What is Happening This Week 1/6-1/9/22
 Happy Epiphany! A day Christians celebrate the arrival of the Magi presenting gifts to the Baby Jesus! Epiphany means different things: final day of the Christmas holiday, the day we take down Christmas decorations, or maybe an “aha” moment. Maybe the star that leads us into this year will bring us to “aha” moments of alert awareness, deep joy, contagious generosity and boundless hope. I pray Epiphany this year will lead each of us to the new dawn we have been watching and waiting for. There is some wonderful news to report as we close out 2021 and it has everything to do with your awesome generosity! December Giving was amazing 134% of our income goal was received: $62,755 The largest giving to Walk to the Manger in many years – $21,000 100% of HCUMC Apportionments paid (first time since 2015) 2021 year end spending and income will be finalized in the next 10 days. There were many challenges this year, but finances for our church were not among them! There were many hungry families, but we were able to feed 3366 individuals through our Food Pantry! There were neighborhood children who needed Christmas gifts, our angel tree provided families with gift cards for 40 children. There were children who needed lunches during the summer months and we helped to deliver meals to 40 kids during June & July. There were Austin Street friends who needed breakfast, through the work of the Spiritual Journeymen and your generosity, we help to provide food for over 800 people on four Sunday mornings. There were people living in the hot Texas heat, and we collected and provided 93 fans. While at the Holy Covenant facility: The HC Preschool has provided quality, safe education for over 75 children during the winter and fall semesters. We worshiped for the first 11 weeks isolated with just live streaming available. Since March 21 we have had 81 worship services gathering together; 8:30 mostly outside, 10:30 in the sanctuary and live streaming. We have had five special holiday evening services. Sunday School classes are continuing to meet and youth is now back to a weekly schedule. Outside groups are beginning to return to our facilities for meetings. Perhaps our epiphany, our “aha” is that even in the darkness of this pandemic season we have been the hands and feet of Christ. Our work, the call to be the disciples of Jesus Christ continues! Hope you will join us on Sunday as we reflect faithfully on the mighty power of water! Shalom Blessings, Pastor Cheryl 8:30 am Sunday Worship  We have moved 8:30 worship inside to the sanctuary until warmer weather.  10:30 am Sunday Morning Worship In-person and Livestreamed We hope you are joining us either in-person, or for online worship on Facebook Live. We will be on Facebook again this Sunday at 10:30 am. If you have missed any of the services, or do not use Facebook, you may also find them on our website hcumc.org. Sunday, January 9 Scripture: Luke 3:10-22 Baptism of the Lord Prayers of the People  Please keep the following people in your prayers this week: Julie Fuller on the loss of her lifelong friend; Sarah Jones Kolbye on the loss of her father-in-law; the Evans family on the loss of Rob and Roy’s mother, Lois; Rodney Stewart on the loss of his father; Shaun Littlejohn-Taylor on the loss of his grandmother; Sharon Harris; Skip Trimble; Travis Williams; Mary Harrison; Don Hinton; Michael Foirek; Matthew, family friend of the Guests; and our friends at Atria Carrollton. Sunday School  Sunday School 9:15 am Kinder to 5th – Covenant Center Confirmation – Upstairs Youth – Youth Room Infants to PreK – Nursery For more information or questions, contact Laulie Eckeberger at [email protected] If you are interested in teaching or helping with Sunday School, please sign up HERE. Pledge Update for 2022 Thank you to everyone who has already submitted your pledge for 2022! If you haven’t turned in your pledge yet, it’s not too late. Pledges Received: 75 Annual Total $354,384 % of Budget 68%   Food Pantry Pantry Hours: Tuesday-Thursday from 10-2 2nd and 4th Sundays from 12-1 pm. Currently, we need: hearty soups, large pasta sauce and dog/cat food. The Missions Team thanks you for always being there to support the Food Pantry with your donations, your time, and your prayers. Coming Soon  Monday, January 17 10 am to Noon Community Harvest Garden Plano, TX Join us for our first HCUMC Family Ministries Day of Service! In honor of MLK day, come and do a service project together as a family! We will go to the Community Harvest Garden in Plano, a community garden in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank. All kids, youth and adults welcome! For more info contact Laulie [email protected].  Breakfast for Austin Street Saturday, January 29 9 am to Noon Holy Covenant Kitchen Holy Covenant is scheduled to again provide breakfast for the homeless at Austin Street Shelter. If you are able to donate food, please prepare 12 sandwiches, 12 pieces of fruit and 12 hard-boiled eggs and deliver them to Holy Covenant on Saturday, January 29th, between 9 am and noon. Bottled water and juice boxes are also appreciated. Please drive around to the kitchen door where members of the Spiritual Journeymen will receive the donations from you. The Journeymen will deliver the food to Austin Street Saturday afternoon. Please contact Rick Davis (972-814-5325 [email protected]) with any questions. Finances  You may send your checks to: Holy Covenant UMC 1901 E. Peters Colony Rd. Carrollton, TX 75007 Or you may submit your offering electronically through online giving. December Regular Donations/Pledge Payments Monthly Goal $46,930 Given to Date: $41,755 General $21,000 Walk to the Manger Total: $62,755 (134%) YTD Regular Donations/Pledge Payments Goal $512,000 Preliminary Final $487,655 (95%)  Online Giving Donate Here. You may set up a regular pledge payment by choosing the Donation Frequency. Highlight Beyond Holy Covenant  Oak Lawn UMC needs your help with their shelter! They have some open volunteer shifts available Thursday and Friday, mostly overnight. Please spread the word. SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040d4caaab2fa5fd0-oaklawn2 DONATE TO SHELTER HERE (choose Outreach): https://olumc.churchcenter.com/giving |