(704) 599-9810 | Worship Sundays @ 10:55 a.m.
(704) 599-9810 | Worship Sundays @ 10:55 a.m.
May 24, 2025
“Work for justice, love mercy, walk humbly.”
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Christopher Czarnecki
Senior Pastor, Holy Covenant UCC
May 10, 2025
Holy Covenant,
This Sunday is Mother’s Day, a day that carries a wide range of emotions. For some, it’s a day of celebration and gratitude. For others, it can stir grief, longing, or even pain. Some of us were mothered with great love. Others were not. Some are mothers. Some are not. Some yearn to be. Some never wanted to be. And some of us have found that we can mother love in people and places beyond biology.
This week’s sermon is called “The Ministry of Mothering,” and it’s rooted in the story of Tabitha from Acts 9:36-43 (CEB), where a disciple is remembered not for their great preaching or the ways they led, but for sewing clothes for widows. Her love was active, tender, and fiercely committed. She showed up for her community with deep care and dignity, and in doing so we find, she revealed something sacred.
At our church, we believe that mothering is not limited to gender or titles. We believe it’s a spiritual calling, to show up for others, to clothe them in love, to nurture what is fragile, and to hold space for those who are hurting. This Sunday, we’ll explore what it means to mother the world with compassion and courage, not just as individuals, but as a community rooted in justice and love.
Wherever you find yourself this Mother’s Day, whether it’s with joy, with sorrow, or somewhere in between, please know you are welcome here. There is space for your story, your tenderness, and your truth, wherever you are.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Christopher Czarnecki
Holy Covenant UCC
Senior Pastor
May 04, 2025
Holy Covenant,
After last week’s newsletter article on The Gospel of Judas, several of you shared how meaningful and surprising it was to learn about this different view of Judas and the role he might have played in Jesus’ story. This conversation has reminded me of another powerful book: The Lost Christianities by Bart D. Ehrman.
In this book, Ehrman takes readers on a journey through the first few centuries of Christianity, a time when the movement was far from unified. There wasn’t yet a “New Testament” as we know it, nor was there a single, agreed upon doctrine of who Jesus was or what his life, death, and resurrection meant. Instead, there were many different groups of Jesus followers, each with their own beliefs, practices, and sacred writings.
He tells us some early Christians, like the Ebionites, believed Jesus was fully human, not divine at all, and that following Jewish law was still essential. Others, like Marcion, who lived in the 2nd century, saw Jesus as divine but rejected the Hebrew Scriptures entirely, seeing Luke’s Gospel and the letters of Paul as all that was needed. And others wrote texts we now call “apocryphal” or “gnostic,” like the Gospel of Thomas, which offers a very different kind of Jesus: one who teaches that the divine is found within and that spiritual insight comes through self-knowledge.
All of these groups, and many more, were part of a very diverse early Christianity. But over time, what Ehrman calls a “proto-orthodox” group ended up winning out and defined the boundaries of what were acceptable beliefs, which books belonged in the Bible, and the creeds and doctrines mainline denominational churches have inherited. Their vision of Christianity became the Christianity we have today, at least in the eyes of history.
To help frame the impact of this early period in Christianity Ehrman asks big “what if” questions, like
I don’t think questions like these threaten our faith, but they deepen it. They remind us that early Christianity was full of possibilities, not certainties. And perhaps most importantly, they invite us to recognize that today’s diversity within the church is not a departure from tradition but more so a return to our roots.
It’s okay if we believe different things. And it’s okay to question, wonder, and explore how beliefs from others faith traditions might fit into our own sense of faith.
In a time when people are hungry for honesty and openness in their spiritual lives, remembering this lost history matters. It tells us that there has never been just one way to follow Jesus. There have always been many ways.
And that, I think, is good news worth sharing.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Christopher Czarnecki
Holy Covenant UCC
Senior Pastor
Apr 28, 2025
The Earth is bleeding, beloved. Our prayers must move our hands. Our faith must find its voice. North Carolina Senate Bill 261 endangers critical environmental protections—making it easier for industries to pollute our air, water, and soil in the name of profit.
We must act. Here’s how you can offer your healing:
“The Earth has reached for us in trust.
Let our hands be healing, our voices be courage,
our lives be a song of restoration.
May we, like Christ, choose to love without counting the cost.”
Apr 25, 2025
Holy Covenant,
At our Maundy Thursday worship service last week, many of us gathered around tables shaped like a cross, sharing in a simple meal, stories, and sacred worship. It was a tender, powerful night, one that drew us closer to Jesus and to one another as we remembered that final meal he shared with his disciples and the events that would follow.
Earlier this week, a member of our church had asked me if I have ever seen the movie Jesus Christ Superstar and in all honesty I haven’t. The reason they asked though was because in the movie Judas is not portrayed as a villain, but as someone caught in a role he cannot escape, perhaps even someone being used by God.
Interestingly their mention of that prompted a conversation between us about how Judas has been understood and maybe even misunderstood throughout Christian history.
Most of us have grown up with the idea of Judas as the ultimate betrayer, the disciple who turned Jesus over to the authorities for a bag of silver coins. But there is another story. A forgotten one. One that was literally buried for centuries.
In the 1970s, an ancient manuscript surfaced in Egypt, called The Gospel of Judas. It’s part of a group of texts often referred to as the Gnostic Gospels, writings that didn’t make it into what we now know as the New Testament. For centuries, this gospel was lost, and it wasn’t until 2006 that a full translation was published, allowing biblical scholars and historians such as Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and others to dig into it (no pun intended!)
What makes The Gospel of Judas so intriguing is that it reimagines Judas’ role. Rather than being portrayed as someone who betrayed Jesus, Judas is shown as Jesus’ most trusted disciple, the only one who truly understands Jesus’ teaching. In this gospel, Jesus entrusts Judas with a secret spiritual knowledge and asks Judas to hand him over, not as an act of betrayal, but as a fulfillment of a divine plan. Yes, that’s right, the very act we’ve long seen as treachery is reframed as an act of a disciple’s obedience and spiritual insight.
Several scholars have explored this newly revealed text further, including James M. Robinson (The Secrets of Judas), Bart D. Ehrman (The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot), and Herbert Krosney (The Lost Gospel). These works on the Gospel of Judas remind us that early Christianity was not as monolithic as we are led to believe, but a vibrant, contested, and diverse movement filled with different interpretations of who Jesus was and what his life, death, and resurrection meant.
I think these newly discovered texts, while not part of our Bible, invite us to wonder. To ask deeper questions. To recognize that the early church wrestled with some of the same stories and questions we have in different ways, and that there’s always more to learn and be revealed when it comes to our faith.
So as we head into this Easter season, as we continue to reflect on the life of Jesus and his resurrection, maybe we can also hold space for Judas too, not just as a villain, but as a mystery. As someone who, in at least one ancient Christian text, was not a betrayer, but as someone Jesus could have possibly trusted most.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Christopher Czarnecki
Holy Covenant UCC
Senior Pastor
Apr 19, 2025
Holy Covenant,
Last night’s Maundy Thursday service was nothing short of beautiful. As I looked around the room, one full of candlelight, quiet reverence, and gathered hearts, I was deeply moved by the Spirit at work among us. Nearly 50 people came last night and sat at our shared table, and together we created something sacred.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who made our evening so meaningful. Whether you brought bread or soup, helped set up chairs and tables, worked the sound or slides, decorated the altar and tables, cleaned up, offered music, or lent your voice to our liturgy, your presence and your gift made a difference. Nothing would have been the same without you.
Thank you for showing up with care and intention. Thank you for serving, for creating, for praying, for making space to make the remembrance of our Lord so holy. Thank you for being the church.
With deep gratitude and love,
Rev. Christopher Czarnecki
Holy Covenant UCC
Senior Pastor
Opening moments of Holy Covenant UCC’s Maundy Thursday 2025 gathering
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Shared meal and candlelight worship in sacred community
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Gathering in reflection and fellowship during Holy Week
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HCUCC Sanctuary set for the Maundy Thursday Tenebrae worship service at Holy Covenant UCC
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Apr 13, 2025
Its Palm & Passion Sunday
Holy Covenant,
This Sunday, we gather for a worship service that is converging on two special days: Palm Sunday and Confirmation Sunday. As we wave our palm branches and remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a moment filled with celebration, courage, and commitment, we will also be pausing to honor a sacred milestone in the lives of six of our youth.
With joy and pride, we will celebrate our confirmands as they complete their confirmation journey. These young people have spent the past months asking deep questions, exploring their faith, and discovering how they are uniquely called to live out God’s love in the world. And now, they are ready to stand before us, sharing their experience and the faith of their understanding.
Yes, that’s right! Our confirmands will be preaching the sermon this Sunday, sharing reflections on their journey and what confirmation has meant to them. It will be a powerful moment of witness, not only to their growth but to the vibrant and inclusive church that has walked alongside them.
This is a moment for our entire congregation to surround them with encouragement, affirmation, and blessing. Following worship, we invite you to join us for a reception in the Gathering Room. Cards and notes of congratulations are a welcome way to show your love and support.
Come ready to sing, to pray, to bless, and to be inspired. Let’s show up to lift these amazing young people as they step forward in faith, claiming their place in the story of God’s unfolding love.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Christopher Czarnecki
Holy Covenant UCC
Senior Pastor
Apr 05, 2025
Inclusive Community
Let’s Mix It Up Holy Covenant UCC!
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
Mar 28, 2025
Holy Covenant,
As we gather for worship this Sunday, we are reminded once again that our faith is not just something we believe, it’s something we live. Jesus spent his ministry feeding the hungry, tending to those in need, and creating spaces where all were seen, valued, and cared for. This Sunday, we have two opportunities to live out that call in tangible ways: through feeding our neighbors in need and through imagining new ways to care for one another within our church community.
After worship, we invite you to stay and help us make 100 bagged lunches for the men at the Giles Center, which provides overnight shelter and meals through its affiliation with A Roof Above. This is a simple but meaningful way to extend care to our unhoused neighbors, just as Jesus did when he fed the multitudes with loaves and fish. In breaking bread together, we embody Christ’s love in a way that is nourishing both for those who receive and for those who give.
Cares Team Brainstorming Session – March 30th
Also following worship, at 12:30pm in the conference room, we will hold a brainstorming session about forming a new Cares Team Ministry at the church. This idea, born from our Year of Wellness plan for 2025, envisions a ministry that connects the needs and gifts within our congregation so that we can care for one another in sustainable, meaningful ways. Jesus constantly modeled care, not only for those on the margins but also for his own disciples, ensuring they had what they needed to continue their journey. If you have a heart for building a community of care, we invite you to be part of the conversation.
These opportunities are more than just events; they are invitations to live into the Gospel. Whether through feeding the hungry or shaping new ways to care for each other, we have the chance to embody Christ’s love in real and lasting ways. Join us in this work, because love in action is the heart of who we are.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Christopher Czarnecki
Holy Covenant UCC
Senior Pastor
Mar 21, 2025
Holy Covenant,
Why do bad things happen? It’s a question we wrestle with, again and again, especially when tragedy strikes or when life doesn’t go the way we hoped it to. When we face hardship, personal loss, illness, or injustice, our minds naturally search for meaning. We want to know why. Is this part of God’s plan? Did we do something wrong? Is suffering a punishment?
These are questions people of faith have wrestled with for centuries, and they are the same questions that people confronted in Jesus’ time.
This Sunday, we’ll turn to Luke 13:1-9, where Jesus is confronted with this very question. People come to him, troubled by recent tragedies. Some assume that suffering is the result of sin, that those who experience hardship must have done something to deserve it. But Jesus challenges this way of thinking. He refuses to blame the victims or offer simple explanations.
So how do we make sense of suffering? And more importantly, how do we respond? If you’ve ever asked, “Why is this happening to me?” or struggled to make sense of life’s hardships, this sermon is for you. I invite you to join us this Sunday as we explore these difficult questions together.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Christopher Czarnecki
Holy Covenant UCC
Senior Pastor
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