Covenant Update

Dear Covenant Family:

Today was a wonderful Mother’s Day celebration at Covenant.  We had 40 attendees including a number of family members present with a Covenant mother.  Each female present today received a bag of Ghirardelli chocolate as a Mother’s Day gift.

This month’s ministry is the Arbor House in Gainesville.  Because May has 5 Sundays, we also provide our Pine Grove ministry of paper goods and cleaning materials, so folks can bring their contributions to Covenant anytime this month.  Attached is the bulletin from today’s service, please note the special message included by Tina titled Blessed is the Mother.

Tina also pulled a surprise by inviting the congregation to join the “Happy Mother’s Day Choir” and join her upfront to sing How Great Thou Art.  I will send a picture in a separate email so you can see who volunteered for this song.

Pastor Don’s Mother’s Day sermon focused on Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Pastor Don pointed out that Mary had at least 7 children as Jesus’ 4 brothers are named in Mark 6:3 and that He has at least 2 sisters, mentioned but unnamed in this scripture.  The sermon began with the scripture from John 2:1-11, which is the story of Jesus changing wine to water at a wedding.  When the wine ran out at the wedding, Mary told Jesus about it.  Although Jesus first questioned His mother, she told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them.  Jesus had them fill multiple waterpots with water and take them to the headwaiter.  When the headwaiter tasted the wine, he acknowledged that it was superior to the wine they had just finished drinking.  Pastor Don’s point was that Mary has some important responsibility at this wedding, and it would be a major embarrassment for the groom and his family to run out of wine.  The focus of this story was how Jesus’ mother showed her son what was needed, knowing her son better than anyone and that he could provide what was needed.  Jesus responded to His mother by performing His first miracle.

Don’s second example he provided was from Matthew 12:46.  Jesus was at a disciple’s home and his mother and brothers were outside to speak with Him.  Jesus had been criticized for His behavior so His mother went there because she cared for Him and wanted to speak with Him and comfort Him.

Finally, I note that Cindy and I will be gone the next 2 Sunday’s to visit our granddaughters in DC, so I will not be able to send out these Sunday updates.  I will start up again as soon as we return.

May God bless each of you and Covenant Church this week.

Ron