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Covenant News
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Presbyterian Church USA
United Church of Christ |
October 2017
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Covenant's brochures for a visitors' self-guided tour of the sanctuary, available in various languages, have been very popular during Open Sanctuary.
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Pastor Letter
By
Rev. Rob Mark, Pastor
In our worshipping life, since the end of August, we have been journeying along in Exodus with the ancient Hebrew people in their long walk to liberation. And as we strive to accompany modern people in our world from Charlottesville, to Houston, to Puerto Rico, to now Las Vegas - we find ourselves longing for the same liberation we have tasted through these texts. Our hearts thirst just like theirs at Horeb. We hunger for answers like they did while wandering in the wilderness. So the word I offer for us church in the midst of the world we encounter is a question -
"what is it?"
Scholars inform us that the meaning behind the word
manna found in Exodus might stem from ancient Egyptian, Aramaic or Hebrew, can be translated as "what is it?". What is this fine, flakey white substance mixed in with the dew that miraculously appears for us on the ground? What is it that assuages our deep hunger? This question informs the spiritual reality of our fragile yet beloved existence. There is manna scattered wide every new morning. Right in front of our path. As unequal as our paths may be. Paths made more difficult for some because of the unfairness of life, or because of hatred, or because of systemic racism, or economic systems that privilege the few.
But manna provision is everywhere, and intended for everyone.
Even in - especially in, the wilderness when we are hungry.
When we are asking the questions "what is it?" When we are crying out, "it's not fair". When life hits hard.
And so it is in these times we remember that God met the hungry wandering Hebrews when they were in motion. When they were wandering. They were moving. Recall they were in the so-called wilderness of Sin - in between Elim and Sinai.
And so church, in the face of our questions, let's keep moving.
Remembering as Clarence Jordan and so many other civil rights leaders made it clear - Christianity is not an institution - but a movement. And it becomes ill as soon as it stops moving. As soon as it succumbs to comfort and reneges on following the Spirit's lead.
So friends, let's keep moving! Let's stay active in our spiritual lives and disciplines. Let's keep worshipping together. Advocating together. Journeying, retreating, studying, and acting together. Reading CovNews together! For in this movement, manna will be found. As the song goes, "loaves abound." What is it? The gratuitous love of God. As we move along this Fall through our 150
th celebrations, through our season of generosity, Covenant Renewal and growing Kindling Collective ministry, and all the other ways we embody the body of Christ - may we see and taste the manna. May we be people who speak of provision and nourishment and grace as a counter to a hurting world.
What is it? The gratuitous love and grace of God. Amen.
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Covenant Book Discussion October 29 
The book discussion group of Church of the
 Covenant will meet on
Sunday, October 29, at 5 pm (location TBA.) We will be discussing
Coretta Scott King's book My Life, My Love, My Legacy.
As always, we begin with a potluck; and as always, you are most welcome to attend whether or not you have ever come to a book group meeting before, and whether or not you have read the book!
For questions, contact barbarakdarling@yahoo.com
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In This Issue
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News
from the Pews
Compiled by Linda Pursley
From the Covenant Diaspora,
Steve Laskin shares a short (
1:17) video he watches each morning "to orient myself." To see this little film,
click here.
Travels
Linda Pursley sent greetings from the west coast, while she was part way through a trip that included the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, Crater Lake, San Francisco, and reunions with seven dear friends!
Maggie Brelis got married on September 9 to her long-time boyfriend Jay (Junior) Farrell on Martha's Vineyard where they met. Maggie's mother, Morgan Baker and father, Matt Brelis, and sister, Ellie Brelis (maid of honor) couldn't be happier. It was a joyous occasion.
Recognition
Several current and past Covenant members went to Brookwood Farm's dinner on 9/24 to honor Mark Smith, who is stepping down from the Brookwood Farm board. He is co-founder of the farm. Enid Watson provided a photo that captured the following folk: Mark Smith (standing), Ed and Charlene James, Laurie Robinson, Enid Watson, Barry Shelley and Brenda Wyss, Christine James, Nancy Stockford, Mary Heney and Karen Clay, and Rob and Barbara MacLean.
Liz Vizza was on WCVB-TV's Chronicle in an episode about Boston's iconic
 landmarks. One of these was the Make Way for Ducklings bronze statues in the Boston Public Garden. Liz is Executive Director of the Friends of the Public Garden. Liz' daughter
Sophie got her PhD, after six years of hard work, from CalTech. Her field is climate change, specifically paleoceanography. She now heads to Columbia University for a post doc.
Coming Up
Evelyn Kimber invites everyone to an event that she is involved in organizing. The 22nd Annual Boston Veg Food Fest, will be at the Reggie Lewis  Athletic Center (opposite the Roxbury Crossing stop on the Orange Line) on Saturday, October 21, 11am - 6 pm, and Sunday, October 22, 10am - 4 pm. Admission is FREE.
There will be free food sampling and cuisines from around the globe, and all ingredients come from plants! 100+ exhibitors, top national speakers on health and nutrition, chefs/cooking demos, and experts on the whys and hows of earth-friendly, animal-friendly eating.
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Under the Mango Tree 
by Tim Groves
Note: This column will be a monthly sharing of stories from our sister church community, Dulce Nombre de Jesus, in northwest Nicaragua.
For twenty-two years, groups of members/friends of Church of the Covenant and members of the Church of the Poor Catholic Faith Community of
Dulce Nombre de Jesus have been traveling to each other's communities to visit and learn from each other. The experiences have been rich for both communities. Approximately 75 people from Covenant, including teenagers, have joined these delegations over the years. Now we are assembling the next delegation. Would you like to join?
Delegation Dates: January 13-21 or 22, 2018
These are the dates for which the village has invited us, and our facilitating group
Entre Culturas can accompany us. Several of us have committed to join, and we seek additional members and friends of Covenant to create a mutual learning group. From someone who has traveled several times and will be going again, it's a lot of fun.
In order to express an interest or to ask more questions, please contact Diane Lauber or me or any other members of the Nicaraguan Companions that you know. We are looking to
order plane tickets this month (hopefully by October 22.)
News from the Village: Eduardo Valdez, one of the three members of
Entre Culturas, sends us this news from his monthly visit to
Dulce Nombre:
Ruber says that he is
working in the fields planting and"pajareando" (spreading straw? or scaring birds away?). It appears the harvest will be good having received sufficient rains.
And Esperanza, beloved senior member of the community videotaped this message to Covenant:
"To Church of the Covenant we send many greetings and much gratitude. We ask God to keep you from fear of your government... so that nothing bad will happen... so that you can continue to come see us in Nicaragua. I can no longer travel myself. We love you so much and always have you in our prayers. Your letters assure us you pray for us, and we pray for you, every Thursday and Sunday. I send much much love to all of you, even those I have not yet met. May you continue to stay united. May you continue to love God. Much affection and hugs to all!"
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In This Issue
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Council Report
By Trudi Veldman for Council
Council met with Tom Reid
who requested to join Church of the Covenant. Tom is in his 2nd year towards an M. Div. at the BU School of Theology. He is interested in Interfaith Dialogue. Council joyfully approved
and welcomed Tom as full member PCUSA by letter of transfer from Southminster Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KA. Council recorded an email vote that had been taken prior to the September Council meeting to approve
the celebration of the sacrament of baptism for Siddharth George Bharathi, child of Deepti Skaria and Manoj Bharathi on Sunday, August 27, 2017.
Upon request of the
Memorial Committee, Council approved the allocation of $2500 ($1250 in 2017 and 2018) from the Joe Williamson Fund to fund the seminarian
Megan Berkowitz and $1,000 from the
J. Herbert Hollomon Fund
to fund Vasantha Sambamurti and Hannah Kelley in 2017 to support the work of the Arts, Spirituality and Justice ministry. The clerk clarified that t
he 2018 Operating Budget will have a $1250 line item (previously used to support a YAV from January 1 until July 31) to support the ASJ team of
Vasantha Sambamurti and Hannah Kelley in 2018. In addition, $250 from Rev. Julie
Avis Rogers' Duke Innovation Grant will be allocated to support the summer 2018 Faith Zine production.
The staff report covered initial discussions about Rev. Rob Mark's study leave in 2018, activities of The Kindling Collective, the ongoing search for a childcare provider.
Rev. Rob Mark requested that Council consider supporting the overture to the General Assembly in 2018 that calls for divesting from fossil fuel.
Council moved
to ask the Presbytery of Boston to concur with the Hudson Valley Presbytery's overture OVT-006 to the 223rd General Assembly of the PCUSA in 2018.
Standing Committee reports - Building Committee:
Council reviewed the MOU with Covenant Boston Preservation Project (CBPP) and addressed the comments made by Personnel Committee, Building Committee and CBPP. Worship & Music Committee: a vote to approve serving communion on September 10. Mission & Advocacy: recording of an email vote taken by Council to
endorse a special offering to be taken on Sunday September 10, 2017
in regular morning worship to support Harvey recovery efforts in Texas, to be divided equally between our two denomination relief arms (Presbyterian disaster assistance and UCC disaster ministries).
Next were reports from Special Committees: Pastor Parish Relationship Committee (PPRC)
presented a motion for Council's approval with respect to the procedure to select members of the PPRCs. Council approved that the Nominating Committee use the following guidelines for each Pastor-Parish Relations Committee: that members continue to serve staggered terms of 2-3-years each; that the PPRC should be representative/ aware of the breadth of our congregation (that is, including representation from new members as well as those well-connected enough to hear what people are saying); and that the pastor should provide names to Nominating Committee which will select PPRC members in consultation with the Pastor.
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ROOTS and BRANCHES 150th Events:
Sat. Oct. 14, 2017 - BREAKFAST WITH TIFFANY'S 
We are excited to host "Breakfast With Tiffany's" on Saturday, October 14, to commemorate the final weekend of our Roots and Branches 150th anniversary celebration. The event is designed for both congregants and the wider public to have a special chance to enjoy our spectacular Tiffany-designed interior while enjoying a simple but delicious brunch, fresh coffee and mimosas, live music, and silent auction. Here is the link to reserve your ticket - please pass this along!
Remember, tickets are limited.
http://breakfastwithtiffanys.eventbrite.com
Although the Church of the Covenant is committed to
a wide-ranging social justice mission, funds raised at this unique event will be
committed solely to the Covenant Boston Preservation Project to help steward the unique gift that is our historic landmark status sanctuary. Keeping in mind that this fund-and-profile raiser is to honor our building, in addition to our ticket
sales, we are offering special opportunities to sponsor the event at a higher level.
We are seeking both individuals and organizations to take a leadership role in this
personal act of historic preservation. Please share your suggestions and/or
questions with Pastor Rob, or Ben in the church office.
ROOTS and BRANCHES Celebratory Worship: Sunday, October 15, will also be a special day in our community life as we will welcome back and celebrate the wider COTC diaspora as part of our worship service. Please save this date and invite past members, seminarians, clergy and friends to this celebratory service.
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6 Gretchen Sutcliffe
11 Kay Carleton
18 Mocky Day
23 Joe Waters
24 Ron MacLean, Wendy Woodfield, Blake Fox
25 Kaitlyn Martin Fox
29 Holly Humphreys
Note: If your October birthday does not appear on this list, please notify Ben in the church office so we can include you next year!
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October  2017
Calendar
most up-to-date church calendar.
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About This Issue
October 2017 Covenant News
Editor/Graphics: Evelyn Kimber
Template: Harry Forsdick
Deadline for the November 2017 Covenant News is Tuesday, October 24. Please email your submissions to Evelyn Kimber at
ebkimber@gmail.com
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