NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2024           This Sunday is Trinity Sunday; the Sunday that celebrates the Christian doctrine of “God in Three persons.”  This year it happens to fall on Sunday before Memorial Day, when America remembers and honors those who died in active military...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2024 This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Easter.  It is traditionally known as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” because that is the theme of the Gospel text assigned.  Before Vatican II began in October 1962, “Good Shepherd Sunday” was on the Third Sunday of...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2024 This Sunday will be “Palm Sunday.”  In many Christian traditions not having separate Maundy Thursday and Good Friday observances, it will be observed as “Palm/Passion Sunday.”  In doing so, while recognizing Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, with the people laying their cloaks...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J.R. FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2024 Sunday is the “Fourth Sunday IN Lent.”  On the church calendar it’s known as “Laetare Sunday,” one of two Sundays when the liturgical color is “Pink” or “Rose.”  It’s meant to be a day of celebration within the austere period of Lent; a day of...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2023            Sunday will be the 4th Sunday of Kingdomtide.  It is also the day and date of my 23rd anniversary of becoming the Pastor of Covenant (Sunday, September 17, 2000.)  So many things have changed, so many faces have come...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2023           This Sunday is the “First Sunday of Kingdomtide.”  At Covenant, we observe this newest of the liturgical seasons as a means of breaking up the 25-27 weeks of the liturgical season of “Sundays after Pentecost” or as some call it, “Ordinary Time.” However, “Kingdomtide” is not a liturgical...

NOTE FROM PASTOR JR FOR SUNDAY, MAY 28, 2023            This Sunday we observe two occasions, one liturgical and the other secular.  Liturgically we will observe Pentecost Sunday and remember the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that first Day of Pentecost after the resurrection.  Secularly, we will note it is Memorial Day...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, MAY 14, 2023            This Sunday is the Sixth Sunday of Easter, but it is also Mother’s Day.  So, Happy Mother’s Day, to all of the moms and those serving in maternal roles.              This week’s assigned gospel reading from John 14 begins with “If you love...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR ‘PINK’ SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2022            This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday IN Lenten.  Liturgically it is also called “Laetare Sunday.”   Laetare in Latin means “Rejoice.”  During the austere period of Lent, Rejoice Sunday was introduced at the midway point as a day of celebration, encouraging the faithful to look forward...

NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2023           Sunday will be 3rd Sunday IN Lent and the 2nd Sunday of Women’s History Month. The assigned gospel text is the lengthy Story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan Woman from John 4.         ...