Covenant Update
Dear Covenant Family:
We had a great service at Covenant today. We had 29 attendees and attached is the bulletin from today’s service, note the announcements about upcoming events. Also, note that Craig and Becky Alexander celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary on Monday December 27.
Note that it was just over a week ago when Covenant Church announced that we planned to contribute to the tornado relief effort in KY, AR, and neighboring states. I am pleased to announce that this week Covenant sent a check for $5,000 to that relief effort, contributed by individual members and the church body. Thanks to all who were able to contribute to this important relief effort.
Pastor Don’s sermon today focused on Romans 1:1-7, which he noted is a single sentence from the disciple Paul It reads:
Romans 1:1-7 – Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles in behalf of His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Don began his message by stating that we need to know who we are. Paul began his message by stating that he was a bond-servant of Christ. A bond-servant was a servant in the real world who so pleased their Master that they were offered their freedom. We have the freedom to do as we please and can separate from Him if we choose. However, once we accept Him, we are saved, as Paul demonstrated.
Everybody is looking for their purpose, and want to know how to find it. We are all called to spread the Good News of Jesus, that there is hope through Him. Too often we choose to spread bad news and even gossip, but we need to constantly share with others the Good News we have in Him.
Don shared the story of his use of GPS, and how it has often “recalculated” for him when he made a wrong turn. It tried to get him back on the right track when he had turned away from where he should be. As the scripture closes, we see that we are “the called of Jesus Christ”, and although we may make some wrong turns along the way, we are “beloved” and “called as saints”. Paul knew his purpose, even when jailed, he proclaimed The Word, even when shipwrecked, he did not quit. So are we to love others, and minister to those who may not like us or know us, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ…… always.
Also note that we had a well attended Christmas Eve service on Friday with 36 folks present. The program and Advent reading is attached for you, in case you missed the service.
I pray that everyone had a truly blessed and peaceful Christmas with their family and loved ones, and that we may all seek together to grow through Him in 2022.
Ron
