Last Sunday was the first launch of Sunday School. Dina Hokanson has agreed to lead our high school class, which is actually a sizable group this year. There were 7 teens in the class last Sunday. New to the group is Beatrice Kashindi (16) who arrived from Tanzania within the past six months. Dina,…

  Be perfect as God is perfect: clarifying a misconception As I was preparing for my last sermon a couple weeks ago, it led me to Jesus’ preaching from “the mount” and to a somewhat well known passage: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect. – Matthew 5:48…

  I have to confess that sometimes it is easy for me (Pastor Nick) to look past the single impact as I try to help strategize ways to make our church more sustainably impactful. But that is a mistake, and probably a little bit of a sin of pride.  Pastor Karen encouraged me the other…

  What an incredible day we had on Sunday! We celebrate with Kennedy Juma, Msebengi Bilanga, Ana Asani, Alembe Samsoni and Wakati Asani! Congratulations on your Baptism!! Praise GOD!! What a joyous day! This, my brothers and sisters, is what Jesus told us to do: “Go and make disciples and baptize them in the name…

Greetings from my (Pastor Karen’s) parents’ house on Cape Cod! Don’t worry! We don’t go to the beach where the sharks are! I thought you might enjoy another tidbit from the Global Leadership Conference… Have you ever heard of a “Growth Mindset”? This is not about numbers, it’s about learning. I actually think that OCC members…

Check out this info that will help you level up your connections with people, (and possibly your opportunities to share God’s love), from a summary of last year’s Global Leadership Summit: Vanessa Van Edwards, a best-selling author on behavioral research, offered some great tips on “leveling up” with people and creating a stronger connection which…

We are at the end of July,  and as the heat bears down,  you might start dreaming of fall weather. Which means it is a good time to start dreaming about who might start attending Orchard Covenant this fall as well! Most of you know the acronym, BLESS for evangelism,  but if you don’t, right now I just…

Dear Church, If you haven’t witnessed the devastation at Pilgrim Pines (our East Coast Conference retreat and conference center), this video will give you an idea. https://www.wmur.com/article/flash-floods-roads-swanzey-camp/44497029 My heart is breaking. My mind is on a loop. “Lord, be with Jim (camp director), Father, rescind the waters, help the campers dig the cars out, thank…

I (Pastor Nick) stumbled upon this quote and I think it fits our series about finding God’s refreshment: “(W)hat makes you think that God is absent from the maintenance shop but present in the chapel? . . . Holiness doesn’t depend on changing our jobs, but in doing for God’s sake what we have been used…

Pastor Nick and I are here at the Covenant Annual Meeting. In just two days (Saturday), Pastor Nick will be ordained! I am so happy for him. I’m sure you are too. We would like to thank everyone for your support of our professional journeys here in the Covenant. You have supported us well and…