It has been my pleasure to be the Interim Pastor for Community Covenant over these past 4 months.  I don’t have to tell you how fast times flies!  The area is wonderful and the people are fantastic!  If you are reading this looking for a church home, you would be wise to check out this church!

            I am struck by how we are standing at the intersection of preparation in two big ways. This week we begin our preparation called Lent.  Though our themes in worship won’t touch much of this (in conjunction with our new pastoral couple we decided that they will lead out on that) Lent is a time for preparation to remember how our sin put Jesus on the cross and our need is for a Savior.  Preparation is important because Easter doesn’t mean much without going through Good Friday.  In other words, resurrection will not mean much without thinking and reflecting on the death of Christ.

            But we are also preparing for the arrival of the new pastoral couple, Ryan and Devyn Chambers Johnson.  Now is when excitement will be building as we lead to their coming on April 3.  I had been thinking for a month of what would be best series for this time.  I thought about the kinds of intangible gifts that have meant the most to me in the last 20 years of ministry.  Clearly, tangible gifts are very welcome and appreciated.  But, there are some intangible gifts a congregation can give their pastor which can ensure a wonderful ministry together.  For, the church doesn’t just call a pastor, but chooses to begin a missional relationship of people called by God to journey together for a season.  As I thought about the intangible gifts I’ve received as a pastor, 3 stand out.  As I developed the ideas behind these gifts, I realized that they are intangible gifts we can give anyone in relationship with us.

            On March 13, we will look at how Jesus dealt with a woman caught in a sin.  We won’t focus much on the sin because this is secondary to how Jesus handled the situation.  One intangible gift to be given is grace.  We will be uncovering a bit about what grace really means.

            March 20, we’ll look at my favorite person in Scripture (other than Jesus, of course):  Barnabus.  His nickname was “son of encouragement”!  What relationship doesn’t need encouragement?  Pastors need encouragement as much if not more than most professions.  I know how much encouragement gives me strength.  Then, I realized that to “encourage” is to “give courage”.  We’ll see how Barnabus gave courage to the disciples.  In the ministerial relationship encouragement also takes the form of teamwork, enthusiasm, permission to rest, and follow through.  All these provide encouragement as well as the cards, letters, words, or e-mails.

            Finally, on March 27 we will probably look at the Apostle Paul and how he gave hope to people.  Any relationship to thrive needs hope.  This is especially true in a relationship between pastor and people.  In this relationship respect and accountability are included in hope.  There is always hope for tomorrow!  That is what helps us arise every morning!

            We’d love to have you visit us during this month of preparation.

God Bless you!

Rev. Earl E. Dunbar