This month at Holy Covenant, our theme is still Sabbath: Rest in God. We’ve been talking about rest for our clergy, rest for our bodies, rest for our souls. But what about rest for our attention — especially when the turkey is ready, the table is full, and every screen in the house is glowing?

So this week, The Digital Disciple brings you a little Thanksgiving parable: “The Turkey, the Tablet, and the Table.” No theology degree required — just a sense of humor, a phone that pings too much, and a heart that secretly longs for a quieter kind of holiday.

Over the years, Holy Covenant’s worship bulletins have changed — fonts, layouts, colors, designs. But through every season, they have held the same heartbeat: a gathered people, coming together to worship with intention and love. Our old bulletins are more than paper; they are snapshots of sermons preached, hymns sung, prayers whispered, and ministries born.

At Holy Covenant, we believe the freedom to read is sacred. Our newly expanded Freedom to Read: Banned Book Library web page is now live — and it is one of the most beautiful, thoughtful, and lovingly constructed pages on our entire site. Designed to celebrate curiosity, dignity, and diverse voices, this new page invites you to discover books that have shaped lives, sparked conversations, and endured attempts to silence them.

In a world that hums without pause, Digital Sabbath invites us to lay down our devices and rediscover the sacred rhythm of stillness. At Holy Covenant United Church of Christ, we are learning that rest is not withdrawal—it is renewal. Each quiet moment becomes a prayer: a chance to listen for the Holy One who speaks beneath the noise.

On November 11, the United Church of Christ released a deeply sobering news story about the Rev. Jorge Bautista, a UCC pastor in California who was struck in the face by a pepper round fired by a federal immigration officer while he was standing in peaceful prayer and solidarity with migrants.

Rev. Bautista Interview

This month at Holy Covenant, our theme is still Sabbath: Rest in God, but our focus turns toward active and retired clergy — shepherds of sermons, spreadsheets, sacraments, and sacred exhaustion. So this week, The Digital Disciple is trying something new: looking outward to learn from a congregation
whose witness echoes far beyond its walls — The Riverside Church in the City of New York — and one of its key creative voices, Rev. Jim Keat.

Sometimes, Sabbath isn’t stepping back — it’s learning to see ministry done differently. Riverside and Rev. Keat offer a glimpse into what happens when a historic justice-seeking church leans fully into digital discipleship.

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to revisit the landmark marriage-equality precedent that has safeguarded LGBTQ+ marriages nationwide since 2015. For Holy Covenant and the wider United Church of Christ, this is more than a legal footnote—it is a fresh breath of Sabbath peace, a reminder that love’s promises are worthy of rest and rejoicing.

In yesterday’s service, we were reminded that God’s peace is big enough to hold every story — the worried and the wondering, the certain and the searching. “Stories for All People” celebrates that welcome: a table where every voice belongs, every journey matters, and grace keeps making room.

Some songs arrive like a steadying hand. Yesterday’s anthem, “It Is Well with My Soul” (arr. John Ness Beck),
joined our worship as a companion to the morning message on trust and calm assurance. In a world that often feels unsteady,
this beloved hymn gave our community language for peace — not the peace of control, but the peace of resting in God.

Border Patrol agents were reportedly being moved out of Chicago and may be heading to Charlotte to conduct operations in late November or early December. As of yesterday, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary McFadden confirmed that U.S. Border Patrol is expected to arrive in Charlotte as early as Saturday. For those who may not know, Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.