First Covenant welcomes you!
Sunday worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (Facebook Live at 11)
Faith Formation for all ages begins at 9:30 a.m.
October & November 2021
Face masks required: Due to the rapid increase of COVID-19/Delta cases across the country and in Erie County, the staff and church leaders of First Covenant have reinstated the face mask policy for everyone visiting First Covenant. Our long standing protocols also remain in place. At this time our children under 12 years of age are not yet able to be vaccinated. We will continue to practice social distancing and seating every third pew.
NEW Worship Entrance starting November 7: The office entrance will be the entrance for Sunday mornings. You can drop off your attendance form and pickup your bulletin at the table in front of the office. As the temperature gets colder the double doors at the office will provide a greater weather barrier and keep our volunteers warm
Welcome to Sunday Worship: There are two Sunday morning worship services. The 8:30 a.m. service is in the chapel and the 11:00 a.m. service is in the sanctuary. For those unable to attend in-person, the 11:00 a.m. service is livestreamed on Facebook Live. Faith Formation for all ages begins at 9:30 a.m. To view the livestreaming, go to www.facebook.com/FirstCovenantErie/ .
Help host a Sunday Fellowship Hour: Can you help serve a beverage and treat under the bell tower after the 11:00 a.m. service one Sunday this fall? The Hospitality & Membership team would love your help! Contact Lorie Fritts at 814-823-4838.
Connections Dinner for the whole family: November 10th—The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s Kelso Archaeology Museum is taking some of their exhibits on the road just for us! There will be a video presentation on digs in the Near East that the school has participated in over several decades along with actual artifacts to look at and even to touch! There will be things for younger kids to participate and learn as well. This experience will bring the Bible stories everyone has learned to life! Hope you can make it! $6 adults, $3 students and kids. RSVP required
by 10/8 at 9 a.m. to office@firstcovenanterie.org or 814.456.4243.
Youth Mission Service—
October 31—Sunday Suppers: Stay for lunch at noon then prepare dinner. Help is needed through 5:30 p.m. for cooking, serving, and clean-up. Let Britney know how long you can stay. If you will come later, let Britney know.
Saturday, November 20: Preparing Thanksgiving meal for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center Thanksgiving Community Dinner from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Let Britney know if you will attend, to ensure enough lunch at 12 noon. For more information contact Pastor Britney at britney.knight@firstcovenanterie.org
Neighborhood Thanksgiving at MLK is around the corner! If you would like to help cook at the church (Saturday morning, November 20) or serve at the MLK Center (Sunday afternoon, November 21), contact Seph Kumer at seph.kumer@firstcovenanterie.org or 814.566.0287
Are you good at talking and listening? Be a “Conversation Partner,” meet once a week for one half hour with a Gannon University ESL (English as a Second Language) student at Gannon, indoors or outside. Pick a talk each week (family life, school, careers, Erie, holidays, food, sports, hobbies, etc.); develop open-ended questions. You get to know a student and their culture. Students get to know an American and their culture–plus practice conversational English! Once students are proficient in English they can begin their academic studies! One semester commitment. Contact Seph Kumer by texting him or leaving a message at 814.566.0287.
Earthquake and Hurricane Relief: The Mission Committee will match up to $1,000 donated to the church for earth quake relief in Haiti and Hurricane Ida relief. All gifts will be given to Presbyterian Disaster Relief (PDA) which is working with local authorities to bring help to their communities.
Cantor Volunteers needed as we move into the Fall we are in need of volunteers to lead us in the singing of the hymns during worship. Practice provided before the service on Sundays. Please contact Monty Service at montgomery.service@firstcovenanterie.org if you are interested or have any questions.
Carillon Volunteers needed: It’s been great to use the carillon to welcome us into worship each Sunday morning, as we look to the Fall we are in need of volunteers to play the carillon for 9-10 minutes before worship on Sunday mornings. We’ve been using hymn melodies and the carillon console is a keyboard (like a piano). Training and orientation provided, volunteers would need to be able to read music and play one-handed melodies. Please con tact Monty Service at montgomery.service@firstcovenanterie.org if you are interested or have any questions.
Discounted parking for students: Know a Gannon or Prep or other student attending classes downtown? The church offers deeply discounted semester rate parking for students. Contact joann.peters@firstcovenanterie.org to inquire.
Flowers or “In lieu of flowers:” With the resumption of in-person worship, fresh flowers can again be a part of our worship services. Or you can make a monetary gift “in lieu of flowers.” If you would like to provide flowers, or make a gift toward a ministry of the church in memory of, or in honor of, someone or something, contact Mary Concoby at 814.440.4327. Ministries to support: Vicary Organ, Youth, Sunday Supper, and Our Neighbors’ Place.
Connecting with Pastor Chris: When you wish to contact our First Covenant Pastor, Rev. Chris Weichman, he can be reached in the church office on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 814-456-4243 ex.103 or anytime at chris.weichman@firstcovenanterie.org
Prayer Chain: The prayer chain is now accessible on a google drive. If you previously received the prayer chain, or would like to, or if
you are having issues accessing the chain please contact office@firstcovenanterie.org
First Covenant Live Church Calendar: The church calendar is LIVE and updated constantly. If you have a smartphone or a computer, you can check it out here: http://tiny.cc/uhf7nz or you can follow the link at the bottom of the home page.
Update the church office with your new contact information: If you have moved, changed your phone number or email address please update your contact information and let the church office know by contacting JoAnn Peters at 456-4243 Ext 110 or at joann.peters@firstcovenanterie.org. If you have a question, send your email to office@firstcovenanterie.org
