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The Portfolio

        July/August 2009

Covenant United Church of Christ

 

A community which enables people to grow in Gods

 

 love through friendship and caring. 

Thoughts from your Pastor

 

During July and August this year the lectionary texts I will be using are found in Mark 6-7 and John 6.  My sermons will follow the lessons found in those chapters.  Mark 6 begins with Christ sending out the disciples to preach and teach.  He tells then all the things they should and should not take with them.  The main thing they possessed was the power of the Holy Spirit that enabled them to cast out demons and heal.  We, as Christians, are also given the power of the Holy Spirit and we have the authority to preach and teach , even if it is only by example.  We have the responsibility to show Christian love and acceptance to everyone we meet.  We are being watched and sometimes even held to a higher standard than the rest of the world.  How do we measure up as a church?  Are we the examples Christ would have us be?  Sometimes it seems like a tall order, but we are given all the tools we need to be that example.  Lets use these summer months, when we are out and about with neighbors, family and friends to show the difference Christ has made in out lives by our example.

 

Nancy and I had a great time at the NYS Conference of the UUSS at Silver Bay,  It was bitter sweet because I had to say goodbye to both Geoffery Black, Minister for New York Conference and Michael Cane who was the Area Minister for the Metropolitan area (NY Cith).  Both of these leaders have played a part in my growth and development as a Pastor.  Mew York's loss is Cleveland's gain as Geoffery becomes the Minister for the UCC at the National level.  I will miss them at the Clergy retreats and conference.  In November David Felton will be retiring as Western NY Area Minister.  He has been here at Covenant to help us celebrate as well as to give advice on Pastor/Parish situations,.  He has been my mentor and life line as I was going through the discernment process changing from Presbyterian to UCC.  I guess this proves the old adage that the one thing we can count on is change.

 

Wishing you a summer of vacation and renewal, Pastor Jackie