Covenant Presbyterian Church of West Lafayette

Compassion Ministries

Welcome Ministries

Christmas for Everyone:

A community ministry of compassion

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ - Matthew 22:39

Christmas for Everyone (CFE) is an opportunity for members of the body of Christ at Covenant to reach past ourselves to those whom God has placed around us, and draw them into the adventure of the Christian faith. This ministry involves several evangelical churches in the Lafayette-West Lafayette community in collaboration with the American Red Cross.

On December 15, 2007 (Distribution Day) a volunteer from Covenant will host each family coming to pick up gifts. In addition to the gifts ($30 of NEW clothing and toys) purchased for each child, the host will help the parent select additional gifts for their children from general donations received from the community. These donations will be set up in a store-like fashion. If monetary donations allow it, the parents will also have the opportunity to select Bibles for both themselves and their children from a ministry table. While a team of gift-wrappers wrap the presents, we will have a hospitatlity area where the host can fellowship with the parents and enjoy Christmas cookies and coffee/hot chocolate. The family will also be presented with a bag of homemade goodies, which includes information aobut Christian rescources they can access at Covenant and within the community. If needed, transportation is also provided. Often the parent(s) picking up the gifts can only speak Spanish, so we also need spanish speaking hosts and translators.

Ways You Could Be Involved:

You can be involved by sponsoring one or more children and/or volunteering to help in any one of a number of capacities.

Sponsor a child:

Each child in the program will have a sponsor who will shop for gifts specifically for them. After signing up as a sponsor about the last week of November, you will receive the child’s Christmas gift list, sizes, etc. We typically receive these names in 3 separate batches of lists. You are to provide $30 worth of new clothing and toys, which will need to be dropped off at Covenant no later than December 9, 2007. If you are interested, you can sponsor all the children in an entire family.
For those who can provide the funds to sponsor a child or several children but don’t have time to shop, you can do that as well. We have a team ready and willing to do the shopping when needed. (Just make a check to Covenant and attach to the sponsor form.)

Give a monetary gift:

Donations will be used to help purchase Bibles, wrapping paper, refreshments, etc. for Distribution Day. Make a check payable to Covenant with “Christmas for Everyone” listed in the memo line or on the envelope.

Donate new toys or clothing:

General gift donations will be collected at Covenant to help supplement the sponsored gifts. Collection boxes will be on display November 25^th through December 9^th.

Provide gift boxes.

Save boxes that can be used to wrap the children’s gifts. This can be any size, weight, etc. - anything that can be used as a container for presents. Collection boxes will be on display November 25^th through December 9^th.

This community ministry takes many volunteers who are willing to help with the various steps that result in getting each child the gift(s) purchased just for them. Assisting each individual family provides us an opportunity to demonstrate God's love during the holiday season. You can serve in several different ways:

Host a family on Distribution Day

You will be scheduled to assist a specific family through the process of picking up the sponsored gifts for their child, shopping for bonus gifts from general donations, etc.

Help gift wrap on Distribution Day

Be part of a team wrapping the gifts after the parents have picked up the sponsored gifts and selected general gifts for their children.

Serve as a Spanish translator on Distribution Day

Help Spanish-speaking parents feel welcome in their native language; being fluent is not necessary.

Bake cookies for delivery to Covenant on December 13^th

The cookies, to be made and delivered to Covenant in time to sort them, will serve two purposes:

A bag of homemade goodies will be sent home with each family
Trays of cookies will be used in the hospitality area for refreshments on Distribution Day

Sort general gifts on December 3^rd, 8^th and/or 10^th

General donations from collection sites around the community and from corporate sponsors will be sorted at Faith Baptist Church.

Set-up Distribution Center on December 13^th

Set-up tables, stage gifts, unpack and arragnge general donations, cut wrapping paper, assemble gift boxes, etc.

Take-down Distribution Center at the end of Distribution Day

Take down tables, clean up area, box up any gifts not distributed, etc. to prepare the Gathering Place for Sunday Services.

It's All About Him!

For a list of ways that growth groups can participate together or a list of general ideas for Christmas for Everyone, contact Donna Vandergraff at vandergraff@purdue.edu

Counseling Ministry

Lay Christian Counseling

Trained volunteers offer a listening ear and give sound counsel to persons wanting help with personal issues and interpersonal relationships. They have extensive training in active listening and rational thinking. There is no fee for their services. Serves Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren and Wlhite counties.

Adjunct Counselors

Professional counselors:

Randy Wood (MAC, LMHC) offers counseling in men's issues and sexual addiction as well as other individual and marital counseling. His fee is on a sliding scale. For more information, call 463-7303, ext. 300.
Kay Bleyer (M.A., LMHC) is a mental helath counselor, licensed in the state of Indiana. Her focus is on how God can help with marriage, parenting, depression and other emotional disorders, abuse, trauma, finding God's will, crosscultural issues, and other concerns. Her gifts are encouragement and teaching. For more information, call 463-7303, ext. 333.

Foundation to Heal Series
- DivorceCare is a thirteen-week seminar and support group for people experiencing divorce or separation. It begins at Covenant on Wednesdays in the fall from 7-9 p.m. It’s a place where you can be around people who understand what you are feeling. It’s a place where you can hear valuable information about ways to heal from the hurt of divorce. Seminar sessions include such topics as “Facing Your Anger,” “Facing Your Loneliness,” “Depression,” “New Relationships,” “KidCare,” and “Forgiveness.” Childcare for 5 and under can be provided with prior notice. For more information you may call Christie in the Covenant office, 463-7303.
- Changes That Heal is a fourteen-week seminar for people looking to make healing changes in their lives to become mature image bearers of God. Bonding to others, being separate from others, sorting out the good and bad in ourselves and others and becoming an adult are all included in the workshop.
- Boundaries is a fourteen-week workshop for those who have trouble saying no, find it difficult to set limits and still be a loving person, find their life out of control, feel that others take advantage of them, or who don't know how to answer someone who wants their time, love, energy and money.
- Safe People is a twelve-week study giving insights to help people
- Hiding From Love is a sixteen-week course to help people discover
Grief Share is a thirteen-week workshop for those going through the journey of grief. Sessions include topics on the emotions of grief, when someone dies, where is God, getting stuck in grief, and more.
Grief Support Group is a small group of people who have lost a loved one. They meet informally to support each other and share their journey.

Deacons

Love Gift is a monetary gift made to members of the congregation, anonymously by a Covenant member when there is a crisis or specific need.
Hospital Visitors is a group of volunteers who agree to be responsible for a particular day of the week to go to the local hospitals and visit with patients. Currently, we have a visitor covering every day, seven days a week.
Bereavement Meals “Your love has given me…encouragement, because you have refreshed the hearts of the saints.” Philemon 7 When one of our Covenant families experiences the loss of a loved one, compassion and care are demonstrated to them in a number of ways. One such expression involves the serving of a meal to those gathered for the memorial service . There is something about sharing a meal together at such a time that is healing and comforting. The grieving person, surrounded by family and friends, is loved, encouraged, and refreshed. If this type of ministering interests you, the Holy Spirit is no doubt prompting you to participate. If you would like more information please call Nancy Klusman at 447-7083. You’ll be a blessing.

Love in Action (formerly Samritan Servants) with the help of the Compassion Coordinator has set in motion a great ministry team coming alonside one of our parisioners. The team is serving her two nights per week and Covenant is gifting one or two nights for January and February. We are praying for and seeking four more team members as well as a new team to begin in May.
Helping Hands is a group of volunteers who help single moms, older adults, or others who lack the resources to do some "fix up jobs" around the home or maybe some quick car repairs. Sometimes it is just advise that is needed!
Single Parent Family Ministry is looking for both singles and married folks to add to their team as they seek to discern the one or two things God might have them implement this year that would minister to Single Parent Families.

New Focus

This financial nineteen-week workshop is up and running since the first Monday of February with two classes this spring. One is at Harvest Chapel and the other with Habitat for Humanity. We are praying for and seeking coaches (Do you love people and are willing to serve them and can you balance your checkbook?) and meal providers.

Outreach Teams

Prayer

Congregational Prayer List: Each week a list is composed of those who wish to have prayer for themselves or a loved one. The staff and Lead Team pray for them weekly. If they would like, their name is also placed in the bulletin for the congregation to pray.
Tuesday Morning Prayer Ladies: Each week the Tuesday Morning Prayer Ladies come to the church and pray for each person on the Congregational Prayer List which is updated daily.
Sunday Morning Prayer Partners: Each Sunday after both Worship services, a group of 3 Deacons and Elders pray with those who desire prayer.

Senior Care

Young At Heart Come and join us for lunch at Westminster on the 4th Monday of each month and provide a free program for these older saints!"

Voyagers is for those 55+. Provide a free program and join us for a pitch in dinner on the 3rd Friday evening of each month in Fellowship Hall!"

Welcome Ministries

Front Porch Ministry welcomes people as they leave their cars and when needed, offer assistance into the building or give directions.

Greeters will greet people as they enter the building.

Welcome Callers make calls to people who have visited to learn ways we can be of service or just to answer questions.

Welcome Baskets are made each week to give to our visitors as they are leaving. This give them a little information about us and is a "thank you" for visiting. Volunteers make linings for the baskets, make baked goods and put them together for Sunday morning.