Beloved Community,    Hope you are enjoying a bit cooler weather during these dog days of summer.   Please join us for worship on Sunday as a celebration of our 50 years of ministry at Holy Covenant. We began on July 14, 1974! We found the original worship service and will be sharing it on Sunday with the choir singing the Holy Covenant Anthem. I think Laulie’s message will be a bit different than Pastor Jack’s was that first Sunday, but we are a bit different, too.   Jeff and I are continuing our journey in Colorado spending this weekend with our 4 grandsons in Steamboat Springs. We will be back in Texas next week.   Laulie has spent the week with 11 awesome HC elementary kids and many others at Bridgeport! Fun camp stories to follow!!!   I am holding … Read More

            Happy 4th of July!   Just a reminder that our church office and food pantry are closed today.   This Sunday, our Advocates for Justice & Peace will begin the July series “Bridging the Divide: Navigating the 2024 State and Local Elections Together”. Gather in the sanctuary at 9 am for the presentation “Legislature 101: The Process”. Christine Perry will explain the basics of elections and state and local government as well as where we come in as voters.   If you or someone you know is looking for a kindergarten, you are invited to come to ECDP’s Kindergarten Round-Up next Wednesday, July 10th at 6 pm. There will be snacks, games and a fun chance to see what we have to offer!   10:30 am Sunday Morning Worship In-person and Livestreamed   Join us either in-person, or for online worship on Facebook Live. … Read More

          Beloved Community!   Hope you are finding ways of staying COOL during this hot summer weather! The youth are having a wonderful week on their Mission Trip in New Mexico. We are grateful to Laulie and Elliott Beard for their leadership and love as the drivers and wise adults on the trip! Lots of stories to follow!   On Sunday we will gather for a fifth Sunday summer worship service filled with music of all types! Hope you will join us for this wonderful worship of praising Almighty God! We will have Sunday School at 9:15 and worship will begin at 10:30!   Thank you for your amazing generosity in the month of JUNE! For the first time this year we have hit over 100% of our needed funding! A wonderful way to begin the summer. Please keep up the good faithful generosity as we have some catching up to do!   If … Read More

                 Beloved Community!   Happy Summer Solstice! Hope you have fun plans for this warm day of sunlight!   At 6:45 TONIGHT we are gathering in the sanctuary to view 1946. Hope you will join us there if you have no other plans. It is a great documentary with conversation following. Laulie and I will be there to greet you!   On Sunday at 6:00 AM our Holy Covenant Youth Mission Team leaves for New Mexico. Please hold them close in your prayers! There are 17 youth and 2 brave adults serving as the Hands and Feet of Jesus!   We will gather a bit later for Sunday School classes in cool rooms! Worship will be in the sanctuary at 10:30 AM. There will be a brief reflection on our time at the Mission Possible Annual Conference a few weeks ago. Hope you will join us for fellowship, spiritual growth and … Read More

         Beloved Community!   We are hopping at the church this week with VBS Compassion Camp!  The kids, youth and adults have had a wonderful time reflecting in What Every Living Thing Needs! And tonight they celebrate community – that is all of you! The dinner, snacks, crafts, games, meditation, lessons, and music have been energetic, spiritual and fun! Thank you to all the volunteers! We couldn’t have lived through this week without you! We will give you a taste of it all on Sunday during worship.   During worship, we will be praying over the youth group. They leave the next weekend for their mission work in New Mexico. You are invited to write them a note or send a treat for them to share. (See list below.) It needs to be at the church by next Thursday.   Next week the church office will be closed on Wednesday to celebrate Juneteenth. We will … Read More

          Beloved Community!   What a week it has been! The Annual Conference this week was filled with hope, excitement and Spirit! We are so proud of Rev. Monica Frazier! And although she is not officially ours, we TOTALLY claim her! Thank you to the many who attended and watched the Worship service on Monday evening! A great celebration for all of us!   We are returning to a busy church with the preschool camp, preparing for VBS and a very busy Food Pantry supporting our neighbors! The sanctuary has been decorated for the Very Best School week of the year!!!!! Hope you will come to be part of the kickoff on Sunday morning and then return Sunday evening for VBS Day one! The theme is What Every Living Thing Needs!    We all need you to be with us on Sunday for worship! Our church family is not complete without your presence! Hope you will … Read More

          Beloved Community,    What a week it has been! Hope you are safe and recovering!   Sadly, we lost a huge tree in the backyard of the parsonage. On Tuesday, a powerless day, I was so sad about my tree. We had just spent the weekend playing in the shade with our grandchildren. On Monday evening, before the rain moved in, we sat under its beautiful branches blowing in the breeze. I loved the tree. Hanging from its branches were my colorful star lights, a blooming flowering basket and singing chimes. As we looked at the exposed roots, we realized the tree was weaker than we knew. The roots were beginning to rot. The tree was so strong above the ground and falling apart beneath the ground.    As I have grieved this week, the team of tree trimmers cut the tree into smaller pieces and stacked it on the front sidewalk … Read More

Beloved Community,   Happy Memorial Day Weekend! For many of us the beginning of an awesome summer schedule! I celebrate with the children and teachers and all parents and grandparents are moving up on my prayer list!  Hope you will join us on Sunday for a conversation about the Almighty on this Trinity Sunday. We will reflect on God the Creator, Jesus the Redeemer and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Sustainer. I am very excited to be moving into our more casual summer Sundays!   Please sign up HERE for a Saturday morning to deliver for Sack Summer Hunger (SSH). June 1st is the first day of the program and we need your help! It is a wonderful opportunity to meet our neighbors and support all the community children. See details below.  I look forward to greeting you this Sunday!And delivering SSH with you starting next Saturday!                                                                            Shalom Blessings,Pastor Cheryl Murphy 10:30 am Sunday Morning WorshipIn-person and LivestreamedJoin us either in-person, or for … Read More

          Beloved Community,    Sunday is Pentecost! Be sure to wear RED!   We know the Holy Spirit is very present here at Holy Covenant! We will celebrate The Spirit that arrives with WIND and FIRE as we receive our Confirmation Class. They have been learning and growing in their faith for this past year and are now ready to step forward to join the church!  Four of our confirmands will be baptized. You are invited to join our church family for a potluck lunch afterwards. We will have chicken provided, so please bring sides! Hope you will be here to join in on the great celebration of these amazing young people!   If God is encouraging you to become a member of Holy Covenant, you may join our church on Sunday as well!         I look forward to greeting you on this very special Sunday ~ you won’t want to miss … Read More

          Beloved Community,    These final weeks of the school year feel a bit frantic! Hope you are enjoying final concerts, sporting events, celebrations and graduations! Our Holy Covenant family is honoring our high school graduate Ava Leppert on Sunday. We will visit with her during worship about accomplishments, dreams and her future. Please bring a card to share with her!   This Sunday is a favorite one for me! The HC Youth will be leading worship. They want to share their passion, their talents, and their stories with all of us. They have planned a very special worship celebration! Hope you will join us!   We will have a Taize service on Wednesday, May 15 at 5:30 pm with prayer, silence, and communion in the sanctuary.   I look forward to greeting you on Sunday!   Shalom Blessings, Pastor Cheryl Murphy       This Sunday in worship we will be … Read More