OUR MINISTRIES
Tuesday Community Lunches - Every 2nd, 4th and 5th (when a month provides one) we welcome any and all from our and surrounding communities to enjoy a FREE sit-down hot lunch. We begin at 11:30am with a prayer for God’s grace, though folks are invited to arrive or leave after that as they need to. Our purpose is to build community and to be an agent and location where “unity” can take place. We have been greatly successful and indeed see folks enjoying meeting neighbors, lingering afterwards over games or puzzles, and in times of gloomy weather, have found a bright spot to be encouraged. We don’t ask for any fee. We do provide a donation can where those who feel so led can contribute. The funds from that go to paying for the groceries and for cleaning supplies and paper supplies for the church. Occasionally we’re able to purchase utensils or needed equipment to facilitate the lunch. Come and bring a friend. So far, God has always managed to help us plan for everyone to have a good meal.
Prayer
Prayer Chain - As in most churches, we too have a Telephone Prayer Chain that carefully and confidentially shares with prayer warriors needed concerns.
Prayer Chain - As in most churches, we too have a Telephone Prayer Chain that carefully and confidentially shares with prayer warriors needed concerns. Prayer Bears - For times when crisis occurs in the lives of members, friends, and neighbors, we also engage in a Prayer-Bear Ministry whereby a cute cuddly bear is identified with a collar-tag for the person in need of our prayer support and why. It is then circulated throughout the congregation on a Sunday worship time, with the instructions to hug the bear and in that moment pray for that individual. Later, along with an appropriate card and explanation, the pastor or a caring family member will deliver the Prayer-Bear to its recipient.
Prayer Bears - For times when crisis occurs in the lives of members, friends, and neighbors, we also engage in a Prayer-Bear Ministry whereby a cute cuddly bear is identified with a collar-tag for the person in need of our prayer support and why. It is then circulated throughout the congregation on a Sunday worship time, with the instructions to hug the bear and in that moment pray for that individual. Later, along with an appropriate card and explanation, the pastor or a caring family member will deliver the Prayer-Bear to its recipient. Prayer Shawls - With knitters among us we have established a Prayer Shawl Ministry for those members, family, neighbors who experience long term struggles or celebrations of life. Our system seeks to make shawls as a need arises and in such a way, the knitter will know whom they are knitting AND PRAYING for. In some instances people partner together, sharing either or both the gift of knitting or praying. The shawl is then dedicated during a worship service and given to the one present who will deliver it.
Prayer Shawls - With knitters among us we have established a Prayer Shawl Ministry for those members, family, neighbors who experience long term struggles or celebrations of life. Our system seeks to make shawls as a need arises and in such a way, the knitter will know whom they are knitting AND PRAYING for. In some instances people partner together, sharing either or both the gift of knitting or praying. The shawl is then dedicated during a worship service and given to the one present who will deliver it.Our Choir and Music - Our worship choir, though small, is dedicated and enthused to share in song and lead in worship. We don’t require great giftedness in music to participate for we recognize that in a congregation our size, dedication and joy in singing are requirements enough. We are blessed then to have talented people give of their time to this ministry. In 2006-7 we have initiated a new choir schedule: Singing twice a month, we take off the summer months (due to travel) AND winter months (due to poor weather and a cold building!). This is proving to be a good workable schedule. We enjoy the talents of two pianists who alternate Sundays. Between Choir Sundays, we enlist vocalists from our congregation to share solos, duets, quartets, both vocally or instrumentally.
Mission Barrel - We collect donation items for several organizations in our community: Clothing for the Migrant Workers, food for our town’s Food Pantry, items for a local homeless shelter, items for the Battered Women’s Project. Our barrel is a receptacle to receive these on a scheduled rotation. That schedule is made known to our congregation by way of refrigerator magnets distributed to all, through bulletin announcements and bulletin board notices.
Pregnancy Care Center - We collect donations annually in a playpen set up in our fellowship room, prior to Mother’s Day. Collected are baby items in a county-wide “Baby Shower” effort. These are delivered on Mother’s Day to the Center.
Donations to our Denomination - We collect financial donations throughout the year for the Evangelical Covenant’s Departments of: World Relief, World Missions, and helping ministries within our regional Conference. In addition, we budget annually a donation to our denomination’s headquarters in Chicago and our regional East Coast Conference office.
Neighboring Churches - We believe strongly that healthy, friendly, ecumenical relationships encourages the work of Christ‘s love among us. The Covenant Church participates in a joint worship service held outdoors in June at our local town’s park during the celebration of Swedish Midsommar. We recently have rejoiced over renewed bonds of friendship and joint worship experiences with our Baptist Church neighbor, and continued good relations with our Lutheran Church neighbor. Our pastor participates regularly in the Caribou Clergy Association and their various joint worship opportunities which include Holy Week Services, World Prayer Week, weekly coffee gatherings, and share in each other’s church’s celebrations.
