Highland Covenant Church

Winter 2014
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Highland Covenant
In Praise of Small Solutions
The latest headlines tell an old story: hunger
in foreign lands and familiar neighborhoods,
environmental damage throwing the earth off
balance, religious fanaticism turning violent,
racial division illuminating the cracks in our
communities, political discourse at the mercy
of big money. Our own lives speak of
common tensions: bills to pay, children to
raise, work to be done, weight to lose,
appointments to keep.
In the midst of the mess we receive word of
the next big idea that will solve hunger,
broker peace, create wealth, or preserve
youthfulness. Sometimes, amazing things
happen and real progress is made. More
often than not, reality falls short of hope, and
the
big
solutions
that
dazzle
our
imaginations create unintended problems.
Yet our hope for magic solutions persists,
and even bleeds into our faith. Who among
us has not prayed that God would fix
whatever wrong we see in the world or in
ourselves, and fix it RIGHT NOW? Who
hasn’t wondered why God doesn’t make
everything right with a quick snap of the
fingers?
Pastor James
are reminded that many people expected
God’s promised Messiah to be a king with big
solutions, ready to whip the world into shape
by unleashing the awesome power of God on
a sin-sick world. Instead we get a baby born
to powerless peasants. Somehow, in the
loving wisdom of God, this is the big solution
the world was praying for, looking up from
the wooden manger with half opened eyes, at
the mercy of the very forces he was sent to
conquer.
Advent invites us to put aside big solutions
for a while, to ask what little thing God is
doing in our midst, and to trust that it is in
those small places that big miracles are born.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor James
The season of Advent – the four weeks
leading up to Christmas – invites us to
understand God in a deeper way. As we
prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we
Inside this issue:
Looking Back...
2
Upcoming Events
9
Children & Family
Ministry
13
Highland Christian
15
Articles from the
Denomination
17
Updates from the
Leadership
20
Advent/Christmas Sermon Series
Patience is a necessary part
of Christian faith,
freeing us to trust
that God will act for us
and for the world in the right
way, at the right time.
Looking Back...
Men of Faith Retreat
This article is either about the women’s
retreat or the men’s retreat. Use this list of
activities to see if you can guess which one:
Tractors Pulling Heavy-Laden Sleds. Paintball, Projectile Pumpkins, Shotgun Bowling,
4-Wheeling, Beef, Beef, Beef, Donuts, Beef,
the Zipline, Frisbee Golf, Ga-Ga Ball, Elbow
Lake Swimming in Late September, the
BIOB, Late Night Cards, Popcorn, HEAVY
Snoring, Pastor James speaking on a theme
of “Strong Like a Jesus!” Playing “King of the
Float” on Elbow Lake, No Knitting, and 20
Plus Highland Men including a selection of
Newly Minted Teenage Men
September 19-21
rounds of the game had been sacrificed in
the Ga-Ga pit. I am still a little sore.
Two brothers climbed up on the 8 foot tall
“Bob” which floats in Elbow Lake and did
their best to tip it over far enough to dip their
toes into Elbow Lake without falling off.
They were not successful.
Other men
enjoyed the prospect of demonstrating to the
teenage among them that they could still
dominate the swimming float in the middle of
Elbow Lake. They were successful. Later,
several men were able to ingest what was
likely an entire cow’s worth of roast beef –
truly a sight to behold.
This article his article is not about the Women’s Retreat.
The Men’s Retreat was held at Cascade’s
Camp and Conference Center over the
weekend of September 19-21. A brief survey
of some of the men who attended will
perhaps give you a sense of the deep and
powerful thinking that happens on these
weekends. One gentleman listed his two
weekend high points as catching a not
enormous fish using a fly rod and later the
same day using an enormous tractor to drag
a two-ton steel plate through the dirt. Why
drag a steel plate through the dirt? Because
there was an enormous tractor and some dirt
– and a plate that needed dragging!
Several of the more “experienced” men at the
retreat were challenged by some of the more
youthful among us to a game of “Ga-Ga
Ball.” This game involves standing inside an
octagon shaped pit while trying to avoid a
ball being whacked at high speed. It also
involves eating and breathing several quarts
of dust. The experienced men said yes out of
pity but committed to only “ten minutes or
so” of the game.
Ninety minutes later,
several liters of sweat, somewhat less blood,
a few tears (Kyle), and approximately 500
Renewal Food Bank Food Drive
On September 27th, Highland helped enable
the Renewal Food Bank to collect over 2,000
pounds of food and over $1,000 in cash donations. Highland provided 19 volunteers to
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Laughter and friendship were on display
through it all. Perhaps the highlight of the
weekend was Pastor James’ fantastic series
of talks on the characteristics of true “manly”
strength. Through it all Christ was glorified,
relationships were formed and refined, and
grunting was accepted as an appropriate
means of communication. The men from my
family have already made plans to attend
next year. If you are of the male persuasion I
sincerely hope you’ll do the same!
~Rod Wishart
September 27
collect food from 3 stores. It was a fun day
visiting with church volunteers and customers that were so kind and caring.
HIGHLAND COVENANT
Looking Back… (continued)
Women’s Ministries Retreat
Scripture... Fellowship with other women…
Quiet time… Good food cooked and served by
someone else… No dishes to do… a good
speaker…cabin time… a walk by the
lake…These are some of the enticements of
the women's retreat that draw me each year.
This year was no exception! The 2014 retreat
theme was: Unquenchable, Consuming,
Alive…"for our God is a consuming fire."
Throughout the weekend we heard from Carol Kent, a gifted and engaging speaker. She
shared the various trials and sufferings of
her family's life and how God was working
through them. We first heard about firestorms and making transformational, hopefilled choices. "Don't burn out, keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants
of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't
quit in hard times." Romans 12:11–12 MSG
September 26-28
ten fears and how they can debilitate us in
many ways. But as we know, God’s love and
power overcome fear, which she illustrated
through Matthew 14:22-36, when Jesus
walks on water.
All too soon, it was time to go home, but
thankfully we can take our fond memories
with us…Here are some highlights shared by
those who attended:
The speaker captivated the audience and was
so generous in sharing her life-story.
400 women’s voices singing in worship
I zip-lined for the first time and survived!
The speaker was great! Her story made me
cry, but made me trust more on my Lord.
My favorite thing was the sharing time in our
cabin.
The speaker was amazing! It made me think
that I take a lot of things for granted.
The reminder to “hang your weakness on
God’s strength”
The serene beauty of a walk along the lake
When the speaker shared about her son’s
ministry at prison, it reminded me of Paul
when he was imprisoned.
On Saturday morning Carol reminded us
that trials are inevitable and “polka-dotted
throughout your life,” but could be used to
develop a wildfire faith. She encouraged us
to (re)discover the power of God’s light (His
“flame”) and ask how he wants us to shine
His glory. Ministering love to those around
us, wherever we are, can help grow a wildfire
faith. "The mystery and the adventure of living out a wildfire faith is this: as the image
bearers of Jesus Christ, we reflect his light
everywhere we go.” [From Unquenchable, by
Carol Kent]
Being reminded how we need to love and
support one another in faith and in life.
~Heather Martin
On Sunday morning Carol concluded her
sessions with “one of our oldest and deadliest
enemies”: FEAR. She talked about the top
WINTER 2014
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Looking Back…(cont.)
Baby Shower for Lisa & Zachary Hanson
On a happy evening in October the Highland
ladies welcomed Zachary Thomas Hanson
with his Mom Lisa and his Grandma Chris
Lindberg to a delightful baby shower. It gave
many an opportunity to see the little man for
the first time.
He was very good, and we didn’t hear a peep
out of Zach. His Mom and Grandma kept
peeking in to be sure he wasn’t out and
running up and down the hallway! Many of
us remember when Lisa was the new little
person at Highland and the pride and joy she
brought to the Lindbergh and Hedin families.
As a point of interest Zach is a fourth generation Lindberg attending Highland Covenant
Church.
Tonya Wishart gave a beautiful devotion
honoring babies and motherhood.
Carol
Lider, Neelam Lewis and Kay Swanson
provided treats and beverages while Cecile
Culp arranged a lovely bouquet of flowers for
the table and for Lisa to take home. There
was a good attendance of our Highland ladies
who enjoyed the opportunity to visit and
watch Lisa open our gifts with much
appreciation.
We thank God that Zach is progressing well
and adding the weight he needs. Perhaps
Lisa and Mike are slipping in some good
milkshakes for their little guy!
~Sharon Pakkala
Movies, Games, and Whole Lot of Junk Food
Have you ever been to a youth group lock in
at Highland Covenant Church? Well believe
me when I tell you it was the best, sleep
depriving night of my life.
This year was my first youth group lock in,
but it was still awesome. I met in the church
gym with my friends. We started off the evening by playing a light game of horse, and
then when all the boys showed up it became
more intense. When everyone had arrived, we
played an active game of “in the touchdown
frisbee.” After that we hit the church kitchen,
where all the carbs in the world were sitting
there saying eat me, eat me! Then, once we
had eaten our body weight in oreo knock-offs
and pizza, we started another game of
capture the flag.
October 4
October 4, 2014
to watch a movie that all of us love, The
Incredibles.
Please come to the next youth group lock in.
Whether you are a junior high student or a
chaperone volunteer, we will always have
room for a few more!
~ Emerson C
Now this was a battle of the sexes, no, a
WAR of the sexes. Girls home turf downstairs
first round, boys upstairs, and we switched
on and off. First round guys won, but don’t
fret women, we managed to pull through the
next three rounds. Of course, the women
triumphed. (and there are some entertaining
videos on what we did when we got tagged to
prove it!)
Finally, to end the night off, we roasted
marshmallows in the parking lot, and voted
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HIGHLAND COVENANT
Looking Back… (continued)
Baby Brigade/Knitting Class
We have changed the name and production
of Rip n Roll to Baby Brigade this year. Due
to the cost of the shipping bandages and the
unreliability of them getting to those who
needed them, the Covenant has stopped that
mission. We will now be making blankets,
burp cloths, bibs, and nursing aprons for
October 18
Care Net's baby boutique. We will start this
in January 2015. We will meet every third
Thursday at 10 am in room 108. We also
held a knitting class on October 18Th. Margaret Urfer taught us how to make squares
for a baby blanket that will go to Care Net.
Youth Group at Renewal Food Ban k
October 22
About a dozen youth and leaders showed up
to help at the Renewal Food Bank on the
evening of October 22. After being guided by
Rich and Nancy from the food bank, we went
to work.
food, if it was past the expiration date, or
put them into the correct box on the stage.
There were many cans of beans, packages of
spaghetti, and a fair amount of vegetables, as
well a wide variety of other food.
On the right, there were shelves with lots of
food. There were about 30 crates of food to
sort that had been collected from school food
drives. On the stage, there were boxes of already categorized food. After we checked the
expiration dates, we either threw out the
The sorting went quickly and we finished all
the crates. We were all glad to help.
~Brandon Bosworth and Timothy Conner
Highland Christian School Fall Festival
October 25
Fall Festival was amazing this year! Sixtyfive volunteers converged on the gym shortly
before 6:30 turning it into a wonderland of
carnival games, food and costumes. Approximately 450 children and young at heart
joined in to share an evening of fun, laughter
and games. This event brought many unchurched families to Highland and brought
the church, community and school together
as one body.
A very special thanks to all who volunteered
by running the games, serving food, selling
tickets, donating candy, cakes and cookies
and setting up the day before the event.
Share the Harvest
October 26
This year's Sharing the Harvest turned out to
a wonderful mission. We were blessed by the
sale of 107 bags of apples and $215 of seed
money. There were over 15 bags donated to
the Renewal Food Bank. On October 25,
fourteen Highland Covenanters joined other
churches at Wiley Heights Covenant in
Yakima for lunch and bagging apples. From
all the bags sold at Highland there will be
214 trees planted in the Central African Republic.
WINTER 2014
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Looking Back… (continued)
Baby Shower for Jennifer & Gabi Johnston
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward. Ps. 27:5
It is always such a joy to welcome a new life
in our church family. On Sunday, 26th October we had the opportunity to celebrate with
Jennifer the birth of her baby girl Gabi along
with Aunt Andrea and Grandma Linda. It
was a windy and rainy afternoon, the perfect
setting for a cozy gathering by the fireplace in
the Heritage lounge.
October 26
homemade treats for everyone to enjoy with a
hot cup of coffee/tea. Gerri gave a very
meaningful devotional. The amazing thing is
that the message always blesses not only the
new mother but every woman present at the
shower.
As the new mom opened presents, the ladies
enjoyed taking turns cuddling the little baby
and visiting. Linda and Jennifer were very
appreciative and thankful to their Highland
family for celebrating in their joy and blessing them in such a way.
Our Bible study ladies provided yummy
~Neelam Lewis
All Saints Day
On Sunday, November 2, Highland Covenant
Church joined other congregations around
the country to celebrate All Saints Sunday.
The special Sunday offers Christians the
opportunity to honor those who have made
an impact on the past life of the church and
church members.
November 2
The All Saints Sunday worship service was
highlighted by an informational video from
Covenant World Relief and the annual
distribution of the Campbell’s soup cans to
the children in the congregation. We were
also treated to the voices of the Sunday
School children as they lead the congregation
in signing the hymn “Song of the Sparrow.”
To encourage church attendees
to reflect on saints of the past,
bulletin boards were hung in the
hallway near the office where
people could add a name, a
photo, or card to remember loved
ones or church leaders who have
been significant in their lives.
Youth Video Games
November 16
Youth and leaders enjoyed an afternoon of video games on November 16th.
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HIGHLAND COVENANT
Looking Back… (continued)
Journey to Mosaic
"She was teaching you how to be middleclass." I said that simple sentence to my new
Journey to Mosaic partner as I was driving
her to my house on the first night of our
four-day passage. We had spent the
afternoon in downtown Seattle hearing about
the Japanese concentration camp of Tule
Lake Ca. and the effect it had has had on
generations of Americans. Soon, she would
be under my roof and entering into my world.
It was such a simple sentence, yet so
profoundly iconic, it is what is at the heart of
the struggle of American race reconciliation.
My partner, Sylvia, and I were wonderfully
matched. We are of the same age, both
middle class, and have grown children. She
is an executive who works tirelessly in the
social services field caring for the homeless of
Everett. While I am a therapist that counsels
families on how to rebuild their lives after the
pain and suffering of trauma, depression,
and anxiety have taken a hold of them. On
the surface, our obvious difference was that
she is black and I am white. I live in the
dominant world of privilege and she fights for
each step that enables her to move forward.
That seemingly thoughtless sentence could
have become a crushing vise between us.
Again, the white privilege sees only the black
deprivation. The white can only assume that
the black has no understanding of how
things work in accepted society.
November 7-9
her in my house. I looked inside myself and
wondered what my emotions were about,
why did I react to having her in my home?
I discovered that just because I am middle
class now, I come from poverty and I still see
through the lens of poverty. On that first
night, I heard Sylvia's story through my
poverty lens, and thought that someone was
teaching her how to be middle class because
I needed to be taught how to live in the
middle class. Sylvia grew up in the middle
class; she already understood how to live
there and did not need to be taught.
All weekend we wrestled with these two
dichotomies; I am white and grew up impoverished even though my father was educated
and she is black and grew up middle class.
We would explore how my lens of poverty
would affect her lens of understanding. For
our partnership it was not just about the
black/white understanding it was also about
the middle-class/poverty realities.
Isn't that what race reconciliation is all
about? One side saying I've caused you pain
and there is misunderstanding between us,
let's figure this out. Having the courage to
say I want to listen to your pain so that I can
understand you better, in doing so I will
understand myself better.
~Julie Hjelm
Yet as I sat on the bus with her the next
morning, I processed my reaction to having
WINTER 2014
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Looking Back… (continued)
Meet and Eat: A Random Hangout
Driving buses. Playing the cello. Schooling
at home.
As we munched and chatted
comfortably around the table we discovered
these and other common threads linking our
lives and weaving us together. A senior
couple, a dad and his two kids, a single man,
and a family of five equals a lot of interesting
fellowship—and a surprising amount of
things in common!
It’s so simple, it’s almost ridiculous. Invite
some people over for dinner. There was no
birthday or holiday at the center of our
evening, no anniversary or other milestone
celebration. We weren’t even related. We
were not having dinner as part of some
business meeting. There was no agenda. It
was, well… a random hangout!
We got
together just to be together.
As the evening progressed, people with whom
I have worshiped for months or even years
took on dimension and complexity.
Old
assumptions and generalizations were
challenged. There is a lot more to a person
than what meets the eye.
I love the way Highland is encouraging realistic socializing by supporting these Meet and
Eat get-togethers.
Couples, families with
kids, and individuals who may be in different
life stages and may have different experiences and backgrounds get an opportunity to
pull away from the day to day separate lives
they lead and meet for a few hours. We
experience the gift of time to get to know others, and be known by others, on a level we
probably would not have otherwise.
There is something intimately personal about
gathering in someone’s home and seeing
Thanksgiving Eve Night of Worship
where they live. The dynamic is completely
different than the usual daily social
opportunities—even on Sunday morning at
church—where time is at a premium, talk is
often surface at best, people can be in a
rush, and conversation is sometimes
disjointed. Sharing a meal at home is the
perfect panacea.
The make-up of these Meet and Eat dinners
is indeed somewhat random, since not
everyone knows who will be signing up for
the same dinner date. There can be a wide
difference in ages, which is a good thing.
Friendship and mentorship flow naturally
from the community among young and old.
Intergenerational relationships
are
an
essential element of a vibrant Body of Christ.
We cannot be healthy and whole without
each other!
If you haven’t had the opportunity yet, I encourage you to sign up the next time these
Meet and Eat dinners are offered.
Who
knows what you may have in common with
the people who sit across the aisle from you
at church on Sunday morning?
-Kathy Gelzer
*Thanks to Margaret Urfer for the title concept!
November 26
To all who were able to make it out to
Thanksgiving Eve's Night of Worship, we are
glad you came. It was a blessed evening of
diverse worship, as we focused on song,
scripture, prayer, fellowship, and testimonies
to God's faithfulness.
It's a privilege to
partner with other churches in the
community for a common Christ-centered
goal. We hope you'll join us next year.
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HIGHLAND COVENANT
Looking Back… (continued)
Congregational Meeting
Sunday,
November
23rd
was
our
congregational meeting. A portion of the time
was spent reflecting on the year and
celebrating the generosity of the church and
significant growth we have seen since last
year. It was very positive and uplifting. The
2015 budget was presented and church
members approved the $624,451 budget for
next year.
Some highlights include a new staff to
support our youth, a church tithe increase to
12% to support our conference and national
denomination, and additional money was
November 23
budgeted to support Highland Christian
School scholarships and outreach projects.
It was noted at the meeting that the
administrative committee is projecting a
significant surplus from this years budget.
In the event of a year-end surplus, a portion
of the surplus will be used to support of Bill
and Claire Strunk’s church planting
mission. This will help offset their expenses
as they continue their calling to planting a
church. Allocation of any additional surplus
money will be discussed at the next
congregational meeting in March.
Upcoming Events
December 13, 5:00 pm — Christmas Dinner & Concert
It is hard to believe it is that time of year again, but it is true…Christmas is coming soon! This
year, on Saturday, December 13, Highland Covenant is continuing the tradition of our annual
Christmas potluck with tables festively decorated to reflect the season. As an added twist, the
Worship Committee is preparing a post-dinner concert in lieu of the annual Christmas play.
Members of the congregation, including the Sunday School children, are already at work
preparing music for the concert. If you are interested in participating, please contact Jenny
Cobbley at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing everyone at this special event!
December 21, 1:00 pm—Caroling at Covenant Shores
Join us for our annual trip to visit some of our elderly friends at Covenant Shores Retirement
Center on Mercer Island. We will meet at the Shores at 1:00 to sing carols and share cookies.
Christmas Eve Service, December 24, 5:00
Everyone is welcome for a family worship service of carols, candlelight, and our Journey to
Bethlehem, a spontaneous Christmas pageant put on by the children – no rehearsal or signup necessary. Just show up and we’ll provide a costume and directions. Hope to see you
there!
January 24 — India Republic Day
After taking a break last year, we will be hosting our annual India Republic Day celebration
again on Saturday, January24, 2015. Our gym will be transformed into an Indian style party
– colorful, festive, and fun for the whole family. Put it on your calendar now and watch for
more information to come.
February 8—Camp Fundraiser
Camp, Camp, Camp, it’s time for Camp! This February will host the all-famous, one of a kind,
not to be missed Camp (and CHIC) Fundraiser! Save the date, Sunday February 8th, after the
Sunday worship service for a time to enjoy treats, hear stories, and raise money to send every
kid to camp (or CHIC)!
WINTER 2014
Page 9
Upcoming Events (continued)
February 22—Bridge Ministries Dinner
This year's Bridge Ministry dinner with be held on February 22, 2015 at Highland Covenant
Church. We are so very blessed that Sandee Kerr has agreed to help us with this
day. Sandee has wonderful ideas, table decorations, songs, food and other ideas that will
have our guests smiling all day long. With a "Love is" theme all the guest will have a fun time
thinking about what love means to them.
Safe Kids Workshop
Talking to your children about body safety can seem scary. Where to start? What age is appropriate? How do we deal with Chatty Cathys and Dash off Darrins. Are you worried that
your child seems to have no boundaries when it come to strangers or wondering how to teach
your child about body safety? Then plan to join us on February 27th for a church/school
sponsored Savvy Parent "Safe Kids" workshop. We will talk about easy, non-scary, ways to
talk to young kids about safety, helping keep our children safe.
Pizza Nights
Young families are invited to join us for pizza, fun and friends! Email
Pastor Mary to be added to the evite! Mark your calendars for Pizza
Nights! January 16, February 13 and March 13.
Upcoming Youth Events
Brown Bear Fundraiser
As a CHIC fundraiser, students will be selling Brown Bear Car Wash vouchers. Brown Bear is
located just down on 148th and NE 8th. These coupons make great gifts for co-workers, family, teachers, friends, and neighbors. Keep an eye out for a table at coffee hour before the holiday season!!! Thanks in advance for supporting the youth of Highland!
July 12-17—CHIC 2015
What’s happening July 12-17th, 2015??? CHIC!!! CHIC is a national high school covenant
conference held every 3 years. This summer, CHIC is in Knoxville, TN. If you are in 9-12th
grade, WE WANT YOU to join us, and 1000s of your closest friends for a week of non-stop energy, dynamic speakers, crazy adventures, awesome musical performances, and life-long
memories.
Contact Lisa H. for further information or visit the CHIC website at
www.chic2015.org. As members of the congregation, please pray for the hearts and minds of
the students and leaders who will be attending this life-changing event. Pray that Christ will
move, teach, grow and lead each and every one that attends.
Youth Group
Every other Wednesday night, from 5:30-7:30pm, our junior and senior high kids meet up at
church for dinner, awesome games, crazy laughter and genuine community building time.
The more, the merrier, so come and join us, with a friend or two or three, for Youth Group.
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HIGHLAND COVENANT
Sundays at Highland
2014-2015 Worship Series
Advent and Christmas 2014:
Waiting for God
Patience is a necessary part of Christian
faith, freeing us to trust that God will act for
us and for the world in the right way,
at the right time.
Winter/Epiphany 2015
Sermons from various lectionary texts.
Lent and Easter 2015: I AM
Exploring the rich images
Jesus used to communicate who he was
and how we should respond.
Spring 2015: Lessons from 1 John
This book of the Bible
offers great insight into the nature
of God’s love and how we are to reflect
that love to each other and to the world.
December Sunday Adult Growth Groups
December 7, 2014: Digging Deeper: Sermon Conversation
December 14, 2014: Baking Jars for Christmas Eve and Food Bank Guests
December 21, 2014: Carol Sing-a-long from Hymnal
WINTER 2014
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Sundays at Highland, continued.
January Sunday Adult Growth Groups
January 4-January 15, 2015: Winter Series, “Lectionary Texts”—Lectio Divina.
All adults will meet together the first week with break-outs for the remaining weeks in small
group with instructions.Winter Series Adult Sunday School Overview. Adults will be practicing Lectio Divina. Denise Lindberg will lead us as a whole the first week with small group
breakouts. The remaining weeks we will continue with Lectio Divina in small groups with
Instructions provided.
Lectio Divina is Latin for divine reading and is
a traditional Benedictine practice of
scriptural reading. It does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the Living Word. It
allows for meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase
the knowledge of God's Word. Traditionally Lectio Divina has four separate steps: read, meditate, pray and contemplate. First a passage of Scripture is read, then its meaning is reflected
Basketball at Highland Covenant Church
Even before HCC added a gym as part of an
early nineties building project, the game of
basketball was part of the DNA of Highlanders. I remember going watch my dad play in
basketball “church league” games at local
churches when I was in elementary
school. He loved the game and once HCC
had a gym, he along with a handful of other
men from the church sat down to figure out
how this new resource could be a blessing to
the community. They wanted to have a place
to play basketball that was fun, welcoming,
and accessible, where men could live out the
gospel. So that is just what they did.
Anyone was welcome to play regardless of
experience or athletic ability or religious
beliefs for that matter. It was envisioned as
a “Men’s Ministry” but the real goal was to
create community though fun competition,
so they were flexible, erring on the side of
inclusion.
Over the years I’ve had the
privilege of playing with multiple father son
pairs, high school and Jr. high students,
grandfathers,
and
even
few
sisters,
daughters and significant others.
The rules are few, it is free, we play on Monday evenings (6:30) and Saturday mornings
(7:30), games are first to 7 points, all baskets
are worth 1 point and you call your own
fouls. Beyond that everyone is encouraged
to have a good attitude and not take things
too seriously. The caliber of play varies from
Page 12
low key and a little lazy to pretty intense and
competitive with guys who have never really
played to guys who played in college (and
even a NBA coach once). Basketball starts
with prayer at the center circle and then a
rotating sign-in list ensures that everyone
plays and the teams get changed up.
I started playing basketball at HCC in 1994
after I transferred back to the UW. It was a
great way to distract myself from my studies
and spend time with my dad. A lot of things
have changed in the last 20 years but you
will still find 8 to 20 guys in the gym
Saturdays and Mondays almost every
week. Literally 100’s of guys have played
over the years many who would never have
set foot in a church otherwise. As things
stand today, I am the only HCC member that
is consistently playing (However, Pastor
James makes an appearance now-and-again
and I’ll just say he can certainly hold his
own.). I have an email list of about 80 guys
with whom I coordinate to keep things
going.
If you like the game of basketball
and think you might want to be a part,
please come and join us!
P.S. I take no responsibility for the crazy
guys who are said to play basketball very
early in the morning during the week.
~Andrew Lundberg
HIGHLAND COVENANT
Children & Family Ministry
Pastor Mary
Children’s Sunday School
Each week John Bustad or Jenny Cobbley helps us get Sunday
School started by leading us in worship! We sing fun songs,
LOUD songs and even beautiful songs of praise to our wonderful
God.
4th and 5th Grade Sunday School
This fall we started studying the Apostle’s Creed. We’ve talked about what it means to believe
in someone or something while exploring the themes of God the Father and Creator. We
learned about how brave the new Christians were to call Jesus “our Lord.” Here are a few
things that our 4th and 5th graders wanted you to know about the Apostle’s Creed.
WINTER 2014
Page 13
Children & Family Ministry
Pastor Mary
Advent
More and more research is showing the importance of parents in a child’s faith development. The more parents talk about faith at
home and live out their
faith with their kids, the
more likely the kid is to
follow Christ as an adult.
It can be a daunting task
to share our faith with
our kids. Sometimes it is
hard to put our faith into
words, or other times we
can be scared to share
our doubts or questions
with the kids.
Advent is a great time to
start experimenting with
sharing our faith with
our kids. Everybody loves
Christmas. Share some
of your memories of
Christmas. Bake some
goodies to take to a
neighbor. Write notes of appreciation in
Christmas cards. Set up five candles in the
middle of your table. Spend time lighting Ad-
vent candles (light a new one each Sunday),
and reading a devotional.
This year each
family will receive
a copy of Ann Voskamp’s
Unwrapping the Greatest
Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas. For each day
of Advent, there is
a
reading
that
t akes
f amilies
through God’s story using the Jesse
tree. Kids will receive a coloring
book
to
follow
along as we prepare for Christmas. We will be
unwrapping
the
story of Jesus to
find that it is our story as well. Join us as we
prepare for Christmas!
Service + Fun = Scavenger Hunt
In November, 12 of us (mostly 4th and 5th
graders) gathered to go on a Turkey Dinner
Scavenger Hunt. Our goal was to collect food
for the food bank. We set off in the freezing
cold and collected 2 bags of groceries and
$15 for Renewal Food Bank.
Our next time to merge service and fun is
coming up on December 21st. We will join
with the rest of our church family to sing
Christmas carols at Covenant Shores!
Page 14
HIGHLAND COVENANT
Happenings at Highland Christian School
Fall is always a busy time at the preschool.
It means adjusting to new friends, new routines, new foods and new faces. It means
sharing, listening to others and exploring
new concepts. For many it means adjusting
to a new culture, different language and
rainy weather.
Experiencing a typical day at our Open
House and Ice Cream Social in September
was new for most parents. Harvest parties
and Fall Festival, October highlights, introduced families to yet another new activity.
Thanksgiving and the Christmas season
mean learning about new holidays, new celebrations and creating new memories. Most
important, chapel introduces children to unfamiliar Bible stories and Jesus, who wants
to be their friend.
With all the “newness”, school can be challenging. Highland’s teachers work hard to
make learning fun. We, as a staff, are also
growing, learning and adapting. Please pray
for us and our families this year.
~Sue Peterson
The Gift of Children
Wow! What a gift we have been given in a
package called a child. Each one is unique,
designed in the image of God. They are a
challenge and a blessing. None of them are
perfect but everyone has a name and a personality. I know the children at the school
by their names (most of the time). I know
them by their gifts and I know them by the
challenges they present.
I know their
strengths and their weaknesses. I can tell if
they are happy or sad. They are special, different, and unpredictable. I love each one
(again, most of the time).
This daily ritual mirrors my interaction with
my heavenly father. He knows me (all the
time). He knows my strengths and weaknesses. He knows when I am happy and sad
even if I am good at hiding it from others. He
is my Abba Father. When he reaches down
to take my hand I have a choice to reach up
and take his or spurn his offer. I can feel his
joy or be miserable. It is comforting to know
that he never gives up on me. He knows my
name and he will never forget it—ever!
~Sue Peterson
Every day as I greet each child entering the
school I see emotions reflected on their faces.
Excitement and joy over the adventure awaiting them just through the door shines in
most eyes. Yet some use their whole body to
display their unhappiness at being left—
tears, foot stomping and sulking—tools designed to tug at a parent’s heart. I take them
by the hand or give them a hug to let them
know I care and that I am there for them no
matter how they feel or how they are acting.
Some respond and some don’t. Some have
fun and a few stay miserable. It’s a choice
they get to make.
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Page 15
The Church in the Community
What I’ve learned so far
During worship service recently the thought came to my
mind – I wonder how God feels
when we truly worship Him. I
pondered as we sang. At that
moment, out of the blue, a little three year old girl stood up
Community Nurse Notes
As the Holidays approach so
does the cold and flu
season. Here are five quick
reminders of ways to stay
healthy.
Get your Flu Shot. The flu
bug changes each year so it
is important to get a flu
shot every fall. The flu can land you in bed
for a week to ten days and leave you dragging
for weeks after. Most local pharmacies provide the flu shot on a drop-in basis (no appointment needed). Cost is about $25.00.
Your insurance may cover the cost. Some
employers will pay for it as well. NO you
won’t get the flu from the flu shot. Tip: After
receiving your shot swing your arm in big
circles, this helps to distribute the medication in your muscle and your arm won’t be
as sore the next day.
Wash your hands. From door handles to
counter tops to computer key boards to
shopping carts to money we are in contact
with multiple surfaces that are in contact
with multiple people...
In addition to
washing your hands after using the restroom, coughing, sneezing and before eating, wash frequently throughout the day.
Use soap and water and rub vigorously for
20 seconds (sing the Happy Birthday song
twice), rinse and dry your hands well. Carry
a small container of hand sanitizer with you
for those times when it isn’t easy to find soap
and water.
Eat right.
Page 16
The holiday pies, cookies and
Holly Bustad
on the pew, reached up her arms, wrapped them
around my neck and held on as she lay her head
on my shoulder. Hmm… maybe He feels like this.
Timing is everything...
Carol
candies will tempt us all. Enjoy, after all it
‘tis the season. But continue to eat healthy
as well. Including healthy meals in your day
will prepare you to eat the treats in moderation; you will feel better and have more
energy.
Keep easy to grab fruits and
vegetables handy. The Satsuma oranges are
great quick snacks. A Satsuma orange and a
piece of low fat string cheese can give you a
great afternoon burst of energy and make it
easier to say no to that cookie.
Exercise. As life gets busy and the days are
dark I find it hard to exercise. By fitting in
even little bits of activity throughout the day
your appetite and sleep will be improved and
stress decreased. On those days when there
just isn’t time for your regular workout try to
park farther away in the parking lot, take the
stairs, go for a quick walk at lunch and
remember to stand up from your desk and
stretch several times throughout the day.
Sleep. I know, easier said than done. Try to
maintain a regular bedtime schedule for you
and your family. Turn off the electronics one
hour before bedtime, even turning down
some of the lights in the house as bedtime
approaches can signal to our bodies that it is
time to be winding down.
Give yourself some grace. Decide what is
important to you and your family during this
season. Don’t be afraid to say no, we can’t
do it all. Spend time with those you love.
Praise God for the blessings He has given
you. Enjoy this time of thanksgiving and
anticipation. Be in good health.
HIGHLAND COVENANT
Highland in the News:
Carlson Inspired Holmgren, Other Covenanters, in Mission Work
By Stan Friedman, excerpt reprinted by permission of Covenant Newswire
MERCER ISLAND, WA (November 26, 2014)
— The martyrdom of Paul Carlson played a
key role in Kathy Holmgren becoming a
missionary to Congo she told a capacity
crowd at Covenant Shores Retirement
Community on Monday night, the fiftieth
anniversary of the death of the Covenant
missionary and physician.
Kathy Holmgren
The audience also watched Monganga, the
documentary by Covenanter Rick Carlson
that was produced for the fortieth anniversary. Chaplain Greg Asimakoupoulos interviewed Holmgren.
She is one of several Covenant nurses and
physicians who say that the story of Paul
Carlson inspired them to medical missions
and whose children also have gone on to do
mission work.
Holmgren, who is the wife of former football
coach and executive Mike Holmgren, already
had become interested in missions while
growing up attending First Covenant Church
in San Jose and Mission Springs Bible Camp.
Her interest in missions, especially to Africa,
was sparked by hearing stories from visiting
missionaries.
Holmgren was a senior in high school when
her family learned of Carlson’s death and
said her mother emphasized how he had
given so much to serve the Lord. That made
her consider missions even more seriously.
possible.
Following graduation she spent a year in
Congo working as a nurse at a clinic with Dr.
Teddy (Theodora) Johnson.
“Profoundly impacted by his story, I wrote my
senior English paper about him…I never
wavered in my desire to be a physician and to
consider a career in medical
missions.”
—Dr. Jim Walker
Holmgren returned to Congo in January
2006 when her daughter, Calla Holmgren,
who is a physician, encouraged her to
participate in a trip with Medical Teams
International and Paul Carlson Partnership to the hospital in Karawa. The trip
attracted international attention because it
turned out to be during the same time the
Seattle Seahawks, the team her husband
coached, played the Pittsburgh Steelers in
the Super Bowl.
Holmgren said she had no regrets because
the media coverage heightened awareness of
the great needs in Congo. She added, “It
thrilled my heart to know my daughter
wanted to go and use her skills as a
physician in a place I had told her about
since she was a little girl. From the time they
were little all of my children heard me use
Lingala words and talk
about my experiences
as a nurse in Congo.”
While studying nursing at North Park
University, she heard how medical care in
Africa often was provided by someone who
had very little education and preparation due
to lack of staffing but large need. She was
determined to get as much education as
WINTER 2014
Page 17
Faith and Culture: Reflecting on Ferguson, Missouri
Below is a message from ECC president Gary
Walter regarding the decision from the Ferguson grand jury, followed by a pastoral letter written a few days before.
concerning the death of Michael Brown, I
yearn that we not default to separate camps
but instead together aspire to claim this as a
redemptive moment for a better future.
Friends–
This morning we are in the aftermath of Ferguson in all of its heaviness at so many levels.
I see God laying two redemptive rails to carry
us forward. One is deeper awareness of pain
and the other is deeper resolve for progress.
Side by side God can use these rails to convey us to a more caring and just world.
Covenant pastor Josef Rasheed wrote, “I am
not surprised by the grand jury decision. I
am not surprised by the violence. I am not
surprised by those cheering the decision. I
am not surprised by the use of scripture to
criticize those speaking out peacefully. Nor
am I surprised by my own pain.”
I hope the pain will make us better. The
Church has the only hope, Jesus who breaks
down the dividing walls. As a Covenant we
will persist in obedience to Christ in the important matter of racial righteousness towards a more caring and just world. As I said
in my pastoral letter first posted online last
week and reprinted below, let’s believe God
can redeem this moment for a fundamentally
different future, and join to that end.
Many are weary, but Church, we will be in in
this together, and together we will encourage
one another on. With the author of Hebrews
I say let us run with perseverance the race
before us.
Gary
A Pastoral Letter Regarding Ferguson
(originally posted on Nov. 20, 2014)
Dear Covenant Family,
One consistent promise throughout Scripture
is that God weaves redemptive purposes even
out of distressing and troubling circumstances. That bedrock promise and premise means
we ultimately are bearers of hope to the
world. This letter is a call for all of us to seek
God’s redemptive purposes out of the pain
and dilemmas presented by the saga of Ferguson, Missouri.
As the grand jury finalizes its deliberations
Page 18
Michael Brown’s death has laid open disconsolate pain. One could have been lulled into
initially seeing this as a news story with a
news cycle. But the persistence of voices
from the streets of Ferguson, particularly
from Christian leaders including from the
ECC, has helped people see that in reality
this is an old story within a recurring cycle.
We may or may not ever know all of the facts
in this case. But we do know this death of an
unarmed young man is a piercing reminder
that young African American men (and other
young men of color) are disproportionately
more likely to be arrested, sentenced, or even
killed than white counterparts.
In the images of Michael Brown’s body, it is
too easy to project a son, a husband, a
neighbor, a student from the youth group.
Have you ever picked out the cries of a loved
one amid the din of the crowd? You turn immediately and scurry to understand what is
going on. In the ECC, the grieving but strong
voice we recognize as family rouses us to better listen, to more fully understand, and to
more deeply mourn. As we grow as a multiethnic mosaic, we will see things more clearly
and feel things more deeply. It is part of
God’s work and mercy among us. It is happening now.
In the soul-searching taking place throughout the country, there are hints that this
could be a defining moment for the second
rail, namely greater resolve for progress. For
example,
the
Missouri
governor’s establishment of the independent Ferguson Commission has as its charter to conduct a “thorough, wide-ranging, unflinching
HIGHLAND COVENANT
Faith and Culture, continued.
study” of underlying social and economic
conditions for making the St. Louis area a
“stronger, fairer place for everyone to live.”
That the commission is co-chaired by a respected pastor speaks to the constructive
role people of faith bring in underscoring the
inherent value of every person, each created
in the image of God. While it is too early to
tell, this and other similarly emerging efforts
in other communities could be early evidence
of a longed-for move toward greater systemic
understanding and commitments. May it be
so.
In it all, we are mindful of the very real dangers and stressful decisions law enforcement
personnel are confronted with in every community every day in seeking to serve and
protect. This we honor with profound gratitude. May we do our part within our communities to exemplify and promote what it
means to be engaged citizens respecting the
rights and safety of our neighbors.
Here are tangible things I would ask from us
in the coming days.
Begin with prayer: for Michael Brown’s family; for police officer Darren Wilson and family; for the witness and engagement of
churches in Ferguson; for peace in the
streets; for definitive progress in community
reform; for Covenant churches ministering in
the region.
Grow in understanding the pain. Ask someone with whom you might be inclined to disagree, “Why do you feel this way?” And listen. Find thoughtful resources looking at the
depth of cross-currents and complexities
from 360 degrees. Model God-honoring conversation for your children and neighbors.
And stay engaged, leaning into opportunities
for progress. Take to heart that Ferguson,
yes this very circumstance, can indeed be
God’s kairos moment, a defining marker in
time, crossing us into a fundamentally new
period of more humbly and forthrightly aspiring to God’s peace and justice across the
fractures that too readily divide.
Beloved Covenant community, let’s take this
journey together. God is laying down two redemptive rails to carry us forward: deeper
awareness of pain and deeper resolve for progress. Side by side God will use these rails to
carry us to a more caring and just world.
In It Together,
Gary Walter, ECC President
Thank You, Pat!
Over 18 years ago, Pat FitzGerald began
answering her phone, writing down prayer
requests in a notebook, and calling a team of
people to spread those prayer requests to the
rest of the Highland Covenant Church
congregation.
In the days before home
computers, those prayer requests eventually
amassed into a stack of notebooks full of the
many years of accumulated prayer requests
of Highland. When the computer became a
more efficient way to pass on those requests,
Pat adjusted,
began sending the prayer
requests out via email, and made some extra
room in her house by clearing out the old
notebooks.
WINTER 2014
If you know Pat, you know she has a sense of
humor, but not where prayer requests are
concerned. She has honored people and
their requests with diligence and promptness
in getting out requests with accuracy and
speed reflective of how seriously she takes
such requests.
At the end of December, Pat will be stepping
down as the prayer chain coordinator for
Highland and Nelma Anfinrud will be taking
over Please take the time to thank Pat for
her many years of faithful service to our
church and to welcome Nelma as the new
transmitter of our Highland family prayer
requests.
Page 19
Updates from the Leadership
Council is in the process of preparing for our
2015 budget and planning next year’s ministry needs. As we look ahead, we are exploring several areas that we would like you to
be aware of and praying for.
Church Plant – We are exploring the option
of supporting Bill and Claire Strunk as they
work with the church conference in preparing a new church plant in the Kirkland/Bothell area. The Council has met with
Kurt Carlson, Director of Church Planting, to
discuss options for supporting Bill and
Claire’s ministry. We are currently considering a part time residency position, financial
support, and exploring other options to assist them over the next few years.
Associate Pastor – This past year, we have
been reviewing our staff needs and exploring
the possibility of a full time associate pastor
position. We are looking at ways to assist
Financial Update
As Dave Ulfers mentioned at the congregational meeting, giving continues to run
strong, at about 16% above last year's
giving through the end of October. While
rentals of the facility are down a little bit,
our overall budget numbers, which are
based on offering, rental income, and
some miscellaneous giving is still 12%
Dave Ulfers
James and other major ministry areas such
as youth.
Children’s Worship Room Remodel – There
seems to have been an explosion of young
children in our church. It’s been a blessing
to see the children up front during children’s
moment each Sunday. With that growth, the
space we created from the library area has
already become too small. We will be expanding that space for children’s worship and
finding new room for our library materials.
Highland Christian School Director – As
many of you are aware, Sue Peterson’s final
year as director of Highland Christian School
will come to an end this 2014/2015 school
season. As we transition to this new phase
of the school, we will be exploring options
with the ministry and director’s position.
Craig Conner
above last year. We expect those percentages to continue through the rest of the
year, which would place us at about
$605,000 for the year. This would be
substantially above the budget for this
year, and place us in good standing for
any staff increases we do in the next
year.
Covenant World Relief
During our annual collection for Covenant World
Relief, a total of $7,861.00 was given to Highland
to pass on to Covenant World Relief.
Other
offerings were sent directly to the organization.
The funds will be used for disaster relief and
community development throughout the world.
Page 20
HIGHLAND COVENANT
Adding More Polish to Our Church
The Properties Committee continues its
steady progress in making improvements
and upgrades to our facility and grounds.
We are excited to have a remodeled children’s
worship room outside the sanctuary. The
proximity of the room allows small children
to have fun worship time while being reassured that parents are nearby. The newly
furbished room brings light through exterior
windows, more space for our growing numbers of kids at Highland Covenant Church,
and a bight, colorful environment as they
learn about Jesus’ love.
As a result of the new children’s worship
room, our next project is to create a space for
our church library. We will be installing
bookshelves in the Heritage Lounge, convert
the manual gas fireplace into one with a remote switch, and ultimately bringing in updated furniture for a welcoming environment
in which to enjoy Highland’s library collection.
Recently, members of the properties committee also helped to change the sanctuary ceil-
Beth Knox & Tom Nelson
ing light bulbs with energy efficient LED
bulbs and a 20-year lifespan. A big thank
you to Jim Maier, Bob Lindberg, Jr, Dave
Ulfers and especially Mark Lindberg for braving the heights of the ladder to change the
bulbs. Two weeks later another work party of
Josh Cobbley, Kyle & Josh Martin, Tom Nelson, Mike Mathewson and Craig Peterson
combined efforts to pressure wash the back
exterior wall of the church, clean gutters,
prune foliage obstructing sightlines, hang
artwork and do minor repairs.
Our next work party project will focus on
cleaning out the upstairs storage room to
clear out unused items.
A reminder that Work Order Forms are available in the Church Office, should members
of the congregation have a request or suggestions for the committee. This system allows
us to track requests and ensure they are
handled in a timely manner. If you are interested in assisting Tom with maintenance
needs, please contact him at [email protected] or through the church
office.
2014 Council Members
Chair .................. …...…...……...Dave Ulfers
Properties ................................. Tom Nelson
Vice Chair ................................... Kirk Lider
Making Room Initiative .......... Matt Peterson
Secretary.............................. Tonya Wishart
Mission and Evangelism .... Julie Stapelman
Financial Secretary................. Craig Conner
Youth Leadership…………………Lisa Hanson
Treasurer ............................ Francie Sawyer
Music and Worship ...............Jenny Cobbley
Congregational Care .............. Neelam Lewis
WINTER 2014
Page 21
Highland Covenant Church Winter Retreat
January 31-February 1
Worship, Fellowship, Growth, Fun, Food, Outdoors...Hope you can come!
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 30-February 1 (Friday-Sunday), 2015
Registration information coming soon!