Try something new

“No-one’s around during the summer in Greenville. There’s no use in trying anything new.”

That’s a statement I’ve heard at Covenant from many people. When I first arrived four years ago, I contemplated it and observed the comings and goings of our congregation. However, ultimately, I take statements like that as personal challenges. That’s why, this summer, we decided to … try something new. We thought it would be great to get people to connect during the week despite everyone’s summer schedules. To our delight, we have averaged around 150 people people participating in our 40 Days of Love study every Wednesday night! What I have especially enjoyed is watching many of these folks go through their first group experience at Covenant.

This reminds me that we all face the temptation to isolate through busyness or our own personal agendas. Often, it even seems easier emotionally to isolate, but when we do, we feel empty and alone. In fact, it isn’t healthy spiritually or emotionally for us to isolate or to delude ourselves into thinking we can make it through this Christian journey on our own. But, the Lord never meant for us to do it alone! The Lord instead made us to be in fellowship with Him and with His body on earth—other believers.

It also reminds me that each of us has to be intentional about finding a group to become a part of, to connect into. Sure, it requires time, effort and prayer on our part, but it is worth it. Now is the time to begin thinking about and praying about your schedule for the fall. Is it time for you to reassess the busyness and meet or reconnect with Covenant friends? Is it time to push through that temptation to isolate and discover the power of community in small groups? As we are all slowly turning our calendars toward fall, I want to encourage you to find a place to connect with others. There are slews of opportunities for you. It could be a block party at the Redemption Zone, one of the many different service groups throughout Covenant, or one of the great Bible studies offered during the week. It might be that best place for you to connect is through one of the Covenant connection teams like ushers, greeters, or communion servers. Somewhere at Covenant, there is a perfect fit for you! I want to encourage you to not let another semester go by without connecting to His body on earth—the Church. It will take planning and courage on your part, but the rewards are plenty. Our fall catalog of group and connecting opportunities for the fall will come out on the weekend of Sept 4/5 and Rally Weekend is Sept 11/12.

Watch for it, and CONNECT.

Jay