A Note from the Pastor

Holy Covenant,

This Sunday, we’re shaking things up with Mix-It-Up Sunday! We’re inviting you to sit somewhere new, connect with someone you might not normally sit next to, and experience worship in a different way. Our service will have a different flow, new liturgy, and creative ways to engage, which very well could become part of our worship life moving forward!

Trying something new can be exciting, but it can also feel a little uncomfortable. We’re creatures of habit, and church can be one of the places where we find comfort in routine. But stepping into something different can open us to new perspectives, deeper connections, and a fresh experience of God’s presence.

In Isaiah 43:19, God declares, “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” God is always leading us forward, inviting us to let go of what is familiar to make space for something life-giving and transformative. This Sunday, as we mix it up, let’s embrace the opportunity to see worship, and each other, in a new way.

And after worship, I want to invite you to stay for our Spring Brunch Potluck! Please consider bringing a dish, pastries, muffins, breakfast casseroles, or fruit salads, and join us as we gather around the table for good food and the new friend you made in worship.

I hope you’ll come this Sunday with an open heart, a sense of adventure, and maybe even a willingness to say, “Hey, I think we should mix-it up more often!” See you Sunday!

Peace and Blessings,

Rev. Christopher Czarnecki

Holy Covenant UCC

Senior Pastor

Lenten Season

April 6

On the 5th Sunday in Lent, join us for “Mix-it-up” Sunday,

with a Spring Brunch Potluck following worship.

Pastries, Muffins, Casseroles and Salads

April 13

Palm & Passion Sunday

Let’s celebrate our Confirmands together!

April 17

Maundy Thursday 6pm

April 20

Easter Worship 10:55am

Bring fresh flowers

for the cross

April 27

Celebrate Earth Sunday with the Creation Justice Team

Lenten Devotionals

“YOUNG VOICES: STEPPING OUT OF THE WILDERNESS”

This 47-day devotion walks you through Lent and concludes with the good news of Easter Sunday. All entries were written by UCC youth and young adults between the ages of 12 and 35.

See these daily devotions on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HCUCC.Church

https://www.facebook.com/groups/61370940062

We will have a limited number of printed copies available.

Substitute Sunday School Teacher Needed – April 13

We are looking for a substitute Sunday School teacher to step in for Joann Jellison on Sunday, April 13th. This is Confirmation Sunday, and Joann has been a dedicated part of our confirmation journey from the very beginning, we want her to be fully present for this special service.

Our Child Care Assistant, Autumn Holt, will be there to help, so you won’t be on your own! If you’re available to serve in this way, please reach out to Joann Jellison or Pastor Chris. Thank you for considering this opportunity to support our children and our church community!

Confirmation Sunday – April 6 (Palm Sunday)

On Sunday, April 6th, we will gather for a special Confirmation Sunday, which falls on Palm Sunday, a day rich with meaning in our faith. As we remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, a moment filled with both joy and deep commitment, we also celebrate six of our youth who have completed their confirmation journey.

During worship, we will honor and bless these six confirmands as they affirm their faith and take this important step in their spiritual journey. This is a time for us as a church family to surround them with love, encouragement, and support as they continue growing in faith.

After worship, we invite everyone to a small reception in the Gathering Room to celebrate our confirmands. If you’d like to share your congratulations, cards are welcome as a tangible way to show them our love. Let’s come together to lift up and bless these young people as they step forward in faith!

Maundy Thursday Dinner & Tenebrae Service –

April 17 at 6:00 pm

Join us on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 6:00 pm for a deeply meaningful Maundy Thursday Dinner & Tenebrae Service. We will gather in the Gathering Room for a simple meal of soup and bread, sharing in conversation, singing, reflection, and communion together, remembering Jesus’ final meal with his disciples.

Following dinner, we will move into the sanctuary for a Tenebrae service, walking through the Seven Last Words of Jesus as we reflect on the meaning of his crucifixion. This service weaves together the themes of both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, drawing us into the depth of Christ’s life and death.

If you would like to bring a soup to share this evening, please sign up on the sheet in the Gathering Room (coming soon). We hope you’ll come, bringing your presence and spirit to this sacred evening.

One Great Hour of Sharing

This Sunday, we join churches across the United Church of Christ in receiving the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, a vital expression of our faith in action. As one of the UCC’s five special mission offerings, One Great Hour of Sharing provides critical support to communities facing hardship, funding international programs in health, education, and agricultural development, as well as emergency relief, refugee assistance, and disaster response both globally and here in the U.S.

Through our collective generosity, we extend Christ’s love beyond our walls, reaching those impacted by war, natural disasters, and economic hardship. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference. By giving, we also help Holy Covenant remain a 5 for 5 Church, faithfully supporting the wider ministries of the UCC.

To contribute, please write "OGHS" on the memo line of your check or envelope. If giving online, select One Great Hour of Sharing from the donation options. To see how your giving makes an impact, please watch the short video.

Thank you for being part of this life-changing ministry!

In Our Community

Join the Open & Affirming National Gathering

Before the United Church of Christ’s General Synod this summer, Open and Affirming (ONA) churches from across the country will come together for the 2025 ONA National Gathering, happening July 9-10, 2025, at the Kansas City Downtown Marriott.

This year’s theme, "Sacred, Seen, and Called: Living Our Truth, Embracing Our Light," is inspired by Philippians 2:15, a call to shine as beacons of justice, love, and affirmation. At a time when LGBTQ+ communities face growing challenges, this gathering will be a space of worship, learning, resilience, and celebration.

Participants will experience:

Dynamic speakers and workshops featuring faith leaders, activists, and theologians.
Powerful worship celebrating God’s love for all people.
Community connections with ONA advocates from across the country.
A State of the Movement address from ONA leadership.

Every ONA church is encouraged to send at least one representative! Whether our church has been Open and Affirming for years or we’re continuing to grow in our commitment, this gathering is an incredible opportunity to connect, learn, and help shape the future of LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church.

Early Bird Registration: $250 (includes four meals) – Available until April 25, 2025
Regular Registration: $325 after April 25, 2025
Scholarships Available: Email ona@openandaffirming.org for details.

For more details and to register, visit: UCC Open and Affirming Coalition

Let’s continue living into our call as an Open and Affirming church, being a place of love, justice, and affirmation for all!

Holy Covenant Connections

You're invited to be a part of our church Pictorial Directory! May 1-4

Holy Covenant United Church of Christ is excited to partner with Heritage Church Directories this spring to create a pictorial

directory of our congregation. This full color directory will include all our congregations’ photos as well as our rich history

and current ministries. This will be a beautiful heirloom and a functional book for getting into deeper relationship with our

congregation. We ask for your participation in an effort to love our neighbor and get to know each other. You will receive a

free directory as part of our thank-you gift for participating.

To make this endeavor a success, we invite all our congregants to participate.

Heritage Church Directories will offer professionally produced prints of the portraits, candids, and church promotional shots

captured during this event. You may bring family or any other extra outfits for additional photos, you can even bring pets!

Heritage is here to make this event special and would love to photograph what is most important to you. Everyone will

have the opportunity to purchase packages and pictures a la carte at the time of the event. You are under no obligation

to purchase anything. The Heritage Directory will be made available to all of our faith family who are photographed.

Schedule your appointment by the above QR code, or this link:

Heritage Directories at Holy Covenant UCC

Thursday, May 1, 3pm-8pm

Friday, May 2, 3pm-8pm

Saturday, May 3, 10am-1pm, 2pm-7pm

Sunday, May 4, 1pm-5pm

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

We are hoping to have a group from the church go to the Charlotte Knights game on Saturday, July 19. We always have a lot of fun! The game starts at 6 pm and is against the Gwinnet Stripers. Tickets should be $20 each and if we have over 20 people or $27 if we have fewer than 20. Right now availability is good for a block of seats so please sign up soon if you want to attend. The goal is to have a firm count on number of tickets to order by April 20. Payment info will be sent in an email then. If you have questions please contact Martha Bomely, martha.bomely@gmail.com.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ACAD23A2FE3-48668551-charlotte

Sojourners Class

Join us for a book study of The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem by Marcus Borg and John Crossan. Amazon has only an "acceptable" paperback plus hardback copies. Another good source is thriftbooks.com where you will find "good: and "very good" paperback copies as well as less expensive hardback copies.

Hope you can join us either in person or via Zoom—no preparation necessary.

We gather Sundays at 9:45am

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89561758099?pwd=d1gvUmh3K2hCNmdidm1QdjllNkF5QT09

Meeting ID: 895 6175 8099 Passcode: 986788

Game Night, Saturday, April 5

All are welcome! We start around 6:30pm.

Join us in the Gathering Room for fellowship and fun!

Bagged Lunch Build, April 27

No experience needed! We are making 100 bagged lunches for the Giles Center on April 27. This center is affiliated with A Roof Above and provides overnight shelter (and bags lunches) for homeless men. Stay after the worship service and join us!

Compassion Closet

Compassion Closet is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes clothing and linens to asylum-seeking migrant families here in Charlotte. Please donate new or gently used (& laundered) men’s, women’s and children's shoes and clothing, as well as towels and sheets. You'll find the collection box in the gathering room. Thank you!

Mark Your Calendars –

Charlotte AIDS Walk, May 31

Join us for the Charlotte AIDS Walk on Saturday, May 31st, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Truist Field. This annual walk is an opportunity to show support, raise awareness, and help make a difference in the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS in our community.

You can walk with our team, sponsor a participant, or make a donation by visiting: Holy Covenant UCC Team Page

Let’s come together in love and solidarity, hope to see you there!

Please consider these invaluable ministries, which play a big part in our extravagant welcome to newcomers, as well as a meaningful part of our congregational family!

Worship Volunteer Sign-up

Greeters and ushers are needed starting at 10:30am every Sunday. Liturgists and readers roles are also available. Please sign up in the Gathering Room or at

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ACAD23A2FE3-ushers.

Fellowship Hour Hosts Needed

Please sign up in the gathering room for light refreshments after worship on Sundays, plus set-up and clean-up.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ACAD23A2FE3-sunday1#/

We welcome all in our congregation to participate in worship leadership. Download the app to make signing up even easier!

https://www.signupgenius.com/mobileapp

Prayers

Meal Train for Alice Phelan

What is Meal Train?

There are times in our lives when friends and family ask, "What can I do to help out?" The answer is usually to help them with a meal. When many friends provide support through a meal, Meal Train keeps everyone organized.

MealTrain.com is a free meal calendar tool that makes planning meals among a wide group easy and less stressful. Thank you!

https://mealtrain.com/rlqe4l

Please Remember in Prayer

Members

Mel & Christine Andersen, Liz Colton, Kevin Decker, Tina Ettesen, Jana Harrison, Laura Hankins, Jim & Faye Humphrey, Sharon Landis, Sue & Bill Pascucci, Isabelle Reedy Powell, Beth Sharp, Anita Taylor, Darline Warren, Sally Young & Alice Phelan

Friends & Family Members

Family & Friends in the recent death of Carl Farrow (Jeff Edwards-Knight)

Sandra (Carl & Phyllis Johnson), Beth, Michael & Julian Bliss (Robert Shepherd), Gary Bomely (Martha Bomely), Melissa Brown, Reva Dixon, Kim Dixon VanFleet (Diane Neese), Tina Ettesen, Kent Hansen (Kristen Fuchs), Jeanne Hord (Diane Neese), Pam McGill & Pam Culp (Melissa Noll), Deby Gumpper (Dawn Simmons), Cindy Hedrick (Barb Schneller), Henry Hildebrand (Bill & Connie Hildebrand), Charles Jernigan (Lee Parrish), Dave Johnson, Richard Lease (Barb Schneller), Earl & Susie Morgan (Ed Vickery), Larry & Karen Roark (Ed Vickery), Michelle Sharp (Beth Sharp), Janet Wakefield (Linda Burby), Brian Weddell (Jon Weddell), Kim Wiggs-Gamblin, Scott Whitley (Jay Whitley)

If you wish to add someone to the list, please send a note to

prayers@holycovenantucc.org.