First off, were you here this past weekend? Did you sense the excitement, the buzz of Rally Weekend for small groups? Did you notice how many people lingered in our crowded Main Street, all searching for a place to connect? How about those new faces? Several people who entered our doors for the first time this weekend declared, “This is where I want to be!” and signed up for a small group. Now, that’s something to celebrate! In case you missed it, check out our small groups catalog and get plugged in yourself.

Rounding out the weekend, our Sunday night, Four:Twelve [FX] Family Experience was quite a hit as well. Games, contests, giveaways, worship, drama and a house full of Covenant folks of all ages laid the groundwork for speaker and family pastor, Monte Slaver. [FX] is all a part of a new culture we’re trying to shape here, a culture encouraging powerful moments when families gather, when kids and adults engage, when all who call themselves a part of our church body get involved in a dynamic, multigenerational, authentic FAMILY experience. Check out a few of the pictures here, watch for video highlights to come, and prepare for the next Covenant [FX]!

Next up here at Covenant is our annual Lake Kristi Baptism celebration this Saturday at 1pm. A couple of dozen people are publicly professing, through baptism, that Jesus will be Lord of their lives. What an honor it will be to observe those pivotal moments! So, whether you know them or not, as a part of our family, as a body of believers, come out to Lake Kristi for worship and to witness the power and transformation of the baptism experience. Click here for directions and further information.

So, with some key events behind us and ahead, let’s continue our momentum in hitting a grandslam, in Intentionally Following Jesus…

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

Enjoying the conversations around the four weeks of devotions, sharing what the Lord was speaking to each of us was equally as amazing. It reminded me that something powerful happens in a body of believers when many people are reading and praying over the same passages of God’s word. We don’t have to stop now! In fact, this can continue for you as you connect in a small group this summer.

Our summer groups system will provide many opportunities for all of us to connect in smaller groups so each of us can grow closer to the Lord Jesus and connect to His body on earth, the Church. It is essential that we do both. First, we need to grow closer in our relationship with the Lord. We need to know Him better, and He needs to know us better. Also, we can’t make it on this journey alone. It is an interesting paradox we currently live with. Culturally, we seem to want to isolate, but isolation is actually counterproductive for our growth. God designed us for community instead. We need each other within the body of Christ. And, God can accomplish so much more through us when we gather together.

The response this weekend was incredible, dare I say, miraculous! We even had lots of new families and individuals turn in commitment cards. The two staff members who confidentially entered the words and numbers on your cards (into the computer) told me they were struck by how many times they read the words faith, trust, and obedience.

This summer, the Groups ministry is inviting everyone in our church to participate in a six-week Bible study called, “40 Days of Love.”

Nothing matters more than relationships, and no one understands them better than Jesus. Based on an exhaustive study of what Jesus did and said about relationships, 40 Days of Love, by Rick Warren, guides participants on a forty-day journey that will bring new health and richness to marriages, families, friendships, and all the relationships in a person’s life. Let’s experience 40 days of love together, Covenant!

Adults and all students from rising sixth graders on up are invited to participate in Covenant’s 40 Days of Love. We will meet every Wednesday from June 16-July 28 (excluding July 21 due to VBS) from 6:45-8pm. We will meet in the West Campus Student Center for large group time and on the 2nd floor for small group time. There is a $10.00 fee for the study guide, which will be collected on the first night. Couples can share a study guide, and students don’t need one. Register at the 40 Days of Love kiosk on Main Street or online at connect2covenant.com/register.

PromiseKids childcare will be available for newborns through 11 year-olds with pre-registration and a $12 per child, 6-week fee. You can register for PK at the 40 Days of Love kiosk or when you register online.

For more information, contact Darlynn Sakowski at 355-0123×218 or at darlynn@connect2covenant.com.

I look forward to spending the summer with you during our 40 Days of Love!
Jay

Sunday was a special day. I started us with our regular devotion time. We are in the process of naming each one of our golf holes with scripture. This Sunday’s reference for #6 was Genesis 1:31, “God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day.” Our sixth basket is the one that you can see from Old Firetower Road near the gravel road entrance. It’s an average length throw for a right-handed disc golfer. Everyone knows that with a good toss, there is a chance for birdie.

I ended up in the last group this week. Our group of six included a husband and wife team, a couple of newer players, and another guy who has been in our group since we started it last year. When we reached the sixth tee, it was John’s turn to throw first. Most of us were talking and not really paying attention to John’s throw until we heard his disc hit the chains. John yelled, “I think it hit the chains!” You can’t see the basket from the tee on #6; it’s hidden by the pine trees. So, we all ran to look and see where John’s shot landed.

I think Tammy got there first. “It’s in, John. You did it.” Dave gave John a high five and a, “Way to go man.” John began to describe how he threw it, and then told us he had never made a hole-in-one before. Jim and Scott also added that they had never witnessed a hole-in-one, either. It was a grand day!

When we finished all the holes and got back to the parking lot, we came upon the others, who had waited for our group to finish. “Hey, John made a hole-in-one!” Everyone came over and had to hear how he threw it, which hole it was on, etc. We all just stood around and shared the moment. We all had places to go, but no one wanted to leave. What fun!

Of course, our connection is much more than plastic discs. We meet every week, share our stories and pray. This week, I heard one guy’s story of brokenness that God has since redeemed. I had never known how he came to faith in Jesus. We also discovered both of us dreamed about being doctors from an early age. Without the disc golf group, we never would have become friends. Another guy stayed late just to share how much Covenant Church has meant to his family since he started coming. He has a passion to be an Intentional Follower and understands—like never before—the power of a changed life. We’ve become friends through this group, too.

Most of these men and women have worked on the course by installing bridges, cutting brush, and pouring concrete for the basket poles. We are excited about the game, but we are more excited about being together and watching scores of other people come to Covenant to play our course. We hope they connect to our family as well!

Connecting with other believers is powerful. In fact, people who have a connection at Covenant forget we’re a big church because they are known by others and feel like part of a family.

If you’re not a disc golfer, it’s okay. There are lots of places here to connect with other people on purpose. Your intentional effort could be THE difference in your Christian life! There are some awesome people out there!

By the way, tell John Jenkins congratulations on the hole-in-one when you see him this weekend!

Intentionally following Jesus…
Branson