April 2013 Phone: 515.225.2254
Fax: 515.225.9350
Mark Albers
Leann Grandia
Dani Neu
(at March 31st service)
Brianna Springer

Thursday, April 4 ~ 7:00 p.m.
Please join Covenant's Book Club for a discussion of The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.
May’s book is A Gathering of Saints: A True
Story of Money, Murder and Deceit by
Robert Lindsey . Book club discussion will be held Thursday, May 2 at 7:00.
is published by
Covenant Presbyterian Church
1025 28th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
515-225-2254 www.wdmcovenant.org
Pastor Jan Scott: janscott@wdmcovenant.org
Director of Music Ministries
Julianne Lawrence: julianne.lawrence@gmail.com
Director of Christian Education
Renae Woodworth: rwoodworth@wdmcovenant.org
Office Coordinator
Beth Carlson church@wdmcovenant.org
Nursery Superintendent
Jennifer McClintic
Custodian
Gary Van Verth
Next KEY Deadline:
April 17, 2013
Please read Chapter 10 in our study book for the April Circle meetings. All women are welcome to attend either group.
The morning Circle will meet on
Tuesday, April 9 at 9:30 a. m. at the home of Gene Froyd, 4826
Cedar Drive in West Des Moines.
~ Morning Circle, Mary Marshall
225-0473
The evening Circle will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16. We will meet at Latsamy Hilliard’s home, 8065 Briagrage Court in
Johnston. Marie Michael will facilitate the lesson.
~ Evening Circle, Judy Telford
224-6544
***
Ladies Who Lunch!
Monday, April 29
11:30 a.m.
Chicago Speakeasy
You are invited!
Please join us for:
Our Annual Birthday Potluck
Sunday, April 14
This celebration marks Covenant
Presbyterian Church’s birthday
(April 11, 1957) - as well as all of yours! The sign up sheet will be on the Activities Bulletin
Board. Please sign up to bring a dish which will serve 10 to 12 people. The three categories
(you choose one) will be: entrée, salad, or vegetable. We will have birthday cake for dessert!
Please join us for this fun
Covenant tradition.
Any questions? Contact
Betty Ratekin: 225-3439
Thank you to Alice Bell, Lori
Brown, Al & Julie Severt, and
Diane Johnson for helping Dan and Betty Ratekin set up and serve the confirmation reception after church Palm Sunday. Also a big thank you to Susie Thompson for taking pictures of the confirmation class and their families.
Betty Ratekin
Fellowship Elder
We had a great turn out for the Science Center event that was held in
March! The children enjoyed seeing the T-Rex named “Sue”. After the event, the children were talking about all the different activities they participated in and how cool the dinosaur was.
Since the weather is getting nicer, you will see both Head Start and
Early Head Start outside more often. They love to run around and get all of their energy out!
Our staff is excited to start talking about the Children’s Garden that is next to the playground. We are considering peppers, tomatoes, and carrots for the children to grow. They will benefit from it and enjoy watching their plants grow!
If you would like more information, please call 271-1854.
As always we appreciate our partnership with you.
~ Stephanie McDaniel, EHS Teacher Associate

Dear Master for this coming year
Just one request I bring:
I do not pray for happiness,
Or any earthly thing –
I do not ask to understand
The way Thou leadest me,
But this I ask: Teach me to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee.
I want to know Thy guiding voice,
To walk with Thee each day.
Dear Master make me swit to hear
And ready to obey.
And thus the year I now begin
A happy year will be –
If I am seeking just to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee.
~ Unknown Author ~
- Submitted by Alice Bell, Shepherd Elder
The PW (Presbyterian Women) Spring Connection will be
held Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 9 am to 2 pm at
Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive. This event is open
to all Presbyterian women in the Des Moines Presbytery.
Check out the flyer on the activities bulletin board for
information. For lunch reservations contact Jill Tallman at
Heartland Presbyterian-987-4246. The cost for lunch is
$6.00.
4/7 Bob & Joan Anthony, Alice Bell, Lori Brown
4/14 Tanis Mueller, Russ Froyd, Dawn Grandia, Tom Brown
4/21 Vera Wanamaker, Barb Woodworth, Cindy Ellston, Judy Telford
4/28 Wayne & Judi Nikolish, Bob & Susie Thompson
Please contact one of the others from the list to switch if you are unable to serve that
week. Notify the church office at 225-2254 of the changes by the Wednesday before
for the bulletin.

4/7/13
4/14/13
4/21/13
4/28/13
Bible Study
Matthew
Cont. Issues
WHY?
Chapter 1
Bible Study
Matthew
Cont. Issues
Paul Turner from
AMOS
Bible Study
Matthew
Cont. Issues
WHY?
Chapter 2
Bible Study
Matthew
Cont. Issues
WHY?
Chapter 3
Extravagant
Love
We’ve Got the Spirit!
Going Out!
Grace &
Gratitude
A Whole Different
Meal
The Gifts of God for the People of
God
One Body,
Many Gifts
The Gift of Love
A New
Commandment:
Jesus Loves Me
A New
Commandment:
Love Others
The Good
Neighbor Cares
We can Be
Good Neighbors
*****
He Reigns!
*****
*****
4/3/13
4/10/13
4/17/13
4/24/13
Re-broadcast of Mano a Mano:
A 20 yr. Health Mission taking place in Bolivia
Done!
Done!
Done!

JOIN US: A.M.O.S. at 9:15 a.m. in the Contemporary Issues North classroom.
Paul Turner, representing AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy), will be presenting a one hour discussion about this non-profit community organization and the work being done in central Iowa. AMOS members are 28 different churches, synagogues and advocacy organizations that represent thousands of residents of metropolitan Des Moines and Ames.
In the midst of our polarized political times, AMOS brings ordinary people together across the lines that divide, and crafts creative solutions to the real issues that impact central Iowa families. AMOS groups are non-partisan, community based and an interfaith group that help make our democracy work. Governor Branstad meets with representatives from AMOS and has kept AMOS in his budget even after extensive budget cuts. Their current work is looking at ministries of justice. We hope you will join us to discover whether our church has an interest in joining AMOS and becoming a part of this diverse and active group that is changing our community.
April 17 – RE-BROADCAST OF Mano a Mano- A 20 yr. Health Mission taking place in Bolivia
Ginny VerPloeg’s daughter, Christine, was a part of a kitchen table conversation 20 years ago.
The conversation became a working ministry in the country of Bolivia. She visited with the
Contemporary Issues Sunday School class in February. Those present requested a repeat so they could share what they learned with others. We will hear how the group began their work and how it has grown to involve medical clinics, nurses and doctors, large companies, along with church missionaries. We hope Covenant youth, highschool aged and above, along with Covenant adults will join us for an interesting presentation on this health mission work being done in Bolivia. It is one example the work that can be done when we join together to fix problems and help our neighbors both near and far.
April 24 – Join Katherine Pater, our Presbytery Mission Worker in
El Salvador. Katherine will share her experiences during the first months working with Socio de Cristo in San Isidro and other communities. San
Isidro is the community we partner with. Covenant families have adopted
53 families and are “pen pals” sending notes and cards 4x each year. We have sent 3 groups of delegates to visit and work with our families. We are preparing our 4 th group to travel to El Salvador in August. Any adults interested in travel should contact Marie Michael or Marilyn Johnson.

TH
It’s almost HERE! Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to share your gifts and to help the children of San Isidro!
PLEASE HELP share your time and talent by donating an item or two for the Silent Auction. Please fill out a form
(located on the Activities Bulletin Board) indicating what you would like to donate. Hold on to your donation until they may be dropped off between 4 and 6pm on Friday, April 26th. Any questions - please check with Lisa Albers.
Following is a thought starter list for possible donations:
CERTIFICATES OF SERVICE: Hours of Babysitting, Lawn Mowing, Car Rides, Catered
Dinner, Photography, etc ….
HANDMADE ITEMS: wood working, craft items (jewelry, knit or crocheted items, baked goods, etc.), … a catered dinner for 2, 4 or more, baked goods, etc.
*** Thank you to those who’ve already committed to donate! ***
Finally: We need some great volunteers to assist with set up, decorations, kitchen help, silent auction help, food donations, and tear down. You can sign up for these volunteer opportunities by clicking HERE , OR by calling Beth Carlson in the church office at 225-2254 or
Lisa Albers at 238-2487.

Whether or not this article arrives to you with more inches of snow on the ground, it really is spring. All of those fall seed catalogs have found their way to the top of the coffee table and we have stacked them with recent new arrivals in the mail to make an impressive collection. Except for special bushes I have purchased like aronia ones from Wisconsin and my hoped-for plan to purchase a paw paw tree from southeast Iowa, we will probably venture over to Goode’s for our plantings and leave the seed catalogs for another year with our home gardening.
Attending the latest planning meeting for the Faith & Grace Garden, you can’t help but notice the enthusiasm and enjoyment of working with the dirt by those in attendance. What is always encouraging are the many who confess to having little skills in working the land but a deep belief in the purpose of the garden and its growing impact on the lives of many. If that falls within your skill set or if you are a gardener extraordinaire, there is a place for you.
Can’t help on a regular basis? How about with specific projects? Some of the ones coming up soon are: 1) working with the horticulturalist in planting an ornamental bush/flower row on the south side of the garden. Tidying up this area will be fun and working with someone who knows what is what is always a learning experience. 2) How about planting a row of blueberry bushes which will be the visual buffer between the garden and Covenant’s parking lot as a way? 3) Do you have some surveying skills? How about helping to plan out the parameters of the Children’s Garden and determining the kind of fencing needed? 4) Don’t have any of those skills? How about simply taking an evening week day during the growing season or designating one Saturday to volunteer at the garden for whatever tasks might be coming up? All plantings, seeds and gardening tools are provided for you!
Recently F & G received a grant from United Way for drip irrigation and thanks to Covenant member Laura Schieber at Cargill, the garden has received a $1000 grant. Of the 35 church/ school metro area gardens, Faith & Grace has become the benchmark for others to think in their own neighborhoods what impact they can make. Consider how you can participate in this important ministry which is right outside our door! And remember spring is as much a state of mind as it is with how much snow is on the ground!
In Christian love,
Pastor Jan

Hymnal Facts
The new Presbyterian hymnal, Glory to God , will contain the following:

Over 800 hymnals, psalms, and spiritual songs.
 Approximately 50% will be from the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal . The remaining pieces will come from former Presbyterian hymnals, other denominational songbooks, and individual authors and composers. I Love to Tell the Story is an example of a song included in the Glory to God Hymnal that is not included in the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal .



A musical setting of almost every Sunday lectionary psalm.
Music from six different continents.
Music covering all major historical and contemporary sacred genres, including approximately thirty-five African American/Gospel hymns. Examples include: “Soon and Very

Soon”; “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” etc.
To see a full list of songs included in the hymnal go to: http://www.presbyterianhymnal.org/sneakpeek.html
Plans for the retired 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal
Once Covenant receives the new Presbyterian hymnals in September:



You are welcome to take one or more of the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnals .
We will donate the remaining hymnals to a church that is in need of hymnals.
We bought the rights to the hymnals and songs when we purchased the hymnals back in
1990. This means we can still sing our favorite songs, even if they are not in the Glory to
God hymnals.
Cost of the new Glory to God hymnals
The Worship and Music Committee would like to purchase the hymnals early and prepay for them which means that the church will save $5 per copy. This makes the cost of each hymnal
$15.
Would you like to share in the cost of the new Hymnals? If so, here is how to do it:



There will be order forms in the weekly bulletin throughout the month of April.
You can purchase hymnals in honor of or in memory of loved ones.
Return the order form in the offertory plate or to the office by Sunday May 5 th .
If you have any questions, please see a member of the Worship and Music Committee.
Kaela Phillips, Worship and Music Elder

March 13, 2013
6:30 p.m.
The stated meeting of the Council of Covenant Presbyterian Church was held on Wednesday,
March 13, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. in the west classroom. Elders present: Alice Bell, Kelli Deines,
Dawn Grandia, David Hamilton, Paul Hayes, Duane Heaberlin, Bob Huettl, Warren Pitcher, Betty
Ratekin and Emily Smith. Excused: Barb Byas, Kaela Phillips, Deb Kellogg and Ben Woodworth.
Also present: Jan Scott, Moderator and Barb Storjohann, Clerk. A quorum was present. Special guests were the 2013 Confirmation Class: Mark Albers, Dani Neu, Brianna Springer and Leann
Grandia joined us via phone.
Betty Ratekin opened our meeting with meditation and Pastor Jan Scott led us in prayer.
Holy Conversations: The confirmands each read their Statements of Faith and Elders had the opportunity to ask them questions and they had the chance to ask the Elders questions. Motion carried to receive Leann Grandia into membership and also for her baptism on March 24, 2013.
Motion carried to receive Dani Neu, Mark Albers and Brianna Springer into membership and they will be presented to the congregation on March 24, 2013.
Clerk’s Report: Motion carried to approve minutes from Stated Council meeting on February 10,
2013 as amended to show communion was served to 109 on 2/3/13 and motion also carried to approve the Combined Congregational Business and Election Meeting on February 24, 2013.
Communion was served to 108 on 3/3/13. Pastor Jan officiated the wedding of Karen Pitcher and Bryce Christiansen on 3/9/13 at Centro restaurant in Des Moines.
Consent Agenda
Motion carried to approve consent agenda and written reports from Pastor Jan Scott, two CPW reports, San Isidro meeting and the Shepherds. No action required on these reports.
Business Before the Council
Motion carried to receive the February treasurer’s report as presented by Paul Hayes.
Dave Hamilton spoke on behalf of the Nominating Committee. They met March 3 rd and put together list of names of possible candidates and they will meet again March 17 th .
Dawn Grandia spoke on behalf of the Personnel Committee. She is in the process of staff evaluations. She will be asking Elders to assist her with talking to staff to get feedback from them. Motion carried that beginning March 1 st Julianne Lawrence will take a temporary cut in pay and William Beyer’s salary will become effective.
Motion to adjourn carried and we closed in prayer 7:30 pm.
Next Stated Council Meeting: April 14, 2013
Barb Storjohann, Clerk of Council

Those in attendance: Lisa Albers, Sandy Stuck, Judy Telford, Alice Bell, Diane Johnson, Bev Countryman, and Jean Caster
Diane opened with meditation.
The minutes of the January meeting were accepted as read.
Circle Reports/News: Morning Circle -12 ladies met at the home of Judy Cox. Evening Circle-11 ladies met at the home of Mary Kay Barker.
Marilyn Johnson invited 3 new members to participate in the Circles.
Marilyn and Alice have looked at a number of books and will make a recommendation at the next meeting for next year.
Table Top Luncheon:
August 17 th has been reserved for the luncheon.
Fund Raising Ideas for Mission: Sandy gave a report on wedding receptions and rehearsal dinners. It is to be reviewed and suggestions are invited to be made by the next meeting.
Direct Mission Projects: Marilyn Johnson volunteered to work with hands-on projects to work for Covenant Sunday and would like volunteers to help her.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00.
PLEASE NOTE: Future CPW meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month.
The next meeting will be on April 11 at 6:30 p.m.
(don’t miss the opportunity -
El Salvador Mission Trip 2013)
http://www.wdmcovenant.org/covenantcalendar.html

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Covenant Presbyterian Church
1025 - 28th Street
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
Tel: 515.225.2254
Fax: 515.225.9350
In April we are collecting baby wipes for the DMARC personal product collection. Place your donations on the lower shelves of the Food Pantry cart in the
Narthex. Your donations will be given to CROSS
Ministries or WDM Human Services (an official
DMARC Personal Product Pantry.) We will be collecting feminine hygiene products in May.
Thank you for your donations!
Coins for Concern for April go to
Calvin Community Good Samaritan Fund . The
Good Samaritan Fund was established to help residents meet their financial obligations. With the rising cost of health care, many residents are in need for monetary assistance. Our dollars can be a blessing to the residents of Calvin Manor.
First – plans are being finalized for the grand, exciting San Isidro
Scholarship Fundraiser. The “Amazing Mr. A” will bring his magic act. There will be a fabulous silent auction with handcrafted sculptures, paintings, and handstitched crafts from some of our talented members, plus lots, lots more. There will be snacks and fabulous deserts. But as much fun as we are going to have, lets not forget that the reason is to raise money for a group of kids to have the opportunity to further their education beyond the 6 th grade in our partner community of San Isidro. Put the date
Saturday, April 27 6:00 on your calendar. This is an event you don’t want to miss. Bring your friends.
Second – dates have been set for the next delegation trip to El
Salvador. Join Marie Michael on a chance of a lifetime trip to experience a third world country and to personally meet the wonderful community of San Isidro. August 28 th thru Sept. 4th.
Third – Money is being sent from our budget to purchase fertilizer for our families for this planting season. Please pray for good health, good crops and blessings for our families and the entire country of El Salvador and those people in the world who lead a very marginalized life.
Fourth – meet the 16 young folks as photos from our San Isidro community who are taking advantage of money already sent for scholarships this year as they continue their education. Lisa Albers is working on a bulletin board showing their photos and stories.