Dear Covenant Church Family:
Today was a great day at Covenant, with 24 folks in attendance. Please note that Covenant will have a Maundy Thursday service on April 2 at 5 PM, including Communion. We had a number of both prayer requests and praise reports today. Larry Noegel asked for prayers for his friend Glen McMillan who died in Hospice last week. Maurita McKee had a good friend pass away last week, and asked for prayers for her husband. Helen Ann Noegel spoke with Carolyn Vlacos yesterday, who has been in FL recently visiting her daughter; she has also been hospitalized with both a UTI and an infection last week, but is now out; Helen Ann asked for continued prayers for Carolyn. JoAn Mason asked for prayers for her sister Pat who is turning 85 and not feeling well. Pastor Don asked for prayers for Patsy and Bobby Sutton, and Patsy’s family, for the death of her sister in GA.
Michelle Miller had a praise for her older daughter Lindsay who is pregnant with her third child. Tina Pinkoson also had a praise for the 23 applicants this year for the Tina and Rose scholarships that Covenant Church has funded this year and next year for two music student scholarships. Frank Dolwick had praise for Francis Bush who was recognized last week by Hospice for his military contributions. Craig Alexander had a praise for Becky and himself, as their visit to the Mayo Clinic last week was successful, and she does not require any additional treatment right now. Carol Parker had a praise for Sam because Frank Dolwick was able to convince Sam that he should not have the cataract surgery that was scheduled for April.
Pastor Don gave a sermon today based on 2 areas – (1) the symbolism of laying the palm branches for Jesus and (2) the meaning of Hosanna. His scripture was:
John 12:12-13 – On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!”
Pastor Don told us that when a King was coming to take a town, the palm branches represented surrender to the King. He continued that we need to surrender and give everything to Jesus. That is what Maundy Thursday is all about – giving all to Him. “Hosanna” means save me, save me now! If you would like to listen to this sermon, all recorded sermons can be accessed at https://gainesvillecovenantchurch.org/ and then choose Sermons on the home page, and then choose today’s message.
I wish all of you a most blessed Holy Week!
Ron