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WORLD COMMUNION OFFERING ON SUNDAY!
The first Sunday of October is World Communion Sunday, celebrating “the oneness of the family of God” as believers from many traditions share in the Lord’s Supper together. In the US, the roots of this observance in the Presbyterian Church date from 1930s; today, it is celebrated across the globe. The PC(USA) World Communion Offering supports the denomination’s mission to cultivate reconciliation, advance racial and gender justice, and promote peacemaking, global witness, and ecumenical/interfaith relations. It is rooted in the belief that the “Table of the Lord” is a place where all peoples are reconciled, and that peacemaking is a central part of the church’s witness. Through its Neighbors in Need offering for World Communion Sunday 2026, our other denomination, the United Church of Christ, asks for gifts in support of justice and compassion ministries in the US, with one-third going to the Council for American Indian Ministries and two-thirds to other UCC justice ministries. The UCC invites us to carry the spirit of World Communion Sunday from today through Election Day on November 3. Over this period, we are asked to deepen our connection with our global neighbors and consider how our faith calls us to help build a more just, peaceful, and hopeful world. Please give generously in support of the work of this church and churches around the US and the globe that are working for peace, justice and a hopeful future for all. In person, you will find an envelope in the bulletin. For online contributions, you can use Covenant’s Giving page on the website: http://www.cotcbos.org/give, and choose the Peacemaking Offering.
WELCOME CHILDREN & YOUTH!!
We celebrate World Communion Sunday this Sunday, October 4, with an intergenerational All-Ages worship. Children and youth of all ages are encouraged to take part in as much of worship as you’d like. We have a nursery space open downstairs and families are welcome to come and go as feels comfortable. Most weeks, children from age 3½ through early elementary are invited to Godly Play classes. If you need help finding us, please ask an usher. We also offer youth classes and other activities for all ages. We share CYCE info regularly via email, so please email Rev. Kate at kate.carlisle@cotcbos.org if you want to receive updates.
VOTING RIGHTS SPIRITUAL EDUCATION SESSION ON OCTOBER 11
Last term, the Supreme Court drastically changed the Voting Rights Act and how states are allowed to draw their districts. These changes will affect elections going forward! Please join Kathryn Barry on Sunday, October 11, after worship for a review of the case and a discussion on where we go from here.
MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR NANCY HOLLOMON & JOAN TIGHE
Two saints of Covenant, Nancy Hollomon and Joan Tighe, have gone from this life into the eternal embrace of God. We have the opportunity to celebrate each of their lives in the next two weeks. All are welcome to remember and honor these two remarkable women. The memorial service for Nancy Hollomon will be in the sanctuary on Saturday, October 10, at 10:00 am. A reception will follow in the sanctuary. Click here for Nancy’s obituary. The memorial service for Joan Tighe will be in the sanctuary on Sunday, October 18, at 12:00 noon. A Deacons-organized reception will be held immediately after in Bates Hall. Click here for Joan’s obituary. Both services will be livestreamed from our usual Sunday morning Zoom link.
ALL-CHURCH RETREAT: TIME TO REGISTER!
The all-church retreat will be held on Saturday, October 24, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, back at Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham. The registration deadline is Sunday, October 11, at 11:59 pm. Register here.
LIFE ALIVE BIBLE STUDY & APPLE PICKING & BRUNCHES
Life Alive has a few activities of note in October: on Saturday, October 10, at 12:00 noon, Life Alive will meet for Bible study in Williams Library, and after worship on Sunday, October 18 (instead of brunch), they will have their annual apple-picking outing. Life Alive is a small group for adults navigating career, family, and life transitions. Contact Rev. Sara (sara.garrard@cotcbos.org) if you are interested or need more information. Brunches will be held on November 15 and December 20.
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. Sara Garrard at sara.garrard@cotcbos.org.
OPEN NEWBURY
Open Newbury is *not* happening this Sunday, October 4. The final Open Newbury of the season will be on October 11.
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.
- October 4: World Communion Sunday, All-Ages Service, Holy Communion
- October 11: Rev. Dr. Sara Garrard preaching, Voting Rights Spiritual Education Session After Worship
- October 18: Rev. Kate Carlisle preaching, Life Alive Apple Picking After Worship
- October 25: ZOOM ONLY WORSHIP SERVICE AT 5:00 PM (no regular Sunday morning service)
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OTHER COTC ACTIVITIES
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAYS
Our Bible Study gathers on Wednesday mornings at 9:45 on Zoom. With the beginning of Fall, our Bible Study turns to the Psalms to explore the many ways these songs express both the rage and despair we often feel and the joy and thanksgiving we experience. If you are interested in joining, email Jack Ammerman at jwacooks@gmail.com for more information and the weekly Zoom link.
WEDNESDAY EVENING PRAYERS
We meet for Evening Prayers on Zoom on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 6:30 pm 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 OCTOBER ISSUE OF COVENANT NEWS can be read online here.
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OTHER ACTIVITIES
EARTH’S GREATEST ENEMY—IN-PERSON FILM VIEWING
In this film, acclaimed director Abby Martin documents how the US military is the world’s single largest institutional polluter and includes stories of resistance to toxic military bases. On Saturday October 3, 2:00-4:00 pm, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 3 Church Street, Cambridge. Click here for more information. Sponsored by Mass. Peace Action.
LATIN-BAROQUE FIESTA: A JOURNEY OF LOVE & LONGING
Covenant tenant partner Rumbarroco (La Donna Musicale) has a concert in the sanctuary on Sunday, October 4, at 6:00 pm. Joyful rhythms born between Spain and the Americas—European, African, and Amerindian traditions woven together. Music made to be sung, danced, and shared. Click here for more information.
EARTH’S GREATEST ENEMY—AN ONLINE CONVERSATION
Follow-up to the film (described above), online conversation with director Abby Martin, on Thursday, October 8, 7:00-8:00 pm. Click here to preregister.
ANTON BRUCKNER SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN C MINOR
The Helix Ensemble presents the Boston premiere of this concert in the sanctuary on Sunday, October 11, at 7:30 pm. The Helix Ensemble is a newly established chamber orchestra founded and led by Artistic Director and Conductor Tianyi Ren. Click here for more information.
BOSTON BOOK FESTIVAL AT COVENANT
On Saturday, October 17, Covenant’s sanctuary will be the site for some Boston Book Festival events. For more information, click here.
HORIZON ENSEMBLE CONCERT AMERICAN PORTRAITS
On Sunday, October 18, at 3:00 pm, the Horizon Ensemble will offer “American Portraits” in the sanctuary. The Horizon Ensemble is an orchestra that performs music of history and music by friends. They are dedicated to performing orchestral and chamber music by young living composers alongside the diverse repertoire of history. Click here for more information.
AARDVARK JAZZ ORCHESTRA
On Saturday, October 24, at 7:30 pm, in the sanctuary, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra will present “Celebrating America250,” a wide-ranging celebration of America250. The band, led by founder and music director Mark Harvey, will perform music from the Revolutionary era to the present day, honoring freedom, diversity, inclusion and other bedrock ideas of democracy. Click here for more information.
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