It takes a village to make Sundays at Holy Covenant as meaningful, joyful, and welcoming as they are—and sometimes, it takes a genius. A SignUpGenius, that is. Whether you’re lighting candles, pouring juice, or offering a warm welcome, your presence in our worship life matters deeply.

“To be the Church everywhere means we are called to embody the Christ, both his life and teachings, as we go about our everyday lives.
We find ourselves serving the world and our communities in a myriad of ways… yet in each place we find ourselves, we possess the ability
to be a living example of Christ’s peace, love, and justice in every place we are.”

This Sunday we will joyfully celebrate 25 years of being an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation, a milestone of faithful witness, courageous love, and deep commitment to justice. I hope you will join us for this special worship service, which will feature surprises, video presentations, special music, and the chance to see some cherished friends and familiar faces. Please plan to arrive a little early, as we’ll be starting worship slightly ahead of our usual time and keep your eyes open as you enter the campus for something new and exciting. Following worship, I invite you to stay for our anniversary reception as we continue the celebration together.

At Holy Covenant United Church of Christ, we say “Open and Affirming,” but what we mean is: you belong here. All of you. Without condition, without apology, without fear.

I came to this church with a lifetime of practice in hiding. Like so many LGBTQ+ folks, I’d learned early that many church doors say “welcome,” but mean something much smaller. So when I discovered Holy Covenant was an Open and Affirming congregation, I hesitated. Could this place really mean it?

In 1996, Charlotte found itself at the center of a national firestorm over art, identity, and public funding. The Charlotte Repertory Theatre dared to stage Angels in America, Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer-winning, AIDS-era epic—a story of heartbreak, faith, and the unyielding cry for LGBTQ+ dignity.

This summer, Holy Covenant is launching a consistent and curated social media posting calendar to keep you connected, uplifted, and engaged — whether you’re nearby or across the country.

Each week, we’ll share posts that reflect the life of our church: inspiring worship quotes, community spotlights, upcoming events, justice initiatives, and joyful glimpses from our photo gallery. We’re planning content across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn — and every post is crafted to reflect the bold, inclusive spirit of HCUCC.

We’re thrilled to introduce The Loop — the next evolution of Holy Covenant’s weekly newsletter. It’s more than updates. It’s a rhythm that holds us together in spirit and purpose. It reflects who we are: inclusive, justice-driven, and joy-filled.

Honoring the 68th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ

On June 25, 1957, something brave and beautiful happened. Four Protestant streams—the Congregational, Christian, Evangelical, and Reformed traditions—merged in covenant, not conformity, to form the United Church of Christ. It was a radical act of unity in a divided world. It was a declaration that difference need not mean division. It was the beginning of a new way to be the church.

Congress is considering a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that would slash Medicaid by over $700 billion—with devastating consequences for rural hospitals, clinics, and emergency care across the country. Without Medicaid, many rural providers will shut their doors, forcing millions to go without lifesaving treatment.

As people of faith, we cannot remain silent. Our values—rooted in Jesus’ ministry of healing and justice—call us to protect the vulnerable, not punish them.

I started drafting my newsletter article for this week on Juneteenth, a day when we remember the delayed freedom of enslaved people in Texas, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth reminds us that justice is rarely handed down freely; but more often it must be fought for and demanded, especially when systems of power resist giving it. It’s a holiday that calls us to celebrate freedom while also reckoning with the painful truths of our country’s history, truths that have often been censored or silenced.

Race, Power & Truth: American Coup Screening at Holy Covenant UCC