Encouragement from God's Word:

Additional Resources:

The Covenant Home Altar is a devotional guide to help individuals and families visit the Word of God daily, reflect on the teaching of the Spirit, and spend meaningful time in prayer; it is written by lay people and pastors, of the Evangelical Covenant Church. www.covenantbookstore.com

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Encouragement from our Covenant family:

Christ Walked Among Us in the Guise of a Little Boy
By Janet Hanson, Hillside Covenant Church, Walnut Creek, CA

The annual All-Church Retreat had something new this year. Whose idea was it? Could anyone have known that such a simple tool could become a profound vehicle for the Spirit of God?

We were each given a little book, assembled like a passport, which read: Have as many people sign it as possible (like a stamp from each port of call), and in the signing, find out something about the other person. Some left the passport in the room, forgetting the whole intent, but others (at least half-heartedly) embraced the idea, self-consciously tapping on the shoulder people they had never met before. Then there was Jason, six years old - sixty in his intuitive grasp of what was needed. Pencil and book in hand, we wandered the camp, walking up to people one by one. Earnest, purposeful, he spent the weekend filling his book - name after name, covering every page.

Saturday evening the prize was given - to a teenage girl - for the most names written. Jason was undeterred. The prize was not what mattered. A late night concert, and he was found walking up and down the aisles, pointing to each person in turn, silently pursuing. Stepping over others' feet to claim one more for the book, he seemed oblivious to the music, the propriety of his actions. His mom told us that Jason is by nature shy and uncertain about talking to strangers. We were filled with wonder at his tenacious spirit. I was humbled in the presence of such purity of heart.

Sunday morning found Jason still looking - 145 names, but could there be just one more?

The closing service was in a redwood grove. Worship, praise, communion, sharing. Then a question was asked: "What do you want to thank God for?" A lonely widow stood, tears streaming down her face said, "Bless you, whoever gave us this way to greet one another. How many Sundays I try in vain to catch just one person's eye. Everyone is so busy rushing off with things to do. It meant so much to have so many speak to me.

"Please, let's keep doing this."

A young man, awkward of speech, grabbed the microphone, and added, "You were all so nice to me! I'm used to people being mean. Thank you for trusting me near your kids." He cried, too, and told us he loved us. Others shared and the service continued. Something holy was happening. Someone's presence was being felt in a powerful way. The leaders were all choked up. No one knew how to say what we were all experiencing. It crossed my mind that we should take off our shoes.

Drew, our emcee, was asked to give a benediction. He hesitated a moment and stood, holding something above his head. "Here is my benediction. I have in my hand Jason's book. We are all in it. No one is left out. Each one of us matters."

What else was left to say? Christ walked among us in the guise of a little boy one weekend. And we, His Church, for one shining moment, looked just like Him.