Holy Covenant United Methodist Church

Have you ever been overwhelmed so much that you can’t think? Overwhelmed so much that the very thought of thinking gives you a headache? Overwhelmed so much that you can’t sleep? Overwhelmed so much that you begin a project 5 times before you “think” you might have something to go on? I don’t know about you, but I seem to be overwhelmed at the moment.

Why is it that we just can’t trust that everything will be just fine, because honestly in the end, it usually is fine. That’s not to say that it always is because at times its not. I am continually drawn to the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. It is a book that can be controversial at times. Some people look at it and say that it is a negative, depressing book. I, on the other had, look at it and say, “okay, this is real life.” Life has its ups and downs, but no matter what, God is faithful. Probably the most well known passage from Ecclesiastes is the following:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones
together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.”
-Ecclesiates 3:1-9

I hope you can find comfort in these words because at some point in life we find ourselves on both sides of “a time to…”. We are nearing the holiday season, which can bring up many different emotions and circumstances, so know that there is hope; know that God is ever faithful.

peace,
kim chapman, parish intern

Check out this news story featuring the church of former parish intern, the Rev. Katie McKay. Even Holy Covenant gets a mention.

After much reflection and conversation, the Leader Summit has said “Amen” to a Sunday evening service to launch this Winter, probably in early February. The ethos of this service will be markedly different from our two higher-energy services on Sunday morning (both of which will continue): it will be simple, acoustic, unplugged, low-tech, relaxed, and reflective, with time for singing, silence, peace, regular Eucharist, and other reflective ways to relax into the love and presence of the Eternal/Holy/Divine. All people are welcome, and the service will be designed to reach out particularly to people who are unchurched/dischurched, students and other people for whom evening is a more “natural” time to worship. For more information, check out our Facebook Group page: the launch proposal and rationale are posted on the Discussion Board section. We’d love to hear your ideas. If you’d like to help or make a suggestion, please let us know.

Sisters and Brothers at Holy Covenant,

Well, it’s happened. For several weeks already, I’ve been visiting my garden, expecting to find the squash plants withered and blackened, or at least the basil curled up on its stems, victims of the frost. But each time, although the plants started to look rough around the edges, I was surprised to find the garden still growing. Now finally, with this week’s cold weather and frost, it’s time to pull up what’s left of this year and throw it onto the compost pile.

Plenty of us, myself included, mourn this change of season, the greyer skies, the shorter days, the wind that makes walks along the lake prohibitive. All change is hard won and brings some loss with it. But there is comfort here, too, as we move into another season. Early dinners when it’s already dark outside, good sleeping weather, Thanksgiving, moving towards Advent.

I’m including a poem by Adrienne Rich that I have loved for many years. I’ve heard it read aloud at farm dinners in early September when the bounty is so great that we think we’ll be happy for an end to the tomato harvest. This year, for the first time, when I read it I thought of the brief “summer” that is our time here together on this earth, in this way, and the gift that is ours from God. As I clean up my garden, I am so grateful for my days there this year, with the sun on my shoulders. But how much more grateful for all my days, for the time we have.

This high summer we love will pour its light
the fields grown rich and ragged in one strong moment
then before we’re ready will crash into autumn
with a violence we can’t accept
a bounty we can’t forgive
Night frost will strike when the noons are warm
the pumpkins wildly growing the green tomatoes
straining huge on the vines
queen anne and blackeyed Susan will straggle rusty
as the milkweed stakes her claim
she who will stand at last dark sticks barely rising
up through the snow her testament of continuation
we’ll dream of a longer summer
but this is the one we have:
I lay my sunburnt hand
on your table: this is the time we have
–Adrienne Rich

May this week find all of us at a table with someone we love and may we remember to invite others to God’s table, in this brief summer that we have together.

In peace,
Rebecca Anderson, Parish Intern

This Christmas Eve, Holy Covenant will have our traditional Candlelight and Carols worship service in the sanctuary. And afterward, we’ll take the carols to the streets, well, to the bars, actually! Join us for this outreach project as we partner with Broadway United Methodist Church in Lakeview. We’re planning to coordinate with the management of two local bars-one in Lincoln Park and one in Lakeview-to host two short “services”-basically some Christmas carols, a short inspirational Christmas message, and an invitation to come and check out our congregations in the New Year 2009. We’ll pass out invitation cards. Are you interested in helping out? We’re looking for roving musicians of all sorts to provide music. Email pastortrey@holycovenantumc.org if you’re interested!

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS AT HOLY COVENANT: “ON OUR WATCH”

As we watch the skies for a star and keep vigil for the Christ child this year, we’ll also be taking seriously our mission to love all people and change the world. Watch this space for more information about how Holy Covenant will celebrate the season by helping to make a real difference in the lives of hurting people around our city and world.

Sunday, November 30

First Sunday of Advent: Hanging of the Greens Service

Sunday, December 7

Second Sunday of Advent: Service of Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 14

Third Sunday of Advent: Children’s Christmas Pageant

Advent Festival following worship

Sunday, December 21

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Thursday, December 24

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (7:00p)

Two bar outreach services following in Lincoln Park and Lakeview (9:00p and 10:00p)

Dear Friends in Holy Covenant,

If you’re interested in politics at all, you’ve likely consumed huge doses of CNN, MSNBC, blog content, and other media in the past few days. Maybe you’re elated with the outcome of some of the races. Maybe you’re disappointed. Maybe you’re a little of both.

Whether your candidates won or not, whether your issues prevailed or not, I invite you to pray for the current and incoming leaders of our country, state, and city. I invite you to pray that amidst our great political, social, and theological diversity, we might find a way to work together for a better world.

One of the inspiring Christian leaders in this nation is the Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners, a progressive-evangelical (those words are not mutually exclusive, you know!) movement that engages the intersections of faith, politics, and culture. I’ve heard Rev. Wallis speak many times, and while I don’t agree with him on every issue or question, I do experience him to be a contemporary prophet for justice and peace. If you’re interested in thinking more deeply about how/if faith issues can/should influence national policy, take a moment to visit http://www.sojo.net/ or HERE, where no matter how you voted you can add in your prayers for our country’s and world’s future.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been reminding folks that no matter what happens on Wall Street, no matter who lives in the White House, Holy Covenant’s doors are open and our mission is clear: Seek God. Love All People. Change the World.

Whether you’re a Republican, a Democrat, Green, Independent, or none of the above, you’re invited, you’re asked, you’re welcome to join us.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Peace,
Pastor Trey Hall