 We're in the midst of Holy Week: the time between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. During this week we remember how Jesus shared the last supper with his disciples; was arrested, tried, whipped and nailed to the cross; and how he came back to life in power over sin and death!
For those of us who have been raised going to church, it's a familiar story -- maybe too familiar. It's much too easy to nod your head with a, "Yeah, yeah. I know all about that." As the old saying goes: "Familiarity breeds contempt". I don't think I'd go so far as contempt, but over-familiarity definitely lessens the impact. On Thursday evening, April 18th, at 7:00 pm, we'll have a special Maundy Thursday Worship Experience at the church. This will be a time to consider the story of Jesus' last supper with his disciples and reflect on our own relationship with him. There will be interactive prayer stations, music, and communion in this brief service. Taking some time to be quiet and reflect may be just what you need to experience the story in a new and meaningful way. I hope you'll be able to join us. Children are welcome to attend. EASTER SUNDAY This Sunday at 10:30 am, we'll celebrate the central event of our faith and the reason the Gospel is called "Good News"! There will be special music, the transformation of the cross, and my message will help us to "Look Again" at the evidence that Jesus in fact did die and rise again. Last Sunday over 250 names were brought forward on our BLESS forms. We've committed to pray consistently during this next year that God would draw these dear people closer and closer to himself. Perhaps you could invite one or more of these people to join you in attending our Easter Worship Celebration - it may be a way that God uses you to point them to our Savior! If you're like me, you've changed your mind about a number of things over the years. Tastes change as we change. I remember being a big fan of the old sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter", but I watched an episode not too long ago and was surprised at how few times I laughed. I suppose it's not surprising that 56-year-old Jeff doesn't find the same things as funny as 13-year-old. Sometimes opinions of people can change as well. I remember getting a first impression of one of my college friends that turned out to be way off from who he really was. Once I adjusted my attitude to line up with the truth about him, I was able to enjoy a friendship that's lasted for over 38 years. This Sunday, April 14th, we'll celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. There were a lot of people in the crowd and many of them needed to reconsider their attitude about Jesus. I hope you'll be able to join us as we all take time to "think again".  For many of us, we've had a list of individuals that we've been praying for over the past year. These are people who are dear to us who have not yet experienced new life in Christ. The BLESS approach focuses on lovingly building friendships and having the faith that God will use us to draw others to himself. The first step is to BEGIN with prayer. We commit to praying on a regular basis for these people - asking God to reach out to them and open opportunities for them to recognize their need for Him. This Sunday, April 14th, we will be updating our BLESS list with those people God has placed on our hearts. As a part of our worship celebration, we will fill out and bring forward copies of our lists to present to God as our commitment to partner with Him in sharing the Good News with others. The collected lists will be brought to our Pacific Northwest Conference Annual Meeting at the end of April where lists from all of our regional churches will be prayed over. Then all of the collected lists from each of our eleven regional conferences will be brought to the Covenant Annual Meeting in Omaha, NE, this June. God has used our prayers and loving actions to help thousands of people come to a living faith in Jesus - some of them being people in our own lives! Why don't you begin now to pray about who you will add to your BLESS list?  On April 28th to May 4th, a group of men from our congregation will be traveling down to Rosarito, Mexico with Paul Eklund. During the week, they will be working on an addition to a Christian orphanage which is seeking to expand so that they can take in 40 additional children. There are currently hundreds of abandoned children in the Tijuana area who are desperate. While this expansion will not fix the problem, it will make a difference for the children who will now have a living home. This Sunday evening, April 14th, beginning at 5:00 pm, we will host a fund raising dinner for this mission trip. Although the men going will be paying for their own trip, there is a need to raise money for the needed building supplies. The estimated need is $7000. Please plan on joining us for a delicious Mexican meal as well as a presentation about the orphanage and the project. While we're not asking for a set amount in the form of tickets, we are asking that you prayerfully come with a generous heart. Thank you in advance for your participation in this mission through your prayers and financial gifts! We've almost arrived at the time we commemorate the most important event in history:
Jesus' death and resurrection! I hope you'll be able to join us for each of these special worship experiences: Palm Sunday — April 14th Join us for a special celebration built around Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday — April 18th, 7:00 pm This is an interactive worship experience focusing on Jesus' sacrifice for us. Through music, prayer stations, and communion, we will reflect on the hope we have through Christ. Easter Sunday — April 21st It’s the reason for our hope! Let’s celebrate it! Sometimes it seems cumbersome to lug around my 2219 page study Bible. If there was only an easier way to always have my Bible with me... Introducing the world's smallest bible! Now you can always have God's Word available in a tiny, keychain size. Yes, you'll probably need a magnifying glass... or microscope... if you actually wanted to read it. But it's not like you're really expected to read the bible, right? Just having it acts like a heavenly insurance policy - just like wearing a cross necklace or St Christopher medal. And best of all, you can purchase your own tiny bible for only $4.95! Obviously I'm trying to be funny (at least I hope it's obvious). God's Word is meant to be read. And then it's meant to be lived out in our daily lives! Simply having a bible does nothing for you. This Sunday, April 7th, we'll be finishing up our IMMERSE: KINGDOMS series by looking at the story of King Josiah. This is a story of finding God's Word, reading God's Word, and living God's Word in a way that transformed the nation of Judah. You'll find it in 2 Kings 22-23 (pages 263-267 in KINGDOMS). I hope you'll be able to join us.  For many of us, we've had a list of individuals that we've been praying for over the past year. These are people who are dear to us who have not yet experienced new life in Christ. The BLESS approach focuses on lovingly building friendships and having the faith that God will use us to draw others to himself. The first step is to BEGIN with prayer. We commit to praying on a regular basis for these people - asking God to reach out to them and open opportunities for them to recognize their need for Him. On Sunday, April 14th, we will be updating our BLESS list with those people God has placed on our hearts. As a part of our worship celebration, we will fill out and bring forward copies of our lists to present to God as our commitment to partner with Him in sharing the Good News with others. The collected lists will be brought to our Pacific Northwest Conference Annual Meeting at the end of April where lists from all of our regional churches will be prayed over. Then all of the collected lists from each of our eleven regional conferences will be brought to the Covenant Annual Meeting in Omaha, NE, this June. God has used our prayers and loving actions to help thousands of people come to a living faith in Jesus - some of them being people in our own lives! Why don't you begin now to pray about who you will add to your BLESS list?  We've almost arrived at the time we commemorate the most important event in history:
Jesus' death and resurrection! I hope you'll be able to join us for each of these special worship experiences: Palm Sunday — April 14th Join us for a special celebration built around Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday — April 18th, 7:00 pm This is an interactive worship experience focusing on Jesus' sacrifice for us. Through music, prayer stations, and communion, we will reflect on the hope we have through Christ. Easter Sunday — April 21st It’s the reason for our hope! Let’s celebrate it! |
Pastor JeffThoughts about living as a Jesus follower and life at Community Covenant Church Archives
December 2020
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