Dear friends:
As I write this, I’m fresh off our rich celebration of Easter. I’m grateful, especially for the musicians and liturgical artists who transformed our services into beautiful expressions of new life. The array of talent and commitment gathered at Covenant is astonishing.
We joked in the staff meeting about what to call this Sunday. Officially, it’s called the first Sunday of Eastertide. More commonly, we call it “Low Sunday,” mostly because worship attendance provides a stark contrast to the prior week. Some suggested we call it “Associate Pastor” Sunday (for obvious reasons) or “Cannon Sunday” because you could shoot a cannon through the sanctuary and not hit anyone.
When we looked at all this Sunday promises, we were heartened. Five baptisms, 18 Quest (confirmation) class members joining the church, excellent music, and (can you believe it!) the Senior Pastor in town and preaching. I’m glad to be here this weekend and look forward to seeing you.
In preparation, you can read this rather enigmatic passage, which we’ll explore in-depth. Perhaps you can consider the religious leaders' lack of imagination, how it limits them and, in turn, challenges us to recognize our own false assumptions. Specifically, we’ll explore what Jesus’ answer says about heaven and our growth as human beings. I’ve never preached on this passage before and look forward to exploring it with you.
We’ll have all four services this Sunday. If you’ve not tried the 11:00 o’clock Fellowship Hall service, which now includes a time to respond to the sermon, I encourage you to give it a try. The music is excellent, the food appealing, and the environment relaxed.
With gratitude for you all,
