Church Family Update - August 12, 2020

There was an accident with one of the construction workers on-site at Covenant yesterday. I do not know the details but I did watch out my office window as an ambulance came and took someone away on a stretcher. Let’s be in prayer for that situation. 

Wyatt’s memorial is this Saturday, August 15. Due to the limitations on the number of people who can attend this celebration of Wyatt’s life, it will be live-streamed on Tim B’s Facebook page and it will be recorded for later viewing as well.  Please continue to keep Tim and Nolene and the whole family in your prayers.

A note about Thursday coffee: 

We won’t be having coffee time on the patio for the month of August but I am hopeful that we can resume this practice in September. Thanks to everyone who came out and participated. I enjoyed the conversations and fellowship. 

An update from council:

Our council met last night and had an excellent meeting. Thank you for your prayers and support. We discussed many topics related to the ministry of our church during these unusual times. As is to be expected, we are not all agreed on all these issues. But our love for the Lord and for one another was evident last night. We are committed to faithfully serving the church to the best of our ability and with the help of the Lord. 

I know I speak for all of us when I say that it’s truly a joy to serve on this team. At some point in the near future council will convey the contents of our discussions and will keep you informed of any decisions that have been made. Again, thank you for your ongoing patience and support.

A Devotional Thought:

"Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:14-15

About a decade ago I was preparing to preach at a friend’s funeral who had died of a brain tumour. I was flipping through his personal Bible and came across the story of Lazarus. In the margins my friend had written: “Tragedy is opportunity.” I immediately had my theme for the funeral meditation. 

My friend’s insight applies to our situation as well. We’re in a difficult season but it’s also a time of great opportunity. And so I would like to go on the record and state that I am not looking forward to things getting “back to normal.” I just did a quick search through all my Ebenezer Updates and I see that I’ve used that phrase a number of times. I’m going to try not to use it anymore. I don’t want to go back. I want to go forward. I'm not hoping for "normal." I'm expecting “better than ever.” 

These are difficult times but God is at work in our midst. He’s using these circumstances to shape and grow and refine us. Oftentimes we picture God as a potter but this morning I’m picturing Him as a Divine Sculptor. He’s got His hammer and chisel in hand and He’s shaping us into the image that He wants us to bear. It’s violent and painful but it’s good. 

So when this is over, let’s not get back to normal. We’re different now. Let’s try to learn all the lessons that the Lord is teaching us through this and let’s reflect that in the way that we function as a church. Sometimes my family teases me for my unrealistic optimism but I feel a high level of confidence that when this storm has passed things won’t go back to normal. They’ll be better than ever. 

Have a blessed day,

Pastor Jason