The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.  The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (From John, Immerse 401)

I’m disappointed that the writings we have of Jesus’ life trail off when he’s a toddler and don’t pick up again until a few years before his death. What in the world were those middle 25 years like?

Maybe the wedding at Cana provides a glimpse. Here is the Light of the World hanging out at a neighborhood wedding. Jesus, partying with friends and family. He’s just one of the guests.

Then the host runs out of wine. This would be embarrassing today, but back then wedding celebrations went on for days; the host’s honor depended upon his ability to provide. This was a crisis. 

Mary knows what to do. She knows Jesus can solve this, can provide wine when there is none. This fills me with wonder. What has Mary seen that was never recorded?

Furthermore, Mary is confident Jesus will. “Do whatever he tells you,” she says, even after he refused. For this miracle is not a parlor trick, a way to entertain guests with magical powers: Jesus is moved by compassion. Just as he will throughout His ministry, Jesus acts to bring wholeness to a family facing disaster. Mary was certain Jesus could and would, so again I wonder: what has she seen in the privacy of their life as mother and son?

Just before this story, John wrote that the true light has come into the world, and the darkness has not overcome it. Friends, this is how the light of God overcomes: one act of neighborly compassion at a time.

-Catherine McNiel

Jonathan Connors will be on paternity leave for the next few months. We are excited that the amazing Catherine McNiel will be our Interim Worship Coordinator while Jonathan is gone. You can connect with Catherine about any worship-related things. Email her at catherinemcniel@gmail.com.

Custom Faith Covenant playlists coming your way! Follow our first playlist, "The Songs that Made Us," which includes all the songs you submitted to us. 

What kind of playlist do you want next? Let us know!

BLESS is the Covenant's approach to intentional evangelism. Each year, we collect the names of people in your lives for whom you are praying to come to know Jesus this year. We want to be praying with you, so on BLESS Sunday, we join other Covenant churches in submitting the names (first names only) of these loved ones.

If you missed filling out a BLESS form on Sunday, click the link below to fill out a digital BLESS form.

We will compile the list of names you submit so we can add them to our prayer list throughout the year. We will send these names to the Central Conference offices, where all the BLESS names in our conference will be prayed for by our conference. Then, all the names will be sent to Gather, our denomination's annual meeting, to be prayed over by delegates from Covenant churches from across the country.

We encourage you to be ministering to these loved ones throughout the year using the BLESS model: Begin in prayer, Listen with care, Eat Together, Serve in Love, and Share your story. Reach out to Pastor Zachs if you would like more resources about the BLESS model, or find resources HERE.

Join us for lunch and fellowship at Windsor Park on May 7 at noon. 

Pastor Zachs and Pastor Eliza will be at our Central Conference Annual Meeting Thursday- Saturday (May 1-3). Pray for them and others who will be gathering for these meetings from across our conference. 

The evening worship services on Thursday and Friday at 7:00 pm are open to all of our churches. Rev. Dr. Kanyere Eaton will be preaching on Thursday night and Rev. Dr. Danny Martinez, our superintendent, will be preaching on Friday night. 

Location: Libertyville Covenant Church, 250 N St Marys Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048

Celebrate the season with light & refreshing dishes made with spring vegetables & fruits Bring an entree, side dish, or dessert to share! Bring enough to feed 7-10 people.

Can’t contribute food? No worries, you can also make a donation. We will have a donation box at the church meal for cash or check donations, or you can click the link below and give online. Select "Give to Church Meals" in the dropdown box.

This year's All-Church Retreat is right around the corner. Mark your calendars for the first weekend of August, and check back soon for the registration and all the details! 

Please help us welcome guests by parking outside our parking lot. If you are able, please park at the Northwestern Medical building (we have permission to park there). See the diagram! Thank you for your ongoing help with this. 

Thank you to all who brought forward your stewardship planning card. It was a beautiful expression of worship! If you weren't able to join us in person, you may still mail or bring your card to this office. Alternatively, you can fill out a digital stewardship planning card by clicking on the button below. We hope to collect all responses by Sunday, May 4th. Thank you for your participation and generosity!

Don't you love the sight of kids running around with whole loaves of bread after church? We need your help to continue providing Panera bread each week!

Sign up to help pick up the bread donations HERE.
Sign up to help wrap/package the bread on Sundays HERE.

Current Class: The book of Hebrews 
Teacher: Kevin Johnson
Dates: 5/4-5/11

Let us know how we can be praying for you or how God has been answering prayers in your life by clicking on the link below!

Prayer Requests:

• Asking for prayer in motivation to finish what work I need to do, productivity so I finish what I start, and inspiration for the assignments and essays during finals. - Zanaya
• Asking for prayers for my friends and family to continue living with Christ and to become closer in relationship with Him. Also pray for my own soul during finals week. - Segae
• Praise - memorable trip to Colorado meeting great grandson- and ‘others’. - Ray & Jane H

Continue to Pray for:

• Sally & Gary H
• Ben H & family (find updates on Ben's CARING BRIDGE page)
• John & Wendy W

 Pray For Our BLESS people:
BLESS is the Covenant's approach to intentional prayer and evangelism. Listed below are names of people in your lives who you are praying would come to know Jesus this year. We are praying with you.

• Chris
• Tim
• Ron
• Alex
• Aaron

Pray For Our Church Family:

• Lily N
• Miriam O
• Barb & Bern O
• Maria & Tim O; Sophia and Ronan
• Freeman O
• Jane O
• David & Kristina O; Henry

Pray For Our Missionaries/Ministries:

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 80 years, they have partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing, and transformation to the most vulnerable.

1. Pray for the many people in our community who face personal uncertainty and decisions as immigration policies change.
2. Pray for the recovery from the earthquake in Myanmar. 
3. Pray for resolution to and peace in the many conflict situations around the world: Ukraine, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, Gaza, Venezuela. 
4. Pray for our clients who are single mothers. They face many additional challenges and are often making multiple sacrifices for the sake of their children.

Send a word of encouragement www.worldrelief.org/chicagoland.

The Care and Prayer Ministry Team prays for all prayer requests submitted through the digital and paper Connect Cards.  If you have an urgent prayer need, you can email careteam@faithecc.org or call Team Leader Rita Christensen at 630-835-8737.

Support World Relief as they navigate changes in their funding due to recent executive orders issued by our new administration. These changes impact both the critical services World Relief provides and those helping to provide these services.

Continue to keep their staff and clients in your prayers.

Week 15
Day 71 pp. 424-430 
Day 72 pp. 430-437 
Day 73 pp. 439-446 
Day 74 pp. 447-452 
Day 75 pp. 453-459 

Week 16
Day 76 pp. 460-464 
Day 77 pp. 464-467 
Day 78 pp. 467-473 
Day 79 pp. 473-478 
Day 80 pp. 478-482 

Looking for the audiobook? Listen to this week's reading here: Immerse website, Spotify, or Apple Podcast.

April 30
Cynthia Erickson
Emily Miller
May 4
Daisy Hickox
Ray Hinsch
May 6
Betsey Doebler

Wednesday (4/30)
Tiger Breakfast (7:00 am)
Choir Rehearsal (7:15 pm)

Sunday (5/4)
Morning Prayer (8:45 am)
Sunday School (9:15 am)
Worship (10:30 am)
412 Youth (6:00 pm)

Wednesday (5/7)
Tiger Breakfast (7:00 am)
Wednesdays at Windsor (12:00 pm)
Choir Rehearsal (7:15 pm)

Sunday (5/11)
Morning Prayer (8:45 am)
Sunday School (9:15 am)
Worship (10:30 am)
412 Youth (6:00 pm)

This week we continue our series Messiah with a sermon on Luke 12:35-48.

Sunday worship begins at 10:30 am. Join us in person or via live stream on Facebook or YouTube.

We have two assisted listening devices available at the sound booth every Sunday morning. Ask one of our sound booth volunteers if you would like to use one during worship!

The Community Board is a space for us to...

-Selling or Donating a Car: My brother-in-law is currently studying at a seminary. Unfortunately, their family's minivan, which they relied on for daily transportation, has recently broken down beyond repair. They urgently need a vehicle to help manage everyday responsibilities, such as attending classes and running errands, but they have very limited funds. If you know anyone who has a vehicle they might be willing to sell or, even better, donate, please reach out to Pastor Zachs, outreach@faithecc.org or 331.236.0316. Your assistance would mean the world to them! Thank you! 

Ask to borrow items
Give stuff away that’s useful to someone else 
Announce an event 
Have something to contribute? Send it to the church office: office@faithecc.org