NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2022           This Sunday is the 5th Sunday of Kingdomtide.  The assigned text is from Luke 16, Jesus’ story of “Lazarus and The Rich Man.” In this familiar story, Lazarus was the rich man’s “neighbor in need.”  Lazarus lacked food to eat and the resources to even...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 Today is the Third Sunday of Kingdomtide. As I shared earlier, the assigned scriptures for Kingdomtide speak to living out the 2nd of the 2 greatest commandments. We see it repeated in Luke through Jesus’ actions and teachings. In beginning...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2021  This Sunday is the Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost.  The assigned texts from Jeremiah and Luke speak to the importance of touch, God’s touch.  Any healing touch we receive from another person is God’s touch.  The person doing it is simply...

NOTE FROM PASTOR JR FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2022            Sunday is the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost.  The assigned text has terminology that seems out of place or inappropriate for 2022 if your goal is to encourage people in being prepared and ready to make the most impact of God’s call on...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2022           This Sunday is the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.  The Gospel lesson assigned is yet another familiar story from Luke.  This one begins with a person in the crowd asking for Jesus to intervene in an inheritance dispute.  Jesus declines to get involved but does...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2022           This Sunday is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost.  I will be continuing with Part 2 of my sermon series on Covenant’s Vision which is “To be an inclusive community of faith – Offering Hope + Showing Faithfulness – Sharing Joy.”            When we...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2022  This Sunday is the 5th Sunday After Pentecost.  I will begin my first of a 3-part series on Covenant’s Vision Statement.  Our vision statement is – “To be an inclusive community of faith – Offering Hope + Showing Faithfulness + Sharing Joy.”    In the first...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022            This Sunday is the 4th Sunday IN Lent.  This Sunday is also known as “Laetare Sunday.”  “Laetare” is Latin for “Rejoice” and it is one of two Sundays in the liturgical year when the color is “Pink.”  Why do we need a “Rejoice”...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2022           This week is the Second Sunday IN Lent.  In the assigned gospel text, Jesus was being encouraged to flee from where He was at the time because of a threat to His life from King Herod. Jesus doesn’t flee.  Instead, He sends...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, March 6, 2022            This Sunday is the First Sunday IN Lent.  At Covenant, we observe it as Purple Sunday by encouraging all attending worship in-person to wear something purple. Lent is meant to be a time of self-reflection and repentance. Repent means to change directions.  So, during Lent,...