Nikki Zimmermann, pastoral resident for mission and outreach, is sharing the impact of neighborliness with us. She had two experiences at the Mezzanine recently that have enriched her life.
Molly shares with us that after reading the book, The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede, she wondered how she could be a beacon of light to someone in need. Covenant Impacts Charlotte gives us a perfect opportunity to practice service, goodwill, and friendship.
In today’s Weekly One Takes, Bob Henderson reflects on the passing of a dear friend and the many things he learned from her. He recalls, in particular, her generosity and faithfulness, and encourages all of us to consider how the ways we live – what small acts, decisions and dispositions that we display -- shape what others will remember of us. “It’s a good exercise,” he says, “a humbling exercise.”
In today’s Weekly One Takes, Katherine Kerr chats with Serenitye Taylor, Pastoral Resident for Congregational Care, and Laura Capranica, our new Faith Community Nurse, both of whom joined the Covenant staff this week. Serenitye and Laura share a little bit about themselves and what they bring to their new roles. “I believe we are creating a team that is going to do extraordinary things here in bringing this community together as we come back from the pandemic,” says Katherine, “providing the best kind of care as we navigate the challenges as well as the joys in a community of faith together.”
In today’s Weekly One Takes, Bob Henderson reflects on our return to in-person worship in June and invites us to consider the decision-making rubric that has guided members of Covenants Re-Opening leadership team since the pandemic began, which is to love God and our neighbor and to use the freedom we have been given in Christ not for self-indulgence, but to serve one another. He asks for patience as the church strikes a delicate balance between being responsive to current conditions and proceeding with deliberate caution. He shares what the congregation can expect at Covenant in the coming months and closes with an invitation "to live with a deepened sense of gratitude and a heightened sense of care."
In today’s Weekly One Takes, Grace Lindvall reflects on the name given to the early Christian church, hodos, which means “the way.” It described the people who followed the way of Jesus. “They weren’t people who arrived at any one destination,” she says. “They weren’t people who had life or faith all figured out. They were people who continued to learn and grow and constantly worked to practice the way of Jesus Christ. The way of love, reconciliation and peace.” Grace invites the congregation to participate in this summer’s series, See. Grow. Act. as a way to continue to keep growing, learning, and stepping out in faith, trusting that we are all seeking the way.
In this week’s Weekly One Takes, High School Youth Director Martin Pruitt reflects on our Covenant Youth’s resiliency and shares all the good and exciting things in store for them through the church this summer. If you didn’t get to tune in to Youth Sunday, he invites you to take some time to watch the service in the worship archives on the Covenant website to enjoy remarkable prayer, reflection and music led by Covenant’s young people.
In today’s Weekly One Takes, Middle School Youth Director Alyssa Pacheco reflects on a year that has looked very different for the young people she leads and their grace and resiliency in leaning into necessary change. Following last week’s eighth grade confirmation and looking forward to this weekend’s Youth Sunday, Alyssa shares, “I can’t help but be excited for all that they are going to teach us. They’ve taught me so much about my faith and how it’s constantly changing and how we are constantly growing. I know they have so much to teach us all.”
In our new weekly One Takes, Bob Henderson invites the Covenant community to join tonight’s discussion with the Arts Task Force on controversial figures depicted in the stained glass windows, carvings and art in our sanctuary. “Come and learn. Come and be open to new ideas and new growth. And come accepting Jesus’ command to fear not, because when we are un-afraid, we have constructive options about how we can live fully.”
In today’s One Takes, Grace Lindvall reflects on Nancy Sutton’s devotion on lament. She reminds on this Good Friday that God has experienced all of the pain that we encounter. “For those of us who are lamenting, we can hold complaint and frustration and trust in God as one. And today, on Good Friday, we recognize that we see pain in the world, and we sit in that pain, while also holding on to the trust that we know that in three days Jesus will be risen.”
In today’s One Takes, Katherine Kerr reflects on Tommy Lawson’s devotion on God’s commandment to love everyone. Katherine talks about the pervasiveness of love and the inescapability of Christ’s call on us to love one another. “I challenge you to think about what it might look like to love more fully each day of your life.”
In today’s One Takes, Bob Henderson reflects on Grace Lindvall’s devotion on daily renewal of our inner nature. He talks about the interrelatedness of everything in nature and the benefits of spending time outdoors and connects both to the health and vibrance of our spiritual life. “There is a renewal that is constantly going on by God claiming us and knowing us and helping us become renewed.”
In today’s One Takes, Serenitye Taylor reflects on a devotion by Kelly Trexler about how God has knit us together and challenges us to grow through situations that push us out of our comfort zones. She reminds us that, as we grow in our understanding of who God is and how he has made us, we can lean into uncertainty, knowing that the one who knows us intimately continues to walk with us. “When we think about the ways God has blessed us and continues to guide us and direct our lives, we can say God has been too good to keep it to ourselves. We get a little nudge in that God is with us in the midst of our delay.”
In today’s edition of One Takes, Grace Lindvall reflects on Drew Quartapella’s devotion on what it means to hope with anticipation, rather than expectation. Grace reminds us that hoping for a change is good, but that we must be patient and diligent in that anticipation. “Hope is a discipline, not just a feeling that bubbles up in us, but rather something that we practice.”
In today’s One Takes, Katherine Kerr reflects on Kim Harclerode’s devotion that explores What happens to hope when things don’t go the way that we think that they might.