announcements - may 20th, 2008

• We hope you can join us for our final meeting this Tuesday! It should be a special morning of fellowship, yummy food, sharing, and fun. You'll also get to find out who your Secret Sister is! We also will have the Summer Activity calendar to pass out! Dont miss it!
  
• Just a reminder that we will be collecting donations for childcare expenses one last time on Tuesday. Please prayerfully consider what you can give.
  
• Childcare for Tuesday, May 27th: If you have someone who is willing to volunteer for us and you have not let us know, please contact Marviña or Robin this weekend.
  
• Recycle your binder! Of course your binder is yours to keep, however, if you do not think you will use it, you can turn it in on Tuesday so it can be reused next year. (Please remove all papers inside.)
  
• Thank you Childcare workers! Thank you for your donations toward thank-you gifts for those who have cared for our children each Tuesday. We will be giving each of them a gift, however, if you would like to write a note of appreciation to your children's teacher, they would surely love it!

announcements - may 13th, 2008

• Just a reminder that we will continue to be collecting donations for childcare expenses. Please prayerfully consider what you can give each week.
  
• Golden Years Brunch a huge success! You can look forward to hearing about more of the details next week!
  
• Childcare for Tuesday, May 27th: Please take note of the email regarding the request for outside volunteers for this day.
  
• Apologies! Apologies! We recently discovered that the sound system was not working correctly and did not record our last several speakers. We're sorry for all of the blank CD's that went home! Fortunately, the problem has been remedied and Cyndi Telander's talk was recorded. Please let Renee know if you would like a copy ($1 unless you were in childcare).
  
• Join us next week for our last speaker of the year, Melinda Lewis, as she shares with us about having an eternal perspective.
  
• Bless your Secret Sister! There are only two opportunities left to bring something for your Secret Sister. If you haven't treated her to something in a while, make sure she knows you are thinking of her before the big reveal on our last day!

announcements - april 22, 2008

• Jen Maxson & Renee Webber wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the Swap day. It was our best yet, and we hope you got some great stuff! We will likely have one in the fall, so hang on to your stuff for the swap then!
  
• Just a reminder that we will continue to be collecting donations for childcare expenses. Please prayerfully consider what you can give each week.
  
• Preparations continue for the Golden Years Brunch, which will be held on Tuesday, May 6th from 10:00-11:30. This yearly event we put on for the senior women of First Covenant is a lot of fun, but also requires quite a bit of preparation - we really need everyone's participation! There are many ways to be involved, from being a table hostess to helping with decorations. If you haven't signed up for an area to serve, please make sure you do so next week!
  
• Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Stories! Don't miss out on Friendship Saturday, a delightful morning for meeting new friends and celebrating God's power at work in our lives! Join the women of First Covenant Saturday, May 3rd, from 8:30-11:00 in the chapel. A light breakfast buffet will be served. Tickets are $5 in advance ($7 at the door) and will be available for purchase next Tuesday (as well as during the week in the office and in the lobby on Sunday). Please purchase your ticket in advance if you will be needing childcare so they can plan accordingly (a donation for childcare will be collected).
  
• Just a reminder to keep a close watch on your purse whenever you are at church! (Sadly, there have been several recent instances of purses being stolen at church events).
  
• Did you get your copy of the Spring Newsletter? Be sure to pick one up from the Welcome table next week if you didn't. Many thanks to Tina Harrison for compiling it for us!

announcements - april 1, 2008

• St. John's Dinner Service Opportunity coming up on Monday, April 7th. If you've missed the sign-up sheets and would like to participate by donating food (or money toward food), or by helping with food preparation or service, please contact Mary Maples or Tiffany Carter asap.

• Just a reminder that we will continue to be collecting donations for childcare expenses. Please prayerfully consider what you can give each week.
  
• The Women's Retreat is almost here! Join the women of First Covenant at Mission Springs April 18-20 for a wonderful weekend of relaxation, fellowship, teaching, worship, and spiritual renewal! Registration will be accepted until April 16th. If you are interested, grab a flyer and registration form next Tuesday. They will be available on the Welcome table.
  
• Join us next week for our "Lightening Each Others' Load" Brunch! As usual we will have lots of yummy food and time to fellowship. We will also have an activity which will allow you to network with other moms on a few topics of interest. Through the discussions we will be able to meet other moms with similar interests, life situations, or struggles and help each other with suggestions and ideas. Hope to see you there!
  
• Swap Day is coming April 22nd! Before you throw out or donate your gently used baby & kids stuff, save it for out swap! It will be a time for you to bring your stuff, set it out with other's things, and take what you'd like. Then, what's left over will be donated. (More details coming soon on what's ok to bring.)
  

child care needs

Dear Friends,

If you weren't there this past Tuesday, you missed Fred Hammer, our Director of Children's Ministries at First Covenant, sharing with us about a current situation in our church. Many of you have heard that we are experiencing some pretty serious budget issues that have been severely impacting the staff and every area of ministry. Every department has had to cut expenses, including Children's Ministries, which encompasses the most diverse amount of programs. We have been so blessed to have the support of the Children's Department for so many years through their continued provision of childcare at no cost to us. Fred expressed that he, as well as Pastor Ted, highly value our ministry and desire and plan to continue providing us with childcare without any fees. However, they want us to be aware of the financial needs they are facing in being able to do this. It currently costs the church a minimum of $180-$210 per week to run our kid's program, which includes staffing, curriculum, and supplies. Considering the church has been coming up short almost $100,000 a month, the staff is faced with tough decisions in how to make up the difference and meet the needs of current programs, including ours. While nursery and Kid's Kare has been suspended for a number of ministries, the ones for which it will continue, including ours, are being asked to take a donation offering each week. Fred asked that we consider the following as we institute this in Mom's Connection:

-This is not to substitute for your regular tithe. This would be an additional donation to help offset childcare expenses.

-Please pray about this each week and only give what God has placed upon your heart.

-For some this may mean you discuss what you will give with your husband.

-It is understood that some of you will be able to give more, some will only able to give a little, and others may not be able to give at all sometimes.

-This will hopefully only be a temporary process and will help to offset some of the costs allowing Kid's Kare to remain a free service to us, which is both Pastor Fred and Pastor Ted's desire.

-God is ultimately in control!

Beginning next week, we will provide each small group with an envelope that will remain out on your table throughout the morning. We request that you put your donation in the envelope by the end of your small group discussion and they will be collected at the end of our time.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and support as we begin this process. Personally, I am so grateful for our Children's Ministries department and their commitment to providing us with such excellent care for our children each week. I hope that we can give back to them during this time of need and can continue the wonderful partnership we have established.

Have a wonderful week!

Robin

announcements - march 25, 2008

• St. John's Dinner Service Opportunity coming up on Monday, April 7th. If you've missed the sign-up sheets and would like to participate by donating food (or money toward food), or by helping with food preparation or service, please contact Mary Maples or Tiffany Carter. Money and food donations are needed by next Tuesday.

• Scrap-n-Chat this Friday night 6-10pm in Room 204. Bring your latest craft, scrapbooking, sewing project, etc and join us for some much needed mommy time! Even if you're not crafty, feel free to join us just for the conversation! Snacks to share, while not necessary are always welcomed.

• Swap Day is coming April 22nd! Before you throw out or donate your gently used baby & kids stuff, save it for out swap! It will be a time for you to bring your stuff, set it out with other's things, and take what you'd like. Then, what's left over will be donated. (More details coming soon on what's ok to bring.)

• A BIG Thank You to everyone who has been providing meals for our moms with new little ones. We have had an amazing amount of births in the group this year (with more to come!) and you all have been rising to the occasion! Thank you for your generosity and service!

• We look forward to seeing you next week as we continue our study on Friendship. Looking in depth at the friendship between Jonathan and David we will learn more about what it means to be a godly friend.

announcements-march 11, 2008

• Childcare sign-ups for March 25th: Since the Honeybees group was dispersed, we do not have a group to do childcare on the 25th. Rather than ask another group to serve an additional time, we are requesting individuals volunteer. If you were unable to serve when it was your group's turn, we ask that you please be the first to sign up. If you were not there on Tuesday to sign-up, please contact Marviña to let her know you will help.

• Scrap-n-Chat Friday night 6-10pm in Room 112. Bring your latest craft, scrapbooking, sewing project, etc and join us for some much needed mommy time! Even if you're not crafty, feel free to join us just for the conversation! Snacks to share, while not necessary are always welcomed.

• Get Connected! Don't forget to visit the Mom's Connection Blog at http://www.firstcovmomsconnection.blogspot.com/ (Contact Heidi Watters if you have something you would like to post on the main page).

• No Mom's Connection on March 18th - but join us for an Easter Egg Hunt at Stone Creek Park. 10:00-12:00. Bring a dozen eggs filled with wrapped candy only for each of your children (school-aged children on vacation are welcome also), a sack lunch, sunscreen, and your camera. (Directions: Hwy 50 to Zinfandel Exit. If coming from downtown, turn right onto Zinfandel. If coming from Placerville direction, turn left onto Zinfandel. Go past International Drive. Turn right onto Spoto Drive. Park is closer to the corner of Zinfandel and Spoto).

• We'll see you back on March 25th for the first in our two part series on Friendship!
  
  HAPPY EASTER!
  

announcements - march 4, 2008

• Dinner at St. John's Women's Shelter was once again a success! It was a time of great blessing for those served and those serving. Another opportunity will be coming up in April, so be looking for those sign-ups in the near future.

• Childcare sign-ups for March 25th: Since the Honeybees group was dispersed, we do not have a group to do childcare on the 25th. Rather than ask another group to serve an additional time, we are requesting individuals volunteer. If you were unable to serve when it was your group's turn, we ask that you please be the first to sign up. Please look for the sign-up sheet again next week.

• Childcare Volunteers for the Brunch: we are still in need of some outside volunteers for next week so that all of you can participate in the Brunch. If you know of someone who would be willing to help us - a family member, your babysitter, etc - please contact Robin or Marviña as soon as possible. If we do not end up with enough volunteers we will need to call on some of you to serve again. We will be sure to contact you ahead of time so you can plan accordingly for the morning.

• Have you heard the news?! Our new Childcare Liaison is Marviña Kennedy! Contact her with any questions or concerns regarding the childcare program.

• Get Connected! Don't forget to visit the Mom's Connection Blog at http://www.firstcovmomsconnection.blogspot.com/ (Contact Heidi Watters if you have something you would like to post on the main page).

• Join us next week for our Easter Brunch and Service Project. You should have already received an email with further details on the Easter goodie bags we are putting together. Please coordinate with your small group to decide what you will bring.. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Maples or Tiffany Carter.

• No Mom's Connection on March 18th - but join us for an Easter Egg Hunt at Stone Creek Park. 10:00-12:00. Bring a dozen eggs filled with wrapped candy only, a sack lunch, and sunscreen. Fliers will be available next week.

announcements - january 29, 2008

• Secret Sister assignments were given out. Be sure to look for yours next week if you were gone.
  
  
• Love & Logic Parenting Class
  Taught by trained Love & Logic teacher, Rosie Dittrich
  Starting Thursday, January 31st at First Covenant, 6:30pm
  Cost is $15 for materials
  Childcare available thru 5th grade
  If interested, register with Stacie Florence at 861-2240 or sflorence@firstcov.org
  
  
• More service opportunities coming up at St. John's Women's Shelter. We will be providing, preparing, and serving dinner for them again in March, April, and May. Look for more details in coming weeks.
  
  
• Vendor Fair on March 29th! This fundraising event will help us to make the Golden Years Brunch a hit again this year with the senior women of First Covenant.
  If you have a business you would like to promote, or something you sell (Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, homemade crafts, etc) and are interested in renting a space at the fair, contact Renee Webber at reneewebber@gmail.com.
  
  
• Childcare Wish LIst: If you would like to help out our childcare program by donating some household items that they can use for fun projects with the kids, here's what they can use:
  2 liter bottles (rinsed out, label off) !!!Save them from your Super Bowl party!!!
  green plastic strawberry baskets
  empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls (preferably separated)
  shoe boxes
  magazines (nature, animals, parenting/children, food)
  paper egg cartons
  ½ gallon plastic milk jugs (washed clean)
  Styrofoam meat trays (washed clean)
  
  
• Join us next week for Power for Parenting: Helping Children Develop Self-Esteem and Responsibility Through Chores. Our speaker, Betty Koons, will share with us positive tools that help build character, responsibility, self-esteem, and the mother-child relationship.