Pastor Letter
Rev. Rob Mark, Pastor
Alleluia, Church!
Christ is risen.
Life emerges from chaos.
Hope has the final word. Alleluia.
Joyful and happy Easter season!
This has been a moving Lenten to Holy Week to Easter journey as a community of faith. Thank you all for participating in this poignant gift of a season. We have been leaning into Pilate's question to Jesus "what is truth?" - through our worship, our mid-week gatherings, our congregational meetings and our 40-day challenge to foster more generosity in our hearts and actions. One answer to this proverbial question that has arisen for me quite clearly, is
you. You are truth. You, Church of the Covenant, are a part of what is true for this world. You are an example that others can benefit from. You are diverse, you are creative, you are faithful, you are hungry for peace & justice, and you seek the living Holy Spirit in honest and passionate ways. You serve with humility, you care for each other with integrity, and you stay together in your differences. As we know in our country right now, such qualities seem hard to find. The truth of your story is one that has an important role to play in our community and world. So I am grateful for the truth that I see in the honest and loving ways we come together as one community of Covenant.
I am also grateful for the gift that lies before me this spring/ summer. Becky, Rowen and I will be gone from church April 11-August 13, thanks to the incredible gift of an Extended Reflection Leave that you are giving me. Thank you. I will do all that I can to use this gift well and to seek after spiritual grounding that can refresh me for ongoing ministry with you upon our return.
I am excited about the theme of this leave that is inspired by that Celtic-favorite-gospel of John, A Celtic Family Way: Finding Abundant Life in a Frenetic World. My plan is to use this leave to create space for cultivating deeper spiritual practices that too often get crowded out by the day-to-day demands of ministry and advocacy. I pray this time will allow my family and I to pray for the life of our world and take stock of the enormous shifts that have happened in our country, in our church, and in their personal lives in these 6-plus years of full-time ministry at Church of Covenant. From a creative writing workshop at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, to leading the annual Eco-Stewards gathering in Oahu focused on indigenous faith leadership, to spending a week with the Iona Community, to a workshop on Celtic Christianity, to spending more time together with my family - I am really looking forward to this time of re-centering, reflection and learning.
I am also excited and grateful that during my Leave time away, you all will get to know and be accompanied in ministry by our half-time Sabbatical Supply Pastor Ashley Anderson. Ashley is a current minister at The Crossing at St. Paul's Cathedral and also connected with First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain. We will be setting up a new COTC email and phone extension for her, and listing that in upcoming announcements. Ashley's first full Sunday with you will be Sunday April 15, and she will be with us on Sunday, April 8, for a brief introduction.
Finally, I am grateful that the rest of our deeply gifted core staff team of Rev. Julie Avis Rogers, Tom Handel and Ben Crosby will be active during this Leave to help support Ashley in her work with us, and continue the excellent ministries that they carry out on a regular basis. My prayer for you all as a community is that you also experience these months as a time of spiritual renewal, refreshment, and rejuvenation in faith.
One practical request in these days of many emails - while I wish to remain on all listservs (from Council, Deacons to COTC lists), I also will be unplugging during these months away to practice greater simplicity as a spiritual discipline. So I ask that you consider either holding off on emailing me while away, or kindly resend anything you want to make sure comes to my attention once I am back August 13. This will be a big help - thank you!
In peace, resurrection, Sabbath, and joy,
Rob
For additional information on my Extended Leave plans, click here.
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Covenant Cabaret
Covenant's Got Talent!
One of the most fun events of our year, Covenant's Annual Cabaret will be on
Saturday evening, April 21, in Bates Hall. Donations for admission and food will support our Nicaragua Companions group and our sister relationship with Dulce Nombre de
Jesús. If you have questions, or something to share with voice or instrument, poetry or dance, storytelling or humor, or whatever!,
contact Joe Waters at [email protected] . Plan to attend and cheer!
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Celebrating Earth Day!
by Barbara Darling for Mission & Advocacy
and Consumption & Justice
It's April! And ever since 1970, the world has celebrated Earth Day on April 22. Respect for the earth is a key value at Church of the Covenant, and of the Mission and Advocacy Committee and the Consumption and Justice Group. Our worship services frequently affirm the beauty and recognize the fragility of God's creation. Our members and clergy often participate in religious witness and activism on behalf of this awe-inspiring planet. And Mission and Advocacy Committee wants you to know that we support the following organizations with financial contributions:
350.org, a global environmental group that uses online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions to build 100% clean energy solutions that work for all
Climate Disobedience Center, which supports a growing community of climate dissidents who act boldly due to the scale and urgency of the climate crisis
Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light, which unites more than 240 diverse faith groups in protecting creation
Presbyterians for Earthcare: An Eco-Justice Network, which cares for God's creation by connecting and inspiring Presbyterians to make creation care a central concern of the church
PCUSA Eco Stewards, a grassroots community that shapes young adult leaders through place-based experiences that connect faith and the environment (founded by our own dear Rev. Rob!)
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News from the Pews
Complied by Linda Pursley
Palm Sunday at Covenant
Here is a great six-minute video of Covenant kids and choir during the Cloaks and Branches portion of the Palm Sunday 2018 service. To watch it, click here.
Baptism
The whole congregation celebrated the baptism of baby Evie, with parents Selom Azuma and
Emily Aaronson
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Travel
During Wheaton College's spring break, Barbara Darling got to visit San Francisco and the Bay area. She attended an inspiring and moving conference on Religion, Ecology, and Gender, and also got to see the sea lions on San Francisco's Pier 39, admire a couple of black-tailed deer, delight in 20 or so California Quail, and eat at several vegan restaurants.
One major trip highlight was Barbara's first chance to visit the Richmond, CA, headquarters of the House Rabbit Society (rabbit.org), a nonprofit rabbit rescue and education organization, and commune with the 20-25 bunnies in foster care there.
Latest Additions to the Covenant Diaspora
Christine Reinders-Caron and Jeremy Caron will be relocating to Iowa in April. Jeremy accepted a new position at the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities. They share, "We are sad to leave Boston and COTC, but we are excited to be closer to Christine's family and to experience new adventures. We hope to visit frequently. COTC will always hold a special place in our hearts. Please keep in touch!"
Advocacy
Revered Rob Mark addressed the crowd at the Interfaith Climate Action on the steps of the State House on March 24.
As the group moved inside the State House, Rev. Rob distributed palms from Covenant's Palm Sunday service! Barbara Darling (pictured at left) and Nancy Stockford also participated.
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Under the Mango Tree 
by Linda Pursley on behalf of
the Nicaragua Companions
Note: This column will be a monthly sharing of stories from our sister church community, Dulce Nombre de Jesus, in northwest Nicaragua.
In the latest update from Entre Culturas, Amanda Jones-Dominguez wrote,
"
We hope that you are all doing well in this Lenten season. We are doing well, still savoring the memories from Covenant's visit!"
In addition to communication with the village, at recent meetings the Nica companions have focused on the Escuela de Animadores, Cabaret planning, research related to our relationship, and the possibility of carbon offsets related to delegation travel, each explained below in more detail.
In their February meeting, the Companions voted to send some financial support for Escuela de Animadoros (a church leadership school.) Entre Culturas had covered the cost of the two initial encounters, but sought support to continue training in leadership, spirituality, the Bible, and Jesus in historical context. They describe this initiative as follows:
What is our dream with the Church Leadership School? We dream of communities where the members gather with lots of joy to truly celebrate the Word of God. That they sing, organize parties to share in special occasions, that they are at the service of others, above all in service to the poorest, the sick, the most excluded from society; not just in their Christian community but in their physical one as well. That they are clear about their identity as The Church of the Poor, and feel proud of it. That they feel accompanied by other Christian communities like 14ce de Septiembre, Church of the Covenant, and other communities in Nicaragua who are also on the same journey.
The annual Cabaret - a showcase for Covenant talent, and fundraiser to support our ongoing relationship - is coming soon. Do you sing, dance, write or read poetry, tell jokes, juggle? Whatever your talent - or even if you just like to appreciate the talent of others - the Cabaret is for you! If you are considering performing, please contact Joe Waters at
[email protected] . Joe will respond to your questions and coordinate the schedule. If you wish to support and appreciate the performers,
MARK YOUR CALENDARS for April 21 evening in Bates Hall!
Nancy Winfrey, an emerging scholar (and former doctoral student of Linda Pursley's) with interest in church mission work will be coming to Boston the weekend of April 28-29 to document some of the impacts of our 20+ year relationship with Dulce Nombre de Jesus in a case study. She will be using the
adult ed time following the service on
April 29 and hoping to meet not only with those who have visited Nicaragua, or had close family or friends travel, but also those who have not traveled, but experienced the impact of this relationship on our congregation. She is interested in photos, scrapbooks, and other artifacts that represent or illustrate the relationship. She describes her interest as follows:
I am particularly interested in the way this connection influenced the individual and collective spiritual formation of the congregation, and whether a connection developed between international short-term missions and local accompaniment. I am interested in the tools that supported the process: prayer? reflection? discussion groups? How did the initial idea of accompaniment with the village take root? How did you navigate the language and cultural differences? Where is the Nicaraguan imprint most visible in the congregation's understanding and worship of God? What are the plans for the future? Mostly I am looking for the story, across cultures, of this Christian relationship.
go to
In This Issue
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Council Report
by Nancy Hollomon for Council
March 2018 Council Meetings
The Council met three times in March, including one telephone conference because of the abundant snow. Newly ordained were Phyllis Galt and Dennis McCullough. Arnold Rots and Nancy Hollomon had been ordained previously.
Joyfully we interviewed prospective new members (Affiliates and Associate) and happily looked forward to the Baptism of Elliot Allen Craig.
To top the pleasure of receiving new members, Tom Reid brought his request to be enrolled as an inquirer. This is the first stage of preparation for a candidate preparing for ministry. The Council questioned Tom and helped to prepare him for his interview with the appropriate Presbytery of Boston committee.
When our pastor Rob Mark is on sabbatical leave, the Supply Pastor hired for 20 hours a week for three months will be Ashley Anderson, who is active in the Boston area. (An article introducing Ashley was in the March Covenant News.) The congregation will have the opportunity to welcome her soon after Easter.
There was a lengthy discussion of two motions to be brought to the congregation for a vote on March 25.
- Moved: To bring to the congregation for a vote on 3/25/18 a motion to create a full-time settled Associate Pastor position beginning 1/1/19. This position will be focused 50% on Innovation and 50% on the Life of the congregation.
- Moved: To bring to the congregation for a vote on 3/25/28 a motion to offer this Associate Pastor position to Rev. Julie Avis Rogers.
So that the voices of the people of the church can be heard, Presbyterian congregations may send overtures to the General Assembly of the denomination. These statements shall be presented at the meeting of the Presbytery of Boston on their way to General Assembly. The subjects of these overtures are
On Responding to Environmental Racism
The Earth is the Lord's - Not Ours to Ruin: Priorities for a New Moral Era
As the night progressed, a number of other topics were discussed and officers were approved by vote. A complete listing will appear in the next church directory.
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1
Elsa Abele, Ben Forsdick, Jack Wynn
6
Ryan Surette
8
Jessica Ciottoni
11
Kate Hall
13
Melissa King
15
Kathryn Barry, Marnie Warner
21
Jack Ammerman, Joan Lanigan
27
Caitlin Vest
Note: If your April 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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April  2018
Calendar
most up-to-date church calendar.
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About This Issue
April 2018 Covenant News
Editor and Graphics: Evelyn Kimber
Template: Harry Forsdick
Deadline for the May 2018 Covenant News is Tuesday, April 24. Please email your submissions to Evelyn Kimber at
[email protected]
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