ECC-Evangelical Covenant Church
Love Over Fear: Not One of Us
Welcome! This fall we are exploring the theme of "Love Over Fear", using biblical passages and themes from Dan White, Jr.'s book by that title. Many have said that this season is the most divisive in recent history for our nation. What does it look like for people who are loved by God to learn to love their enemies and bring healing to our polarized world? We hope you'll join us on the journey! Be sure to join us each week, in person or online, at 10:30am, ecclife.net/stream or facebook.com/ecclife.
Locations & Times
Evangelical Covenant Church
3600 S 9th St, Lafayette, IN 47909, USA
Sunday 10:10 AM
Pre-register for September 27 Service
Please pre-register so we know how many attenders to expect on Sunday. <br>http://bit.ly/ECCSept27
Downloadable Bulletin
https://www.ecclife.net/uploads/2/7/2/8/27288883/9.20.20_bulletin.pdf
Communication Card
Let us know you attended today's service! You can also sign up for newsletters or prayer. <br>https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e054baaa923a2fc1-20200920
How to Connect at ECC
Click below to explore many opportunities get connected even--or especially--in this time of social distancing.<br>https://www.ecclife.net/connect.html
Adult Christian Formation
Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. on Zoom. The Adult Sunday School class is<br>following a video series called <i>Me and My Big Mouth</i>. This series, by Andy Stanley, will talk about how we can prevent our mouths from getting us into big trouble. https://www.ecclife.net/zoom.html
Wednesday Morning Men's Fellowship
Men, please join us each week at 6:30am. The ECC Wednesday Morning Men’s group is starting a new study of Philippians. We will meet by Zoom until face to face group meetings are approved. For an invite, please email Bill Oakes (oakes@purdue.edu). We'd love to see you there!
Congregational Meeting
Today, following the 10:30am service, we will hold a congregational meeting. We have some very important matters to discuss, so please plan to attend! We will hold this meeting in person (with social distancing) and via Zoom and our private Facebook page. <br>https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87282770149<br>https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603038106414893/
Children’s Ministry Families
Join us for a picnic on the lawn at ECC, Sunday evening, September 27, at 5:30pm. Bring a picnic blanket, dinner for your family, and any lawn games you’d like to play. There will be shaved ice available for dessert (donations appreciated, but not required.) As we gather, we’ll share details of how we envision re-opening our Children’s Ministry (nursery through elementary kids) on Sunday, October 4. Please rsvp below if you plan to join us! <br>https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e054baaa923a2fc1-childrens
Food Pantry
September 22 and 23 are our days to staff the food pantry. They are currently operating as a no-contact, drive-thru pantry. Volunteers are needed to help unload the Food Finders truck on Tuesday morning and to pack boxes and load cars Wednesday afternoon. Please sign up below. You can contact the church office with any questions. <br>https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4EABA923AB9-Tippecanoe
Women's Bible Study - NETam/pm
NETam and NETpm have started, but there is still time to join! Both are utilizing the study guide <i>What the Women Saw</i>. NETpm meets on Tuesdays on Zoom at 6:30pm. NETam meets on Thursdays on Zoom at 9:30am. Check ecclife.net/women for more information and to sign up!<br>https://www.ecclife.net/women.html#net
Women’s Connection Opportunities
Been feeling isolated? Missing "me" time with husbands/kids in the house all the time? New to the area? Recently retired? Ready to see your friends in person? Or maybe you would like to make some new friends? Join us at one or more of the below options!<br>• Connection and Coffee: Fridays, 9:30-11:00am. Join us for some girl talk under the portico at ECC! Please bring your own chair and beverage for some outdoor, socially distanced fun with friends!<br>• Mid-Week Mingle: This Wednesday, 6:30-8:00pm. Bring a camp chair and drink to the ECC parking lot to catch up with each other and maybe meet someone new!<br>• Frist Fridays: Friday, October 2, 9:30-11:00am. Lynette Hamer’s home. First Fridays is a dedicated coffee and conversation time, open house style, that rotates to different homes on the first Friday of each month. First Fridays will meet outdoors with space for socially-distanced gathering or a Zoom online option.<br>• S’more Social Time: Sunday, October 11, 6:30-8:
Believer Baptisms
We will be holding Believer Baptisms on October 11. For those who have come to know and seek to follow Christ, baptism can be an important step. Baptism is an outward and visible sign of something that is inward and invisible. It's the place we make public profession of our faith in Christ, making it known to others. If you've never been baptized and feel that you are at that place in your own faith journey where it is time to take that step, we invite you contact the office.
Marriage Night
We are planning to host a Marriage Night from RightNow Media on October 10 from 7:00-10:30pm at ECC with social distancing. The Marriage Night seeks to encourage couples in their marriage while pointing them to our faithful God. We hope the Marriage Night will be a meaningful and refreshing time for you and your spouse. Tickets are $15. If you are interested in this event, please go to ecclife.net/connect to sign up.
Giving Online
You can give your offerings here. You can also give to special areas by commenting in the memo line. https://bit.ly/ECCGiving
September 20, 2020
Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Stacey Littlefield, Lead Pastor
Have you ever felt ostracized from a group you wanted to be become a part of? Why did you feel ostracized? What made you an "outsider"?
Dan White, Jr. makes the case in Love Over Fear that what causes us to avoid or attack others is fear. Read the quote below and respond to the questions that follow.
“Many of us cuddle and coddle fear because it just makes more sense than the generous, open posture of love. We believe love makes us vulnerable to harm while fear protects us. Love compels us toward people—fear creates a buffer. Love causes us to lean in and listen—fear tells us we don’t need to hear any more. Fear offers something in return—a sense of control and safety, placing our wants, our needs, our anxieties at the center of importance.” (p.22)
Can you think of a time in current events or in your own life experience where any of the above sentences seem to come to life? Can you think of a time when you were drawn to fear those who were not like you in some way, but were later able to see them differently, more graciously?
Read Matthew 5.43--48. What does "perfection" look like in the context of the passage?
Watch a few ads and ask of each of them, “Where might this commercial be using fear to sell me something?” Do the same with political ads. Where do the candidates attempt to harvest our fear?
What do you think John or the other disciples might fear about the unnamed man who is driving out evil spirits?
The next time you find you are becoming angry about something or someone, ask yourself, “What potential loss or scarcity is fueling my fear in this situation or with this particular person?”
When you are angry or are struggling with hatred toward someone or something, try to answer this question: When I look upon the words and lives of those who trouble me and I am tempted toward anger or hatred, what am I afraid of?
As you identify the fear at work in your life, practice repeating the following as a way to center yourself in the love of God: I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights. I live in the strong and unshakable kingdom of God. The kingdom is not in trouble, and neither am I.
God, this day, I desire your forgiveness and mercy; I need your grace and peace to reign in my life and relationships. I confess my sin and selfishness to you. I confess that I cannot do this on my own, and I ask that you grant me your grace and peace, and that you teach me how to live as you lived. I choose daily to surrender myself to you, though I know I will not do so perfectly. I choose daily to rely on your grace to forgive me, to heal me, and to transform me. In Christ’ name, Amen.
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.