Covenant News March 2026

Covenant News

Presbyterian Church USA

United Church of Christ

March 2026

Pastor Letter

by Rev. Rob Mark, Lead Pastor

Happy Saint David’s Day! March 1 links us with this patron saint of Wales (give it up for the Evans clan!!). Bust out the Welsh cakes, daffodils, and leeks, people! Celebrate the emerging hopes of spring. This 6th century Celtic vegan saint who, with his fellow monastics, refused to use animals for food or labor stands as an example to us all. His ancient enjoinder can be brought to life again right now as you read this – “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do.” Friends, this Lent, let’s be joyful in keeping faith by doing the little things that, added up, will counter the big abuses of power and assaults on decency and democracy in this land. I really want to encourage all of us to choose joy by EXCLUDING some things this Lent. Re-read the note we sent around on Thursday of this past week entitled “Lenten UNPLUG Digital Fast” – and go to this link to share ways you are choosing joy by unplugging from distractions and tuning into God.

With the joy of Christ in daffodils that follow blizzards,

Rob

P.S. Please save Sunday, April 19, 1:30 pm, for a very special follow-on to last fall’s Sun Way Pilgrimage – this time called: “One Earth, One Sun, One People: a Sacred Celebration,” as our very own Boston Interfaith Climate Allies (BICA) hosts this celebration where Bill McKibben will be our keynote speaker at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul off Boston Common. More info forthcoming!

Climate Jubilee Team Update

by Betty Southwick & Barbara Darling

The Climate Jubilee Team held an all-church read conversation on February 25 at 6:30 pm over Zoom. We had over a dozen gathered, showing that the new timing worked well. We discussed Bill McKibben’s book Here Comes the Sun. The conversation covered our joy and gratitude for the sun’s power in our lives and ways to harness that power to save our climate.

Spring is coming!! Our Spring Equinox celebration is Friday, March 20, at 6:30 pm, at our beloved Fiedler Dock! Please put the date in your calendars.

SAVE THE DATE - The Climate Jubilee Team and BICA (Boston Interfaith Climate Allies) will celebrate Earth Day on Sunday afternoon, April 19, with another large interfaith rally. We will gather at 1:00 pm at The Embrace sculpture on Boston Common, and walk to The Cathedral Church of St. Paul to hear Bill McKibben!

News from the Pews

compiled by Linda Pursley

Nancy and Jack Ammerman were happy to escape in February to the warmer climes of Central America, where they enjoyed the wonders of nature – snorkeling off Caye Caulker, hiking through cloud forests in Costa Rica and birding everywhere. A special treat was catching up with old friends at their mountain retreat in Cayo District of Belize.

Mark Huston and Nancy Stockford went on their own escape-the-winter trip in February, to West Palm Beach, Florida, where Nancy’s sister and brother-in-law live. Most of the trip was focused on finding pockets of natural beauty and seeing as many birds and critters (including manatees, alligators, and very bold and hungry raccoons!) as possible.

Under the Mango Tree

by Karen Henry

This column is a monthly sharing of stories from our sister church community, Dulce Nombre de Jesus, in northwest Nicaragua.

This March we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our hermanamiento with the Church of the Poor in Dulce Nombre de Jesus. The first delegation to Dulce Nombre was welcomed by the village in March 1996.

On February 11, the Nica Companions had a rich conversation with Eduardo and Luis from Entre Culturas, the organization that facilitates our relationship with Dulce Nombre. We learned that Maximino is becoming involved again with the weekly Celebrations of the Word. He had been ill and was thinking about retiring. Everyone is happy that he is participating once more in the community’s life. The community is still grieving recent losses. Stacey, an eleven-year-old, died of an infection. She was the daughter of Itza and Ritzer and the granddaughter of Gloria Martinez. Gloria also lost her mother. In such a close-knit community, these losses are extremely difficult. On their last trip to Dulce Nombre, Eduardo and Luis visited Stacey’s mother and Gloria. They said the visits were hard but necessary.

The main topic of our conversation was a potential series of formations that would involve the Covenant congregation, Dulce Nombre, and possibly the congregation from Newton Presbyterian. We had asked Entre Culturas to talk with people from Dulce Nombre about themes for such a series. The people there were enthusiastic about a formation involving all three communities. They expressed that “it would be wonderful for the community to have this space, as it would strengthen the bonds of fellowship with our brothers and sisters from the north and allow us to continue learning together.” For themes, they considered the Bible, the environment, liberation theology, and the history of our hermanamiento, finally deciding on the history of the hermanamiento as the first topic to consider together.

In our conversation with Eduardo and Luis, Eduardo said that the formation needs to have human warmth: “It’s not just an academic course online, where you’re one little square on the checkerboard. We need to apply not only our heads but also our hearts and our life histories.” Each session would be about two hours and involve singing and playing, getting to know each other better, especially if people from Newton Presbyterian participate. We will continue to plan the series of formations and invite anyone who wants to participate.

We also talked about our upcoming Lenten Worship service on March 8 to be led by members of the Nicaraguan Companions. We asked Eduardo to find out if people in Dulce Nombre had recommendations for a scriptural passage and songs for the service. They responded with suggestions that we are following.

Finally, we thank all the soup makers (Barbara Englesberg, Debbie, Faith, Jon Campbell, Karen, Kathy, Madeleine, Marnie, Nancy Stockford, rosi, Tom Henry, and Trudi). We also thank the soup buyers for another successful Nica Companions soup sale.

Council Report

by Anne Crane

February 2026 Meeting

After our regular devotional period, Council’s discussion of “housekeeping” issues included reports on the UCC and the Presbytery of Boston. Barbara Darling reported that Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President/CEO of the UCC (originally from Jamaica), made a powerful statement after ICE killed two people in Minneapolis. Here is an excerpt from that speech:

“We pray for the city of Minneapolis, for its leaders and for clergy and spiritual leaders who are offering care to this city that continues to experience the violence, tyranny, and oppression in the presence and actions of ICE agents. We pray for an end to the violence and hatred unleashed on immigrant communities and pray safety for those most vulnerable, even as we pray for those who seek to care for those whose lives are threatened by the presence of these federal agents.”

Brian Bigler and Jon Schwarz were designated as commissioners to the Boston Presbytery, which is scheduled for its next meeting on March 14. The Presbytery is entering a season of intentional listening, connection, and discernment as we seek a more sustainable and Spirit-led future together.

In other business, Council thanked outgoing member Karen Henry for her service and acknowledged with gratitude that she would be joining the Board of Deacons, along with Byron Sipe and Abhishek John. Because he had never served as a Deacon, Abhishek (a Presbyterian) was formally examined by the Presbyterian members of Council (aka, the Elders) and was enthusiastically approved for ordination and installation as a Deacon on February 15. We also welcomed Kathryn Barry back to the Council, where she has previously served.

A motion was made and passed to elect the proposed slate of officers for 2026. The officers are as follows: President, Brian Bigler; Church Treasurer, Faith Perry; Assistant Treasurer, Brad Day; Financial Secretary, Nancy Stockford; Clerk of Council, Trudi Veldman; Assistant Clerk of Council, Kathryn Barry. Council also identified committee liaisons.

Council’s missional focus discussion included updates on Climate Jubilee events to be held in the coming weeks: a celebration of the Spring Equinox on March 20 and an outdoor interfaith rally to celebrate Earth Day on April 19. Also, dates for the continuing Sacred Reckonings initiative have been set for 2026. The annual Winter Walk, postponed because of weather, will take place on March 22, the week before Palm Sunday. The Reframe the Light Project included the preparation of a flier outlining the theme for Lent: “Out There.”

On behalf of the Membership Development Committee, Trudi reported that the church’s directory is being updated and a potluck is planned for March 29 (Palm Sunday). Brian (Building Committee) reported on the ongoing roof work and the plans for relighting the sanctuary. We plan to be worshiping in the sanctuary again on Palm Sunday!