News

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

At Holy Covenant, our extravagant welcome isn’t just a tagline—it’s a ministry. The warmth of our greeters, the hospitality of Fellowship Hour, and the voices that lead us in worship all play a meaningful role in how we love one another and receive the stranger as friend.

Juneteenth, observed each year on June 19, is a day of remembrance, resistance, and celebration. It marks the end of slavery in the United States — and honors the continuing struggle for Black liberation and equity in our communities.

Late last week, Walter Brueggemann passed away. He was a towering figure in the Protestant Church and a prophetic voice in biblical interpretation, influencing generations of ministers across denominations and traditions. His book The Prophetic Imagination was assigned to me in seminary and remains one of the most formative texts shaping my theology. Brueggemann’s approach to naming structures of power (kingdoms), honoring the grief of those crying out for justice (the oppressed), and highlighting the prophet’s role in reimagining the world (prophetic imagination), continues to shape how I read scripture and preach each Sunday.

“Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

—Amos 5:24

June is here, and with it comes a celebration of truth, beauty, and belonging: Pride Month. Across Charlotte and the greater region, LGBTQ+ communities and allies are gathering for parades, festivals, film screenings, family events, art shows, and sacred storytelling. This is more than a party—it’s a declaration of dignity.

Holy Covenant UCC stands proudly alongside the movement for LGBTQ+ liberation, joy, and justice. Whether you’re new to Pride or have been marching for decades, this month offers meaningful opportunities to show up, speak out, and experience beloved community.

From SouthPark to Uptown, from libraries to church sanctuaries, Pride is unfolding all around us. And your presence matters.

Earlier this week, a violent and antisemitic attack took place in Boulder, Colorado. A man entered a peaceful event organized by members of a local Jewish community in support of hostages still being held in Gaza. And in the aftermath six people were injured, including a Holocaust survivor. This attack is the third in a recent string of violent acts against Jewish people in just the past two months.

As a pre-cursor to the launch of our new website, HCUCC Everywhere, we’re excited to invite you into a new way of connecting visually through Holy Covenant’s life and ministry.

In 2010, Holy Covenant UCC gathered in joy and gratitude to celebrate ten faithful years as an Open and Affirming congregation. The day overflowed with story, spirit, and rainbow-splashed celebration. But the story didn’t begin—or end—there.