While visits to all of our congregations are a favorite part of my call, every once in a while there’s a congregation that really makes my heart sing!  This weekend was one of those times. I visited Covenant in Temple while Pr. Heath Abel is on sabbatical. The fact they blessed their pastor with a sabbatical automatically makes it a good visit.

I got there plenty early and did some exploring to see the work they’re doing on landscaping. Then I got to see the playground expansion they’re working on for the Mothers’ Day Out program.

Twice a week, this program offers a full curriculum for the children who participate. They even added a garden plot for the children to do some planting as they learn.

It also happened to be Peanut Butter Sunday this week. Once a month, members of the congregation stick around after worship to make PB sandwiches and prepare lunches to feed the homeless. They regularly put together 100 bag lunches and serve an additional 150 hot lunches, taking turns with other area congregations and organizations.

It was also the week for the council meeting where I heard about even more good ministry.

Every week, a group from the congregation takes communion and leads worship for about 20 residents at Country Lane retirement home. They also lead a weekly midweek Bible Study for those residents.

They also put together hundreds of school backpacks, with a goal this year of raising $700 for supplies. They surpassed that and raised $1000.

Membera have stepped up to do so many things while Pr. Abel is on sabbatical too, and worship and giving have been strong all summer. To top it off, plans are coming along for the annual Wurst Fest, which raises money to support so many of these ministries.

This congregation really does take the gospel out into the world!