Rhythms of Summer

May 21, 2025

Leadership Notes

     This weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. Here’s a simple reminder of what Memorial Day means:

Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last

Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while

serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2025 falls on Monday,

May 26.

It’s not day for veterans. It’s not a day for anyone who has died since his or her service ended. It honors and remembers those who have died, while on active duty, serving in a place and time of war. It is a very narrowly defined day of remembrance.

     As we think about the ultimate sacrifice made by so many {which, regardless of the context, is symptomatic of our broken, sinful nature}, is it too much to ask that the politicians and their handlers who send them into harm’s way maintain the highest level of honesty and transparency? Anything less is ethically indefensible.

     Here at Covenant Church, Memorial Day means we’re settling into a different rhythm of church life. Stupid me once thought that, for the summer months, we had to keep programming and activity at a high level. I’m glad we now know the value of slowing down a wee bit. Vacation Bible School is a huge deal. It’s always a wonderful week. But aside from that, we’re all about taking time to enjoy these beautiful months. There’s nothing like hazy, crazy, lazy days of summer. That’s a rhythm of life you won’t catch me arguing against.

     As always, worship is our primary focus. That won’t change. While our music leadership will vary to accommodate vacations and weekends away, our voices will be raised in glory and honor and praise to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I can’t say this enough…I love how we worship. As humanly possible, we avoid gimmicks and focusing on ourselves. Too many times, in too many places, churches take on the aura of social clubs focused on their members. For us, we try to keep it as simple as possible…worship goes up and out. We are praising God and being equipped to carry that praise out into His world. I think I can hear you saying “Amen” right now.

     I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to the rhythms of summer.

     And now, your Moment of Spurgeon:

“There are some things that men take pleasure in now-a-days

that are only fit to make idiots laugh, or else to cause angels to

weep. Do be choice, Christian men and women, in your company.”

One last word from Walter E. Williams {How I loved that man’s heart and mind}:

“The Founders knew that a democracy would lead to some kind of

tyranny. The term democracy appears in none of our Founding

documents. Their vision for us was a Republic and limited

government.”

With Much Love and Affection,

            Richard