Update May 15, 2022
Author: Sharon Cleek
Upcoming Congregational Meeting: Electing New Elders
Dear CLC Family,
We are very encouraged by your ongoing feedback and support, as we move forward in this new season of growth as a church. Based on the recent decisions regarding the role and terms of elders at CLC, the Governance Committee has decided our next step is to expand the elder board by the election of an additional three members.
As you know, Nelson Mead and Larry Cleek have been serving as the only two elders since Gary Fick and Ray Crognale stepped down. This would be quite a load in ordinary circumstances. Because of the proliferation of work as a result of the re-visioning process, it has become crushing.
In addition, Larry and Nelson both recognize the strength of having a larger leadership team with a variety of gifts that complement theirs. To discuss the process of selecting additional elders, there will be a congregational meeting Wednesday, April 27th at 7:00pm.
At this meeting, the following questions will be addressed:
1.) Role of an Elder: What is an elder? What does an elder do?
2.) Qualification of an Elder: What characteristics and gifts should one possess to effectively serve as an elder?
3.) Policies and Procedures Governing Elder Board: What policies have been put in place by the Governance Committee to ensure accountability for the elder board and prevent abuse?4.) Selection Process: How and when will new elders be selected?
Please prayerfully consider attending this important meeting. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to any member of the Governance Committee.
In Him,
Ward Davis
(On Behalf of the Development Team)
Governance Committee Decision
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction…
-1 Thessalonians 1:2-5
Dear CLC Family,
As you all know, as a church we’ve been undergoing a process of re-examining how we “do” church. This has involved much prayer, study of Scripture and hard work on the part of several committees. One committee that has been doing quite a bit of work is the Governance Committee.
Over the past five months. the Governance Committee has been prayerfully examining questions related to how CLC is governed, the role of prophecy in the life of the church, how church leaders should be selected, and the role and qualifications of elders.
One question the committee has wrestled with is the degree to which women are free to participate in Church leadership. Therefore, they convened a congregational meeting in February to discuss the specific question of allowing women to serve as elders- and gave you an opportunity to be part of the conversation. Thanks to all of you who participated in that meeting and let your views be known.
The Governance Committee took into consideration the feedback provided by all of you and after much prayer has come to the decision that women should be eligible to serve as elders at CLC. The committee chose to leave for a later time, the question of whether a woman can serve as head elder.
One common sentiment the Governance Committee has heard consistently from the congregation over the past several months is the need to expand the elder board. To that end, the committee has set the goal of adding three more elders to the board in the near future.
The members of the Governance Committee are as follows: Larry Cleek, Nelson Mead, Pam Bateman, Charlie Becker, Paul Simonet, Stan Harrington, Beth Peck, Aubree Cleek and Bill Cushman. If you have any questions about how they came to their decision, they would be more than happy to speak with you.
The elders and Governance Committee believe that as we trust the Lord and continue to seek His heart for CLC, He will bring clarity to those areas where it may be currently lacking. We ask that you continue to pray that the Lord’s purposes for CLC be fulfilled and His kingdom advance in the Ithaca/Dryden area.
In Him,
Ward Davis
(On Behalf of the Development Team)
Update April 10, 2022
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke 19:35-40
Speaker for Sunday: Gary Fick, The Blessings
Communion: Larry Cleek
Bible Class: Amy Yaeger
Please Pray For:
• Polly Miner is having some better days but other days she is still in significant pain. Continue to pray for God’s mercy and healing to be upon her.
• Pray for our new director of Hardesty House, Anjanette Brown, as she gets to know the ladies and adjusts to her new position.
• Pray for continued efforts for finding food and housing for over 4 million refugees fleeing Ukraine. Pray for peace talks to bring this war to a quick end.
• We have a newly appointed Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson. Pray for her to use justice and wisdom in her new role.
Announcements:
There will be a Maundy Thursday Service at CLC from 7:00 – 8:00 pm on Thursday, April 14th. Maundy is the command to love one another and to share in communion. We will read Scriptures and take communion.
An Easter Sunrise Service will be held at the Tower at 6:15 am (6:22 sunrise), weather permitting. Banners will be available by the Cleek’s deck. Pick one up on your way down. There will be prayer and praise to out Glorious Redeemer.
Spring Community Care Day will be on Saturday, April 30th, from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm. Meet at His Tabernacle Church at 8:00 am. Breakfast is provided. Go to Community Faith Partners website for details and to register.
April 15 – Good Friday “Cross Walk.” Participants are welcome to join in the reading of scripture, or to shoulder the cross at any segment. The event takes place entirely outdoors. Gather in the village green at noon; walk begins and ends at Dryden United Methodist Church.
Easter Celebration for the whole family at Asbury Church, Lansing Campus on Wednesday, April 13th, and at the Dryden Campus on Tuesday, April 12th, from 7-8pm. See bulletin board for registration details.
CLC Quilting & Knitting Group creates quilts and knitted afghans as comfort blankets for those in the hospital and nursing homes. The group meets twice a month. Enquire if interested to Karen Cushman, 607.592.1061 or Meg Plumeau, 607.351.4877
Weekend Backpack Program: April, YooHoo – Providing items for the Weekend Backpack Program is a concrete way to invest in your community. All items are distributed to students at the Dryden Elementary School. Items can be put in the labeled basket by the administrative desk.
Prayer: Sundays 9:00 am: Prayer for the morning service meets in the Prayer Tower; Fridays 7:00-8:30 pm: CLC Prayer – In-person or via Zoom (Zoom link reusable each week, sent via email weekly); First Saturday monthly 7:00-8:00 pm: CFP Prayer – dial (205) 825.9187 to join
Zoom:
Join us at 10:00 am Sunday morning for worship via Zoom. Link and song sheets are emailed each week.
Tips for a successful meeting:
– Log in to Zoom before the meeting starts. (The link is reusable each Sunday.)
– Mute your microphone.
– Familiarize yourself with the chat function for communication with the Zoom moderator
Do you have a picture, or written word that you would like to share with everyone? Please send it to office@covenantlove.net and we will feature it in the Update.
If you have an announcement for the Update please submit it by Thursday at 10:00 am to office@covenantlove.net.
Update: April 3, 2022
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Speaker for Sunday: Nelson Mead, The Life of Joseph
Communion: Charlie Becker
Bible Class: Erica Stupke
Please Pray For:
- Continue to pray for BJ and Sara Louise Newcomer (BJ is Sharon Cleek’s nephew) who continue to recover from their many injuries but still have a long road ahead of them. Pray for complete and total healing.
- Polly Miner is having some better days but other days she is still in significant pain. Continue to pray for God’s mercy and healing to be upon her.
- Praise Report for Kathleen Harmon. She is finally home after 8 weeks! Praise the Lord! She still needs prayer for healing in her legs.
- Pray for our new director of Hardesty House, Anjanette Brown, as she gets to know the ladies and adjusts to her new position.
- Pray for continued efforts for finding food and housing for over 4 million refugees fleeing Ukraine. Pray for peace talks to bring this war to a quick end.
Announcements:
Living Pearl Children’s Home is a place to meet children’s physical needs of food and shelter and to show them God’s love and compassion. Living Pearl Orphanage is still in need and you can still give at https://myglobal.org/make-a-donation
Good Friday, April 15 – The churches of Dryden and the surrounding area will carry a cross through the village on our Good Friday “Cross Walk.” As we read the scriptures depicting the events leading to Calvary, we will offer a silent but public witness to the community of the salvation Christ brings. Participants are welcome to join in the reading of scripture, or to shoulder the cross at any segment. The event takes place entirely outdoors. Gather in the village green at noon; our walk begins and ends in front of the Dryden United Methodist Church. All are welcome.
Easter Celebration for the whole family at Asbury Church, Lansing Campus on Wednesday, April 13th, and at the Dryden Campus on Tuesday, April 12th, from 7-8pm. See bulletin board for registration details.
| PRAYER MEETINGS Sundays 9:00 am: Prayer for the morning service meets in the Prayer Tower Fridays 7:00-8:30 pm: CLC Prayer – In-person or via Zoom (Zoom link reusable each week, sent via email weekly) First Saturday monthly 7:00-8:00 pm: CFP Prayer – dial (205) 825.9187 to join |
Weekend Backpack Program
April – YooHoo
Providing items for the Weekend Backpack Program is a concrete way to invest in your community. All items are distributed to students at the Dryden Elementary School. Items can be put in the labeled basket by the administrative desk.
Zoom:
Join us at 10:00 am Sunday morning for worship via Zoom. Link and song sheets are emailed each week.
Tips for a successful meeting:
– Log in to Zoom before the meeting starts. (The link is reusable each Sunday.)
– Mute your microphone.
– Familiarize yourself with the chat function for communication with the Zoom moderator.
If you have an announcement for the Update please submit it by Thursday at 10:00 am to office@covenantlove.net.
Update: March 27, 2022
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:19-20
Speaker for Sunday: Nelson Mead, The Life of Joseph
Communion: Larry Cleek, The Power of Forgiveness
Bible Class: Betsy Lampman
Please Pray For:
- Continue to pray for Bob and Pam Rozzoni as they prepare to come home.
- Continue to pray for both Kathleen and Polly who are still battling complications from their surgeries. Polly’s sciatic pain is actually worse and another MRI will be done soon. Pray for peace and total healing.
- BJ and Sara Louise Newcomer (Sharon Cleek’s nephew) were in a terrible car accident. Both are in the hospital with serious complications. Pray for their healing.
- Pray for Joe Fick and his family that Joe would be sensitive to the Spirit’s direction as he coaches and trains staff and that they would experience God’s transformative care and holistic provision. That Ezekiel would fully embrace being the older sibling and that Margo’s skin would be less sensitive. And for health, strength, and peace as Sara and Joe return from their respective leaves and seek to balance work and family life.
- Please keep Bella Phelps in your prayers as she continues her work in Portugal.
- Ketanji Brown Jackson has been nominated to be the next Supreme Court justice. Please keep the nomination process in your prayers.
- The war in Ukraine has forced over 2 million people to flee to neighboring countries in a crisis that’s intensifying daily, with casualties and displacement growing. The U.N. estimates the wave of refugees could reach 4 million. Most have fled to Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, where they have been widely welcomed by governments and local communities. Continue to pray into these people’s lives as they deal with trauma, livelihood, and ongoing uncertainty.
Announcements:
The far table in the sanctuary has some Lost and Found items on it. Please see if you know who may own these items.
Please return your baby bottle as soon as you can.
Living Pearl Children’s Home is a place to meet children’s physical needs of food and shelter and to show them God’s love and compassion. Living Pearl Orphanage is still in need and you can still give at https://myglobal.org/make-a-donation
Ray Crognale is leading Prayer for Revival Regionally on March 29th at 7:00 pm at Vineyard Church of Ithaca. Hope some of you can make it.
Good Friday, April 15 – The churches of Dryden and the surrounding area will carry a cross through the village on our Good Friday “Cross Walk.” As we read the scriptures depicting the events leading to Calvary, we will offer a silent but public witness to the community of the salvation Christ brings. Participants are welcome to join in the reading of scripture, or to shoulder the cross at any segment. The event takes place entirely outdoors. Gather in the village green at noon; our walk begins and ends in front of the Dryden United Methodist Church. All are welcome.
Richard and Anna Welch have seen a lot in their ministry. This book, Broken and Poured Out written by Anna, is a collection of some of the stories from the last 12 years of their life overseas pursuing Jesus. It is raw and real and beautiful. If you read it, hopefully you’ll get a glimpse of some of their journey and perhaps find encouragement as you continue on your own. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V89KCQC?mc_cid=9ac6fa8ea2&mc_eid=cecfad09e7
CLCS Virtual Open House will be held on Monday, March 28th from 6pm to 9pm. If you are interested in participating in this virtual tour, please contact the school at office@clcschool.org or call 607.347.4413.
| PRAYER MEETINGS Sundays 9:00 am: Prayer for the morning service meets in the Prayer Tower Fridays 7:00-8:30 pm: CLC Prayer – In-person or via Zoom (Zoom link reusable each week, sent via email weekly) First Saturday monthly 7:00-8:00 pm: CFP Prayer – dial (205) 825.9187 to join |
| Weekend Backpack Program: March – canned veggies Providing items for the Weekend Backpack Program is a concrete way to invest in your community. All items are distributed to students at the Dryden Elementary School. Items can be put in the labeled basket by the administrative desk. |
Zoom:
Join us at 10:00 am Sunday morning for worship via Zoom. Link and song sheets are emailed each week.
https://zoom.us/j/96747035219?pwd=Zk92UUFhbmRDTEg3R0ROclFXb1pwQT09
Tips for a successful meeting:
– Log in to Zoom before the meeting starts. (The link is reusable each Sunday.)
– Mute your microphone.
– Familiarize yourself with the chat function for communication with the Zoom moderator.