NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR ASCENSION SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2023            This Sunday we will observe the Ascension of Jesus, that took place 40 days after His resurrection.  Luke’s account of this event is found in Acts 1 and Luke 24.    The situation is that the disciples of Jesus are experiencing...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022            This Sunday is “The Third Sunday of Advent.” The theme is “Joy.”  It’s also known as “Gaudete Sunday” and the liturgical color is “Pink” or “Rose.”  “Gaudete” in Latin means “Rejoice.”    During the four weeks of Advent as we await the celebration of Christ’s birth and Christ’s coming again; we are...

NOTE FROM PASTOR JR FOR NOVEMBER 20, 2022           This Sunday is “The Reign of Christ Sunday;” the last Sunday of the liturgical church year.  It is also the Sunday before Thanksgiving.    For as long as I can remember one of the special hallmarks of Thanksgiving Day was the...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022            This Sunday is the Eleventh Sunday of Kingdomtide. Next Tuesday will be elections in America. There is a saying that goes “God never intended for us to check our brains at the church door.”  That also applies to the ballot box.              Too...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR ALL SAINT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022  At Covenant this Sunday nearest to November 1st, we will observe as “All Saints Sunday.”  Monday is “Halloween.”  In Old English, the word “Hallow” means “holy.” So, the evening before All Saints Day is “All Hallows Eve,” or as we know it “Halloween.”  Halloween has very strong...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR PINK SUNDAY,  OCTOBER 23, 2022           This Sunday is the 9th Sunday of Kingdomtide.  However, at Covenant we will observe it as “Pink Sunday” in observance of “Breast Cancer Awareness.”  Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness is personal with me, as it was the main contributor to my Mother, James Ella Reid Finney’s...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022  This Sunday is the Eighth Sunday of Kingdomtide.  The assigned gospel reading is Jesus’ story at the beginning of Luke 18 of “The Parable of the Persistent Widow.”    Luke introduces Jesus’ telling of this story by saying, “One day Jesus told His disciples...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2022           This Sunday is the Seventh Sunday of Kingdomtide.  The assigned gospels text for Kingdomtide this year, all seem to only reenforce God’s extravagant love and grace for all people.  In the assigned text for this week, Jesus encounters...

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...