Covenant Update
Dear Covenant Family:
Today’s Covenant service was great with a focus on Christmas. We had 32 people in attendance and the attached bulletin provides updates on upcoming activities, so be sure to read them.
This week was week 4 of Advent, and the message was The Blessing of Home, with scripture Micah 5:2-5a and Luke 1:39-45. Carol Purpura and Michelle Miller were the readers.
Reader One: Sometimes when we are trying something new, or when we are facing a difficult decision, or when we want to celebrate something, or even when we just feel lost and alone and uncertain about life, the universe and everything, we need a blessing. We don’t always think of it that way, or word it like that. We say we need advice, or support, or companions, or someone to come along beside and lift us up again so we can see more than the tops of our shoes.
Reader Two: For many of us, we go home; we ask mom; we talk to dad, or brothers and sisters, close friends, those we grew up with, those who know us best. We want them alongside; we want to be in their presence. Somehow, we know that being there, being home, will make all things better. Maybe it won’t be fixed, or solved, or wished away, but at least we won’t be alone. We seek a blessing.
Reader One: Mary, faced with an incomprehensible burden and gift, ran to Cousin Elizabeth’s house, looking for someone who knew a little of what she was going through, looking for a place to hide until the reality of her condition could become something real. And she received a blessing. The prophet Micah spoke of a blessing coming to an unexpected place, an unassuming town. Yet by God’s grace would become the means through which God would bless the whole world. Bethlehem, the little town of blessing. We seek a blessing.
Reader Two: We light these candles, the candle of hope, of peace, of joy and of today, love, as a sign that we know blessing and we know waiting for blessing to be felt and lived. We light these candles as a sign that we still seek a blessing. It’s time to go home.
Pastor Don’s sermon was titled God is Good…. and his scripture was Luke 2:1-20. Don stated that Christmas is a season of anticipation. Our anticipation changes as we age, for example we change from anticipating toys when we are very young to anticipating visiting family and friends when we are older. There was great anticipation when Jesus was born. Mary and Joseph anticipated the birth of their baby, but that excitement was countered when the government decreed that everyone needed to travel to their home city for a census. Think of the great difficulty traveling with a woman ready to give birth and the difficulty of such travel. They might have asked why God would allow such a travel requirement now to complicate the arrival of their new son…… and then when they arrived, there was no room for them at the inn!!!! But God had a purpose, as He always does.
The birth of Jesus led to great joy in the world. Pastor Don told us that JOY stands for Jesus, Others, and You and your life will have joy only if this is the order of your life. I learned after church that there is a song titled Jesus and Others and You = JOY and the words are:
Jesus and others and you, what a wonderful way to spell JOY.
Jesus and others and you, in the life of each girl and each boy.
“J” is for Jesus, and He has first place.
“O” is for Others, you meet face to face.
“Y” is for You, in whatever you do.
Put yourself third, and spell JOY!
Pastor Don concluded that only if you have Jesus will you have peace because He brings you peace. Peace is in your heart when He is in your life.
Then tonight we had our Christmas Social with about 50 people attending. Of course we had enough food to feed an army so people also got to take lots of shrimp and their favorite finger foods and desserts home with them. Rose entertained us with Christmas music as we all gathered. Then we also were entertained by Anita Minck’s son Mark who sang two Christmas songs and her 12-year old grandson Dietrich who is an accomplished pianist and played beautiful Christmas music as well. We ended the night singing The 12 Days of Christmas at Maurita McKee’s insistence, and that was a real hoot!
Finally, Covenant Church decided it wanted to donate to the tornado relief effort continuing throughout KY, AR, and neighboring states. We announced to members a few days ago that we would be doing so and asked for any donations to be made by today so we can send the money this week. I am pleased to announce that Joe Morgan told us all at the social time tonight that Covenant and its members will be contributing a total of $5,000 to this effort based on donations received today. We will split the money between the Kentucky Baptist Relief Fund and Samaritan’s Purse. Both groups assure you that 100% of all donations go to the relief effort. Thank you to all for your generous giving to the various Covenant ministries that we support throughout the year and then those additional requests that also pop up from time to time. This is a great example of Don’s sermon today of JOY by our putting Jesus 1st, others 2nd, and ourselves 3rd!
I pray you will all have a very blessed week leading up to Christmas Day.
Ron
