(704) 599-9810 | Worship Sundays @ 10:55 a.m.
(704) 599-9810 | Worship Sundays @ 10:55 a.m.
“🌈 “God’s Doors Are Open to All” – A vibrant declaration
of radical welcome and inclusion.”
We Are All One in Christ Jesus– June 29, 2025
Christian Lesson: Galatians 3:26–29
This Sunday’s worship was a powerful, joy-filled celebration of 25 years of radical welcome, courageous witness, and LGBTQ+ affirmation at Holy Covenant. Every element of the service — from scripture to story, music to message — was layered with gratitude and a call to keep becoming the inclusive church we are called to be. We were also blessed to welcome former pastor Rev. Dr. Nancy Ellett Allison, whose presence brought joy and reconnection for many.
🎻 The service opened with a beautifully rendered violin prelude of “How Great Thou Art” by Mary Tarr, preparing our hearts with reverence and peace.
🌈 The Call to the Heart and the reading of our historic Covenant of Openness and Affirmation brought congregants into deep reflection on our shared identity as an Open and Affirming community. Spoken in unison, these words reminded us not just of who we were in 2000, but of who we are still becoming — a church where every person can live fully, authentically, and in love.
🎶 The hymn “As Colors in the Sky” and later “God of Many Faces” proclaimed a theology of expansiveness, transformation, and sacred embodiment. The handbell choir offered a lively, resonant rendition of “’Tis a Gift to Be Simple” that lifted hearts throughout the sanctuary.
🪕 Kathi Smith and Lisa Cloninger brought a gentle depth with their special music offering, “Chico Gospel.” The song’s easy rhythm and grounded harmonies carried a quiet kind of reverence — like a prayer set to a folk groove. Their performance offered the sanctuary a breath of calm joy, and the spirit of the piece lingered in the room long after the final notes. It was beautifully done — soulful, steady, and sincerely felt.
🎬 Eric Miner introduced his short film, HCUCC Everywhere: A New Digital Sanctuary. Framed as a bold call to become digital disciples, Eric’s heartfelt words and the film itself cast a vision for the church’s future — one that meets people where they are, shares God’s love through every screen and platform, and builds spiritual belonging across digital spaces. The film’s message was one of joy, justice, and holy reach.
🎥 Just after, we were blessed by a masterpiece film: 25 Years of ONA, produced by Jana Harrison. This moving visual journey featured voices from across the generations — longtime members, newer faces, and those who helped shape our covenantal witness. With deep authenticity, the film offered testimony to the real lives transformed by Holy Covenant’s commitment to LGBTQ+ affirmation. Watching our community speak so vulnerably and powerfully about what O&A means was profoundly moving and unforgettable. Jana’s work was not only beautiful, it was ministry.
🎶 The choir’s anthem, “Come Build a Church” by Ken Medema, rang out as a call to action — building with love, with justice, and with the Spirit as our guide.
📖 The Christian Lesson from Galatians 3:26–29 set the theological heart of the day: “There is neither Jew nor Greek… neither male and female… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
🕊️ In Rev. Christopher Czarnecki’s sermon, titled “We Are All One in Christ Jesus,” Pastor Chris preached with humility and courage, reflecting on his identity as a cisgender straight white male and his awe of the congregation’s boldness in living out their faith. Drawing from Galatians 3, he reminded us that in Christ, there are no divisions — only a call to embody love, justice, and unity.
🔔🎶The Handbell Choir offered a glorious rendition of “’Tis a Gift to Be Simple,” the beloved Shaker tune known for its message of humility, grace, and spiritual clarity. With bright tones and layered resonance, the bells danced through the sanctuary, each note echoing the beauty of simplicity and sacred rhythm. The ensemble played with both precision and warmth — a performance that felt as meditative as it was joyful.
🙏 The service closed with prayers of dedication, acts of generosity, and a vibrant benediction. As the final postlude, “Rainbow Connection” played — reminding us, in Jim Henson’s timeless lyrics, that we are all still dreaming, still believing, still building the rainbow bridge of love and belonging.
Together, we celebrated our past, bore witness to the present, and stepped boldly into the future. Holy Covenant is not just open and affirming — we are alive and becoming. Everywhere. 🌈✨
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