The SEC in Review….

Bridges on the Move

     BRIDGES, the new church start in Tavares, Florida had its first Preview Service on Sunday, Nov. 4.th.  Approximately 74 people were in attendance for the service, and provisions were made for children and infants as well.   The event was held in a spacious building remodeled with new paint, and carpeting, as well as updated classrooms and bathrooms.

     The now disbanded Asbury Covenant Church, formerly in that location, graciously gave its facility for the new start.  Church Planter, Mark Andrews, built his sermon around the theme of "Clean," the cleaning up of lives that each of us needs.  A mud soaked truck on the screen helped to visualize the need for God's cleansing.   A six member worship team did a great job providing music.   Service participants and the Leadership Team met, along with their families, for lunch and a time of  evaluation following the preview.

A second Preview is planned for 10 AM, December 2nd.  In between, there will be a barbecue family night in November. 

 A Christmas Eve service is also planned for 5 PM on December 24th. For more information go to www.bridges.to, or call Pastor Mark at 352.205.5552.  A selection of photos from the first Preview can be seen here:

http://southeast.covchurch.org/home/sec-news/southeast-conference-update/bridges-first-preview-service#DSfEXZD_Bs35Jz9AFxHkVw

Thanksgiving Program at New Life Covenant Church  

     Children, parents, volunteers, special guests, and members of New Life Covenant Church, located at 575 Travis Street, shared in a wonderful multi-cultural themed Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by the ministry’s S.A.Y. Yes! Youth Development Center.

            Guests wore garb, ate foods, listened to music, and viewed arts and crafts representing various countries. The idea for the event was birthed out of the S.A.Y. Yes! youth’s weekly geography center’s effort to expose the children to what is happening around the world.

     Participants included Pastor Tim who welcomed the guests in prayer and a call for reconciliation. S.A.Y Yes! Director Mary Ann thanked God for an array of happenings and things from other countries, including peace in Congo and pizza from Italy.

     New Life Mission Year students Emmy, Libby, Ian, and Jennifer coordinated a wide variety of decorations, exhibits, foods, desserts and hot beverages. Foods included Jerk Chicken, Brazilian Potato Salad, Mexican burritos, Russian Tea Cakes to name a few. Exhibits included authentic and children crafted necklaces, headwear, rugs, and fabrics hung from the ceiling. Guests even had the opportunity to color placemats. The S.A.Y Yes! children had already displaced their placemats, and adults were given the challenge to see if they could color better than the little ones.

As usual, the highlights of the event came from the children. S.A.Y. Yes! Teen, Melvin, render the Thanksgiving Psalm 100. Khadijah read a heartwarming poem titled “For This We Give Thanks” and Yolanda admonished guests to ‘keep the pie off their thighs’ in “A Poem for Thanksgiving”. New Life associate Pastor Emily led a parade of S.A.Y. Yes! children, covered with decorated hats and necklaces. The children received a standing ovation as they were introduced.

     The children gave the audience samplings of music native to various countries. S.A.Y. Yes! Teen, Donald, selected Jose Ben’s Brazilian version of “Ay Caramba.” Mentors William and Taye performed their own version of “Diamonds in the Rough.”

     Prior to the finale multi-cultural offering of desserts and fellowship, Lewis Autor, the recently named S.A.Y. Yes! Director of Operations, and youth mentor, Tory, saluted the awesome volunteers from the Church of the Apostles with a token of appreciation, the Yolanda Adams song “The Things |We Do.”

The SEC Looking Ahead…

•   SEC Board meeting January 4-5 to be held at Mt. Bethel Covenant Church in Summerfield North Carolina

•   Be on the look out for the SEC posters sent to your churches, please make sure they are  posted.

Prayer Request….

• The SEC Annual Meeting planning team
• Dr. Owens- safe travels, good health, and family
• SEC congregations:  pastors, new church plants

Praise Reports….. 

Wee would like to praise God and congratulate Kemoria Granberry, a member of Kingdom Covenant Church in Miami, as she has begun to receive acceptance letters from medical schools.  Praise God!!

Thanksgiving Message from Robert

     As we enter this Thanksgivings season we can be especially thankful for family, freedom and friends. We are grateful that God can and will grant us health, healing and habitation. We are reminded, daily, of God’s mercy and grace in our lives and the abundance which he bestows on us as a people and nation. I encourage you to take time out this season of the year to pause from the chores of life and reflect on the preciousness of God’s abundance on your life, no matter how great or small, and after reflection just give thanks.