Unity Worship experience at 10:30 am

Sunday School at 9:00

May 4, 2018

Dear Holy Covenant UMC,

Our church is enjoying new faces and families visiting our church for worship with many expressing the desire to join Holy Covenant. In 2017, we had 17 people become members and 6 in the first quarter of 2018. We also have increased participation in small groups and our “feeding ministries.”  Have you ever asked yourself, “Who is that person standing in the narthex?” only to discover s/he is a member. If so, you are not alone. In fact, it has become a stumbling block for some to approach and welcome an unfamiliar family or person for fear this person is not a guest. What a wonderful problem to have, right? Our challenge for the rest of this year is to get to know one another!

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common…⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  Acts 2:42-47

Relationship is vital for a faith community to grow and serve God’s people. This vision of cultivating relationship has already begun! We have Café 2:42 designed and named for this biblical passage describing the very first community of believers. We gather for breakfast during the Sunday School hour for more than just a delicious meal; we gather for fellowship and friendship. Our Dinner Clubs have brought people into new as well as renewed friendships. LIFT: Ladies in Fellowship Together has experienced an influx of new ladies from all generations.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

Belonging, learning and loving are gifts of community. In a sincere effort to draw us closer to one another, we will have one worship experience on Sunday mornings. Starting in June, we will gather for Sunday School at 9:00 am and our Unity Worship experience at 10:30 am allowing for a time of fellowship in the Covenant Center between the two.  God invites all of us into deep and meaningful relationship, so we will be a strong, vital and unified congregation matured to love, serve, and advocate for our neighbors.

With grace and peace,

Pastor Carol Sparks

Pastor Bill Mauldin

Leanne Seabright