Covenant Holy Week Update
Dear Covenant Family:
We had a great Holy Week at Covenant. We began with 32 attendees at the Covenant Good Friday service. The service was a nice mix of music and Pastor Don’s message to us using the scripture from Mark 14:12-25 on the Lord’s Supper. This message prepared us for partaking of the Holy Communion at the conclusion of this service.
Our Sunday Easter service had 48 attendees, with many family members attending with our members. It was truly an excellent turnout for our Easter service. Attached is the bulletin from our Easter service for your complete information.
The title of Pastor Don’s sermon was Everyone Can Come and his scripture was from Mark 16:1-26. Pastor Don began by noting that Easter moves our mind from the hate shown in Jesus’ crucifixion three days earlier to the love message we receive from His resurrection. Don focused on verse 7 which contained a unique message only seen in Mark.
Mark 16:7 – But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’”
In this verse, the angel appearing as a young man told the two women named Mary who came to the tomb to tell “His disciples and Peter” that Jesus has gone to Galilee and they would see Him there. The addition of Peter is interesting since Peter was also a disciple. Don explained that Peter must have been feeling terrible as he had denied Jesus 3 times as Jesus said he would, and it became true. Jesus wanted Peter to know that He understood and wanted Peter to know that he was forgiven by Jesus. Don told us that no one feels good when they are left out and Peter must have felt lonelier than anyone after the crucifixion. Next we see in verse 8:
Mark 16:8 – And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Both women were afraid because the unexpected had happened, God had surprised them at the tomb. Mary Magdalene earlier had seven demons driven from her by Jesus (verse 9), and was considered as down and out by many people. Yet we learn here that she was the first person chosen to observe the Lord had been risen from the dead, someone who was considered last in society but chosen first by God, as shown in
Matthew 20:16 – So the last shall be first, and the first, last.
We often live our lives in remorse for opportunities we may have missed. But this scripture shows Peter and Mary Magdalene that you always have another chance, it is never over as long as you have breath on this earth.
Mary Magdalene then went and reported what she had seen to His disciples but they didn’t believe her. Jesus then appeared to two other men on the road who also reported this incident to the disciples, but they were also not believed. When Jesus later appeared to the disciples, He chastised them for not believing what they were told. He then told them to go out into the world and spread the gospel to all creation (verse 15).
Pastor Don concluded by telling us we each have a choice to make between a blessing and condemnation. Do you believe the Bible? Or do you choose for some reason to go the opposite way? The direction you choose is your choice to make. Today the tomb is empty! Jesus offers us the same choice He offered to Mary and Peter – blessings will flow to all who choose to follow Him!
As we move forward from Easter 2022, remember that next Sunday is another important day at Covenant. Covenant Church will celebrate its 35th anniversary next Sunday, and will celebrate by providing a barbeque lunch with side dishes and drinks for all attendees. We only ask members to bring their favorite dessert to share with others. Please bring family and friends with you to celebrate and we look forward to a wonderful fellowship time together.
Have a blessed week and hope to see you next Sunday!
Ron
