Covenant News

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.

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