September - November | Ordinary Time
Table of
Contents
CONTRIBUTORS SENIOR PASTOR Thomas Daniel CLERK OF SESSION Melanie Williamson
{ FROM THE LEAD }
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR Duane Dube
2
Pastor's Letter
3
Session and Financial Update
{ FEATURES }
EDITOR Stephanie Schultz DESIGN AND LAYOUT Noel Kalmus
15
Hired! Children's Director Knows Covenant Well
7
Listen: Leadership Begins with the Ears
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Elizabeth Christian, Paul Mowry, Kathryn Sedberry, Drew Smith, Jon Wasson
{ LIFE }
PHOTOGRAPHY Terry Cole, Noel Kalmus, Stephanie Schultz
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Life Guide
13
Rule of Life
14
After Mom 'N Pop: Business Succession Planning
{ COMMUNITY }
SPECIAL THANKS TO Paul Mowry, Brian Sparks
15
Moms in the Word
19
Mission OKC
20
A Perfect Fit
21
IHN: Families Move On
23
SYM: Volunteers Matter
{ EVENTS } 25 Calendar
pg. 17
pg. 15
pg. 23
{ FROM THE LEAD}
THE RIGHT KIND OF H
opefully this summer has enabled you to slow down and recharge your batteries. As we move into fall and things begin to speed up again, I wonder how God wants us to faithfully approach the coming days. Will we be busy with the right things? Will we be busy with the things that help shape and form each of us and our families into people of joy and hope … or will we once again settle for being busy, frantic and hurried? As people of faith, it is critical that we say “yes” to the right things and “no” to others. What will this look like for you? In our sermon series “Formed,” we will ask these questions. How does God form and shape us, and how do we prioritize our calendars for God’s work to happen? In Luke 6, we see that Jesus actively engages in three distinct practices. The text says that He first seeks solitude. In verse 12, Jesus goes up to a mountain to pray alone and be with God. This practice is essential for Jesus, and for each of us, to know that we are God’s beloved children. There is no other way that this identity is created in His people. Therefore we will invite our entire community into deliberate practices of solitude and prayer. One example of this is a half-day silent retreat on Saturday, Dec. 2. (More information coming this fall.) After spending time alone with God, Luke 6:13 finds Jesus returning to the community of disciples and choosing 12 among them who will serve as His apostles. These are the primary individuals with whom Jesus will spend time over the coming years of ministry. It is clear that each of our lives needs to be shaped and formed in deliberate community. Covenant offers many avenues to explore community, and we hope everyone will take seriously the invitation to invest in others. A primary opportunity for this is our small group ministry. Over the past 18 months, Covenant Groups have exploded, and we are so excited about what God is doing in these pockets of community.
Our hope is that if you are not yet deeply involved in the lives of others here at Covenant, you will strongly consider joining a Covenant Group. There are opportunities for individuals or couples to participate. Visit covenant.org/covenantgroups or contact Kathryn Sedberry (ksedberry@covenant. org) to ask questions and sign up. Finally, in Luke 6:17, Jesus and His disciples engage in service to those around them who are sick and hurting. We must not just be consumers of Christ, we must also participate in His mission in the world. So much is broken in our families, friends, city, nation and world and we cannot ignore the call to get involved. Acts of service change the lives of those around us; often we ourselves are changed even more. One opportunity to serve is during Shaped to Serve, our annual day of service, on Saturday, Nov. 4. Many of our fall activities are organized around opportunities for you to be formed in each of these three practices, and all are essential to becoming the men and women that God intends. My hope and prayer is that this fall, your calendar gets busy with the right things. God wants to use these coming days to form you and your family. Will you say “yes” to this invitation? Joyfully,
Thomas Daniel Senior Pastor
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
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{ FROM THE LEAD}
G
reetings from the new clerk of Session! I am happy to be back in this position of service. My role is to record the meetings of the Session and congregation. Since I am not an active elder, this new arrangement (new to Covenant but familiar to many other Presbyterian congregations) will free another active elder to liaison with a church committee. At the May Session meeting, newly ordained and installed elders took their places at the table. Two new committees were established: the Technology and Communications Committee and the Committee for Missional Formation. In addition, the Denominational Affairs Committee was dissolved at its request, having spent a time of discernment as to the ongoing need for its historic role. The Eaton Hall Task Force, created last year, provided an interim report to Session to start to answer the question: “How could Eaton Hall be leveraged to serve and love the city of Austin?” After several months of gathering feedback, evaluating potential uses, categorizing and combining ideas to increase the impact, and leveraging the energy in the Covenant community, the task force has a vision. Its goal is to create infrastructure to confront social inequality, address injustice and alleviate suffering in Austin by offering shared office space, fostering mechanisms to connect Covenant to Austin, and facilitating funding through micro-grants. In an extended discussion, the Session raised a number of questions before voting to continue the process along the lines recommended by the task force. The task force will report back to Session in the fall with more specific details and action items after further investigation.
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At a special called meeting in early June, Session heard a recommendation from the Children’s Ministry Director Search Committee to hire Christy Milam, who—at that time—was the Director of the Covenant Preschool. The Session
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Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
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expressed tremendous gratitude for Ashley Ellison’s work in the interim, and thanked the search committee for its thorough and deliberate nationwide search. In addition to approving the recommendation of the committee, Session authorized an immediate search for a new preschool director. June’s regular meeting included the annual review for Thomas Daniel and continued good news as to Covenant’s financial position. The principal balance on the debt for the Fellowship and Education Building is now under $2 million and if all the pledged gifts to the Capital Campaign are received, they will cover all but about $250,000. Of course new pledges are always welcome! There was no meeting in July as the Session takes a break for the summer. We reconvened in August. Look for information from that meeting in the next issue of Cornerstone.
By Melanie Williamson Clerk of Session
FINANCIAL UPDATE General Fund (YTD) Offering Receipts: $1,937,843 Budgeted Offering: $1,941,427 Difference: -$3,584 Actual Expenses: $1,727,283 Budgeted Expenses: $ 1,982,020 Difference: -$254,737
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SESSION UPDATE
Building Fund Total Loan Balance: $1,884,943 Principal Reduction YTD: $1,180,784
HIRED!
NEW CHILDREN'S DIRECTOR KNOWS COVENANT WELL
C
ovenant has hired a new Director for Children and Family Ministries. After an exhaustive national search, the search committee found the best person for the job already hard at work in the Fellowship and Education Building. Christy Milam assumed the new position on July 5, bringing 15 years of experience at Covenant to the job, including the last decade leading the Covenant Presbyterian Preschool and Child’s Day Out. “I have a long-time passion for the children and families of this church that has continued to grow,” Christy said. “My work in the preschool has connected me with the hearts of parents who need help shepherding their kids and nurturing them in the Christian faith.” Christy’s new boss, Associate Pastor for Discipleship Jon Wasson, is eager to work more closely with her. “I’m thrilled—really, really excited. I think she brings a lot of experience working with kids and families. She has a lot of passion for this work.”
{ LIFE { LIFE GUIDE} GUIDE}
Christy was previously encouraged to apply for the position, but never felt the timing was right. “When this opportunity presented itself again, I felt like I had a second chance to consider it. I felt led and open to what the Spirit was going to have me do here at Covenant.” Christy also felt like changes in the church made the job attractive. “There’s a new life and a lot of energy in the congregation. It’s exciting to think about spreading that energy to the children.”
UNIQUELY QUALIFIED
I
n addition to spending more than a decade working at Covenant, Christy has watched her children grow up in the church. Eldest son Ben was 11 months old when she started working in the nursery, and she’s watched him thrive in Covenant’s nursery, preschool and children’s programs, and in student ministries. “Having the knowledge of our mission and seeing a child travel through our children’s programming gave me insight like no one else.”
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{ FEATURES} Couple that with her long tenure and she’s ready for the new job. “I have a positive relationship with the current preschool families and church staff that makes it easier for me to hit the ground running. There won’t be a huge learning curve. I already know the culture.” Though she brings much experience to the table, Christy said the interview process was challenging. Covenant hired a consulting group, Ministry Architects, to ensure the right person was hired. Jon explained. “It’s a good idea any time we have a transition in ministry to have objective sources evaluate the program. They can find the things that are working here, and tell us what needs to change and what needs to grow. “Ministry Architects suggested that we need an architect. The person in the director position needs to bring vision and design to our ministry so we can find people to carry out the blueprints. Their recommendation was to staff it like a construction project with an architect, general contractor, laborers.” Jon said with the blueprint in hand, it was much easier to determine which candidates would fit the model. The Covenant search committee then worked to discover the candidates’ passions, determining who could best represent children’s ministry across the board. Christy reflected on the process. “The search committee was very intentional in finding out my faith background and my journey as a Christian; asking how I would talk about the Gospel to a child for the first time. The committee made the process very important … and almost holy. I felt vulnerable in parts of the interview process, but my strengths were able to come out. There was something very genuine about it. For my final moment with them, they asked me to pray for us. It was a unique way for us to conclude.”
MOVING FORWARD As a long-time member of the Children’s Ministry Committee, Christy has a lot of ideas that have “been brewing” for many years. While she has a list of things she would like to try, she is waiting to work with the committee to make sure the ideas are right for our children and our church. Some of her goals include:
Build relationships with all families. “I need to settle in and get to know everybody. I have good relationships with preschool families, but there are lots of people I don’t know. I need to establish that first.”
Assess programming. “I want to look at how we are teaching our kids at church, and at what our teaching model is. I plan to restructure some of the ways we group our children.
Offer more parent education. “Our goal is to partner with parents and families, and help provide the tools to help them raise their children. Our time at Sunday school should be an extension of what the kids are already getting at home.”
Encourage children to attend worship services. “I want a seat at the table of worship planning to see how our church can embrace the intergenerational quality we need to have in our worship services. Our kids know how to tell stories and they need to be heard. It is our job to provide them with a place to shine their light. If parents and the children’s ministry don’t have a part in that, how is that going to happen?” Provide opportunities to connect all members of the congregation. “Our goal is to walk alongside and foster our young families as they raise their kids.”
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Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
NOT LEFT BEHIND Christy said the biggest part of her job as preschool director was to be a resource for parents who are concerned and scared, and are seeking help because they don’t know how to handle a certain developmental challenge their kids are going through. “I let parents know it’s okay and give them reassurance that they are doing an awesome job. I point them to a resource — maybe that’s me or a teacher, a book, or another parent. I have been a conduit to dealing with whatever challenge they are going through. That’s one of my favorite parts of the job at the preschool.” Leaving the preschool was not easy for Christy. “Working at CPP has been one of the greatest joys of my life.
Through my experience here, and working with professional teachers, some of whom have been here for more than 20 years, I’ve learned so much about child development. These teachers are complete experts in the field. They are amazing.” Christy said the preschool is a gift to the neighborhood and the community, and she is aware that not many preschools have the same kind of relationships with the churches they are housed in. “Since we are such a bridge to the church, I already have great relationships with the staff and have been part of the meetings. This positive relationship is another strength of this community.” Read about Covenant's new preschool director, Laura Hargrave, on page 20.
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{ FEATURES}
LEADERSHIP BEGINS WITH THE EARS “Leadership is not about a title or a role that you attain, but an opportunity of influence that God would give us,” said Director of High School Ministries Billy Streu. “The Bible doesn’t talk about leadership. We see Jesus and how He serves. If we ask God, ‘What does leadership mean?’ I think He’d be pointing to service and pointing away from a title or a role.” With that philosophy in mind, Billy set out to guide high school students through leadership training this summer. As he was wrestling with how to develop leaders, he kept thinking about a quote from Scott Cormode, who serves on the Fuller Youth Institute Advisory Council: “Leadership begins with listening.” “You can’t lead; you can’t influence others if you don’t understand who you are trying to lead. You have to listen to them,” Billy said.
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Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
{ FEATURES}
And so this summer, Billy challenged about a dozen high school students to listen. “We listened to God. We listened to each other,” Billy said. “This is the way to be effective with our influence.” Rather than purchase a new curriculum, Billy decided to go to “the source,” assigning the students readings from the Book of John. “Throughout the summer, we’ve been listening; we have been watching Jesus and his followers. We’ve been taking notes on what we see that we want to follow,” Billy said. Through different scripture reading methods, Billy and the students have put themselves in the story. “We imagined that we were one of the disciples watching Jesus live out his life. We’ve been learning while we watched and listened.” The kids also completed the Strengths Finder test to offer an idea of what areas they might be most effective. “We didn’t have enough time to really explore the results in June and July. In the fall, we’ll dig deeper and try to figure out how the our students can really use their strengths in leadership areas.” Lilly Hargrave, a Student Ministry summer intern, helped with the class. “This is a time for these students to go deeper into their faith. The summer gives them enough time to keep up with the reading and really think about it.” During the summer, leadership class participants helped at middle school activities. “A lot of my friends are in middle school,” said Destiny Tritle, a class participant and soon-tobe high school junior. “It’s my way of spending more time with them. A lot of the sixth graders were nervous at the first middle school pool party. I was their comfort person.” Sophomore Hannah Sullivan agreed. “It’s good to get to know the middle school students now so when the school year starts, I can talk to them.” Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
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As a final summer assignment, the students were challenged to ask two people to go to coffee or lunch, ask questions and just listen. “That person could be a friend, but I encouraged them to think outside the box,” Billy said. “They could ask a principal, their mom or dad, maybe their pastor. They could ask someone who has a totally different story than their own.” Covenant’s summer leadership program ended July 23. Billy is planning for it to catapult into an ongoing leadership program, the Serve Team. “During the school year, we’ll meet monthly; our team will experience a mixture of learning and putting their new knowledge into practice. They might serve on committees or be part of student ministry planning. I’d love to hear what is working in our program from a student perspective.”
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Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
The ultimate goal, Billy said, is this: “We hope that this program leads our students to have load-bearing roles in the church. We’d like them to be involved in planning and eventually serve on our committees.” The number of students attending classes fluctuated over the summer, but Billy said he will not limit the number of students who can participate. “I see leadership as service. God can call anybody into service. The more kids who want to serve the church and go through their own faith formation, the better. Why would we want to minimize that?”
By Stephanie Schultz Director of Communications
{ LIFE GUIDE}
COMMUNITY LIFE GUIDE S LEARNING TO LOVE GOD AND SELF
LEARNING TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
olitude. Community. Service. These three practices are the cornerstone of how God wants us to be shaped and formed, and it is important to engage in all three. First, we need solitude—to pray and to pay attention to ourselves and God. Second, we need a community— a group of people that knows our true selves. Finally, we need to engage in service—to reach out to neighbors with helping hands, an act that improves their lives and our own. Chances are that even at your best, you practice two of these well and avoid the other one completely. Maybe you feel uncomfortable sharing your life with others in community so you tend toward solitude and service. Or maybe you’re so busy serving others and investing yourself in your community that you rarely take time to pay attention to your own spiritual life. Whatever the case may be, our invitation to you is to examine your life and see how you might need to change to live a more balanced and intentional spiritual life. The rule of life is one of the oldest practices in the Christian tradition to recover balance and intentionality. Read more about creating a rule on page 13 or go to covenant.org/ruleoflife for a complete guide to creating a rule for yourself. If you have never created a rule for your life, we invite you to begin there. Every few months we will publish a new Community Life Guide to help you as you seek to practice solitude, community and service. In the following pages, you will find different opportunities to engage in these practices with the Covenant community.
LEARNING TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS
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{ LIFE GUIDE}
SOLITUDE Solitude is not so much about being by one's self as it is about paying attention to one's self. The demands of our busy lives make it increasingly difficult to carve out time to pay attention to our lives in the company of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus sought solitude by retreating alone to pray, we too need to set aside time for spiritual examination that opens our hearts, minds, and wills to the healing presence and guidance of God.
Rule of Life — When we’re being completely honest with ourselves, we might admit that our spiritual life sometimes feels either casual or haphazard. It is highly unlikely that we will deepen our relationship with God if we treat it casually. Creating and maintaining a personal Rule of Life engages us in the critical practices that help form us. We need support, intention and structure so our spiritual life does not grow in a confused and disorderly way. In the Christian tradition, the name for this
COMMUNITY
Covenant Groups — Small,
Theology on Tap — Young
No one has ever been invited to follow Jesus alone. Following Jesus involves learning to be in relationship with everyone else that Jesus invites. In community with one another, we discover opportunities to grow in our practices of faith, hope and love.
adults meet Thursdays at 5 p.m. at different restaurants for theological discussion. Begins Sept. 7. Kate Murphy:
covenant.org/covenantgroups.
kate.emily.murphy2013@gmail.com.
Alpha — Explore faith and
Sunday Morning Classes — 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Numerous
what it means to be a Christian during 11-session video series and discussion. Wednesdays, Sept. 6 – Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
get connected. Sundays, Sept. 10 – Oct. 1, CO 208. Amy Skaggs,
askaggs@covenant.org.
Following Jesus always involves being sent with a mission to the world. The form of Christ’s mission in the world is one of service.
Drive-Thru Prayer — Volunteers
are needed to hold signs, take prayer requests and pray for our neighbors during the first week of school, Aug. 21-25, from 7-9 a.m. Come for 30 minutes or two hours. Joe and Holly Skraba at jsskraba@gmail.com.
Shaped to Serve Day of Service — Saturday, Nov. 4,
Covenant sends teams all over Austin to serve Christ and demonstrate love for our community by providing assistance to mission partners, public servants and neighbors in need. Contact Kay Austin,
kaustin@covenant.org.
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covenant.org/ruleoflife
intentional groups that meet for fellowship and study. Curriculum, resources and support provided. Register for a group at
Explore Membership — Learn more about the church and
SERVICE
kind of support for our spiritual life is called a Rule of Life. You can approach writing a Rule of Life in many different ways. It is important to keep in mind that different seasons of life call for different kinds of support and intention. The goal is still the same. Developing a rule is about learning to love God, ourselves and others more deeply.
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
opportunities for unque learning communities. Find up-to-date class listings at
covenant.org/sundaymorning
Q Commons — Thursday, Oct.
26, at 7 p.m, FE 200. Join the global conversation on hot topics that affect our community and nation.
qcommons.com/austin
Interfaith Hospitality Network — September 3-10, Covenant hosts IHN families recovering from temporary homelessness. Primary coordinator Rick Gerber seeks 30-40 volunteers. Contact Rick at (512) 5186301 or rgerber47@gmail.com.
Manos de Cristo — Consider
teaching one of Covenant's seven ESL classes or our citizenship class. Contact Cheryl Banks at cherylbanks5@gmail.com or (512) 789-2696.
{ LIFE GUIDE}
Daily Devotion — God’s word can speak to our circumstances and encourage, shape and equip us to live as faithful disciples. Setting aside time each day to read scripture and pray draws us into communion with God and increases our capacity to listen to the Holy Spirit. Go to covenant.org/dailydevo to subscribe to a daily devotional.
Austin Presbyterian Pilgrimage — A three-day
Advent Retreat — Engage
spiritual retreat at Camp Buckner in Marble Falls, Sept. 14-17.
austinpilgrimage.org
in the practices of solitude and prayer during our half-day silent retreat on Saturday, Dec. 2. (More information coming this fall.)
Prayer Labyrinth — Covenant’s prayer labyrinth offers a sacred space to be used any time for meditation and prayer.
Seniors — VISONS events include trips,
Women's Groups
studies, activity days, lunches and more. Visit covenant.org/seniors or contact Beth Daniel at bdaniel@covenant.org.
PW Circles — Once a month Bible
Lamplighters — Join women
of all stages of faith to explore the Bible through lecture and discussion on Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., FE 200. Begins Sept. 6. Contact Shannon Knisely at shan.
Men's Groups Downtown Men’s Fellowship — Kicks off Aug. 23. 2nd and 4th
knisely@gmail.com.
Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m., Max’s Wine Dive. RSVP to Maureen Crawley,
Moms in the Word —
mcrawley@covenant.org.
Mothers seeking to grow in their knowledge of the Bible and meet other women. Wednesdays, 9:30-11 a.m. Begins Sept. 6. Med Luckett, medluckett@gmail.com
Men in the Word — Early risers
explore God’s truths and will for their lives through study, lectures and prayer. Thursdays at 6 a.m., FE 200. Begins Sept. 7. Don Jones, dljones@austin.rr.com.
Texas Reach Out Ministries
Austin Voices for Education and Youth — Saturday, Oct.
— Volunteers are needed to mentor
28, volunteer at HopeFest, a family resource fair held at Reagan High School. AVEY builds and empowers community in the St. John’s neighborhood of East Austin, working with 16 AISD schools and connecting families with many available services. Contact Julie Weeks at jweeks@austinvoices.org.
individuals and review applications. TROM provides support and transitional housing for men and women who have had extended prison stays. Contact Scott Moore,
scott@scottmoorelaw.com.
Street Youth Ministry — Fall
needs are long pants and shirts, first aid items, blankets and sleeping bags. Drop off in donation bin in Covenant Hall foyer. Contact Terry Cole at terry.cole@gmail.com.
study and fellowship open to any woman, Sept.- May. Visit covenant.org/pw for a full schedule of Circles. Contact Lisa Fry at twinfry@hotmail.com.
MoMs Group — Bi-monthly
education and fellowship for mothers. 1st and 3rd Mondays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., SA 114. Contact Katie
McFarlane, kates46@msn.com
Joy Ministry — A volunteer “buddy” is matched with a special needs child to make it possible for the child to attend and participate more fully in Sunday school. Contact Cindy Young at cl1rpt@aol.com or (512) 809-9786 to be a volunteer buddy, or if you have a special need in your family that this ministry might touch.
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{ LIFE GUIDE}
creating a
of
A
few years ago, entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg described what she called the entrepreneur’s dilemma: Work. Fitness. Sleep. Friends. Family. Pick 3. Want to work hard, get a good night’s sleep and have a family? Forget maintaining friendships or staying fit. Want to have a vital social life, a family, and stay healthy and active? Forget a career. This is not only the entrepreneur’s dilemma. If we were to take an honest inventory of our lives, we might discover how true this dilemma rings for all of us. Is this the way we should live in relationship to ourselves, others and God? If we’re really being honest with ourselves, we might admit that our spiritual life sometimes feels either casual or haphazard. It is highly unlikely we will deepen our relationship with God if we treat this relationship casually. We need a plan to lead more intentional, balanced lives. Our spiritual formation is much like planting a garden. In order to grow 13
LIFE
properly, plants require intentional support. Without the space and sunlight they need to grow and flourish, plants wither and collapse. Like these plants, we need support, intention and structure so our spiritual life does not grow in a stunted and disorderly way, or worse, wither altogether. In the Christian tradition, the name for this kind of support for our spiritual life is called a Rule of Life. We can write a rule many different ways. The Rule of Life dates back to the sixth century with the Rule of St. Benedict, and organizes spiritual life around five practices: prayer, study, recreation, work and hospitality. Different seasons of life call for different kinds of support and intention. The goal is still the same. Developing a rule is about learning to love God, ourselves and others more deeply. For a complete guide to creating a Rule of Life using the rhythms of solitude, community, and service, visit covenant.org/ruleoflife.
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
AFTER MOM 'N' POP TACKLE SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLANNING WITH THESE SIX TIPS
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ore than half of the businesses that are members in the Austin Chamber of Commerce employ fewer than 50 people and are considered “small� businesses by the federal government. Many Covenant members run businesses in this category. However, as the owner of a public relations agency with 18 employees, I can tell you that my business does not feel small at all. It is of enormous importance to my family and me, and thus to my estate.
A
s a baby boomer, the reality of my passing years can't be denied. Although I fully intend to work at least 10 more years, I consider it my responsibility to think through what happens to my firm after I'm out of the picture.
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hus, I've made a commitment to tackle the often tough job of succession planning head on. My friend and experienced tax and estate attorney, Frank Leffingwell of Round Rock, has been a key advisor in this exercise. With Frank's guidance, I am working through a number of scenarios with a big (if somewhat morbid) goal in mind: If something happens to me – or if I simply decide it's time to retire – I want to find a way to protect my employees and to ensure that Elizabeth Christian Public Relations can continue to thrive well into the future. It turns out that the vast majority of founder-owned businesses, sometimes called mom-and-pop operations, simply have to close the door when the original owners retire or die. Employees lose their jobs, and the estates of the owners never benefit from decades of hard work. With Frank's help, I'm working to make sure that does not happen. I hope my experience will be of interest to those of you at Covenant who may be in the same situation. Here are my biggest takeaways from my personal succession planning process:
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Cornerstone | August - December | Ordinary Time
START THE PROCESS AS EARLY IN THE LIFE OF YOUR BUSINESS AS POSSIBLE. Unless you are in a tech startup with an “exit strategy” that involves building the business and then selling it in its early years, you are probably creating a business that you intend to maintain for the rest of your working life. As you work on staffing, hire with eye to finding a person or persons who can eventually take over the business when you're ready to retire. This means hiring folks 15-20 years younger than you are and finding them early enough in their careers that they can grow with you and be poised to assume a leadership role. This is harder than it sounds. Most of us are more comfortable with people of our own generation. But if everyone in your management structure is your same age, where does that leave you when retirement beckons?
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BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND. Leffingwell recommends beginning with the end in mind. Decide what results are important to you and what you want to happen with your business. As the business owner, you don’t need to know how to reach a particular succession goal, but you do need to know what goal it is that you want to reach. No advisor can tell you what you want—only you know that.
CREATE A STRUCTURE THAT SEPARATES THE BUSINESS FROM YOUR OVERALL ESTATE. Frank Leffingwell suggests that you might consider creating a separate trust for your business. “A business is usually fairly illiquid but nonetheless valuable,” Leffingwell says. “Putting it into a silo of its own allows you to make good succession-oriented decisions that build value for your children but that keep the business out of the morass of probate.”
MAKE SURE YOUR WILL AND YOUR BUSINESS DOCUMENTS ARE TOTALLY COORDINATED. These important documents do not exist in separate worlds. Your will needs to contemplate everything you plan to do with your business, and your business structure must be compatible with your estate-planning documents.
DO NOT RUSH THIS PROCESS. IT CAN TAKE A YEAR TO FINE-TUNE YOUR PLANS. Speaking from experience, I needed to see things in black and white before they really became concrete for me. None of this can or should be done quickly, and it all needs to be done with a strong advisor on your team.
YOUR CHILDREN MAY VERY WELL NOT BE THE PERFECT “NEXT” OWNERS OF THE BUSINESS. If your child or children have been working with you for years, they very well may be the logical successors to you. However, most of us are not in this situation, and most of our kids have careers different than the one we've built with our companies. “Talk to your family early and often about your plans,” Leffingwell says. “They often don't really hear or process the first conversation because they don't want to think about you being gone. I don't usually recommend giving your children copies of your will because wills change over the years. But they sure need to know where your estate documents are, including the businessrelated ones, and they need the comfort of having discussed these important decisions with you.”
Author Elizabeth Christian is the owner of Elizabth Christian Public Relations firm and a Covenant Presbyterian Foundation board member. Covenant Presbyterian Foundation supports Covenant Presbyterian Church by assisting donors to be faithful to generations, during and beyond their own lives, by receiving and growing their gifts, and using them to help fulfill the donors’ glorification of God. The Foundation contributes an education article to the Cornerstone every quarter, offering tips on planning for retirement and beyond. Learn more about the foundation at covenant.org/foundation.
Cornerstone Cornerstone | September | August - December November | Ordinary Time
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{ COMMUNITY}
M
oms in the Word, a new Bible study aimed at young moms, will meet this fall on Wednesday mornings. Lamplighters, Covenant’s 30-plus year old Bible study for women, will meet at the same time. At first glance this may seem like a mistake. Why would two groups aimed at a similar demographic meet concurrently? Long-time Lamplighters leader Jan Skaggs quickly puts this thought to rest. “I am their biggest cheerleader,” Jan said of Med Luckett and Stephanie Campbell, the two women developing the study. “As much as I think Lamplighters is for everybody, inductive Bible study is intimidating for some people. I can see having all different kinds of studies.” Med and Stephanie want younger women, particularly moms, involved in Bible study at Covenant. They questioned why more women in their age range didn’t go to Lamplighters. After talking to and surveying women, they determined moms with little kids want a low-pressure, shorter Bible study. “This is an easy on-ramp to studying the Bible,” Stephanie said. “We’ll meet for 90 minutes and the homework will be minimal. We want it to be low-pressure and easy. We hope that having something like this will get more women reading the Bible.”
W
hen someone recommended the two talk to Jan, the three women were unfamiliar with each other. They now talk as if they’ve been friends forever. “Jan is the best person in the world. Why had I never met her? She’s fantastic,” Stephanie said. “She has a love and desire for all women to be reading the Bible.” “We need this group!” Jan was emphatic. “I have a heart for young women. We can make this happen.”
17 Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
“Jan has been very encouraging,” Med said. “She has done this before so she has given us lots of practical suggestions. Bible study has been a real light for her, particularly in challenging times as a young mother. She hopes this will prove to be equally beneficial for us.” When the trio looked at options for when to hold Moms in the Word, it quickly became obvious that Wednesday morning was ideal. “Moms drop kids off at 9 for preschool. We have childcare set up, we have coffee and we have a room,” Jan said. “We hope women from both groups will mingle over coffee. Moms in the Word will be shorter so there’s time to run errands while the kids are in school.” The two groups will not follow the same study. “We received a strong response from women who had a general interest in learning more about basics of the Bible,” Med said. “Based on that, we selected Angie Smith’s study, “Seamless.” In seven sessions, we will cover many people, places and promises of the Bible. We think this will be a good launching point for future studies.” According to Stephanie, the study is a great way to describe the Bible. “A lot of ladies my age are scared because they don't think they know enough about the Bible to share.” Jan concurred. “Stephanie and Med picked a very accessible study. It provides a great framework. It’s designed for women who have never read the Bible before.” By the middle of June, eight women were already signed up for the fall class, and two were preschool moms who didn’t attend Covenant. “I’m so excited
{ COMMUNITY}
WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE
M
oms in the Word is under a Lamplighters umbrella, Jan contemplated when asked about how the two are related. “It’s something we are kicking around, but I can see the umbrella having several different kinds of studies under it.”
Jan Skaggs, Stephanie Campbell and Med Luckett
that these two people who don’t even go to our church want to come. This makes it an outreach,” Jan said, adding that Lamplighters is made up of almost 50 percent non-Covenant women.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
F
or more than 20 years, Esther Eaton, wife of Covenant’s founding pastor Carl Eaton, prayed for a women’s Bible study. That’s when a group of Covenant women, including Jan, attended BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) and then decided to start a Bible study at Covenant. That study was Lamplighters, and it started 32 years ago. “For the last 10 years, many of us in Lamps have been praying for young women to study the Bible,” Jan said. “It’s neat to see the fruit of that.” “One of the big things about forming this group is that Jan is so excited,” Stephanie said. “The way she has approached us and cared for us has made it more exciting for Med and me. There were a lot of ways that the three of us meeting could have gone. It could have been
a really different conversation. Jan immediately said ‘yes! What are we going to do?’ “Jan has so many ideas,” Stephanie continued. “I didn’t think a Bible study would get going so soon, but we left our first meeting with Jan thinking ‘this is happening now!’” “One of the reasons I love these girls is that they actually think I know stuff,” Jan laughed, but agreed that there have been barriers to Bible study entry for women. “Older women think that the younger women don’t really want them in the same group and some are intimidated by the social media aspect of the younger generation. At the same time, the younger women come in and we’re teaching the Bible in a way that can be intimidating for them. We have to learn to listen to the younger groups. We need to open up and say, ‘we want you.’ This is a way to break the barriers. “It was a matter of the Holy Spirit putting all the dots in place,” Jan said. “Somebody just had to come along and connect the dots.”
“I think it’s whatever you want it to be,” Stephanie said. “If you need a quick and easy commitment; if you want a more intense group. Some people want different topics of the Bible. I think women can pick their class based on where you see you need growth in your own life. Having multiple options is a great way to have more people come.” But one thing is for sure, Jan said. “These Bible studies do not compete. The goal is to have people in God’s word. You cannot know God if you don’t have people in the Bible. It can happen in any variety of ways.” “Our overarching goal is to have women from all generations reading and studying the Bible,” Stephanie said. Join Moms in the Word this fall on Wednesday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Or, be a part of Lamplighters, Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, or various locations at other times during the week. Learn more at covenant.org/weekdaylearning-communities.
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
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{ COMMUNITY}
Mission OKC
Covenant 7th and 8th grade students went on a mission trip to Oklahoma City this summer. On this, their second annual trip to partner with Vine Community Church and Hope House, the students had the opportunity to serve and learn about the city in a variety of ways. Lamar 8th grade student Drew Smith shares a little bit about the trip here: In the weeks leading up to the middle school mission trip to Oklahoma City, I was nervous. I wasn’t sure what work we would be doing, where we were sleeping or if anyone I knew would be going. I went into the trip not expecting anything, and came away with experiences I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. Our first day was a scavenger hunt downtown and visiting kids at daycare. I met a kid named Acorn. We played Xbox. I beat him, but he was a good sport and it was fun. That day ended with dinner at a Pakistani restaurant and ice cream, before heading back to our apartments. We stayed at Hope House, an organization that provides housing for homeless families while they work to get back on their feet. We had an apartment for the boys and one for the girls. We got up the next morning and went on a homeless simulation. We had to ride busses to specific places where homeless people can get help for drug and alcohol addiction, medical issues and other things, and we asked about their services. We had three hours to go to three places, relying only on public transportation. My group only made it to one. Later that day, we had a cookout with people from the neighborhood. We served hot dogs and played kickball. There was a boy there named Payton, who by the end of the night decided I was his best friend. Our last day started with another homeless simulation. We had to walk to different places that offered homeless services and ask about their programs. We had three places to go to, and only $4 for a meal for five people. (My group didn’t eat and we only made it to one place.) During this outing, we asked homeless people for their stories. We met a man named An-
19
thony Parker. It was hard to tell how old he was, but I would guess around 60. He went to jail and when he was released, he had nowhere to go. All his family members were dead. The surprising thing about Anthony was that he wasn’t worried about anything. He said he knew God was protecting him. That’s a lot of faith for someone who had lost so much. That last night, we helped at a kids’ Bible study at a low-cost apartment complex. I met a little boy named Trey who was playing with a ball. We started throwing the ball and talking, and then headed inside to get some pizza. There was a Bible story, and a man who sang songs and played guitar. After water games, we headed back to the rooms to go to bed. We got up early the next morning to head back to Austin. After eight hours in the car the trip was over. My biggest take-away was that homeless people are just like me. The people I met just seemed to have a lot of bad luck.
By Drew Smith
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
{ COMMUNITY}
A Perfect Fit L
aura Hargrave is the new director of the Covenant Preschool and Child’s Day Out. A Covenant member since 2003, Laura currently serves as Vice-Moderator for the Diaconate and, until August, was a pre-K teacher at Hope Children’s Center at Hope Presbyterian Church in Austin. Prior to that, she was a high-tech project manager responsible for training and hiring. “This new job feels like the marriage of two perfect worlds,” Laura said. “Covenant is a faith community where I can bring my administrative and communication skills. I am ready and excited to expand my passion and knowledge of early childhood education in this leadership role.”
As a project manager, Laura managed multiple projects with different departments—a skill that’s easily transferable to managing the expectations of both teachers and parents. “Communication and collaboration is key in project management, as well as time management and conflict resolution,” Laura said. Coupled with her love of children and passion for both early childhood development and Covenant, Laura is ideally suited for this new challenge. She’s excited about the things that are already in place at the preschool. “The high level of parental involvement at the preschool is very unique. It’s obvious that the parents are really passionate about the school. I think the collaboration between parents and teachers is a really important part of child development.” Christy Milam, Director of Children and Family Ministry and former preschool director, said, “Laura’s passion and commitment to our faith community at Covenant, along with her wealth of knowledge about early childhood education, make her a perfect fit. We are so excited to have her as our new director.” Laura began teaching after her family moved to Austin and her kids were started preschool. Hope was in the neighborhood and she starting co-oping (at the time, Hope had a co-op program but no longer does) and then substitute teaching, and finally was hired as a pre-K teacher. “My big job over the years has been to raise my children. I wanted to be around and be part of their lives, and I feel like I’ve done a good job.” Laura has two kids. Lilly was a summer intern with Covenant’s Student Ministry team and will head to Texas Tech this fall. Henry is a 16-year old high school junior. Said Laura, “I’m now ready to take on a new challenge! And am trusting in the Lord that I can do what I’ve been hired to do.” Laura officially started as director on Aug. 1. Coming into a highly successful program, Laura’s goal is to maintain the program's integrity. “I will certainly make changes as needed, but initially, I’ll learn how it operates and get to know the teachers.”
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
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{ COMMUNITY}
IHN:
Families Move On
O
n Sunday afternoon, Sept. 3, a white cargo trailer will be towed around Covenant’s circular driveway and brought to rest next to Eaton Hall. Inside will be what amounts to all the earthly possessions of three families who have been left temporarily homeless and found refuge in the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN).
It’s difficult for Covenant volunteers to track their families once they leave, but we do know about two of them—the Thomases and the Kennedys. A video on the Foundation For the Homeless website shows the testimony of Darryl Thomas, who brought his wife, Alexia, and five children for help during spring 2012. A combination of medical bills and the 10 percent unemployment rate during the Great Recession left them homeless. Years later, the family is thriving, and Darryl has started a program for at-risk youths called “Size of a Man.”
Over the next seven days, family members will eat and sleep in Eaton Hall. Covenant volunteers will bring meals and offer friendship, companionship and supervision in the evenings and early mornings. It will be the first hosting week this year for Covenant, one of 15 churches and synagogues participating in the IHN network. Covenant has participated since it began in 1993. During the days, the families will be bused by the sponsoring Foundation for the Homeless to pursue whatever they need to live independently again— usually a job, often a vehicle, sometimes training or ID cards, or other forms of assistance. Daycare is provided for children. All return each evening. The three families currently in the network are a single mom with four kids ages 12, 8, 5 and 4; a married couple with three kids ages 13, 9 and 4; and a single dad with a 7-year-old child. By the time they get to Covenant, most of them probably will have spent weeks at First United Methodist, St. Matthew’s Episcopal, Hope Presbyterian, Congregation Beth Israel and St. Ignatius Catholic. A family’s average stay in the network is 8 to 12 weeks. Since 15 churches make up the network, these families have a different, temporary church home nearly every week. Either a single catastrophe or a combination of factors left each in need of help. 21
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
Darryl Thomas and family
“My message to the IHN is, first and foremost, thank you,” he said. “You stepped up and helped in amazing ways. We wouldn’t be where we are today if not for your help. We are a family of faith, and we truly believe the Lord allows us to face certain obstacles, only to bring the best out of us.” The Thomases returned to independent living in May 2012. How do we know? Movin’ and Groovin’ delivered what was cryptically described on an old run sheet as “a trailer full” of furniture to their apartment on Dessau Road on May 3. Darryl is an honorably discharged Marine, as is Stacey Kennedy, who entered the program in 2010. She was injured prior to her discharge, then battled additional medical issues plus abusive relationships with the fathers of her two children. She lived with
{ COMMUNITY} friends and relatives before ending up on the streets in Austin in 2010. Her life began to turn around when she called the 211 help line, was connected to the Foundation and accepted into IHN. The Foundation also nominated her for the Statesman’s Season for Caring program that Christmas, and she was accepted. Ever thankful for all the help she received, Stacey went on to volunteer periodically with the Foundation. “I've been there, so I try to encourage people,” she told a Statesman reporter doing a follow-up story on Season for Caring recipients in 2011. “For me, being homeless was not a negative thing. It helped me slow down. I stopped running around in circles. I was able to think about a plan of action to better my life.” Andrew Bucknall, IHN director and a Foundation employee, helps individual IHN churches develop volunteers. “The power of faith and hope can start with a cry for help and an answer from a stranger waiting to become a friend,” he said. “Please answer the call for help and volunteer for the Interfaith Hospitality Network.”
The Interfaith Hospitality Network program at Covenant will be in experienced hands moving forward this year. Rick Gerber is the new primary coordinator, and Laura Mendenhall is the new volunteer coordinator. Someone to coordinate the meals for the families is still needed. Rick served as primary coordinator at Covenant in the mid-1990s. In 1998, he became executive director of the sponsoring Foundation for the Homeless, serving through August of 2001. Very soon, Rick will have the signup. com IHN page ready for volunteers to register. He is eager to get started planning for the Sept. 3-10 hosting week. “In my humble opinion, IHN is one of the best examples I can think of for Christians to actually live out their faith and follow Jesus's example,” Rick said. “Please prayerfully consider joining the team!”
Stacey Kennedy and Movin' and Groovin' volunteers
By Paul Mowry Mission Committee Member
To volunteer or learn more, contact Rick at (512) 518-6301 or rgerber47@gmail.com.
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
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{ COMMUNITY}
VOLUNTEERS
M AT T E R
not just one event,” said Terry. “They wanted to pull together with us in a more effective way. A past seminary intern put together our first orientation outline and we did it for several small local church groups.
S
treet Youth Ministry, which serves clients living on the streets in the 12-block area west of the University of Texas campus, exists “to know, love and serve street-dependent young people so many may come to know Christ.” SYM’s goals for clients are to build stabilit and sobriety, to re-connect with God and to find a faith community. In addition to working directly with clients, Terry Cole’s mission also builds public awareness of its clients’ plight, offers a robust internship program, and develops a well-trained and motivated corps of volunteers. “Recruiting, organizing, thanking and sustaining hundreds of volunteers who show God's love to clients in unexpected and delightful ways are what the program is all about,” explained Terry. Statistics drive home his words: In 2016, 759 volunteers contributed a total of 4,980 service hours—1,871 of them working directly with SYM clients. Over the nine-year life of SYM, 387 Covenant members have served as volunteers; two currently serve on the board of directors. “We prefer to use volunteers because each brings Godgiven gifts and skills not present in our staff,” Terry noted. “Returning volunteers particularly surprise and delight clients by demonstrating that someone cares in an unexpected way. Rev. James Lee first suggested the idea of including volunteers in our work. He was so right!” Joining SYM’s program involves more than simply walking up and saying, “Put me to work!” There is a path that starts when prospective volunteers look over the SYM calendar of events and pick one they’d like to help. The next step is to view a 30-minute video that explains in detail what SYM does, followed by a 20-question test. “We added the video when we realized that volunteers wanted to understand our overall program and
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Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
“Moving it to an online format seemed natural, and we’ve been thrilled with the results. In 2015 we added a part-time volunteer coordinator to serve our valuable helpers better.” Training is incremental. A new volunteer’s first shift involves doing something simple while observing what goes on. Shift two is more detail, and beyond that come opportunities to join the lay leadership. Volunteers are debriefed after every event. “That helps us correct problems, answer questions and determine a good fit to tasks.” Those who volunteer receive more than thanks. “Each receives compassion-building insight into the lives of our homeless clients, which they take back into our community,” Terry said.
Some volunteers feel inspired to leave comments behind on SYM’s Facebook page or the GreatNonprofits.org website. “Wow,” one Covenant member wrote. “This organization truly changes lives. Talk about faith in action!” For some volunteers, the experience can be life-changing. “The way this ministry deals with clients is inspiring, humbling and motivating,” wrote Rodolfo Aguilar. “Attending to these clients in a personal level has enriched and fulfilled my life in ways I didn't expect. I realize I can do more for them, and always find myself looking forward to the next time to be of service. “Witnessing the passion Mr. Terry places in every single relationship he builds with his clients, with genuine dignifying care and respect, and incredible patience, I've … widened my scope in matters of life in which most people would choose to look the other way. The welcoming ambiance has a strong feeling of family and camaraderie.” Does this stir your interest in volunteering with Street Youth Ministry? Visit volunteer.streetyouthministry.org. Terry and his clients will appreciate your help, and you’ll likely be blessed beyond your imagination. You can contact SYM’s volunteer coordinator using the phone menu at (512) 553-3796 or emailing Billy Barnes directly at volunteer@StreetYouthMinistry.org.
By Paul Mowry Mission Committee Member
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
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{ EVENTS}
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST 20
20
20
SUN
Celebration Sunday 9 - 11 a.m. on the patio
SUN
Four Worship Services Resume: Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary at 8:15, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Contemporary Worship in FE 200 at 11:05 a.m.
SUN
Sunday school starts
21- MONDrive-thru Prayer 7 - 9 a.m. 25 FRI
3-10
SAT
Confirmation Retreat
MONIHN at Covenant MON
5
TUE
Senior Activities Day
6
WED
Lamplighters Kick-off FE 200, 10 a.m.
6
WED
Moms in the Word starts 9:30 a.m.
6
WED
Alpha Class, 6:30 p.m. in FE 200
23
SAT
Downtown Men’s Bible Study 11:30 a.m. at Max's Wine Dive mcrawley@covenant.org
7
THU
Women's Fall Kick-off Brunch 10 a.m. in FE 200
26
SAT
Preschool Work Day
7
THU
Armchair Travelers 7 p.m. in FE 200
27
SUN
Journey Choir Rehearsals start
7
THU
Career Transitions Thursdays, Sept. 7 – Oct. 5 7 p.m. in FE 300
27
SUN
GraceNotes Rehearsals start
10
SUN
30
WED
Wednesday Night Kick-off Event Dinners start 5 p.m. in FE 200
Explore Membership Sundays, Sept. 10 – Oct. 1 9:30 – 10:45 in CO 208
30
WED Children’s Choirs Start
1417
THUSUN
Austin Presbyterian Pilgrimage Camp Buckner, Marble Falls. Sam Sipowicz: samantha@composedcommunications.com
30
WED
19
TUE
VISIONS Senior Luncheon 11:45 a.m. in FE 200
30
Student Ministry Middle School WED D-groups and High School Youth Group 7-8:30 p.m. in FE 400
19
TUE
Session Meeting 6:30 in CO 108
21
THU
Preschool Back-to-School Picnic
24
SUN
Choir Dedication Sunday 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
28
THU
Walking the Mourner’s Path Thursday, Sept. 28 – Nov. 16 6:30 p.m. in the Parlor
29-1
FRISUN
Student Ministries Fall Retreat
31
25
2
Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Starts 7:30 p.m. in FE 100
THUR Preschool Starts
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
{ EVENTS}
NOVEMBER
OCTOBER 1 1
SUN
Meet Your Deacon Sundays in October Patio
SUN
Guest Preacher Ross Baird three worship services
04
SAT
Covenant’s Day of Service All over Austin
05
SUN
Daylight Saving Time ends 2 a.m.
07
TUE
Senior Activities Day 10 a.m. in FE 200
15
TUE
Joint meeting of Deacons and Elders, Session meeting follows
03
TUE
Senior Activities Day 10 a.m. in FE 200
05
THU
Armchair Travelers 7 p.m. in FE 200
21
TUE
8-29
SUN
Covenant Lab TBD 4 Sundays in October
VISIONS Senior Luncheon 11:45 a.m. in FE 200
22
WED
Thanksgiving Worship and Lunch 12 p.m. in the Sanctuary
10
TUE
Preschool Parent Education Night 6:30 p.m. in FE 300
THU
16
SUN
First Graders Receive Bibles 11:05 Contemporary Worship
Thanksgiving Office closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24-25
17
TUE
VISIONS Senior Luncheon 11:45 a.m. in FE 200
17
TUE
Session Meeting 6:30 in CO 108
17
TUE
PW Girls Night Out 6:30 p.m. in FE 200
19
THU
Dad’s Preschool Pizza Night
22
SUN
Commitment Sunday All Services
25
WED
Trunk or Treat 5 p.m. in the parking lot
26
THU
Q Commons 7 p.m. in FE 200
SAT
Hopefest 2017 9:30 a.m. Reagan High School hopefest@austin.rr.com
28
24
DECEMBER 02
SAT
Advent Retreat
Cornerstone | September - November | Ordinary Time
26
3003 Northland Drive Austin, TX 78757
Shaped Serve
TO
NOVEMBER 4TH, 2017 Join a team and volunteer your time to serve Christ and demonstrate love for our community by providing assistance to mission partners, public servants and neighbors in need all over Austin.