en http://www.covenant-umc.org © Copyright 2000 - 2010Church Community Builder. All Rights Reserved. http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=770 Covenant Women will be meeting on Monday, September 13 beginning at 7:00 pm in Room 5. All women of CUMC are invited to participate. Come and enjoy the fellowship of other Christian women. We are always looking for new activities and ideas. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:46:15 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=769 The 2010 Welcome Back Picnic is Sunday, Sept 12th , immediately following the 10:00 a.m. worship service. Feel free to wear your casual clothes to church. Like last year, it will be a potluck, so bring your favorite salad, pasta dish, fruit or dessert. Bring enough to serve 8-10. In addition to food and fellowship, there will be games for the kids and maybe for adults too. A sign-up sheet will be in the Fellowship Hall on August 30th. Contact Amy Bradfield via the church office with any questions. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:46:15 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=766 The Golden Girls are on break until September 27. They'll be served lunch ($5) and hear from Bob Ide about his upcoming Mission Team trip to the Pine Ridge Lakota Indian Reservation in South Dakota. We'll plan the October outing at the September meeting too. The GGs are ladies 55 and over, others are always welcome. We have luncheons, listen to speakers, take tours, attend concerts and plays, and carry out service projects. Contact Donna Kay Barnes or Camille Bohannon via the church office with any questions. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:46:15 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=767 Reserve Nov.6 on your calendar for the Fall Arts and Crafts Festival. More details coming soon! Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:46:15 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=755 The September meeting will take place on Friday, Sept 17th. We will see “The Comedy and Mystery Society” at 8:00 p.m. at the Arts Barn in the Kentlands. This show features magicians who perform live in an interactive theater setting. Tickets are $15 for non-Gaithersburg residents, though one can get the $12 rate by guaranteeing a group of ten or more. Tickets must be purchased ahead of the performance and the seats are not reserved. Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall and include your email address so you can be notified of final plans. The OYOs (pronounced OH-YOHZ) are single people (OYO: On Your OWN) or those whose spouses can not or choose not to participate in church activities. Those who plan to go need to sign up on the sheet in Fellowship Hall and get the money to chair Camille Bohannon. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:46:15 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=762 Preparations continue for the 2010 Secret Shop. Craft workshops will be held on Tuesday mornings starting September 21, 9:30-11:30, and will continue weekly through the fall. We can't have a Secret Shop if we don't have items for the shoppers to purchase, so we need to keep working on creating those items. Our projects are easy, and we provide any instruction, so no crafting experience is required. Just come with a desire to have a good time and to help make items for little shoppers to buy. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:46:15 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=749 Our annual Women's Retreat will be the weekend of September 24 to 26. Get the details here. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:46:15 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=740 Mark your calendars for the retreat which will take place on October 22-24 at the Manor House in Fairfield, Pennsylvania near Gettysburg. The cost is $290 per couple including meals from Friday evening through Sunday lunch. Susie and Jeff Bond will be the speakers for the weekend. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:46:15 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=655 The next blood drive will be November 13 in Fellowship Hall. Please contact Julie Deranek via the church office for information or to make an appointment. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:46:15 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=101 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=101&article_id=189 Terrific Two's provides a loving, caring, supportive environment for your child. We are excited about planning our fourth year of ministry and teaching two year olds about the love of Jesus Christ! Children will be encouraged to enjoy creative expression through playtime, stories, art and music. Each day will have its own theme for the children to learn colors, shapes, celebrate holidays, and learn social skills. Stories from the Bible with fun activities will be an important part of our day. Each class of 12 children has 1 teacher and 2 assistants. Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Child Care, Letter of Compliance Facility #15-142191. Children do not have to be potty trained. Contact Marcia Pitts, Director and Lead Teacher, at (301) 926-8920 extension 105, or by email for more information. 2010-2011 Class Information Monday and Wednesday classes run 9-11:30am, for children who were two years old as of January 1, 2010. Cost: $170 per month (two classes per week) Tuesday or Thursday classes run 9:15am-12:45pm, for children who will be two years old as of May 1, 2010. Child brings lunch. Cost: $120 per month (one class per week) Friday class runs 9-11:30am, for children who must be two years old as of august 31, 2010. Cost: $83 per month (one class per week) Non-refundable registration fee ($35), non-refundable supply fee ($35) and first month's tuition are due at the time of registration. Please read the important details in the form below: (you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader program or equivalent such as Foxit Reader or PDF X-Change to read this file). Some folks have reported problems opening PDF files on our website, we're working on it -- if you have trouble, please instead right-click the link and choose "Save Target As..." to save a copy on your computer, then open the copy. Terrific Two's 2010 Registration form and important details. [140kB PDF] Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:43:42 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=100 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=100&article_id=757 Tuesday Night Adult Study resumes September 7. The Dead Sea Scrolls will be our first topic. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:37:28 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=100 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=100&article_id=441 Suzanne Brown has graciously offered to continue providing dinner on Tuesday evenings during the upcoming Adult Ministry studies. Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. and ends at 6:45 p.m. Dinner is $6 per adult or $4 per child and is open to everyone in the congregation, not just those participating in the studies or in choir practice. A sign-up sheet is posted each week in the Fellowship Hall for that Tuesday’s dinner. Please sign up ahead of time so Suzanne can prepare enough food for everyone. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:36:57 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=95 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=95&article_id=391 The last four weeks or so of sermons, listed most recent first. August 29, 2010 [3.9 MB .mp3 file, about 17 minutes] Rev. Phil Ayers July 18, 2010 [5.3 MB .mp3 file, about 23 minutes] Rev. Phil Ayers July 4, 2010 [5.1 MB .mp3 file, about 22 minutes] Rev. Phil Ayers June 27, 2010 [5.3 MB .mp3 file, about 23 minutes] Rev. Phil Ayers June 13, 2010 [6.0 MB .mp3 file, about 25 minutes] Rev. Phil Ayers Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:31:52 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=59 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=59&article_id=188 Get the details on these activities on our Upcoming Events page or click the links below. August 28: bring the entire family to see the Frederick Keys game. See the details on our Upcoming Events page. Contact Marcia Pitts at (301) 926-8920 x105 or by email for more information or to register your child for any of the events above.. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:43:16 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=687 The Monday Morning Study Group is on summer break. We will resume in the fall on September 13. Watch this space for future announcements. The Monday Morning Study Group is led by Suzanne Brown. We meet in Classroom 5, 9:30 -11:30 am every Monday. All women are invited to become part of this group. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:34:49 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=9 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=9&article_id=721 As an active member of Ascension Episcopal Church in Gaithersburg, I enjoy spending my working hours supporting another faith community. I love interacting with the Covenant members and Terrific Twos parents in many ways. Call or stop by the church office, Mon - Thurs, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Reach me at 301-926-8920 or nancy.reding@covenant-umc.org or office@covenant-umc.org Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:22:01 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=81 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=81&article_id=271 We're working on plans for our next retreat. Stay tuned for details! Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:05:07 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68&article_id=765 Bob Ide will travel to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, in August 2010, on a work camp mission. The reservation, home to about 15,000 Lakota Sioux, occupies 3,468 square miles of desolate landscape with little economic opportunity. Work –campers typically repair roofs and decks, build wheelchair ramps, paint, and do other maintenance on local housing. The mission team works with the tribal council and other key leaders to identify the projects to be tackled during the week. Bob will travel with24 others, most from Church of the Good Shepherd in Vienna, Virginia. The program is in its sixteenth year. This will be the sixth trip to Pine Ridge for Bob. He will pay his own travel expenses but is seeking donations for other mission expenses. All monies donated are used to pay for building supplies, equipment, whatever is needed. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:58:35 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68&article_id=671 Bob Ide and Annelise Stonebraker will travel to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, July 4 –12, on a work camp mission. The reservation, home to about 15,000 Lakota Sioux, occupies 3,468 square miles of desolate landscape with little economic opportunity. Work –campers typically repair roofs and decks, build wheelchair ramps, paint, and do other maintenance on local housing. The mission team works with the tribal council and other key leaders to identify the projects to be tackled during the week. Bob and Annelise will travel with 17 others, most from Church of the Good Shepherd in Vienna, Virginia. The program is in its fifteenth year. This will be the fifth trip to Pine Ridge for Bob and the first for Annelise. Annelise recounts looking forward to youth work camps when she was still too young to go. She seized this opportunity after the youth took a break from group work camp weeks. She caught the excitement for the Lakota mission from her brother, Gabe, and Luke Lowery, who had gone in recent years. When asked about her expectations for the trip, hot weather and doing whatever work was assigned were Annelise’s first responses. She added she is especially looking forward to learning about Lakota Sioux culture, language, and modern challenges. She understands the group will attend a powwow. Bob indicated that tribal challenges include poverty, high unemployment, alcoholism, and no real business opportunities. The city of Pine Ridge has just a handful of stores and restaurants, a hospital, and a retirement home. The Jesuits have operated nearby Red Cloud Indian School since the nineteenth century. High achievement levels allow most graduates to go on to college. The group flies to Rapid City and then travels in vans for two hours to reach the reservation. For the first time this year, they will forgo camping for beds in the public high school dormitory. Participants pay their own direct expenses and raise an additional $500 for building supplies. Annelise is making pies to earn her share. She has sold a number to school friends and would be happy to take your orders via the church office. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:57:45 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68&article_id=222 Home > Missions > Lakota Mission Team Contents: About the Lakota Mission Team 2010 Lakota Mission Trip 2009 Lakota Mission Trip 2008 Lakota Mission Trip 2006 Lakota Mission Trip 2005 Lakota Mission Trip Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:57:04 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68&article_id=383 The 2006 Lakota Mission Team has returned from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota! THANK YOU, Laura McNally, Fred Eggleston, Gabriel Stonebraker, Luke Lowery, and Bob Ide and Nancy Ide. Nancy provided this wonderful summary of the trip: We were joined with 4 or 5 other churches making up the team heading for Pine Ridge, SD on June 29. Most of us were on a flight together. Gabe and Anouk from the Church of the Good Shepherd (COGS) entertained us with 4 1/2 year old William who told them all about Star Wars. Then he was joined by his 2 year old sister, Amelia who decided she needed some of that attention and took a running leap into Gabe's lap to the delight of all bystanders. We got to Rapid City and drove in vans to Sheep Mountain for the view and then on to Pine Ridge where the tents were set up and then dinner. AND THEN FIREWORKS! Afternoons and all night. And one night there were some people that ran around the tents in the middle of the night throwing firecrackers at the tents. On Friday the work began with building ramps and decks, remodeling bathrooms, painting, laying tiles, and working with the children. The children arrived everyday from 12:00 noon for the 12:30 p.m. lunch we provided and then games, books, crafts, water games. The best of all were the derby race cars built and painted and then on Thursday, raced. The kids loved it. On Friday there was "gutter ice cream". For those of you who don't know what that is, I didn't either. You have a gutter -- like on your roof, but new. We lined it with foil and filled it with ice cream. The kids got to dump sprinkles and all kinds of syrup on it. They sat on the floor all around it and at the whistle, dug in. Luke was pacing back and forth saying, "Faster, faster" . Then they moved a foot and started all over again. It was hilarious and they loved it. We had torrential rains one afternoon and night and several of the tents got rained out -- see Fred. The next day we had very strong winds and several tents bit the dust -- see Bob and Nancy. Then there was the fire in the field across the dirt road from us. But. God gave us a promise and sure enough we had a rainbow. It was nice seeing old friends and making new ones - both among the Indians and among the team members. One day, after morning devotions, all the men got into a circle surrounded by the women and the men sang, "It's Hard to Be Humble". It was so funny. On Sunday, after church, we have play day. Some went shopping, some rock climbing, and some sightseeing. Luke and Tessa (14 years old from COGS) rode with Bob, Nancy and another couple. When we saw the wild burros, they had to get out. Tessa jumped back in the van pretty quickly when one came toward her and Luke had his shirt grabbed by a burro. And then we saw a huge herd of buffalo. Then came Crazy Horse and some shopping and to a restaurant for dinner and back "home". On Monday, we went to a Powwow and joined in a circle doing the side step that the Indians use all the way around. Their dress is awesome and real, not plastic costumes. We had vendors selling their crafts at the Powwow and on the church grounds every day. Mostly their wares are amazingly beautiful. One of my favorite parts among the team members was the fact that the 6 teenagers talked with the adults. Really talked. And they really worked. A good group over all. Thanks for all you did to help accomplish a worthy mission with your prayers and donations. ALL IN ALL, A LOT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN SPITE OF THE WEATHER AND I BELIEVE ALL ENJOYED IT. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:55:34 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68&article_id=233 July 2005: The Lakota Mission Team has returned from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota! THANK YOU, Mick Cowles, Patty Munday, Billy Cowles, Julie Deranek, Bob Ide, Nancy Ide, Patricia Rogers and Joyce Smith - Covenant's 2005 Lakota Team. The Lakota Team extends a huge THANK YOU to all of our supporters for a very successful and educational trip: to the Missions Committee for the Volunteers in Mission scholarships, to our Team Sponsors and Prayer Sponsors for their financial and spiritual support, to the Women of Covenant for the great fundraising breakfast, and to everyone who bought fundraising items - t-shirts, sweatshirts, beach bags, tote bags, picture frames, magnets and stationery. We all worked very hard. We replaced roofs, ceilings, floors and siding; we installed dry wall, bathrooms and kitchens. We played and laughed with Lakota children. We learned the Lakota history and developed friendships with the Lakota people. We danced at a powwow and watched an incredible July 4 fireworks display. We visited the manmade Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments; we were stunned by God's creation at the Cathedral Spires and the Badlands. We bought dreamcatchers, paintings, jewelry and dance staffs from Lakota artists. It was an incredible trip! The needs of the Lakota people on the Pine Ridge Reservation are great - unemployment, depression and alcoholism are rampant. Education is often viewed as unimportant and, as a result, many children and adults are poor readers. Nancy Ide has started a drive to collect children's books for young readers on the reservation. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:55:34 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68&article_id=216 Political and social unrest on the reservations has caused us to cancel the 2008 trip. We will try again in 2009! Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:55:34 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=68&article_id=215 The Lakota Mission Team works on home and community facility construction and renovation projects and provides activities for children on the Pine Ridge Reservation, home of the Oglala Sioux tribe, in South Dakota. The Oglala Sioux have a rich spiritual and cultural history, but the Reservation is one of the poorest communities in the U.S. Unemployment hovers at 75-85%, and the average annual income is $8,000. Alcoholism, diabetes and suicide are rampant. Overall, American Indians have the lowest income, highest unemployment, shortest lifespan, poorest housing and education, and greatest infant mortality rate of any group in the county. Each year, The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church [goodshepherdva.com] in Vienna, Virginia, sponsors a mission trip to the reservation. Visit their Lakota Mission Team page for more information, a Lakota team newsletter, and photos of previous trips. Use these links to earn more about the Oglala Sioux and Pine Ridge Reservation: (note: these links will take you off Covenant's website. Covenant does not necessarily recommend or endorse the content on these sites, and provides the links as an informational service only) Oglala Sioux home page [comcast.net] Pine Ridge Reservation [wikipedia.org] Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation [friendsofpineridgereservation.org] WAKAN TANKA ISTA ETAN IYUHA OWANJILA HEUNCAPI (In God's Eyes We All Are One) Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:53:03 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=77 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=77&article_id=763 It's never too early to start planning for the next Vacation Bible School - for 2011, VBS will be July 18-22. We'll have lots more information in the spring. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:30:24 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=36&article_id=639 Thanks to everyone for your contributions to the Food for School program. The program will be on hiatus during the summer, and will resume in August. We are collecting food to be distributed in the Montgomery Village Foundation "Food for Schools" [gazette.net] program. Thank you all for your generous donations! The need is great and your continued support is very much appreciated. Most needed items include macaroni & cheese, spaghetti & sauce, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, rice, beans, canned tuna/chicken, and canned fruit/vegetables. Please drop off donations in the bins outside the sanctuary, or checks may be written to Covenant UMC with "food drive" on the memo line. Thank you! Sat, 5 Jun 2010 12:26:15 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=77 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=77&article_id=676 The 2010 Vacation Bible School will be held July 19-23, from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm each day. Our theme this year is "Hero Headquarters." There will be an evening celebration on Friday, July 23 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. During this time the children will share what they've learned with their families Mark your calendars now for this exciting event! Registration is currently open to everyone. Hurry, classes are filling fast! The preschool, pre K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade classes are full. Teachers, assistants, snack, recreation and craft helpers are needed. For more information or to volunteer to help call Marcia Pitts at (301) 926-8920 extension 105, or by email . Download registration forms and volunteer forms below (you'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader or equivalent software that can open PDF files). 2010 Vacation Bible School registration and volunteer form [56kb PDF] If you click the link but get a blank screen, please go back and instead right-click the link and choose "Save Target As..." to copy the file to your computer, then open the file on your computer. Sorry, this seems to be a problem with our file hosting service that is affecting mainly Internet Explorer users. Sat, 5 Jun 2010 12:23:21 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=75 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=75&article_id=244 Each year, Covenant's Women's Ministry organizes a retreat just for the women of the church. Leave the men and kids at home, you've earned a weekend of learning, renewal, and fellowship! Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:23:03 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=75 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=75&article_id=747 Retreat Dates: September 24-26 Retreat Location: Sandy Cove Ministries, North East, MD (at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay) The Covenant Women's Retreat will be sponsored by Sandy Cove Ministries in North East, Maryland, a non-denominational organization based on the Christian faith. This event will be held September 24th to 26th, with the theme "Ain't No Mountain High Enough!" The speaker is RoseAnn Coleman, and Kim Bolton will serve as the worship leader and speaker. The cost of the retreat is $125 per person which includes two nights' accommodations, five meals (one additional meal may be purchased on Friday night arrival for an additional fee of $16) and snacks. Additional information on this retreat and the speaker can be found at www.sandycove.org/docs/september-womens-weekend.php. Our arrangements are to participate as a group from Covenant, and we will provide additional information on your registration process in the coming weeks. Plan to attend this anticipated, uplifting and enjoyable event. Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:39:42 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=96 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=96&article_id=327 Download the school calendar by clicking the link below (you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to use this file) 2010-2011 Covenant UMC Preschool Calendar [25 kb PDF] Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:04:01 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52&article_id=109 Covenant United Methodist Preschool is grounded in the conviction that every child is created in the image of God. Covenant is a teaching school, open nine months a year, September through May. We encourage the emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual and physical development of each child. Children attend Chapel bi-weekly, enjoy field trips, and have special guests and speakers as visitors during class. Students have opportunities to learn, share, take turns, and will grow to respect the rights of others. The curriculum and environment encourage children to develop Christian attitudes and behaviors. Meet our friendly and enthusiastic staff. See some of our school projects. See or download the 2010-2011 school calendar. Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:29:18 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=54 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=54&article_id=395 The Pre-K class of Covenant United Methodist Preschool draw turkey placemats for the residents of Friends Nursing Home [friendshouse.com] in Sandy Spring, Maryland. The residents use these placemats for their Thanksgiving meal. The children sing songs and visit with the senior citizens as part of their Fall mission project. Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:25:12 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=54 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=54&article_id=334 Each Spring the four-year-old classes visit Sunrise Senior Living [sunriseseniorliving.com] located in Montgomery Village, Maryland. In addition to talking with the residents at Sunrise, the children sing songs and participate in a craft project with them. What a wonderful time the children and adults share together! Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:19:54 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52&article_id=689 The morning preschool session begins at 9:00 a.m. with pick up promptly at 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. for extended day. The afternoon session begins after lunch at 12:15 p.m. with dismissal at 2:45 p.m. The three year old classes attend school two or three days per week while the pre-Kindergarten classes attend school three or four days per week. 2010-11 Class Schedule AgeDaysTimes Three-Year-Old M.W 9:00-11:30 T.Th 9:00-1:00 M.W.F 12:15-2:45 Pre-Kindergarten (Four-Year-Old) M.W.F 9:00-11:30 T.Th.F 9:00-1:00T.W.Th.F 9:00-1:00 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:06:10 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=96 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=96&article_id=746 September 7, 2010 "Open House" for Preschool (Parents and students welcome) September 8, 2010 First Day of Classes: M/W, M/W/F, and T/W/Th/F classes September 9, 2010 First Day of Classes: T/Th and T/Th/F classes November 24-26, 2010 Thanksgiving (Holiday) - No School December 20 - 31, 2010 Winter Break & Christmas (Holiday) - No School January 3, 2011 Classes Resume following Winter Break January 17, 2011 M. L. King, Jr. Birthday (Holiday) - No School February 21, 2011 Presidents' Day (Holiday) - No School April 18-25, 2011 Spring Break & Easter (Holiday) - No School April 26, 2011 Classes Resume following Spring Break May 27, 2011 Last Day of Classes Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:00:45 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1&article_id=701 Terrific Two's program and Covenant families have collected over 100 health kits for UMCOR. These kits will be sent to Haiti to help with the relief effort. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:47:33 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=96 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=96&article_id=661 March 29, 2010 Spring Break & Easter (Holiday) - April 5, 2010 - No School April 6, 2010 Classes Resume following Spring Break May 28, 2010 Last Day of Classes Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:41:26 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52&article_id=716 Can you believe it's time to start registration for the 2010-2011 school year? Registration is now open to everyone. Prospective parents may schedule appointments to view the facility and observe the staff interacting with students. If you are interested in enrolling your child in the preschool, please contact the school office at (301) 527-9300 or by email. The brochure with class details and price list is available for download below. You can also download the registration form and the preschool handbook. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to use these files. 2010 Covenant UMC Preschool brochure [396 kB PDF file] 2010 Covenant UMC Preschool registration form [13 kB PDF file] 2009 Covenant UMC Preschool handbook [84 kB PDF file] (2010 Handbook will be available in late summer) If you click the links above but see only a blank page, please instead right-click the link and choose "Save Target As..." (Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As..." (Firefox) to save the form on your computer. Sorry for the trouble, we're working on it! Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:40:28 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=79 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=79&article_id=255 more events coming soon! Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:06:42 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=17 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=17&article_id=150 2009-2010 has once again been an overwhelming period for worldwide catastrophe, and you may be feeling a little overwhelmed yourself by the barrage of media coverage. But the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) still needs your help to fund or participate in relief efforts. Please take a few moments to visit UMCOR's website and consider helping financially, personally or spiritually in one of their many ongoing relief efforts: Haitian Earthquake Relief Chilean Earthquake Relief Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:02:10 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=101 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=101&article_id=719 Registration for the 2010-2011 school year is now open to everyone! Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:28:23 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=63 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=63&article_id=737 Golden Girls is a group of women (55 yrs. plus) who meet monthly for lunch, programs and other activities. For information about upcoming programs, please contact the church office at 301-926-8920. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:25:39 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=63 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=63&article_id=197 The study of the Bible and of our Christian heritage is essential to your faith journey and spiritual formation. At Covenant, we have an active adult ministry and offer a comprehensive Christian Education program, including Bible studies, fellowships, and retreats. A few of our regular offerings include: - DISCIPLE courses, both long term and short term - Monthly Fellowships - Married Couple's Group - Annual Women's Retreat - Seasonal studies in Advent and Lent - Home communion ministry - Weekly "bagel group" - Kaylor Seminarian Scholarship Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:25:22 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=63 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=63&article_id=283 Home > Adult Ministry Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:19:19 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=63 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=63&article_id=198 We moved everything to our Upcoming Events page! Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:19:19 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1&article_id=1 Located in Montgomery Village, Covenant United Methodist Church is a family oriented community of faith close to Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Laytonsville, Maryland. We believe in living, teaching, and faithfully proclaiming a message of grace and peace. People from a wide variety of backgrounds and faith journeys worship and learn together at Covenant. Our community of faith is extremely diverse racially, and reflects the many ethnic communities of the community surrounding our congregation. We hope your journey will lead you to our faith community! Whether you are visiting the Gaithersburg area, have recently moved here, or are taking a new interest in finding a church, we invite you to visit us. We hope the time you spend at this site will be helpful and informative. Questions and comments, by phone or by e-mail, are welcome.Grace and Peace,Pastor Phil Ayers Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:36:41 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=108 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=108&article_id=714 December 2009: Advent has dawned upon us, and the Christian faith has begun its journey back to Bethlehem. I sometimes find it difficult to live out certain traditions, and Advent is one of those practices of the church that challenges me each year. How can a four-week tradition have the same meaning each year without becoming a mere exercise? Are we truly preparing ourselves for the arrival of the Messiah, or are we just counting the days until we can open the presents? Is this tradition real or just something to entertain us? This past Sunday morning I experienced Advent in a way that brought new life to this tradition in my life. After offering some Ministry Opportunities for the 10:00 liturgy I remained in the chancel rather than processing with the choir. As I sat in meditation, Tom played that wonderful Chorale Prelude of J. S. Bach, Wachet Auf (Sleeper ’s Awake ). My heart bounced with the delightful dance-like theme that forms the background for the stately melody calling the world to awaken. We spoke and sang Psalm 122, which led us into the processional hymn. My eyes were open, my heart was ready, and then it happened. The processional came walking into my view. Leading that processional was Leah Lowrey, who served as the Crucifer. As Leah approached the Chancel I was shocked into the reality that something special was happening. Leah held the cross in a dignified and elegant manner as she slowly led the choir. Approaching the Altar, she turned and waited patiently as the choir members found their seats. The she gracefully placed the cross in its stand and took her seat. It was all done with elegance and grace which left me speechless. In a quiet unassuming way, Leah had brought new meaning to the Advent season for me – we should not only prepare to receive the gift of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, but also to receive that gift each day. The reality of Christ ’s presence should be a daily celebration for the faithful. We should be following the example of Leah, who so graciously led us into worship by carrying the cross of Christ. So often we simply go through motions with traditions. However, each day of our life should be a tradition of Christian service to the world by following the example of Christ. My sincere thanks to Leah, and all of the young people at Covenant Church who offer their service to the church, and demonstrate Christian discipleship to the world. Shalom, Phil Home | Back to top Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:17:33 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=108 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=108&article_id=629 Home > Pastor's Corner > Pastor's Letter > 2009 Letter Archives Our Pastor's monthly letters from Covenant's newsletter, archived here for your reference. January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:16:26 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=28 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=28&article_id=733 January 2010: A new year brings with it new possibilities and opportunities. As we enter a new decade, I invite you to journey with me on an exodus to freedom. As a community of faith we have spent the past two years together struggling to overcome adversity. We have dealt with dwindling monetary reserves. We have dealt with a 16 year trend of declining attendance and membership. We have mourned as faithful members move to distant communities. In essence, we have experienced the pain of bondage - controlled by circumstances beyond our control. Many wonderful steps have been taken to overcome our situation. New members have been welcomed, attendance has grown, monetary resources have allowed us to meet obligations, and there seems to be a new energy among us. A sense of hope continues to be realized in conversations as new ideas are shared with enthusiasm. Still, we find ourselves in bondage to many circumstances. As I meditated on these thoughts I was reminded of the Israelite people suffering through the bondage of Egyptian slavery. The people entered Egypt in joy, finding salvation in that land. Unfortunately, just a few generations later found the people in servitude to a ruthless, oppressive government. The people were in bondage to circumstances beyond their control. It was into that situation that God sent a word of hope from Moses. It is that word of hope that captivates me at this time of year. The people were told that bondage was not the intent of God. Instead, the intention of God for the people was freedom. Therefore, the people embarked on an exodus to discern God's desire for them as individuals and a community of faith. It is that spirit that I have committed myself to spend this coming year in exodus. I want to discover what God is calling the community of faith called Covenant United Methodist Church to live out in the world. I don't think God wants us to be in bondage to circumstances that inhibit our ability to minister. God's word of hope comes in the liberating voice of Jesus, who calls us to be faithful disciples. This journey will not be easy. There will be times of difficulty, and we will be challenged to overcome adversity. There will be moments of doubt, when we will admit that it would be easier to simply stay where we are and get by as best we can. There will also be times of uncertainty as we seek to discern God's will. My sermons throughout 2010 will concentrate on the theme of exodus, and be guided by the lectionary passages. It is my hope that as a community of faith we will discover the new lace that God needs us to be as a people. I invite you to walk with me on this journey and allow God's Spirit to inspire us to more faithful discipleship. Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:11:18 MST http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=28 http://www.covenant-umc.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=28&article_id=267 Read more letters in the Archives: 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:11:18 MST