(704) 599-9810 | Worship Sundays @ 10:55 a.m.
(704) 599-9810 | Worship Sundays @ 10:55 a.m.
Revisit our latest spirit-filled worship experiences, where bold faith, radical welcome, and justice-centered preaching meet sacred community.
At Holy Covenant United Church of Christ in Charlotte, NC, worship is more than a weekly ritual—it’s a living expression of love, justice, and community.
John of Patmos watches the descent of New Jerusalem from God. From La Jérusalem céleste, a 14th-century panel in the Tapestry of the Apocalypse, Château d’Angers, France.
Fifth Sunday of Easter – Worship Service – Mental Health Sunday – May 19, 2025
Christian Lesson: Acts 11:1 – 18
In a stirring reflection on Acts 11, guest preacher Rev. Terry Perrish invited us to consider how the early church faced transformation—and how we, too, are called to embrace change with faithful hearts. Through the lens of Peter’s vision, he unpacked the tension between tradition and revelation, showing how the Spirit expands our understanding of who belongs in God’s beloved community.
With gentle wit and a wide-ranging journey through scripture and story, Rev. Perrish reminded us that while our world, our theology, and our circumstances shift—God’s nature does not. In progressive Christianity, we affirm that God does not make mistakes. The challenge and gift of faith is learning to let go of the illusion of permanence, and trust the Spirit’s movement toward justice, inclusion, and newness.
Colorful threads woven together with hands, symbolizing love, nurture, and community in the Ministry of Mothering.
Fourth Sunday of Easter – Worship Service – May 11, 2025
Christian Lesson: Acts 9:36 – 43
On this Mother’s Day, Pastor Chris offered a moving and expansive reflection on what it means to embody the ministry of mothering — a sacred vocation not limited by gender, biology, or social expectation. Grounded in the story of Tabitha (also known as Dorcas), whose life of compassion and care rippled outward through a grieving community, we were reminded that mothering is more than a title — it is a way of living God’s love into the world.
With tenderness and truth, Pastor Chris acknowledged that Mother’s Day stirs a wide range of emotions — joy, grief, gratitude, pain — and affirmed that there is room here for all of it, and all of us. We honored the mothers who raised us, the ones who failed us, and the ones who found us. We honored those who have mothered through love, mentorship, solidarity, and service — regardless of biology or title.
To mother, Pastor Chris shared, is to weave a divine tapestry of care, one sacred thread at a time. It is to nourish life, to protect joy, to mend brokenness with grace. In this holy calling, we are all invited to be life-bearers — to nurture justice, offer tenderness, and rise to the divine caretaking that changes the world.
This is the ministry of mothering. And it belongs to us all.
Love as We Have Been Loved” by Maximino Cerezo Barredo – A vivid expression of Christ’s call to love one another with boundless compassion and solidarity..
Third Sunday of Easter – Worship Service – May 4, 2025
Gospel Lesson: Mark 5:21 – 34
On the peaceful morning of May 4th, Pastor Chris Czarnecki delivered a stirring and thought-provoking sermon titled “Do You Love Me?”, drawn from the Gospel of John’s tender account of the Risen Christ meeting his disciples on the shore.
As the disciples returned to fishing—retreating into the familiar after a season of upheaval—Jesus appeared, not in grandeur, but in gentleness. He stood on the shore and offered them breakfast. This moment, Pastor Chris reminded us, is not just about fish and fire. It’s about grace that meets us where we are—and love that calls us beyond ourselves.
The sermon explored our very human impulse to retreat when life gets hard. When we are overwhelmed, uncertain, or hurting, we tend to go back to what we know—just as Peter and the disciples did. But instead of chastising them, Jesus simply asked, “Do you love me?” Not once, but three times—each time pairing the question with a commission: Feed my sheep.
This was not a call to comfort—it was a call to service. Pastor Chris invited us to see that loving Jesus is not a private emotion, but a public commitment to care, to act, to lead with compassion. We were reminded that discipleship is not about retreating into safety, but stepping forward into purpose, even when it’s hard.
In true Holy Covenant spirit, this sermon was a bold invitation—to resist the pull of disengagement, and to embrace the sacred work of tending to one another and the world. Whether we are newly confirmed or long on the journey, Jesus is calling each of us: Come to the shore. Be nourished. And go feed the sheep.
At Holy Covenant UCC, we celebrate Earth Sunday by affirming our call to protect creation, seek environmental justice, and honor the sacredness of our planet.
Earth Day Sunday – Worship Service – April 27, 2025
United Church of Christ Earth Day Sunday Worship Service
Gospel Lesson: Mark 5:21 – 34
In a sermon woven with urgency, tenderness, and sacred challenge, Pastor Chris invited Holy Covenant into a moment of deep reflection and bold action. Preaching from Mark 5:21–34—the story of the woman who, after years of suffering, reached out and touched the cloak of Jesus—Pastor Chris drew a profound parallel between her long, unseen pain and the woundedness of our Earth.
The woman’s faith, persistent and aching, stirred Jesus to a radical act of unselfish love. He did not withhold healing. He did not count the cost. He offered wholeness freely, even when tradition and the powers of the day would have condemned her. So too, Pastor Chris urged, must we reach out—not only in desperate hope but in determined action—to heal the bleeding Earth.
He warned that healing will not come without sacrifice. We must lay down the comforts and conveniences that are harming creation. As an example, he called attention to the alarming North Carolina Senate Bill 261, which threatens to unravel environmental protections under the guise of “regulatory reform.” If we are serious about offering healing to the Earth, we must also be serious about resisting the forces that continue to wound it.
Pastor Chris called each listener to be a living vessel of Earth’s healing—not in passivity, but in active, loving defiance against harm, rooted in the radical compassion of Christ.
Easter at Holy Covenant UCC celebrates the power of resurrection and renewal—Christ is risen, and love leads us forward.
Easter Sunday – Worship Service – April 20, 2025
United Church of Christ Easter Sunday Worship Service
Gospel Lesson: John 20:1 – 18
On Easter Sunday at Holy Covenant United Church of Christ, Pastor Chris delivered a thought-provoking and heart-stirring sermon titled “I Have Seen Jesus,” based on John 20:1–18. In the light of the resurrection morning, he invited the congregation to remain open to encountering the Risen Christ—even in the shadows, even in the grief-soaked silence of the tomb. The message called us to recognize resurrection not only in the expected places of joy and renewal, but also in the unconventional, overlooked corners of our lives where love insists on rising. Pastor Chris’s words echoed with a sacred challenge: Where do you see resurrection? The sermon became a call to action, a summons to live as people who have seen the Lord—and who dare to believe that resurrection is not a moment, but a movement.
Palm Sunday – Worship Service – Confirmation Sunday – April 6, 2025
Palm Sunday at Holy Covenant UCC is a vibrant celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry—featuring waving palms, joyful worship, and a powerful start to Holy Week.
United Church of Christ Palm Sunday Worship Service
Gospel Lesson: Luke 19:28 – 40
Our Palm Sunday worship service also celebrated the confirmation of the Class of 2025 confirmands. The service, beginning at 10:55 AM, marked the start of Holy Week and combined traditional Palm Sunday observances with the affirmation of faith by the confirmands.
The service commenced with a prelude of “All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” followed by a welcome from Rev. Christopher Czarnecki. The congregation participated in the Introit, singing hymn 216, “All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” and hymn 213, “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna,” reflecting the joyous entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
A “Call to the Heart” led by Ed Vickery invited the congregation to join in the spirit of Palm Sunday, acknowledging both the celebration and the impending passion of Christ. This was followed by a unison “Prayer for Transformation,” seeking courage and compassion in following Christ’s path.
The service included the Gospel reading from Luke 19:28-40, detailing Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The choir performed the anthem “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” arranged by J. Coates, enhancing the reflective atmosphere.
A significant portion of the service was dedicated to the confirmation of the Class of 2025 confirmands. This rite of passage allowed the young members to affirm their faith and commitment to the church community. The congregation supported them through prayers and blessings, recognizing their journey and growth in faith.
The service concluded with the congregation singing hymn 218, “Ah, Holy Jesus,” and a benediction from Rev. Czarnecki, sending the attendees forth with a renewed sense of purpose and reflection as they entered Holy Week.
Fifth Sunday in Lent – Worship Service – Mix It Up Sunday – April 6, 2025
United Church of Christ Worship Service
Hebrew Lesson: Isaiah 43:16 – 21
In his progressive and thought-provoking sermon You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, based on Isaiah 43:16-21, Pastor Chris delivers a bold and inspiring message that urges believers to look beyond the past and lean into the future with expectant faith. While honoring the powerful moves of God in history, he reminds the congregation that God is not done yet—what’s coming is even greater. “If you think the past was powerful, you ain’t seen nothing yet!” he proclaims, challenging listeners to release old narratives and make room for the new. Pastor Chris emphasizes the importance of spiritual anticipation, declaring that to receive what lies ahead, we must remain open and ready for the fresh and unexpected ways God is still moving.
Fourth Sunday in Lent – Worship Service – March 30, 2025
United Church of Christ Worship Service
Gospel Lesson: Luke 15:1 – 3, 11 – 32
Pastor Chris’s sermon, Beyond the Sons: Becoming Love, based on Luke 15:1-3 and 11-32, explores the radical inclusion, grace, and love of God, challenging believers to move beyond mere sonship into the fullness of divine love. He highlights the parable of the prodigal son as a powerful illustration of God’s extravagant welcome—embracing not only the lost but also the self-righteous. Pastor Chris emphasizes that true spiritual maturity is not just receiving love but becoming love itself, extending grace without limits and welcoming others without conditions. This message calls the church to embody the heart of the Father, creating communities of radical inclusion where all are accepted, restored, and transformed by grace.
Third Sunday in Lent – Worship Service – March 23, 2025
United Church of Christ Worship Service
Gospel Lesson: Luke 13:1 – 9
In his sermon When Bad Things Happen on Luke 13:1-9, Pastor Chris tackled the age-old question of suffering and divine justice with a compassionate and progressive perspective. He rejected the idea that tragedy is a punishment from God, instead emphasizing Jesus’ call to repentance—not as fear-based guilt, but as an invitation to transformation. Pastor Chris reminded the congregation that when faced with suffering, our response should not be to assign blame but to cultivate grace, resilience, and deeper faith. Using the parable of the barren fig tree, he painted a picture of God as the patient gardener, always nurturing, always giving second chances. Rather than seeing hardships as divine retribution, he encouraged his listeners to view them as moments for growth, solidarity, and renewed purpose in working toward a more just and loving world.
Second Sunday in Lent – Worship Service – March 16, 2025
United Church of Christ Worship Service
Gospel Lesson: Luke 13:31 – 35
Pastor Chris’s sermon on Luke 13:31-35 reflects on Jesus’ unwavering commitment to his mission despite opposition. In this progressive Christian sermon, Pastor Chris explores themes of courage, divine purpose, and God’s boundless compassion. Emphasizing the call to embrace Christ’s love, the message invites our faith-based community to stand firm in justice, mercy, and grace, even in the face of challenges.
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