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,...

NOTE FROM PASTOR JR FOR TRANSIGURATION SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022            This Sunday is the last Sunday of the Epiphany Season.  Liturgically, it is called “Transfiguration Sunday.”  It is also the last Sunday of Black History Month.  And, it will be the final sermon in my Epiphany Series, “The Ways of Steadfast Love.”            The Transfiguration...

NOTE FROM PASTOR JR FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2022  This Sunday is the 7th Sunday after the Epiphany.  It is also the Sunday we traditionally celebrate the founding of Covenant 41 years ago.  Our anniversary observance this year is limited to recognizing it as part of the sermon as we just limitedly returned to...

NOTE FROM PASTOR JR FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2022  This Sunday is the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany and the day before Valentine’s Day.  My commitment to utilize the assigned lectionary texts whatever they are during this series was challenged this week as I sought to tie them to “The Ways of Steadfast Love,” or for...