|
Home
Irish Experience Tops List of Newsletter Activities
CHICAGO, IL (October 31, 2005) - Nathan and Sarah Frise of Good Samaritan
Community Covenant Church in Valley Springs, California, experienced the
religious animosity that exists in parts of Ireland when they helped
lead clubs similar to a vacation Bible school in the country.
One of the areas in which they worked was the Greater Shankill area of
Belfast, they stated in a recent report to the congregation. "The
Shankill is the center for all the para-militant activity and violence
in Ireland, as well as Catholic-Protestant hatred," they said.
More than 100 children participated in the program. "These kids were
tough as nails and full of fury," they said. "They routinely fought like
animals."
The time in Ireland also was a lesson in how bigotry is spread. "We were
in a Protestant area, though the children knew very little of what being
a Protestant meant and found the word to be purely part of their
'loyalist' identity," the Frises said. "The kids, having never met a
Catholic and only hearing about them through propaganda, fiercely hated
them."
The Frises said they were pleased to have been part of a program that
worked with the local churches, where the children could experience grace.
The report was just one of many experiences and activities gleaned from
the more than 250 local church newsletters received during September by
the Department of Communication of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Following are excerpts from those newsletters, organized by conference
and region.
CENTRAL
- Princeton, Illinois: The Evangelical Covenant Church held a "Fresher
Water" concert to benefit the victims of the recent hurricanes. The
event included many talents from within the congregation and featured
the original music of Gary Kenny with the help of Shawn Brown, Tom
Smith, and Mike Bibula. The church hopes to produce a CD of the event.
- Elkhorn, Wisconsin: The Hansen family of Millard Covenant Church
left for a mission trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
EAST COAST
- East Bridgewater, Massachusetts: Members of Community Covenant
Church spent a day helping at the New England Seafarer's Mission.
Participating were John and Emily Miltner, Denese Chiocca, Marie Caruso,
Karin O'Connor, Dave Sawyer, Gary and Candy Keith and Steve Patt.
- Springfield, Massachusetts: The Women Enjoying God Outdoors group
sponsored an evening kayak trip down the Farmington River, as well as a
day of horseback riding. The ministry serves in part to reach out to the
community.
GREAT LAKES
- Allegan, Michigan: Christ Community Covenant Church entered a float
in the community fair's parade.
- Kalamazoo, Michigan: Clint Armstrong of Kalamazoo Covenant Church
shared with the congregation about his summer mission trip to Tijuana,
Mexico.
MIDWEST
- Lenexa, Kansas: Community Covenant Church dedicated its new building.
- Wausa, Nebraska: the Evangelical Covenant Church hosted a praise
concert with Bill Miller, who is a distinguished pianist, as well as the
professor of biblical studies and biblical languages at Nebraska
Christian College. He also teaches sacred music at the school.
NORTH PACIFIC
- Eugene, Oregon: Valley Covenant Church hosted a three-evening
presentation by Paul Metzger, theologian in residence at First Covenant
in Portland. Metzger spoke on "Eating (Jim) Crow: Confronting Race &
Class Divisions in the Consumer Church."
- Mount Vernon, Washington: Members of Bethany Covenant Church worked
with a local Presbyterian congregation to offer a vacation Bible school
program to children in an area migrant camp. Covenanters participating
were Tina Abshier, Andy Anderson, Aida Andress, Karen Asp, Kyann DeJong,
Nancy Felmley, Sharon Hemmat, Nancy Hoffman, Sarah Johnson, Joann Knapp,
Mary Nolte, David Patrow, Emily Watilo, Eric Watilo and Amy Muia.
- Spokane, Washington: First Covenant Church held a farmer's market as
a fundraiser throughout the summer and ended October 1.
NORTHWEST
- Brooklyn Center, Minnesota: Brookdale Covenant Church set up a
prayer walk within the church. Members were given a list of prayer needs
for when they walked through the building and different rooms.
- Brooklyn Center, Minnesota: Covenant Pines Bible Camp hosted a
Jubilee Sing Fest. It was a time for people of all ages to share how
their lives were impacted through camping. The stories were captured on
video.
- Duluth, Minnesota: Lakeview Covenant Church members brought food to
the local military air base as part of the base's Family Day.
- Red Wing, Minnesota: First Covenant Church hosted the Faith,
Families and Friends Apple Festival.
- Brandon, South Dakota: Members of Living Springs Covenant Church
participated in a day-long satellite-delivered course that revolved
around the book Becoming a Contagious Christian.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST
- Spring Valley, California: Residents of Mt. Miguel Covenant Village
were treated to a concert by Julliard-trained pianist Sam Rotman, who
also told them about his conversion from Orthodox Judaism to his
commitment to Jesus.
SOUTHEAST
- Vero Beach, Florida: First Covenant Church held a rededication
celebration for its building which had been heavily damaged in last
year's hurricane.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
|
|
|
