October 23, 2013

Dear Covenant family,

I enjoyed giving and receiving big hugs from my daughters this morning after they returned from Florida. Glad they are home safe! I can’t image what it would be like to loose a child like the late William Pilkenton who was one month away from turning eight years old.  His family had traveled from Bellingham, Washington, to Tofino, British Columbia for a vacation.  He and his father were walking up from the beach when his father turned to look for him and realized he was gone.

 

When children go missing, fathers start looking.  And so did this one.  Before long, the entire community was helping him search for this missing child.  Search and rescue crews scoured the area.  Search coordinator Garth Cameron said, “I don’t think there’s a square foot in this town that doesn’t have footprints.”([1])

 

When children go missing, parents go looking.  And that’s what God has done.  There’s not a square foot on earth that doesn’t have his footprints.  He began searching for them the moment Adam and Eve made a choice and lost their way.  He sent the nation of Israel looking.  He sent his Son to “seek and save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). 

 

Today he sends his church.  In Acts 1:8 we find his search and rescue plan: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 

Jesus sent the disciples into the middle of Jerusalem and told them to wait.  While they were waiting a crowd gathered for Pentecost.  Some estimate Jerusalem swelled to over one million people during this time.  The Holy Spirit came on them, Peter preached, and the church swelled from 120 to over three thousand.

 

It didn’t stop there.  The devoted themselves to “the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).  That first church in Jerusalem grounded its people in the Word, in deep community, to sharing meals and sharing Christ, and to prayer.  They had to.  The task at hand was too big for them to accomplish on their own.  They needed each other.  Mostly they needed God.

 

That hasn’t changed, has it?  We still have the same commission to be witnesses for Jesus in our Jerusalems and in our world.  We are still called to the Word, to love each other, to share life, and to prayer.  And we are still searching for those who have lost their way.

 

We are still searching because the Father still has children who are missing.  So go to your Jerusalem and wait.  God will bring you power as you serve him there.  Let’s not leave a square foot without our footprints.

 

 

Congregational Meeting

There will be a congregational meeting this Sunday, October 27 immediately following the service. On the agenda will be among others: a financial report, the establishment of a nomination committee for new positions in the church and a rescheduling of our next planning meeting.

 

Prayer and Praise Reports:

Kari returned from teaching missionaries in Florida and thanks you for your prayers as it was a fruitful time of ministry.

Richard & Carolyn Edgar thank you for your prayers regarding their move. They have found a home at the shores of Table Rock Lake. We hope to see them – possibly this Sunday – to pray with and for them in their next step.

Mildred Stringer – broken foot, Mary Janzou, Brad, Jackie Nasser, Sharon Koenig, Norm Smith

 

Church Calendar:

 

Wednesday, October 23

6. 00 – 6.45 p.m. Intercessory Prayer

7.00 p.m. ‘The making of a Godly Man’ - Men’s Bible Study

 

Friday, October 25

1.30 p.m. Bible Study - St. Francois Manor

 

Sunday, October 27

9.30 – Sunday School – “Romans” with Al & Jan Gainer

10.45 – Service – ‘the Story Ch. 28

 

• Snacks/Clean Up – Bose
• Children’s Church - Kari
• Nursery: Britney/Misty

 

Monday,  October 28

6 p.m. Women’s Bible Study 

 

Tuesday, October 29

9 a.m. Women’s Bible Study

2.30 p.m.– Alpha Course at ‘Shared Blessings’ in Bonne Terre

 

Wednesday, October 30

6. 00 – 6.45 p.m. Intercessory Prayer

7.00 p.m. ‘The making of a Godly Man’ - Men’s Bible Study

 

Saturday, November 2

8.00 - Men’s Breakfast at CBC

 

November ( 7 or 8 - to be confirmed)

‘Together’ Planning & Vision Meeting; 6-8 p.m. at CBC

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[1] Official search for missing 7-year-old ends in Tofino, B.C. at  http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/02/18/bc-missing-boy-tofino.html