Phony Purity

“What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him unclean” Mt 15:11

Sermon by Pastor Rod Schorr
From the Series on the Gospel of Matthew:The Rise of the Servant-King

Saturday, February 25, 2012
8 am to 9:15 in the Social Hall
Coffee and pastries will be provided
Guest Speaker: Pastor Dave Johnson

America Never a Christian Nation?

By: Pastor Rod Schorr
Published: 2/26/12

These past few weeks, I’ve been confronted more than once with the question: ‘Is it true what people are saying these days? That America was never a Christian nation?’ I guess that’s the latest ‘mantra’ these days, being tweeted and blogged and ‘liked’ on the internet and bandied about in untellectual circles.

Surely our President’s own comments, back in 2007, helped foster the notion. In a speech to the Christian Broadcasting Network back in June of that year, he confidently announced that: “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation, or at least ‘just’ a Christian nation. We are a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation and a notion of non-believers.”

I certainly won’t argue with the notion that we are a nation of mixed beliefs these days, but, excuse me? ‘Whatever we once were…’? Does he not know? Is it that difficult to perceive what we once were? Is the information now lost in archaeological digs? Let me devote the next couple of Messengers to this very important topic. Let’s just examine the information we have in answer to that question: ‘Was America a Christian Nation or not?’ And—you know?—I won’t even need a shovel or a pick! It’s all there, in black and white, to people who still like to read.

1. America was started by a Church. Of course there was Jamestown and Roanoke and other earlier attempts, but America’s most successful and permanent beginning came with the Mayflower Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony, which was established in 1620. What many people don’t know is that the whole group was a ‘church’ (not including the captain and crew of course)!The little Separatist house church in Scrooby, England was started back in 1606. Richard Clyfton was their pastor, John Robinson the Assistant Pastor, and both of them were such dynamic preachers that one 16- year-old young man began showing up every Sunday from a neighboring village—16 miles away!—to listen to the Word of God. His name was William Bradford! Back then, in England, it was illegal to own an English Bible. Of course they all had one anyway! It was illegal for them to meet for worship in any place but the State Church. They met in homes and other secret places.They were branded as bigots and fanatics. They were arrested and imprisoned and their property was confiscated. But they continued to grow!

When persecution grew more intense, they attempted to set sail for Holland. But in that first attempt, they were betrayed by the ship’s captain, robbed of their belongings and placed under arrest. Finally, in 1608, they sailed again for Amsterdam and settled in Leyden.

Twelve years later, they would rendezvous briefly in Plymouth, England and then set sail for the ‘New World’. But before they set off, right there on the docks, John Robinson, their pastor, preached them a farewell message—he was too old to go with them! It was a Church, after all, that started this great nation! And by the way, almost all the settlers at Jamestown and Roanoke were Christians as well.

2. The First Founding Father. America’s very first founding Father was William Bradford. Yes!—that 16-year old kid grew up to become the first Governor of the Plymouth Plantation. His famous words, written in reflection upon the land- ing of the Pilgrims, tell it all in my opinion: “What could now sustain these people but the Spirit of God and His grace? May not the children of these fathers rightly say: ‘Our fathers were Englishmen who came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness, but they cried unto the Lord and He heard their voice and looked upon their adversity.” Beautiful!

3. The First Constitution. America’s very first ‘constitution’—the Mayflower Compact—begins with the words: “In the name of God, Amen” and goes on to de- scribe the ‘undersigned’ as “…having undertaken for the Glory of God, and the advancement of the Christian Faith…”. It concludes with “…we do solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one an- other, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politick for our better ordering and preservation…” It all looks very clear to me! America was a Christian nation! And the question today is will we remember it? In fact, that’s Bradford’s old question: “May not the children of these fathers rightly say: ‘Our Fathers were Englishmen who came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish…but they cried unto the Lord…’” Yes, they may ‘rightly’ say that. And anyone else will be wrong!

More on this next week.

See you Sunday!

RAS

Community News

BOLD Join us for the next BOLD Men’s Gathering!
Saturday, February 25, 2012 8-9:15 a.m. in the Social Hall Coffee & pastries will be provided
• • • Pastor Dave Johnson will be our guest speaker! Come find out what it takes to be a BOLD man!

Join the Choir for Easter
Resurrection Day is April 8th this year. We would love to fill the choir loft with voices raised to our Risen King! The choir practices on Wednesday from 7-8:30 pm. Our Easter music selection is beautiful! Contact Guy Holliday at 562-833-9878.

Children’s Ministry—Helpers Needed
We are looking for more helpers in the Nursery/Toddler rooms on Sunday mornings. There are several open spots that need to be filled. For more information call Kristen Morgan 949-606-3108.

Jesus Loves Mommy and Me
Are you looking to connect with other young families during the week? Look no further! Join Sara Bell on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 10:00 in room #33. This is a great opportunity for mommies to connect and fellow- ship while children enjoy a time of crafts,stories and snack time! Every quarter there are field trips or outings! Contact Sara Bell at sbella4swim@yahoo.com or 714-305-1423.

Love Our Library (and our Librarian)
Please help keep the CCC library tidy and treat it with respect. Parents—Accompany small children and help them keep shelves neat when looking at books and videos (adults too)!

This Week at Covenant

Friday (2-24) 
7:00pm Junior High and High School Youth Group
7:00pm YF Bible Study-Social Hall
7:30pm  IPUH WORSHIP SERVICE
Saturday (2-25) 
8:00am Bold Mens Study-Social Hall
9:30am Released Time Walk a Thon- Victory Baptist Church, Anaheim,ca
2:00pm Cheyenne Myers 16th Birthday Party-Social Hall
2:30pm Special Event-Sanctuary
Sunday (2-26) 
8:45 &10:30 am Worship—Sanctuary
3:00pm IPUH Worship—Sanctuary
3:00pm JKI Worship—Social Hall
6:00pm Evening Study-Sanctuary
6:00pm Oasis Bible Study-Social Hall
Monday (2-27)
6:00 pm CCC Crafters—Rm. 24
6:30pm Haven Café—Home of Joyce Thurber
7:00pm Martha’s Vineyard-Home of Joan Wasson
7:30 pm Square Dancing—Social Hall
8:00pm Women’s Exercise Class- Rm 35
Tuesday (2-28)
5:00 pm Prayer Meeting (Community)—Sanctuary
7:00pm MCBS Mens Community Bible Study
Wednesday (2-29)
9:30am VIP Ministry (Visitation) LOA
11:30 am Prayer Meeting—Library
6:00pm Family Dinner-Social Hall
7:00pm Adult Bible Study-Social Hall
7/8:30 pm Choir/Praise Rehearsal—Sanctuary
Thursday (3-01)
9:30am Encouragers-Rm 36
3:00pm Eagles Wings Class—Rm. 29
4:00pm Eagles Wings Class—Rm. 35
6:30pm IPUH—Sanctuary
7:00pm Deacon Meeting-Rm 36
Friday (3-02
7:00pm Young Family Bible Study
7:00pm Youth Group (Jr. High and High School)
7:30 pm IPUH Worship Service—Sanctuary

Women’s Retreat-Pine Valley-3/2 thru 3/4

Service Crews for Feb. 26

Security 
8:45 am—Bernie Clayton
10:30 am—Greg Nygren
Ride to Church 
8:45 am—Greg Nygren (714-771-6995)
10:30 am—Norm Sufficool (714–974-8654)
Ushers 
8:45 am—Al Vande Vegte, Don Sutton, Chris Schrader,
Paul Hamilton
10:30 am—Chuck Tripi, Archie Johnson, Bob Manfro,
Grecia Romero, Frank Rueckel
Nursery**
 8:45 am—Joyce Thurber, Alyssa Schrader
10:30 am—Megan Shores
Toddler** 
8:45 am—Megan Nygren, Grace Brooks
10:30 am—Janelle Hall
Promise Peak
 8:45 am—Pam Tripi, Sara Bell, Ken Stice
10:30 am—Sara Bell, Judy Kenney, Joan Wasson, Shawn Hall
Deacon Worship Assistance
Chris Schrader (Team Leader), Frank Richards, Frank Rueckel
Sweetheart Bakers (Due 2/28): Michelle Schrader

** If you would you like to help with our precious children in the Nursery or the Toddlers, please contact Kristen Morgan 949-606-3108.

Following are some recommended reading/viewing: 

• In his 90’s, Billy Graham “never thought I (he) would live this long.” Nearing Home is about life, faith, and finishing well.
• Bonhoeffer , Pastor , Martyr , Prophet, Spy: A gripping story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’ s life of moral courage while fighting evil during Hit- ler’s reign.
• Love Begins DVD, the prequel to the eight DVDs based on Janette Oke’s “Love Comes Softly” series, directed by Michael Landon Jr. Volumes 1-8 are also available.
• The Twelfth Imam, the latest book in the “Last Jihad” fiction by Joel Rosenberg. Edge of the Apocalypse, and Thunder of Heaven, books 1 & 2 in “The End” Series, by Tim LaHaye & Craig Parshall.
• The Inheritance DVD, based on Louisa May Alcott’s first novel. Stars Meredith Baxter and Thomas Gibson.

There is something for everyone: an ample Fiction section by your favorite authors, including Amish Fiction, mysteries, romance, and historical; Biographies; Missions; Marriage and Fam- ily; Christian Living; Devotionals and Prayer; Commentaries; Children’ s books; Apologetics; Eschatology.

If you haven’t visited the library “Come on in and Check it out!

Shirley Van Patten
Librarian

The Sirens of Our Age

By: Pastor Rod Schorr
Published: 2/17/12
Homer’s Odyssey is filled with memorable episodes, of course, but, by far, the most unforgettable, I believe, is the Island of the Sirens. It shows up in the twelfth book and it is certainly one of Homer’s masterpiece moments.

Odysseus’ homeward route will take him right past these beautiful, enchanting—and deadly!—creatures. Their voices are so enticing that no one can ever resist: deck hands leap from their ships into the sea; navigators steer their craft on to the rocks, all in desperate attempts to get closer; to hear more! A friend warns Odysseus not to take this danger lightly, for the Island of the Sirens is piled high with the bones of sailors who did just that!

Odysseus comes up with a plan. He orders his crew to stop up their ears with beeswax and then has himself bound hand-and-foot to the mast. As they sail past the enchanted is- land, Odysseus starts hearing those ravishing voices. He fights like a madman to set himself free; then he orders his men, and threatens his men and finally pleads with them all to loosen his bonds. But the more he struggles and the more he pleads, the tighter they bind him to that mast until, finally, they have sailed safely past!

It’s a beautiful episode. And what a perfect picture of Man’s fight with temptation! I wonder if old Homer knew the significance of what he was writing? Or was it just an old legend to him?You know what I think? You and I, and all of this sad generation are sailing, right now, past the Island of the Sirens. At every turn, we confront great temptations.They are powerful; enticing; irresistible! With every encounter there is danger of shipwreck! All the obvious temptations come to mind, naturally: the lewdness andvice so awash in our culture. But just as alluring—and equally deadly!—are some of the more subtle temptations we face: temptations of the heart and mind. Bitterness, resentment or anger for example; the attitudes of jealousy, entitlement and greed.

These things don’t just ‘happen’, you know. They come because we sail too close. They come with a ‘voice’ that is very alluring! They often make sense and seem perfectly justified, but that doesn’t make them any less deadly. Yield to them for a moment or two and you might just end up on the rocks! Odysseus had a plan. Christians need one too. Here is the plan that our Scriptures prescribe: it will keep you afloat as you wrestle with the dangerous sirens of our day.

Steer clear. When you see a temptation on the horizon, get out of there…now!… just as fast as you can! How foolish to play games with things that threaten your soul! Don’t give it your time; don’t give it your attention! Just give it as much distance as you possibly can. That was the advice that Paul gave young Timothy, remember?

“But you, man of God, flee all these things.” I Tim 6:11

Memorize one word and be quick to recite it: ‘No’. My!—what a world of heartache could be spared if we all could learn that one simple word! Someone once wisely observed that almost all the world’s problems have been caused by saying ‘yes’ too quickly, and not saying ‘no’ quickly enough. The Bible tells us, in Titus 2:12, that God, in His marvelous grace…

“…teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” Titus 2:12

Bind yourself to the Cross! Here’s your Odysseus’ ‘mast’! With every tempt- ing voice you hear, cling ever more fiercely to the Cross of your Savior. When a temptation appears on the horizon before you, remember the Cross and tell yourself this: “Jesus died on the Cross for that sin that’s now tempting me; I’d hate to be guilty of crucifying Him again!”

That’s a powerful stance to take against the Sirens of our Age. Stand firm, dear Christian! Be strong! Be impervious!

And steer a straight path! You’ll never regret it!

See you Sunday!

RAS

 Community News

40 Days In The Word—Join A Group!
Loving, Learning, and Living the Word. Join a group and get ready to dive deeper into God’s word! 40 Days In The Word small group studies will begin the week of February 20th! Contact Pastor Gene Loeffler 714-474- 8838 to find a group that fits your schedule.

Released Time “Walk for the Children” On Saturday, February 25 the Released Time Christian Education mission to children will be holding a “Walk for the Chil- dren” to raise awareness and funds to bene- fit the Bible Study classes held at public schools in both Orange and Anaheim. Con- tact Board Members Joan Wasson or Chris Yankowski if you would like to bless our outreach to 4th and 5th grade students. There is also additional information about the program on the Mission Table in the church lobby.

Children’s Ministry Helpers Needed
We are looking for more helpers in the Nursery/Toddler rooms on Sunday morn- ings. There are several open spots that need to be filled. To find out more information please contact Kristen Morgan 949-606- 3108.

Jesus Loves Mommy and Me
Are you looking to connect with other young families during the week? Look no further! Join Sara Bell on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 10:00 in room #33. This is a great opportunity for mommies to connect and fellowship while children enjoy a time of crafts, stories and snack time! Every quarter there are field trips or outings! Contact Sara Bell at sbella4swim@yahoo.com or 714-305-1423.

Love Our Library (and our Librarian)
Please help keep the CCC library tidy and treat it with respect. Parents—Accompany small children and help them keep shelves neat when looking at books and videos (adults too)!

 This Week at Covenant

Friday (2-17) 
12:00pm-10:00 pm Special Event—Social Hall
7:00pm Junior High and High School Youth Group
7:30pm  IPUH WORSHIP SERVICE
Saturday (2-18) 
6:00pm Conestoga
Sunday (2-19) 
8:45 &10:30 am Worship—Sanctuary
3:00pm IPUH Worship—Sanctuary
3:00pm JKI Worship—Social Hall
6:00pm Evening Study-Sanctuary
6:00pm Oasis Bible Study-Social Hall
Monday (2-20)
9am CC Homeschool- Campus
6:00 pm CCC Crafters—Rm. 24
6:30pm Haven Café—Home of Joyce Thurber
7:00pm Deaconess Meeting
7:30 pm Square Dancing—Social Hall
8:00pm Women’s Exercise Class- Rm 35
Tuesday (2-21)
5:00 pm Prayer Meeting (Community)—Sanctuary
7:00pm MCBS Mens Community Bible Study
7:00pm Session Meeting (Elder Board) LOA Room
Wednesday (2-22)
10:00am Mommy and Me-Rm 33
11:30 am Prayer Meeting—Library
6:00pm Family Dinner-Social Hall
7:00pm Adult Bible Study-Social Hall
7/8:30 pm Choir/Praise Rehearsal—Sanctuary
Thursday (2-23)
3:00pm Eagles Wings Class—Rm. 29
4:00pm Eagles Wings Class—Rm. 35
6:30pm IPUH—Sanctuary
Friday (2-24)
7:00pm Young Family Bible Study
7:00pm Youth Group (Jr. High and High School)
7:30 pm IPUH Worship Service—Sanctuary

Service Crews for Feb. 19

Security 
8:45 am—Don Sutton
10:30 am—Paul Rygalski
Ride to Church
8:45 am—Greg Nygren (714-771-6995)
10:30 am—Norm Sufficool (714–974-8654)
Ushers
8:45 am—Frank Richards, Don Shields, Ed Hinig, Clem St. Louis
10:30 am—Ben Kellogg, Bob Bell, Daniel Schroeder
Nursery**
8:45 am—Janet Reeves
10:30 am—Joyce Thurber
Toddler** 
8:45 am—Kristine Rygalski, Cassidy Schrader
10:30 am—Donetta Schroeder
Promise Peak
8:45 am—Pam Tripi, Sara Bell
10:30 am—Kristi Geller, Judy Kenney, Joan Wasson, Shawn Hall
Deacon Worship Assistance
Bob Manfro (Team Leader), Mike Caruso, CB McCanless
Sweetheart Bakers (Due 2/28): Michelle Schrader

** If you would you like to help with our precious children in the Nursery or the Toddlers, please contact Kristen Morgan 949-606-3108.

Mission Impact

Our family is on an adventure this week hosting Grace Lutheran Church from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. They are a delightful team of 14 adults. Selvin and I have been responsible for coordinating the housing, meals, and children’s ministry for the team. The team arrived early Sunday morning and we spent Monday – Wednesday at a Children’s home, “Fundacion el Castillo del amor para la ninez.” The team had prepared Bible Club activities to do with the children in the morning and in the afternoons we worked painting a dorm for new children who will arrive in two weeks. Today the team is serv ing at a Catholic home and school for children with HIV.

Other members of the team installed 15 stoves in homes in Sumpango, where Mission Impact’s Dr. Oscar Paredes has his clinic and ministers to families. A third group of ladies prepared nutri- tion talks which they shared in Mission Impact’s schools and woman’s groups in La Libertad and Sumpango.

Tomorrow we will spend the day in Antigua and Santa Maria de Jesus where Mission Impact has its girls school, Proximos Pasos, and workshop for building stoves and water filters. Saturday we plan to spend the day relaxing at a coffee farm having lunch and debriefing before heading back to the city and saying goodbye to our new friends at the airport.

We had a special opportunity to bless others and be blessed this Christmas. We invited our Boliv- ian friends who study at our local seminary, “Seminario Teologico Centroamericano” to spend the month of December with us. The seminary basically shuts down during December and living on campus, they would have had to continue paying rent while not studying or working. We quickly converted Selvin’s office into a bigger guest room, and our small guest room into a storage area in order to welcome them. We had many good chats as we washed dishes, hung laundry, etc, and our children had an almost 3 year old sister to play with. Please pray for them as they depend on God’s financial provision to finish their last year of study at the seminary and return to Bolivia at the end of the year.

We love you and are thankful for your regular prayers and financial support!

Love, The Maaz Luther Family

Mission Impossible 

Meeting here on February 10th @ 4pm (Leaving @ 4:30pm)
Coming back on February 12th @ 12:30pm

Click on the following link for the youth packet. Youth Medical Consent Packet & Event Release.

Packing List

Bible
Notebook & Pen
Warm/Waterproof Jacket (Be ready for rain or snow)
3 T-Shirts/Thermals
3 pants or snow pant
Waterproof gloves
Beenie
Waterproof Shoes or 2 pairs of shoes
( 2 pair of shoes are best to have if one pair gets wet)
Plenty of Socks/Underwear
Sleeping Bag & Pillow
Towel and personal articles 
(soap, wash cloth… don’t forget your toothbrush!)
Sunscreen
Chapstick
Flashlight**
Spending Money ($15-$30) 

(For Craft Cabin, Miniture Golf (ball), Snack Shop, Forest Home gift shop)

Forms to bring with your camper:
*Church Event Release
*Forest Home Registration/Medical Release
*Forest Home Special Need (if necessary)

Tenacity of Andean Proportions

Ed. Note: Pastor Rod is out the office this week. We include one of his articles from 2006.)
By: Pastor Rod Schorr

I‘ll admit that, as a kid, I used to laugh at them once in a while, but it didn’t take long for me to learn that the dumbest people on earth tell ‘Polish jokes’. (All you have to do is read!) I mean, let’s see…what exactly do we have here? One of history’s greatest scientists (Copernicus); one of the world’ s greatest composers (Chopin); one of the world’s greatest pianists (Paderewski); one of the greatest conductors (Stokowski); one of England’ s greatest novelists (yes, England’s! Joseph Conrad was actually Polish—Josef Teodor Konrad Korzionioski. Lord Jim and my all time favorite Heart of Darkness were written in a second language!)

There is Apollinaire France’s great surrealist writer (originally Wilhelm Apollinairis Kostrowiski) and Stanislaw Lem, the award winning science writer, and…well, it’s a big list and-like I said-if you’re illiterate you might like telling Polish jokes.

One of the most impressive Poles I ever read about was an aging, unimposing man named Ernest Malinowski who, in his sixties, made a name for himself as one of the greatest engineers in the world. Way back in the 1850’s, the government of Peru started wishing for a railroad that could cross the Andes Mountains—the tallest, most ‘impassible’ mountain range in theWestern Hemisphere. Local engineers were called in for the proposal, but their response was al- most immediate: the task was ‘impossible’! It couldn’t be done. Later, a team of the finest American engineers was called in for their assessment; they too decided that it was impossible.

Finally, someone suggested Ernest Malinowski for the job. Malinowski was fairly well known as an engineer by that time, but the trouble was that he was no spring chicken and this was a daunting, dangerous project. When Malinowski arrived, no one had any real confidence that he could pull it off. Except for Malinowski!

Malinowski didn’t even hesitate: of course it could be done! And within a matter of weeks he came up with a de- sign so outrageous and revolutionary that it took the government of Peru ten more years to work up the nerve to approve it! The minute they did, Malinowski set to work!

That was in 1872 and, incredibly, by spring of the following year, Malinowski already had track running across the treacherous Ticlio Pass, some 16,000 feet up! To get that high, Malinowski’ s rails needed 62 tunnels (some of which were the longest in the world), 30 bridges (tallest in the world!) and 11 elaborate turnstiles that could change the train’s direction.

Ernest Malinowski was well into his sixties when this awesome task was finished. He had ‘bridged’ the mighty Andes! To this day, it still is the highest railroad in the world. One word describes this remarkable man quite well: ‘tenacity’! It became apparent to everyone that nothing could stop this man from reaching his goal! Not the oxygen-poor Andean heights; not treacherous Andean storms and landslides; not even the disruption of two revolutions—one of which sent Malinowski fleeing into exile for a time. No! Nothing could deter this man from accomplishing one of the engineering wonders of our world!

Tenacity! When it comes to doing something lastingly meaningful in life, nothing is more important.How about you? Do you have ‘tenacity’? You’re supposed to! It’s one of the defining qualities of every true believer. That has to be why Scripture calls us ‘over comers’, remember? “Those who are born of God, overcome the world!” 1 John 5:4.

God has called us, dear church, to the task of building bridges. It’s not at all an easy task; the obstacles are daunting and workers can grow weary! Discouragement and upheaval can come into the ranks and interrupt the work. But will we be deterred? Absolutely not! God has given His children an awe- some, holy task—the task of reaching the world for Christ! We join with churches everywhere—in every corner of the world—to pursue this noble purpose. Thousands upon thousands will find life through what we do! It’s the greatest enterprise on earth—and an enormous ‘Andean’ thing!

It’s a wonder of the world! To all of you who serve and pray so faithfully in this church. Thank you for your ‘tenacity’!

Keep on!
RAS

Community News

Men’s Breakfast—Saturday, January 28
CCC’s Men’s Ministry BOLD is back! Men, start the New Year with fellowship that encourages a life of boldness and passion. All men are invited to the first gathering on Saturday, January 28th, 8:00- 9:30 a.m. in the Social Hall. Our morning will include a complimentary buffet breakfast. Contact Pastor Gene Loeffler with questions, or call the office to sign up. This year’s theme is “A Man’s Walk With God”.

Wednesday Dinner/Studies—February 1
Our Wednesday Night Dinners and studies will be resuming on February 1 (the week following the Congregational Meeting). Much goes into the plans and preparations for each evening—please consider whether God is calling you to participate in some way (table setting, clean-up, serving, meal preparation). Contact Elder Tom Korsvall to help out. We are espe- cially thankful for our faithful cooking crews that volunteer their time to prepare our meals!

Kids Winter Camp—February 10-12
Pastor Dave Johnson and Cori Long are leading our Annual Kids Winter Camp “Mission Impossible” for kids 1st through 6th grade. They will be going to Forest Home in San Bernardino for a weekend of fun learning and worship of Jesus. Make sure to mark your calendars! The ministry team is still being assembled so if you want to be a part contact Pastor Dave (714) 397-0586, Cori Long (714) 783-7125 or Lara Johnson (714) 397-0587).

40 Days In The Word
In February we will be starting a six week study called 40 Days In The Word. LOVE the word. LEARN the word. LIVE THE WORD. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive your- selves. Do what it says. James 1:22 If you would like to lead a small group just sign up using the insert in the Order of Worship on Sunday or contact Pastor Gene Loeffler (714) 997-2811.

Service Crews for Jan. 29

Security 
8:45 am—Ken Stice10:30 am—Doug Bridgman
Ride to Church
8:45 am—Greg Nygren (714-771-6995) 10:30 am—Norm Sufficool (714–974-8654)
Ushers
8:45 am—Al VandeVegte, Don Sutton, Chris Schrader, Paul Hamilton
10:30 am—Ben Kellogg, Bob Bell, Ron Kays, Daniel Schroeder
Nursery 
** 8:45 am—Joyce Thurber, Alyssa Schrader
10:30 am—Megan Shores
Toddler
**8:45 am—Megan Nygren 10:30 am—Janelle Hall
Promise Peak
8:45 am—Pam Tripi, Sara Bell, Ken Stice 10:30 am—Sara Bell, Judy Kenney, Joan Wasson, Shawn Hall
Deacon Worship Assistance
Greg Nygren (Team Leader), Ryan Bonilla, Howard Lyon, Mike Rainey
Sweetheart Bakers (Due 1/31): Donetta Schroeder ** If you would you like to help with our precious children in the Nursery or the
Toddlers, please contact Kristen Morgan 949-606-3108.

This Week at Covenant

Friday (1-27) 
7:00pm Junior High and High School Youth Group
7:30pm  YF Date Night
Saturday (1-28) 
8:00am BOLD mens meeting
Sunday (1-29) 
8:45 &10:30 am Worship—Sanctuary
3:00pm IPUH Worship—Sanctuary
3:00pm JKI Worship—Social Hall
6:00pm Evening Study-Sanctuary
6:00pm Oasis Bible Study-Social Hall
Monday (1-30)
9am CC Homeschool- Campus
6:00 pm CCC Crafters—Rm. 24
6:30pm Haven Café—Home of Joyce Thurber
7:00pm Martha Vineyard -Home of Joan Wasson
7:30 pm Square Dancing—Social Hall
8:00pm Women’s Exercise Class- Rm 35
Tuesday (1-31)
5:00 pm Prayer Meeting (Community)—Sanctuary
7:00pm MCBS Mens Community Bible Study
Wednesday (2-01)
9:30am VIP Ministry
11:30 am Prayer Meeting—Library
6:00pm Family Dinner-Social Hall
7:00pm House of Prayer
7/8:30 pm Choir/Praise Rehearsal—Sanctuary
Thursday (2-02)
6:00am Men’s Study—Rm. 29
9:30pm Encouragers—Rm. 36
3:00pm Eagles Wings Class—Rm. 29
4:00pm Eagles Wings Class—Rm. 35
6:30pm IPUH—Sanctuary
7:00pm Deacon Meeting—Rm. 29
Friday (2-03)
7:00pm Young Family Bible Study
7:00pm Youth Group (Jr. High and High School)
7:30 pm IPUH Worship Service—Sanctuary

Seismic Prayer
“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken” Acts 4:18-31

Sermon by Pastor Rod Schorr
From the Series on the Gospel of Matthew:The Rise of the Servant-King