Covenant News

Cans and Bottles – An Unusual 'Offering'

REDMOND, WA (February 7, 2005) - Pastor Randy Phillips received an artificially sweet surprise a week ago Sunday when the congregation of Creekside Covenant Church celebrated his birthday by presenting him with 78 bottles and cans of his favorite beverage - Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi.

"It was pretty funny," says Phillips, who turned 48 and admits to having a daily need for the beverage.

Church staff had secretly encouraged members to each bring a container of the soft drink to the Sunday morning service. During announcements, one of the church leaders presented Phillips with nearly 50 coupons to a fast-food restaurant he frequents - in part because of it refillable sodas. The leader then drew the congregation's attention to the empty box at the front of the sanctuary, which she said needed to be filled. Members surprised Phillips by forming a long line to place the beverage cans and bottles in the container.

Phillips responded to the offerings at each of the two morning services by telling visitors in the first service that they hadn't entered some strange cult. He made sure to tell the second service, "If you were thinking that this was the morning offering, there will be another one."

Phillips helped plant the church six years ago. "We have a generous church family in a lot of ways," Phillips says. "They treat me pretty doggone well."

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