ORLAND PARK, IL (March 29, 2011) – Evangelical Covenant churches from the south and west regions of Chicagoland will gather for a combined Seven Last Words of Christ service that will feature brief sermons by female pastors and church members.
The Good Friday service will be held at 7 p.m. April 22 at Hope Covenant Church. Lawrence Pointer, pastor of City of Truth Covenant Church (formally New Jerusalem Life Covenant Church), will present the seven last words.
Having the women respond to each of the seven words is in keeping with the resurrection story in which the angel told the women at the tomb to go and tell the disciples the “good news,” says Ryan Cooper, associate pastor of Hope Covenant. A unity choir and other expressions of praise and worship will be presented as well.
A special offering will be collected in support of Break the Chains, a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church to help eradicate human trafficking.
“This annual unity event has brought churches together in fellowship as one body of Christ no matter what race, background, or community, thus establishing lifelong friendships and a true reflection of the kingdom of God,” says Pointer, who organized the first service five years ago.
