Praise God!

February 24, 2021

Leadership Notes

Boy, oh boy {trusting you can still use that way of phrasing things}, it's 47° as I write. Things are melting, ground is uncovering, and Frosty Boy is heralding, "OPENING SOON." Somehow I want that to allude to the pandemic winding down.

I've received word that folks who have gotten their full apportionment of vaccine will be back in worship. I'm looking forward to hearing from more of you and seeing more of you! I can't believe I'm saying this, but my lovely wife and I are too young to get in the queue for the vaccine. Our time will come.

Praise God for our Deacons and our nursery volunteers. Beginning Sunday, March 7 our nursery will be open for business. Proper procedures and protocols will be in place. Our nursery team will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's for children 5 and under. This makes me so happy.

Julie Schiller and I have been in conversation about Vacation Bible School returning in July. Most of the resources from last year that didn't get used, so we'll be set for this summer. We are all looking forward to it with much joy and anticipation. Again, we will gather reasonably and responsibly.

And speaking of gathering, we are hoping to have two worship services on Easter to comfortably and carefully accommodate more people returning to worship in April. Watch for details.

It was encouraging to read the observation by a physician/researcher at Johns Hopkins who believes we're on the downside of Covid-19. For a variety of reasons leading to a variety of outcomes, he believes the virus is about ready to go the way of other viruses during other flu seasons. I'm hoping and praying he's right.

Did you see the Barna/Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University report on the spiritual views of Biden voters? Fascinating stuff. I'll report on that later. Some of the opinion results tie-in interestingly with our current series on heaven/hell/judgment/the wrath of God.

Here's something that set me back on my heels…the movie "Elf" {"You sit on a throne of lies…you smell like beef and cheese, you don't smell like Santa."} was released 17 years ago. And people who were born on or before today's date in 2000 can now buy alcohol. Thankful I'm so young at heart!

Finally, a moment of John Calvin from his Institutes of the Christian Religion:

"The only real worth which we bring to God is to offer him our

unworthiness and vileness so that, in his mercy, he may make us worthy of

him."

With Much Love and Affection,

Richard

P.S. - Covenant Church End of Winter Contest: Submit date when all snow will be gone from church property {Office Manager Lorrie Parker will make that final determination}. Prize is satisfaction of being right.