You are invited to a favorite Sunday worship this weekend!    World Communion Sunday is celebrated to promote Christian unity and ecumenical cooperation. In 1933, Rev. Hugh Thomson Kerr began this faithful tradition at Shadyside Presbyterian Church that has now spread throughout Churches and the world. Holy Covenant has had a rich tradition of this special Sunday. You are invited to join us for 8:30 & 10:30 in-person worship for Holy Communion. We are hoping to be outside for the 8:30 service, but aware of the wet weekend forecast. If you are planning to worship from home, please prepare communion at home to join us.    I look forward to greeting you on Sunday!   Shalom Blessings, Pastor Cheryl Murphy   Outside Sunday Worship 8:30 am OUTSIDE WORSHIP – We gather Sundays outside by the cross at 8:30 am.   In the event of rain, worship will move inside and children will be invited to … Read More

The wonderful autumn temperatures are finally arriving! I am hoping to do my fall planting soon. The 8:30 worship services are going to be more inviting with the cooler breezes.And this week at 10:30 the choir is finally arriving back in the choir loft leading us in worship! Vera and I have been waiting for them for so long – we are thrilled! Hope you will create space on the Sabbath day to be with us at Holy Covenant. I will look forward to greeting you there! Shalom Blessings,Pastor Cheryl Murphy Outside Sunday Worship 8:30 am OUTSIDE WORSHIP – We gather Sundays outside by the cross at 8:30 am. In the event of rain, worship will move inside and children will be invited to the Covenant Center for supervised play. 10:30 am Sunday Morning WorshipIn-person and LivestreamedWe hope you are joining us either in-person, or for online worship on Facebook Live. We will be on Facebook … Read More

Happy Thursday!   We have had a very busy week here at Holy Covenant. Our Holy Covenant Preschoolers have been busy learning, playing on the playground and driving tricycles all around the Covenant Center. On Wednesday we welcomed a new staff member to the HCUMC team! Laulie Eckeberger will serve as our Director of Family Discipleship. She will be at worship on Sunday and leading youth following worship. Please be sure to check out the new FACES (Foster Adopt Community Education & Support) ministry as they have the grand opening this weekend in the annex. Hope you will join us in welcoming Laulie to our church family!   I look forward to greeting you on Sunday!   Shalom Blessings, Pastor Cheryl Murphy   Outside Sunday Worship 8:30 am OUTSIDE WORSHIP – We gather Sundays outside by the cross at 8:30 am.   In the event of rain, worship will move inside and children will be … Read More

  Bring Your Bible to Church! This Sunday, we will present Bibles to our 3rd Graders and to our new Confirmation Class. We hope you will join us in worship with your own Bible as we celebrate the gift of the Holy Scriptures.   We are postponing the Reconnecting Over Carbs & Coffee event originally scheduled for this Sunday. COVID concerns are ongoing and we want as many people as possible to be able to ‘reconnect’. We will let you know when the new date is confirmed.   Outside Sunday Worship 8:30 am OUTSIDE WORSHIP – We gather Sundays outside by the cross at 8:30 am.   In the event of rain, worship will move inside and children will be invited to the Covenant Center for supervised play.   10:30 am Sunday Morning Worship In-person and Livestreamed We hope you are joining us either in-person, or for online worship on … Read More

                Holy Covenant Family,   Hope you and your family are safe and well. Sadly, the past two weeks, there has been a person that tested positive for Covid the day following worship. We are praying that our air purifiers are working in the sanctuary, but we are requiring people to be in masks and keeping apart for their own safety. The leadership is making this request with a very heavy heart, but we need you all to be safe while you are worshipping with us. We want you to go home filled with the Spirit of God and nothing that can harm you!   Jeff and I are heading north to Washington Island, WI for a family get-together over Labor Day weekend. You will be blessed by Rev. Jim Guest leading worship and bringing the Word on Sunday.   Please continue to be safe and careful out … Read More

        Hope you will join us on Sunday for our quarterly ALL CHURCH meeting. There is nothing unexpected or surprising, just a gathering of the church family to chat about our ministries, our finances, our facilities, our hopes for the next few months. I love these meetings because it gives everyone a chance to catch up on the amazing work the committees are doing.   You are welcome to join us in person for worship at 10:30 and stay for the meeting in the sanctuary or to join us for both worship and the meeting live streaming. You can ask questions at the meeting for clarity from the leadership and on the chat function as we are streaming.    Hope you will carve out time for this opportunity to learn about our holy work and give us feedback!   All are welcome!   I looking forward to greeting you on … Read More

                “Allow the children to come to me,” Jesus said. “Don’t forbid them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children.” Matthew 19:14   And the children are coming to Holy Covenant next week! We are so excited! On Monday morning, little children will return to our preschool! I can’t wait! I will return to the parking lot to greet and welcome the families as they drop children off to learn, to grow, to be a part of our community. Heather Hinton, our new director as been training teachers all week, and they are ready and excited too!   Please hold these little ones and their teachers in your prayers as we begin a new school year!   Shalom Blessings, Pastor Cheryl Murphy   Outside Sunday Worship 8:30 am OUTSIDE WORSHIP – We gather Sundays outside by the cross at 8:30 am.   In the event … Read More

Micah Sunday is going to be a wonderful program with three awesome speakers this week! The topic is Immigration: The Fate of Children Who Cross the Border Alone. The program will begin at 9 am in the sanctuary and be live-streamed on the website and Facebook. A few weeks ago we were so hopeful the dawn of our new season was upon us. Reality, however, is now setting in as our children and youth return to school, that we may be delayed in our return to “the new normal.” My heart is heavy as I hear from people on the front lines in our church family and beyond, about the increase of Covid-Delta cases in the hospitals. We will return to our mask policy inside the building to protect each other and cause no harm to others–especially our children. Please be safe and careful as we continue to move through this pandemic season. Jesus says, … Read More

All school-age children, please plan to attend worship this Sunday! Pastor Cheryl will have something special for you. Outside Sunday Worship 8:30 am OUTSIDE WORSHIP – We gather Sundays outside by the cross at 8:30 am.   In the event of rain, worship will move inside and children will be invited to the Covenant Center for supervised play.   10:30 am Sunday Morning Worship In-person and Livestreamed We hope you are joining us either in-person, or for online worship on Facebook Live. We will be on Facebook again this Sunday at 10:30 am. If you have missed any of the services, or do not use Facebook, you may also find them on our website hcumc.org.      Sunday, August 8 Scripture: Psalm 32:8 Sermon: Words of Wisdom for a New School Year Prayers of the People   Please keep the following people in your prayers this week: Karen Guest; Darrell … Read More

                Holy Covenant Family and Friends,   What a hot week it has been! The summer heat has arrived! The 2020 Olympics is energizing and challenging! And the reality of a new school year is on the horizon bringing anxiety, excitement, challenges and now it appears, masks again. Among the many lessons we are learning about resilience and determination, we are also gaining a deepening understanding of what grace means in our community.   Most of us who have been eligible, have braved the stick of the needle once or twice to receive the COVID vaccination. However, our children have not had that opportunity yet. And everyone is so thankful, in this heat to take off the mask feeling safe. But it seems that might have been a bit premature. So you are invited to join us for worship on Sunday in the sanctuary for both the 8:30 & 10:30 services. We … Read More