Dear Friends and Members of Covenant Presbyterian Church,

“Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place” (Genesis 28:16).  We have been singing this song throughout Lent as we think intentionally about God in Christ in our lives in this Lenten season.  Our Lenten Devotional Guides track this same theme with daily readings from scripture that reflect on the presence of God in our daily lives.  The children in the church have been acting out the reality of Jesus with us this Lent as they have taken a Jesus doll with them on family activities and taken pictures of the Jesus doll as a reminder of Jesus who is with us in everything we do.  Jesus is with us at teacher’s conferences, a Hanna Montana movie, Karate, dinner, cub scouts, the pancake breakfast, the Sonlight camping trip fund raiser, preparing sandwiches for the overflow shelter, Presbytery meeting. In other words, Christ is with us in everything we do. That is a good lesson for this Lenten season.

So I invite you to pick up the devotion guide, “Surely the Lord is in this Place” and use it this Lent to guide you in discovering Christ is our midst. Where have you have seen Christ this year?  The year is only two months old and yet I have seen Christ is so many places this year already. I have seen Christ in the Rabbi for Human Rights, Rabbi Arick who stood in front of bulldozers in Israel to protect Palestinian homes from being demolished. I have seen Christ in the enthusiasm of the Bing, Rattle and Bop Troupe as they sing about God’s Big, Big House.  I have seen Christ in the tiny baby, Delilah, being baptized before her surgery.  I have seen Christ in the hands that prepare food for the overflow shelter during the cold streak.  I have seen the Body of Christ in the arms of many congregation members comforting a sister in Christ after the death of her brother.  I have seen the healing presence of Christ as a member of our church speaks or walks for the first time after stroke or surgery.  Surely the presence of the Lord IS in this place.  I thank God for the privilege of working in a place and with a people in whom God is present daily, weekly, monthly and forever.

I invite you to share this Good News with your family and neighbors who are searching for hope and purpose and meaning in their lives.  If they like to eat, invite them to come to the Chili Cook-Off on March 9^th after worship, the Easter Breakfast on Easter morning starting at 7:30 am or Wednesday night dinner every Wednesday at 6 pm.  If they like to play sports invite them to play volleyball on Friday night or basketball on Sunday afternoons.  If they are looking for mission you can invite them to serve food at the Lord’s Diner on the second Friday of each month or go to Greensburg with us to help in tornado relief.  And what ever else you invite people to, remember to invite them to worship.  Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday, March 16^th with the celebration of Jesus coming into Jerusalem years ago and into our lives today. We will share the Lord’s Supper with Jesus and his disciples on Thursday, March 20^th at 7 pm.  We will remember the death of Jesus on the Cross on Good Friday as we share an adapted version of a program written by Rev. Bill Brewer “Three Redemptive Days” with music by the Chancel Choir.  And we will awake early Easter morning to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus at the 7:00 am Sunrise Service, 7:30 Breakfast and the 8:30 and 11 am Worship Services.  Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place!

                                                In the presence and power of Jesus Christ, Pastor Rob