What is Happening This Week 3/21-3/24/24

         
Beloved Community,  

We have lots of exciting and inspiring activities at Holy Covenant over the next few weeks! The theme is to Be Alert and Pay Attention! Perhaps, I need to add – and BE PRESENT!  

Saturday morning, we need your help! It is a workday at the church with something to do for everyone! There are several jobs that need many hands: preparing the second floor of the Education Building for new flooring on Monday morning, steam cleaning the sanctuary chairs, and a deep clean in the kitchen. Some of the smaller jobs will be changing light bulbs, hanging TVs, outside chores and other “honey-do” activities on the Trustees’ list.  

On Sunday, we will gather for one of my favorite worship services – PALM SUNDAY PARADE. Our children will lead us! And yes, there will be palms for everyone!   

Following worship, we will have a Shalom Center Open House & Bake Sale. We are taking a love offering to offset the loan for the wonderful space. Please join us for this fun event and goodies!  

I look forward to greeting you this weekend!  

Shalom Blessings,
Pastor Cheryl Murphy  

10:30 am Sunday Morning Worship In-person and Livestreamed  
Join us either in-person, or for online worship on Facebook Live. We are on Facebook Sundays 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, March 24
Palm Sunday
Fasting from Fear/Feasting on Faith
Ushers: Travelers’ Class    

Sunday School
9:15 am
Kinder to 2nd – Room 206
3rd to 5th—Room 202
Confirmation – Room 207
Youth – Youth Room
Infants to PreK – Nursery  

Adult Classes:
Daughters of Shalom – Room 208
Seekers – Room 210
Pathfinders – Room 211
Spiritual Journey – Room 212
Travelers – Room 213 – starts at 9:30 am  

Wear Your Nametag!
Be sure to wear your nametag this Sunday to help our guests learn names. If you need a nametag, please add your name to the sign-up sheet on the nametag table.   

Prayers of the People  
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
The Shepardson family; Rhonda King; Jean McDonald; Amy Chin-Lai; Hefina Greensted; Marilyn Paa; Rob Evans; Lisa Hunsaker; Karen Garcia; Sandy Elms; Ed Webb; John Webb; Laura York; Jeff Mills; Claudia and Marshall Masser; Karen McGuffin; Charles Hinton; Debbie and Bob Schulter; Sara Bunch; James Baxter; Karyl Sarver; Tom Yull; and our friends at Atria Carrollton.   

Highlights This Week  
Dinner & Game Night
Friday, March 22
6 pm
Covenant Center  
Bring your friends, family, food and your favorite games! Everyone is welcome. Please contact Mandie Long [email protected] to let her know what you can bring.  

Donations toward dinner expenses (utensils, beverages, etc.) can be made on the church website and are always appreciated.    


Church Clean-Up
Saturday, March 23
9 am to Noon  
Help us refresh the church building for Holy Week and our anniversary celebration! We have some moving and some cleaning to do. Wear your work clothes and if you have a handheld steamer, a small vacuum, or an extension cord, please bring them.    


Shalom Center Blessing and Bake Sale
Sunday, March 24
11:30 am
Join us as we celebrate the completion of the new Shalom Center and enjoy some baked goods from our own church members!  

Holy Week at Holy Covenant    
Palm Sunday
March 24  
10:30 am Join us in worship for a palm procession and celebration of the start to Holy Week.
11:30 am Shalom Center Celebration and Bake Sale    
Maundy Thursday
March 28  
7 pm We will share Holy Communion in observance of the Last Supper.    
Good Friday
March 29  
7 pm Invite your friends to hear Song of the Shadows by Joseph M. Martin presented by the Wesleyan Choir and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Texas.     
Easter Sunday
March 31  
7 am Sunrise Service – bring a lawn chair!
9:30 am Brunch in the Covenant Center followed by Egg Hunt – bring your basket!
10:30 am Worship Celebrating the Resurrection  

Food Pantry  
Pantry Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday from 10-2 
2nd and 4th Sundays from 12-1 pm  
We currently need soups, chili, canned beans, pasta sauce, chicken, and pet food.
Donations may be dropped off Tuesdays through Thursdays between 10 am and 2 pm. In addition to that, we accept donations on Sundays before and after worship. There will be carts outside the Pantry for your donations.

Our promotion for Holy Covenant’s 50th anniversary is called, “50 Cans for 50 Years”. We’re asking you to bring 50 cans of food to the Food Pantry by April 14th. When you have brought your 50 cans, everyone in your immediate family will receive buttons that say you have donated 50 cans to the Pantry. Don’t forget to pick up one of the coloring sheets that Laulie made. You should find them in the Narthex. Be sure to color your sheet the specified color in the directions. Laulie plans to collect the sheets to display.  

Register NOW!  
HCUMC 50th Anniversary Celebration
April 7, 13 and 14  
Make plans to celebrate with us in April as we commemorate 50 years of Holy Covenant!  
Sunday, April 7
– 10:30 am Worship Anniversary kickoff. Learn about the beginning of Holy Covenant.
– 11:30 Block Party Bounce house, food, games and fun shared with our neighbors.
Saturday, April 13
-6 pm Anniversary Banquet *Reservation Required Guest speakers include Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr. and HCUMC’s first pastor, Rev. Jack Soper.
Sunday, April 14
– 10:30 am Worship Honor the past, present, and future of Holy Covenant in worship.
– 11:30 am Reception Join previous and current members and staff as we celebrate being a part of this beloved church family.  

*You MUST RSVP to [email protected] by April 1 to attend the banquet!

 
  Holy Covenant is Having a Birthday Celebration!  
2024 is Holy Covenant’s 50th anniversary and we will celebrate April 7, 13 and 14, 2024. We invite you to celebrate your church when you celebrate your birthday. Whenever your birthday falls, consider making a gift to HCUMC. Just mark your gift “Birthday Offering” and put it in the offering plate on Sunday or give ONLINE.  

50th Anniversary Block Party
Sunday, April 7
Immediately after worship  
As part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration, we are hosting a block party to invite the surrounding community and kick off the celebration! It will be on Sunday, April 7, immediately following the worship service. We will have food trucks, bounce houses, and lots of fun! We are asking for each small group to please host a parking lot booth to add to the fun. Please sign up HERE for a booth. We are talking face painting, cake walk, fun games, etc. Your booth will get one parking spot. You can sign up for an idea that’s already on the list, or if you have a great idea, please put it on the list! Please contact Heather Hinton [email protected], JP Mays [email protected], Lisa Hunsaker [email protected] or Kammie Powell [email protected] if you have any questions.   

HC Merch is Coming!  
In honor of our 50th Anniversary, we are offering several commemorative items for sale!  
T-shirts – $15 
Mug – $10 
Tote bag – $8 
Hat – $15  
Items may be purchased HERE. Please indicate quantities and shirt sizes!        

Male and female clothes arranged and hanging in a walk in closet Clothes Closet Needs
We need the following for the HCUMC Community Clothes Closet:
-Coats and jackets (all sizes)
-Men’s clothes (all sizes)
-Children’s clothes
-Shoes (all sizes, specifically work shoes, heavy duty shoes)
-New underwear and socks (all sizes)
-Mini shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, lotion  

Please bring clothes to the church Tuesday – Thursday between 10 am and 2 pm or Sunday mornings.  
Closeup of female hands with shredded papers Gather Your Shredding!  
Secure Document Shredding
Saturday, April 27
8:30 am to Noon  
Start filling those boxes now! Sponsored by Holy Covenant’s Green Team. Open to the public. Protect your identity while supporting Holy Covenant. Watch your documents being shredded on site with the utmost security. $5 per copy paper sized box. Invite your friends and family to bring their sensitive documents to be shredded. Shredding will be done by Secure On Site Shredding Inc.  

Visit secureonsiteshredding.com for more information about the company. All proceeds will benefit HCUMC ministries.      

Tuesday Take Five
Tuesdays at 12 noon 
Facebook Live 
Take a few minutes out of your Tuesday for spiritual growth and an uplifting message for the week with Laulie Eckeberger.             

Finances  
You may give ONLINE or send checks to:
Holy Covenant UMC
1901 E. Peters Colony Rd.
Carrollton, TX 75007  

  Giving.png Online Giving  
Donate here or use the QR code. You may set up a regular pledge payment by choosing the frequency of donations.