Dear Covenant Family:

We had our fourth successful church service yesterday since reopening.  We again had 22 attendees, the same number as last week.  We took another step forward as almost everyone present wanted a hymnal for the service so we distributed hymnals and will now have them out for all future services.

The Trustees were aware of the increased coronavirus rates last week in Florida and Alachua County.  We believe that church attendance right now is important for a core group of our members, and we want to be here for them.  We also believe our church is a very safe building because it is only used for our Sunday church services right now.  Our members continue to wear masks and follow social distancing so there is very little risk of coronavirus presence and transmission.  Those who choose to come together need to be able to pray together for our members who have lost loved ones the past few months and who are suffering from disease, loneliness, and fear for our country.

We also respect the right of other members who have decided that it is not yet time for them to return to Covenant.  We will continue to reassess the coronavirus situation each week to see if we can continue holding church, or if the situation gets to a point where we believe we should discontinue Sunday church services for awhile.  The Trustees certainly welcome feedback from any member who would like to share their feelings. 

Finally, Carl’s scripture for his sermon yesterday was 2 Chronicles 7:14 – and my people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and will heal their land.  What beautiful and appropriate scripture for this time.  May God continue to bless Covenant Church and all our members.