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NO KINGS RALLY TOMORROW
We are invited to join once again in the latest No Kings rally tomorrow, Saturday, March 28. In advance of this 1:00 pm Boston Common rally, Covenant is joining other people of faith for the “Prep and Pray” gathering at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul at 12:00 noon. Madeleine and Jon have volunteered to be point people for COTC, and will be present to gather people inside the Cathedral on Saturday. If you need to reach them via phone: 617-309-6692 (Jon), 617-309-6568 (Madeleine). Click here for more information about the “Prep and Pray” gathering.
LIFE ALIVE BIBLE STUDY
This Saturday, March 28, at 12:00 noon, Life Alivers will meet for Bible study in the Williams Library on the second floor. Contact Rev. Joshua (joshua.lazard@cotcbos.org) if you have any questions.
BACK IN THE SANCTUARY ON SUNDAY!
The roof work continues, but we are grateful for a little reprieve and will be worshipping in the sanctuary (and online!) on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING OFFERING ON SUNDAY
Each spring, our congregation participates in the special offering called One Great Hour of Sharing. Both the UCC and the PCUSA join together with the American Baptists and the Disciples of Christ and five more denominations to raise funds. The funds are used worldwide for disaster relief, community development, support for refugees and migrants, and other efforts to provide safety, sustainability, and hope.
Examples of efforts supported by One Great Hour of Sharing include:
- Rebuilding in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene
- Providing humanitarian relief in South Sudan
- Community development in poor neighborhoods of Miami
- A public health clinic in Afghanistan
This Sunday, March 29, you may use the special envelope in your bulletin or give online (cotcbos.org/give – choose One Great Hour of Sharing). Remember – if we all give a little, it will add up to a lot.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING & COFFEE HOUR ON SUNDAY
A congregational meeting (in person in the sanctuary and on Zoom) has been called on Sunday, March 29, immediately after the worship service for the purpose of hearing a report from Council following up from the Annual Meeting about how best to “right-size” our budget to best serve our Missional Plan. This meeting will also address our Associate Pastor position as directed by our Call Agreement with Rev. Joshua. Coffee and muffins will be served.
MAUNDY THURSDAY SIMPLE AGAPE MEAL
On Maundy Thursday, April 2, join us at 6:30 pm, for a simple agape meal in Bates Hall. We have the joy of welcoming Abhishek back with us for this meal in person with his mother. Please RSVP here.
SOLIDARITY IS SACRED: GOOD FRIDAY PUBLIC WORSHIP & ACTION FOR IMMIGRATION JUSTICE
This Good Friday, April 3, at 4:00 pm, in downtown Boston, Christians and people of faith will gather in prayer and protest in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors. Immigration enforcement tactics have long threatened the safety of our neighbors. But in this moment of authoritarian breakthrough, state violence is intensifying, causing fear and outrage in our communities. RSVP here. During Holy Week, Christians remember Jesus’ death as a confrontation with – and triumph over – the powers of empire. Jesus’ crucifixion was God’s ultimate act of solidarity with persecuted people – an act that calls us into radical solidarity with the crucified people of today. Through story, ritual, and song, we will lament the violence against our immigrant neighbors, demand the abolition of ICE, and hear again God’s call to loose the bonds of injustice and set every captive free (Isaiah 58:6). From the cross to the detention center, all state violence must end. While this action is based in the Christian tradition and practice of the stations of the cross, people of all faiths and no faiths are welcome and encouraged to attend. Following this public, prayerful action, please join us for our 7:00 pm Good Friday service at COTC.
HOLY SATURDAY ONLINE VIGIL
Join Covenant on Zoom on Saturday, April 4, at 2:00 pm, for a simple, contemplative 30-minute online vigil.
HOLY SATURDAY EASTER VIGIL
Join GLOW on Saturday, April 4, at 5:30 pm (with FIRE at 7pm) at Newton Presbyterian Church for our Easter Vigil Intergenerational Dinner Church. This is a safe and loving space that is intentionally queer and trans affirming. We’ll share scripture and song, time for discussion, Communion and a potluck dinner. Adults, youth and kids of all ages are invited - everyone is welcome! The Great Vigil of Easter is an ancient tradition in the Church that proclaims God’s victory over sin and death through Christ’s resurrection. Traditionally the service begins at sunset on Saturday, in keeping with the ancient understanding of evening being the start of a new day. We will share a meal and move through the four traditional movements of the vigil – the service of light remembering Jesus as the light of the world, the service of readings – remembering the stories at the heart of our faith, a remembrance of our baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, giving thanks for new life in Christ and anticipating the joyful feast of the realm of God.
Please bring something vegetarian to share if you are able, and let Jen Slater (newenglandglow.rym@gmail.com), Kate Carlisle (kate.carlisle@cotcbos.org) or Tom Reid (revtom@npc-ma.org) know if you have any questions.
REV. JOSHUA’S DISSERTATION DEFENSE
COTC’s very own Associate Pastor, Joshua Lazard, will be defending his dissertation on Monday, April 6, at 2:00 pm, at Boston University School of Theology (745 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 345). If you have any questions, reach out to Rev. Joshua at joshua.lazard@cotcbos.org.
WELCOME CHILDREN & YOUTH!!
Welcome to all children, youth, and families—those we know already and those who are here for the first time. Sunday’s worship is specially designed with all ages in mind, and we hope that the young ones among us will take part, especially in the Procession of Palms and in Holy Communion. The nursery is available downstairs for families and little ones – you are welcome to come and go as works best for you. On regular Sundays, we offer Christian education through Godly Play for ages 3-9, youth classes for ages 10-13 and 14+, and a nursery for the littlest ones. If you need help finding us, please ask an usher. We share CYCE info regularly via email, so please email Rev. Kate at kate.carlisle@cotcbos.org if you want to receive updates.
COVENANT CONNECTIONS
Are you in college? Just moved to the Boston area for grad school? Are you early in your career and looking for a spiritual home? Covenant Connections is a small group for those looking for a spiritual community to discern what God has next for them through Bible studies and connecting over meals. If you want to know more, email Rev. Joshua at joshua.lazard@cotcbos.org.
LIFE ALIVE BRUNCHES
Every third Sunday, Life Alive meets immediately after church for monthly fellowship. Life Alive is a small group for adults navigating career, family, and life transitions. If you want to join or have questions, see or email Rev. Joshua at joshua.lazard@cotcbos.org. Next brunch will be April 19.
PARKING NEAR CHURCH OF THE COVENANT
Parking is available at the Back Bay Garage (Clarendon Street, between Boylston and St. James) on Sundays between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm for the first three (3) hours for only $5. To get this rate, please ask an usher before or after the worship service for a parking discount voucher. A weekend discount is also available for longer periods: $10 for up to eleven (11) hours. A scannable parking voucher is available from an usher and at this link: https://tinyurl.com/cotcsundayparking2.
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UPCOMING WORSHIP
Please join us each Sunday at 10:30 am and during the special services listed below as we come together in community to pray, sing, share celebrations and concerns, and hear God’s still-speaking Word proclaimed in these hybrid services (in-person and Zoom options). Zoom link for each service.
- March 29: Palm Sunday (EXHORT), All-Ages Service, Congregational Meeting After Worship with Coffee Hour
- April 2: Maundy Thursday (EXEMPLIFY), Simple Agape Meal, 6:30 pm, Bates Hall
- April 3: Good Friday Tenebrae Service (EXPIRE), 7:00 pm, in Sanctuary with New Presbyterian Church
- April 4: Holy Saturday Online Vigil (EXIT), 12:00 noon, GLOW/Newton Presbyterian Easter Vigil, Time TBA
- April 5: Easter Sunday (EXALT!) with Brass Quintet and Easter Egg Hunt, Rev. Joshua Lazard preaching
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OTHER COTC ACTIVITIES
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAYS
Bible Study meets weekly on Wednesday mornings at 9:45 on Zoom. The Wednesday morning Bible Study is exploring the Gospel of Matthew. If you would like more information or want to be on the list to get regular reminders and Zoom details, contact Jack Ammerman at jwacooks@gmail.com.
WEDNESDAY EVENING PRAYERS
Join us for our weekly Wednesday evening prayers with intentional liturgy, contemplative song, psalms, and sharing of prayers with our siblings from Newton Presbyterian on Zoom (link on http://www.cotcbos.org).
THE MARCH ISSUE OF COVENANT NEWS can be read online here.
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