📝 From the Pastor’s Desk

God Wants Justice, Not Another Offering

Holy Covenant,

The following sermon titled, “God Wants Justice, Not Another Offering” is centered on Isaiah 1:1,10-20 (CEB) and was delivered on August 10, 2025, during our normal worship service, at Holy Covenant United Church of Christ in Charlotte, NC.

In our time, especially here in the United States, it’s hard not to notice some of the loudest voices who proudly call themselves Christian often sound the least like Christ. I’m talking about folks who wouldn’t cast a dime to the poor or legislators who hold the bible in one hand, while signing bills that rip away healthcare from millions or strip support services from the most vulnerable. People close to us—who say they follow Jesus—yet struggle to connect the unjust systems of our time with the oppressive empire Jesus confronted, the same one we see him speak out openly against.

Imprisoned people are underserved in nearly every way imaginable. The Prison Books Collective is one powerful way we can help counteract that injustice with compassion, dignity, and meaningful connection.

Holy Covenant,

This week’s lectionary scripture from Luke 12:13-21 (NLT) tells the story of a man who interrupts Jesus to ask him to settle a family inheritance dispute. The request seems simple enough, “Yo, Jesus! Just tell my brother to give me my share!” But we see Jesus refuse to get in the middle of this family squabble, and instead, he warns the crowd about something deeper than sibling rivalry: greed.

There’s a strange new question I find myself asking lately: If it’s on the calendar… does it carry weight?

Because let’s be honest—our calendars are full.
Church meetings. Doctor’s appointments. Potlucks. Plumbing repairs. That Zoom call you forgot you accepted. A link to a livestream you meant to watch.
It’s all in there. Clickable, color-coded, and begging for our time.

Holy Covenant,

Earlier this week, First Congregational United Church of Christ in Madison, Wisconsin, shared a story on their Facebook page that captured something powerful: healing love in the face of hate.

Every week, a quiet gift arrives—not with fanfare or fire, but with a gentle ding. It’s not just an email. It’s our church’s rhythm pulsing into the digital space: The Loop.

Inside you’ll find worship links, justice actions, ministry updates, heartfelt reflections, ways to show up for one another, and events at Holy Covenant and the greater Charlotte community. It’s like Holy Covenant’s heartbeat—in your inbox. Whether you’re near, far, or just curious, The Loop helps keep you connected to what matters most.

From July 11–15, General Synod 35 gathered in Kansas City, MO—a national convocation of sacred imagination, prophetic truth-telling, and bold discipleship.
Delegates, pastors, youth, and advocates—including our own Pastor Chris—answered the call to listen deeply, act courageously, and proclaim this year’s theme:
“Love Is Greater Than Fear.”

Holy Covenant,

This Sunday, we welcome Rev. Glencie Rhedrick to the pulpit.

Glencie is an ordained Baptist minister, Womanist theoactivist, and prophetic voice for justice, centering the lived experiences of Black women and African Ascending peoples. Her ministry challenges systems of injustice and affirms the sacred worth and dignity of all individuals in the community, both local and global.

She holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management and Development from National Louis University and a Master of Divinity with a focus in Pastoral Care from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Women’s Spirituality at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

There’s a quiet little platform that’s reshaping how writers speak, how readers gather, and how communities form—not in a sanctuary, but in your inbox. It’s called Substack, and it’s one of those digital mysteries that seems to shimmer with both promise and confusion. Is it a newsletter? A blog? Is it something churches should care about?

Let’s take a breath and open the box.

This week, Pastor Chris is representing Holy Covenant UCC at General Synod 35, the national gathering of the United Church of Christ taking place in Kansas City, Missouri. We are posting daily updates to this news story so check back daily.

For many in our congregation, the phrase “General Synod” may be unfamiliar. Simply put, General Synod is where the wider UCC gathers every two years to worship, learn, organize, and discern—together. Delegates from UCC churches across the country come to pray, reflect, and vote on resolutions that speak to the moral and spiritual convictions of our denomination. While these resolutions are not binding on local churches (reflecting the autonomy and covenantal polity of the UCC), they serve as important declarations of our shared values and collective witness in the world.