Nov 28, 2025

From the Pastor’s Desk graphic used by Holy Covenant United Church of Christ in Charlotte NC, representing weekly reflections, spiritual messages, and progressive Christian insights from the church pastor.

šŸ“ From the Pastor’s Desk

ā€˜Gratitude is a Choice’: UCC GMP offers special message for Thanksgiving

UCC Message

Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, shares a Thanksgiving message of hope, gratitude, and justice for our wider church family.

Dear Holy Covenant,

I invite you to receive this heartfelt message from Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, our UCC General Minister and President. She speaks to the power of gratitude as a spiritual practice—one that sustains us even when the world feels heavy.

ā€˜Gratitude is a Choice’: UCC GMP offers special message for Thanksgiving

byĀ Charles Jefferson, Jr.Ā |Ā published on Nov 25, 2025

In honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, UCC General Minister and President/CEO Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson shares an important message for the wider church.

ā€œGratitude is a choice. A choice to experience God present in the world. Gratitude is the practice of giving thanks in everything,ā€ Thompson said in her recorded remarks.

Thompson noted that even though things in the world aren’t ideal, the church can still embrace gratitude as a spiritual practice.

You can watch Rev. Thompson’s full remarks in the video below:

Peace and Blessings,

Rev. Christopher Czarnecki
Senior Pastor, Holy Covenant UCC

Rev. Christopher Czarnecki – Substack Post

šŸ•Šļø Follow Pastor Chris on Substack

Stay connected with weekly reflections, essays, and pastoral updates from Rev. Christopher Czarnecki

Did you know that Pastor Chris has a Substack page where he shares thoughtful reflections, essays, and insights beyond the Sunday pulpit? This online space is another way to stay connected with his ministry throughout the week, to deepen your faith, and to join in conversation with others who are following along.

On revchriscz.substack.com, you’ll find articles that invite us to wrestle with Scripture, embrace justice, and nurture our spiritual lives with honesty and grace. Substack also lets you subscribe for free—meaning every new post will arrive directly in your email inbox.

It’s simple to sign up: click the link below, enter your email, and you’ll be part of Pastor Chris’s growing online readership. You can also explore past reflections, share them with friends, or add your own thoughts in the discussion space.

As Holy Covenant continues to live out our calling to be a progressive, inclusive community of faith, this is another resource to help us walk the journey together. Take a moment today to subscribe, reflect, and stay connected!

Get HCUCC via Email!