Archive for February, 2009

Each week, you’re to read daily ten-minute passages that over the course of the year will trail you right through the Old and New Testaments. A group meets every Sunday, between morning services, from about 10:35 to 11:10 in the sanctuary, to talk about what you’ve read. Email pastortrey@holycovenantumc.org for more information. Readings for the week are as follows:

Friends in Holy Covenant,

Lent. Someone has called it a time for the greening of the soul. I love that image: a fresh shoot coming from a place that’s been crumbling for a long time. A hard heart made soft again. An icy spot melting.

Some Christians like to use Lent to rehearse the old script that human beings are pitiful, desperate worms, and that there’s nothing good in us, nothing worth using. We don’t believe that at Holy Covenant. Methodists have emphasized the deepest truth that humanity is created in the image of God. We understand the renewal of that image in our lives as the goal of faith…that’s what salvation is: the restoration of the image of God in us. Join us this season at Holy Covenant for “RESTORATION: a sermon series on reconstructing the spirit and finding yourself again.”

Some say, Oh, but that’s a new, modern take on Lent. Well, no. Consider the work of liturgical theologian Aidan Kavanagh, who writes in The Shape of Baptism that Lent in the early church was a time of preparation in solidarity with those who were coming into the Church. “This expansion of the preparatory fast in favor of those about to die and be raised in [Christ] is the genesis of Lent. It was a time less of negative penitence than of positive preparation for the whole Church to relive and thus renew its own conversion in the passage of its catechumens into life in Christ through baptism.”

So the journey begins again. As we move towards Easter, join us for worship that blends eclectic music, diverse faith and art forms—a place of hope where God can shake us up by reminding us who we are and send us out to re-create and re-arrange the world.

Peace,
Pastor Trey Hall

Friends in Holy Covenant,

The Talmud—an ancient collection of rabbinical conversations on Jewish law, customs, and ethics—contains this admonition: One will have to give account in the judgment day of every good thing which one might have enjoyed and did not.

The season of Lent is upon us—a liturgical time of self-examination and reflection on “how it is with our souls.” Sometimes we make mud of Lent, and drag ourselves through an obstacle course of abnegation and sacrifice. And sometimes that is fine and good and needed. This year at Holy Covenant, we’ll be paying attention to ourselves in good Lenten fashion, but not necessarily by going the road of denial and renunciation. We’ll spend time reflecting on how we are called to grow in love, to live life fully, to enjoy life, and to enjoy God. We’ll be talking about RESTORATION. We’ll try to learn, as the Talmud teaches, that perhaps “judgment” includes accounting for the full, good life we were offered but neglected to accept.

Mardi Gras, which we celebrate this Sunday, is a great chance to live a little into that good life. Bring the beads, wear your dancing shoes, get ready for New Orleans blues and jazz, and come to sing your heart out for God, and with God.

Peace,
Pastor Trey Hall

Friends in Holy Covenant,

We’re grateful for God’s blessing of our third service launch this past Sunday night, when 110 people showed up to worship. The sanctuary was filled with shadows, the sound of voices harmonizing, people moving quietly to receive bread and cup, to light candles as prayer. It was an amazing experience.

We heard so many comments after the service:

• “It was so easy to invite friends…we met for dinner beforehand and then came to church together.”
• “This is exactly what I need…the chance to just relax and take it all in, to reflect in the moment on what I am experiencing.”
• “The music was so beautiful. I loved singing together.”
• “I feel like I’m beginning my week with a deeper attentiveness to God in my life.”

What did you think? Take a moment to offer your reflections HERE. We’re planning now for the next services and would love to hear from you. Also, we’ve launched now, but that’s no reason to stop inviting. Let’s continue to build invitation as a fundamental, foundational ministry for what it means to be church. Make a personal invitation to a few friends now.

Peace,
Pastor Trey Hall

P.S. In addition to this worship launch this past weekend, the Holy Covenant Green Team has launched an amazing challenge to GO GREEN as individuals and as a community. Read more below and check out this video invitation from Rachelle and Vince Amlin.

Every Tuesday evening at Holy Covenant, Dignity Diner offers a meal to the homeless and hungry of our community. Usually on the fourth Tuesday of every month, Holy Covenant is responsible for providing volunteers to help cook, serve, and clean up after the meal. Holy Covenant is responsible for providing volunteers on Tuesday, February 24. If you are able to help this month or on the fourth Tuesday of any month, please contact Steve Bindrich, Dignity Diner Lay Leader. If you cannot come to the Diner on a Tuesday but would like to find out other ways you can get involved, or with any other questions, please contact Kara Teeple, Director of Dignity Diner.

Greetings! Whether you are a first time visitor to Holy Covenant or a seasoned parent, I wanted to welcome you and remind you of our weekly opportunities for children. We have a “Time for Young Christians” (TFYC) every week during both of our morning services and Sunday School during our 9:30am service following TFYC.

I will be updating our “Parent/Family List” for H.C., so please feel free to add or review your information. Also, stay tuned for upcoming opportunities in ministry for parents and/or families, including a Lenten event, an Easter celebration, and VBS (Vacation Bible School).

Finally, we want to hear from you! What would you like to see for children, families, or parents at Holy Covenant? Please send your questions or suggestions to: donellesommer@holycovenantumc.org.

See you in worship!
Donelle Sommer

Each week, you’re to read daily ten-minute passages that over the course of the year will trail you right through the Old and New Testaments. A group meets every Sunday, between morning services, from about 10:35 to 11:10 in the sanctuary, to talk about what you’ve read. Email pastortrey@holycovenantumc.org for more information. Readings for the week are as follows:

Kendra Knop has been invited to participate in a People to People Student Ambassador program traveling to Australia for 20 days in the summer of 2009. This is a program started by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to foster peace and understanding between people in different lands. During the months leading up to the trip, Kendra will be participating in a service project in this country and learning about the history and culture of Australia. Once in Australia, some of the things she will be experiencing are: participating in another service project, visiting an aborigine village, spending time on a ranch in the outback, helping a marine biologist with his research, snorkeling on the great barrier reef, learning about the government of Australia from a government official, and repelling down a cliff. In order to participate in this educational experience, Kendra needs to raise the money needed to cover her expenses. She is asking members and friends of Holy Covenant to help her realize this opportunity by sponsoring her. When she returns, she would be willing to share her pictures and the journal she will be keeping about her experiences. To sponsor her, please contact office@holycovenantumc.org.

Holy Covenant is sharing Christian conversation about celebrating Christian marriage/holy unions for gay and lesbian couples. Over the next several months, a task force of 15 congregants will come together to study and pray, in order to present recommendations to the church at our next Leader Summit (May 2). The task force members would love to talk with you over the next month about your questions, hopes, concerns, and recommendations.

Over the past year, Holy Covenant has been developing a deeper relationship with Humboldt Park United Methodist Church, a largely Hispanic congregation. This Sunday, February 8, Pastor Trey will be preaching at Humboldt Park and Pastor Fernando Siaba, Humboldt Park’s pastor, will be preaching at the 11:15 a.m. service. A number of lay people will also be involved in the exchange. We look forward to welcoming our sisters and brothers this week in our late morning worship.