Dear Covenant Family:

I wanted to give you an update on church since we had our 3^rd Sunday service yesterday.  The first Sunday we met we had 19 attendees, the second Sunday we also had 19, and yesterday we had 22 attendees.  We have probably had 27-28 total members attend at least one service since we re-opened 3 weeks ago.

All attendees have been very good at following our social distancing guidelines and the elbow bumping has been a new favorite replacement for hugs and handshakes for now.  Married couples and family members have moved chairs closer together as desired, and others have maintained the 6 foot distance for chair separation.  Everyone has been good about wearing masks to enter church and while socializing.  However, we have found that it is difficult for everyone to wear a mask for an hour (or longer).  We have found that many people will remove their masks for a period of time while we are seated for the service and especially during Carl’s sermons.  That is fine so that everyone can be comfortable in church and still safe.  We look forward to other members returning as they are comfortable doing so.

We are also continuing with providing Pine Grove the paper goods (toilet paper, paper towels, etc.) and cleaning materials (laundry detergent, dishwashing soap, etc.) as we have previously.  Larry Noegel is planning to deliver this month’s goods to them next Monday June 29.  If anyone would like to contribute any goods by next Sunday, you can either bring them to church or send them with someone you know who is coming to church.  If you want to contribute something but have no way to get your contribution to church, call me (Ron at 352-870-9843) and I will pick up your donation.  You can also send a monetary donation to Edwina at Covenant and we can buy supplies for you.

I want to raise one other interesting point from yesterday’s church service.  We had a visitor named Franchesca Jimenez.  She told us she and her husband and daughter moved here from Ohio in December.  Her husband lost his job here when the coronavirus hit so he had to return to Ohio where he could still work.  Her 28 year old daughter became ill and is in North Florida hospital with a feeding tube.  We also learned there is a 4 year old granddaughter who is also here and staying in a hotel with Franchesca.  At the end of our service Carl had her come up front and we anointed her together.

Carl and I also met with her after church to learn more.  Covenant Church decided to pay for her hotel room last night once Carl verified that she was staying there (he paid the hotel directly) and gave her some Publix gift cards so she could buy some food for her and her granddaughter.  We cannot know if all her story is true but God brought her to Covenant yesterday and we chose to help a person who clearly is in need.

It is interesting that just last week Covenant Church had a chance to again assist in feeding the Gainesville Police, which was an uplifting experience.  Then this Sunday God chose to use us again, and Covenant Church responded again.  God is good….. all the time!!  All the time….. God is good.

May God bless your week ahead!!