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Today is the 42nd day that we have been counting the omer.

Throughout the Old Testament, God highlights the requirement to be different from all those around us. This is evident as He requires Abraham, his household and all his male descendants to be circumcised. It is seen again as God verbally gives His commandments to the Israelites at Mt Sinai and then in written form to Moses. Each one of God’s commandments reflect His holiness and His standard for living. He wants a people set apart. He not only desires but requires that they serve no other god. They were to have no other god in His face. They are to only worship Him, Yehovah. He wants a “different” people so that they stand out from all those around them.

As His people, we are to imitate Him by sanctifying ourselves, setting ourselves apart for Him alone. We are to choose to more accurately reflect Him by sanctifying things in our lives such as our possessions so that even those things are holy in His sight. We are to make sure that the things we own are not used in ways that are unholy. Maybe that means what is viewed on our TV or what our vehicles are used for…. Our time is sanctified when we set apart time to be in His Presence, drawing closer and developing intimacy with Him. Adherence to His commands hopefully is the fruit of sanctifying ourselves and living in a loving relationship with Him.

Leviticus 20:23-24; 26 (English Standard Version) “You shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I am driving out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them…. I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples…. You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.”

It is very easy for us to forget how adamant Yehovah is about living and being separate from the world in which we live. I am not talking about going and living on a mountain top, having no contact with others. I am talking about choosing to live our lives in such a way that we refuse to pick up the habits of this world in which we live. Our language, what we watch or bring into our being through any of our five senses, what we approve, where we go, our behaviors, and our attitudes are to reflect our God. Yes, He knows that we are human, but that does not give us license to do things that do not reflect His character. We cannot think and act in this manner: “well, this might be wrong, but God will always forgive me”. He requires us to be different from those who do not believe in Him. We are “to walk in humility and obedience and in the beauty of holiness – the beauty of His Presence – because He wants us to be His own. He desires for us to be consecrated and devoted in love to Him alone.” (A Taste of Torah, A devotional Study Through the Five Books of Moses, Keren Hannah Pryor, 2016) He wants so much for us to grow in intimacy and oneness of heart and mind with Him, sanctifying ourselves for Him. He wants the world to look at us and know that we are different even as He wanted the children of Israel to be different from the rest of the world. Through their difference, they were to proclaim to the world that there is only one God, and His Name is Yehovah.

Our challenge today is to do even as Paul tells those living in Corinth (2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT) “Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.” Will we choose to be like Yehovah, or will we choose to be like the world in which we live?

Pastor Ann

May 23, 2020

Memorial Day is a unique holiday.  Every year it gives Americans an opportunity to reflect on the cost of answering the call to duty.  Whether you or someone you know is military, a first responder, or even a parent you recognize what that means.  When you respond to that call the outcome is not cut and dried.  You don’t know that all will end well.  There is no guarantee that everyone will survive to tell the tale.  When the call to duty is answered sometimes people die. 

Now I know some of you are saying, “REALLY? A parent?”  Yes, really.  Parents have a duty to their children that exceeds the call of our country or our community.  As a parent, protecting one’s child is the primary call.  Does that mean a person will die because they are a parent?  No.  But it does mean that if they love their children as God planned they are willing to die for them.  

God knows this price and understands this call to protect His children.  Jesus paid the ultimate price when He answered the call to protect all of God’s children by accepting responsibility for every sin ever committed.  He took that burden with Him to the cross.  By nailing those sins on the cross, Jesus protected us from eternal death and provided us the opportunity for eternal life.

We need only step out in faith.  Our call to duty is to believe that God is.  That Jesus is His son who died for us.  Our call is to faithfully proclaim our belief in Him and follow Him all the days of our lives.

If you are hungry and want to know more, PLEASE join us in the parking lot at 964 W Hwy 190 this Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.  Pastor Ann has a special message she’ll be sharing with us that you don’t want to miss.

For those of you unable to join us please check us out on FB livestream at 9:20.  You can also find us on YouTube and at our website: www.covenazarene.org

In recent months the media has encouraged all of us to become hyper-vigilant about our health.  The term social distancing has developed as way to make certain we remain apart from one another.  Our anxiety levels have increased in response to these things.

As we continue to isolate ourselves anxiety can turn to fear.  Fear of what we can’t see.  Fear of what is coming next.  Fear for ourselves and fear for our loved ones.  Fear about the economy, our jobs, homes, food supply. The list can be endless, if we allow it.

If we allow it.  God created us with free will. WE CAN CHOOSE to not be anxious.  We can choose to not be afraid.  God created us to not be timid and fearful, but to “rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen. 1:28b)  When we choose to follow Jesus, and to put the Lord God first in our lives, there is no room for the type of anxiety that rules over us. 

When we seek God in thanksgiving for all that He has provided; when we ask for guidance and lay our burdens at His feet, He will pour a peace into us that is inexplicable.  There is a certainty that He has a plan that is absolutely perfect.  We don’t have to understand, but we don’t have to worry either.  God is in control, all day, every day.  He is awake, alert and aware of each of us.  Nothing happens without His knowledge.

So what will we allow this week?  Anxiety, irrational fear or God’s abiding peace?  We each have the power to choose.

We will be meeting for Sunday service at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot. Please join us there or on facebook at 9:20 a.m. to hear Pastor Ann’s message!  We will see you soon!

Cove Church of the Nazarene

Reopening plan

1. Drive-in Sunday services for the duration of May. No children’s discipleship at this time.
2. Reopen the sanctuary on June 7, 2020.
3. Printed signs will remind people to maintain social distancing.
4. Printed signs will remind people to wear masks.
5. Everyone will wear masks for the next 2 weeks after reopening the sanctuary. Rows will be spread out and social distancing between family groups will be expected until July 2020. Seating will be done by families and directed by ushers starting from the front to the back. At the end of service, people will exit from the back to the front, encouraging social distancing. Once they leave the building, they are responsible for themselves.
6. Greeters will hold the doors open so that people are not having to grab the door handle to enter or exit.
7. Greeters will have hand sanitizer to use if they shake hands with anyone.
8. Hand sanitizer dispensers will be at the Welcome Center along with Clorox wipes to clean any writing instruments if visitors fill out a visitor’s card.
9. People will be encouraged not to give hugs or handshakes.
10. The altars will be open both for seekers as well as for those who want to help seekers as they pray. However, individuals must be wearing masks. Additionally, all individuals are reminded to sanitize their hands afterwards. The altars will be wiped with Clorox wipes at the end of the service.
11. Offering will be received in the same manner as we currently receive it. An usher will stand at the exit of the sanctuary with the basket so that individuals can give their tithes and offerings.
12. The nursery will be opened on June 7^th. It has been closed for 2 months; therefore, no coronavirus is there.  However, the provider will have to sanitize surfaces if there are toddlers who are running around playing with toys. And she will have to be vigilant about washing her hands between handling children.
13. Children’s church will occur starting on June 7^th.
14. Hand Sanitizer will be used as children come into the children’s church and as they are leaving.
15. Individual boxes of supplies for each child are designated with their names so that the child only uses their supplies and not those of others.
16. Sanctuary (chairs and altar) and children’s church room will be sanitized before the next ministry time.

Teen Discipleship

1. Teens will maintain 6 feet distancing between themselves and others.
2. Adults will wear masks.
3. Teens will use hand sanitizer when they come to class and before departing at the end of class.
4. Any tables used (game tables or regular tables) will be wiped down after use with Clorox spray.

Children’s Discipleship

1. Children’s discipleship will begin on June 10, 2020.
2. Adults will wear masks during children’s discipleship.
3. Children will use hand sanitizer before opening, entering each room and before closing. Then they will use hand sanitizer before being released back to their parents.

Wednesday evening parents’ discipleship

1. Social distancing will be maintained between family units. Tables will be wiped with Clorox wipes after use.

Bathroom use during any service or ministry or gathering opportunity

1. A different person for each service will be designated to use Clorox wipes to wipe bathroom stall doors, toilets, and handles on faucets at the sinks after each use.
2. Individuals will be encouraged to use a paper towel and then throw it away when opening the door to exit the bathroom.