
As we near the end of the giving year, we are in good
shape to meet our budget goals. Through October,
income stands at $483,724.13, slightly down (-2%)
when compared to last year. Given the typical
strong giving in the months of November and
December, I fully expect by the end of the year
income will be near the budget of $612,751.00.
2015-2016 Council Members
Chair ....................... …...…...……...Bob Lindberg
Congregational Care .................. Kathy Holmgren
Vice Chair ........................................... Kirk Lider
Discipleship ...................................... Sandy Clay
Secretary ................................... Nelma Anfinrud
Mission and Evangelism ............ Julie Stapelman
Financial Secretary ........................ Craig Conner
Music and Worship...................... Jenny Cobbley
Treasurer ...................................... Jim Anderson
Properties ................................... …...Tom Nelson
Christian Education ..................... Louise Conner
Youth .................................... …...Tonya Wishart
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HI GHL AND COV ENANT
Highland Christian School
Highland Christian School Update
Welcome Teas
The preschool has been off to a great start this
fall. We have a total of 12 staff members, 13 classes
and 180 students in our school. Our church school
is a true outreach in our community.
This event was well attended and a nice way for our
church members to connect with our preschool
parents. Thank you to all those who helped make
everyone feel welcome, it was fun to see everyone
talking and laughing.
As a staff we have adapted “The Story” as our weekly
devotional to follow the church.
Pastor James
prepares a breakfast for the staff once a month and
leads us in our devotional during that time. This
gesture is meaningful to the staff and is one more
way to connect the preschool and the church.
Another great ministry we have is our church
member Bea Pavlik giving her time to come once a
week to talk with the moms in the Hospitality
Room. The moms enjoy the conversation, however
the laughter and the conversation makes me want to
leave the office and join them.
Fall Festival
Fall Festival was successful; we had approximately
200 children attend with their families! Thank you
to all who supported our community event through
buying candy, bringing cupcakes or helping during
the event itself. Your support was appreciated and
it made the event run smoothly. It was fun for me to
experience first-hand after the preparation.
Some other events that have happened this year are
Open House/Ice Cream Social, Fall Festival, Craft
Days and Covenant World Reliefs “Project Blue.” I
am looking forward to the next season and what
God has in mind for the school. Thank you for
prayers and support; this is a wonderful place to
be.
Hospitality Room
Craft Days
Mary and Sue have come up with some fun crafts
for the moms of preschoolers. In October they
painted pumpkins and in November they will be
making tablecloth squares. If you are interested in
helping out with craft days, let Mary know.
Director: Andrea Nelson · Lee Bodin · Gail Cunneely · Pamela Dunkley
Kalyn Goemmer · Joni Hoffman · Darlene Kraft · Sharon Lyons · Irene Partin
Our hospitality room is quite loved with
approximately 40 moms in it each day. If you have
any reading material you are done with or tea you
would like to donate, it would be appreciated. The
moms sure enjoy each other’s company and this
room makes for a comfortable environment.
Highland Christian School Staff
Julie Pratt · Ann Scott · Yoshiko Sullivan
WINTER 2015
Page 17
Community Notes
Covenant Newswire: NPU Nursing Lab Named for Kathy Holmgren
CHICAGO (November 24, 2015) — In a special ceremony held Friday, North Park University announced
it was naming its state-of-the-art nursing facilities the Kathy J. Holmgren Nursing Simulation Lab.
Holmgren, who graduated from North Park with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1969, has been a longtime supporter of the university, including the recently opened Johnson Center for Science and Community Life.
The high-tech simulation lab opened during the summer of 2011 in a 3,000-square-foot, ground-level
space on Foster Avenue. It includes four simulation rooms, two control rooms, and a conference room
where students debrief their class experiences.
During the ceremony at the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Holmgren expressed her gratitude
for the Evangelical Covenant Church and its long history of benevolent care, as well as what she called
the “forward-thinking faculty” at North Park.
After Holmgren earned her degree from North Park, she went on to receive a master’s degree in oncology
nursing from Brigham Young University, and a master’s degree in social work from the University of
Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Holmgren’s interest in medical mission work in Africa twice led her to work and serve in Congo, first in
1969 and again in 2006, alongside her physician daughter, Calla. Additionally, Kathy has provided volunteer medical care in Rwanda, Romania, Mexico, Uganda, and every U.S. city in which she has lived,
while supporting her husband, Mike, and his work in the National Football League.
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HI GHL AND COV ENANT
Upcoming Events
December Events
December 6th—Odd Sunday Youth Group, 5:01 pm-7:03 pm
December 12th—Christmas Dinner & Concert, 5:30 pm
December 13th—Lunch at Crossroads, 12:15 pm
December 16th—Baby Brigade, 10:00 am
December 20th—Caroling at Covenant Shores, 1-2:00 pm
December 20th—Youth Adventure to Snowflake Lane, 6-9:00 pm
December 24th—Christmas Eve Service, 5:00 pm
January Events
January 10th—Lunch at Crossroads 12:15 pm
January 17th—Odd Sunday Youth Group, 5:01 pm-7:03 pm
January 23rd—India Republic Day
January 29th-31st—Highland Winter Retreat
February Events
February 7—Odd Sunday Youth Group, 5:01 pm-7:03 pm
February 10—Ash Wednesday Service
February 14—Lunch at Crossroads
February 21—Bridge Ministries Dinner, 4:00-6:00 pm
February 28—Camp Fundraiser
WINTER 2015
Page 19
Highland Covenant Church
15022 NE Bel-Red Rd.
Bellevue, WA 98007
Phone: 425-746-7676
Fax:
425-641-3687
E-mail:
[email protected]
Return Service Requested
We’re on the web!
www.highlandcovenant.com
Save the date!
HCC Winter Retreat!
January 29-31 (Friday-Sunday), 2016
Registration information coming soon!
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HI GHL AND COV ENANT