If you have been around Wellspring the past few weeks you have been hearing a lot about ‘covenant.’ What’s up with that?
Covenant is not a word we often use outside of church. But what is it about? Webster defines ‘covenant’ as ‘a solemn compact between two persons or parties.’ More than a contract or agreement, a covenant implies a deeper level of commitment based upon a relational connection.
At Wellspring many years ago we felt led to frame church membership around a covenant that we make with the Lord and one another. This is based upon the primary role that covenant plays in the Lord’s use of covenant to define his relationship with Israel; and then in the new covenant with the church. The covenant we employ at Wellspring is based upon the new covenant that the Lord has entered into with us through the work of Jesus on the cross and our faith in what he has done for us. Our Wellspring covenant defines how we seek to live with one another and walk with the Lord as a community of faith. Except for the introduction the entire covenant comes from Scripture, as you can see below:
We covenant together to:
- live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. (Ephesians 4:1 CEV)
- love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and with all our mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Luke 10:27 NIV)
- live in the light, as God does and thereby share in life with each other. (I John 1:7 CEV)
- submit to one another out of reverence for Christ and to serve one another with love. (Ephesians 5:21, Galatians 5:13 NIV)
Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life. (II Corinthians 3:4-6 NIV)
On Sunday, May 6 both of our services at 9am & 11am will be built around communion as we renew covenant with the Lord at his table and in renewing covenant with one another by affirming the Wellspring covenant. For those who are already members of this congregation, the covenant is a vehicle to re-affirm that membership. For those who would like to formally join this congregation, affirming the covenant will give you the opportunity to express that desire to become a member. Those who are happy to continue to be part of the larger Wellspring community can affirm the covenant without also seeking to become formal members.
Please plan to be with us that Sunday morning, May 6. I look forward to seeing you.
– Pastor Rick