Membership
Membership: The Journey of a Lifetime…
The vision of the Church of the Covenant lies in offering persons the opportunity to advance toward the fullest expression of their Christian faith. This expression is carried out through the work of inward spiritual disciplines, known as the “inward journey,” and outward ministries and missions, known as the “outward journey.”
The Church of the Covenant is a community of persons responding to God’s call in Jesus Christ to live our lives as a journey of faith. We commit ourselves to the inward journey of prayer, meditation, silence, reflection and study so that we continue to grow in God’s love and guidance. We commit ourselves to the outward journey as our response to God’s call to use our gifts in the service of the church community and the world. Our work is carried out primarily through mission groups that form around a call to a particular vision of ministry. Mission groups meet regularly for the group inward journey of worship, prayer and spiritual sharing, and the outward journey of the work of the mission. Community and Covenant Members comprise the official membership of the church, making commitments to specific spiritual disciplines or practices that nurture the inward and outward dimension of the life of faith. We live out our faith with particular focus on serving the needs of children, the poor and vulnerable, and God’s good creation of which we are a part. We are an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ, welcoming persons regardless of race, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability or economic status.
Two forms of membership are offered to those who feel called to make a formal commitment to the church’s life and ministry, and to the inward and outward dimensions of their own faith.
Our Covenant One with Another
As followers of Jesus Christ, and members of the Church of the Covenant, we receive strength, encouragement and joy from a shared commitment to spiritual disciplines or practices that nurture the inward and outward dimensions of our lives and our faith. Faithful practice of these disciplines is the framework that enables us to grow in God’s love and in service to others and the world.
Covenant Member Commitment
As a Covenant Member of the Church of the Covenant Community, I make a commitment to:
- Share with other Covenant Members ultimate responsibility for the life and ministry of our community of faith.
- Devote time each day for my inward journey, including silence, prayer, reading and study of the Bible and other writings that nourish and bring growth to my spiritual life and reflection on my life in relationship to God, others and the world.
- Support the life and ministries of this community of faith through the giving of at least a tithe of the income which is entrusted to my stewardship.
- Faithfully participate in Sunday worship, normally with this community.
- Continually seek to discern God’s call in my life, and to embrace and share the gifts God has given me to serve this community and its missions.
- Participate in the life and ministry of a Mission Group of the Church of the Covenant.
- Indicate to my Mission Group any difficulty I may be having with any area of our Covenant, and seek its counsel, prayers and support.
- Endeavor in every relationship to be a channel of God’s love and forgiveness.
- Renew my commitment annually, as a Covenant member, as I feel so called.
Community Member Commitment
As a Community Member of the Church of the Covenant Community, I make a commitment to:
- Take seriously my involvement in the life and ministry of the Church of the Covenant as an expression of my Christian discipleship.
- Participate regularly in Sunday worship.
- Give time regularly to prayer and the study of the Bible and other writings that nourish and bring growth to my spiritual life.
- Support the community’s life and ministry through the use of my God-given gifts.
- Give of my financial resources in support of this community’s life and ministries.
- Endeavor in every relationship to be a channel of God’s love and forgiveness.
- Renew my commitment as a Community Member annually, as I feel so called.
The Wider Church Community
We value and encourage participation in the worship, ministries, and life of the church by those who do not feel called to Covenant or Community Membership.
We are affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and are an Open and Affirming Congregation of each, welcoming persons of every race, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and economic status.
Mission and Ministry
Groups and Members are encouraged to live out their call to mission in the context of a small group that is committed to a specific mission. The group forms around a particular vision for ministry and structures its life around prayer, study, spiritual growth (the group inward journey), and the work of the mission (the group outward journey).
Worship and Learning
Our community worships at 11 am on Sundays, with a time of silent prayer and meditation in the Chapel staring at 10:30.
On Tuesdays at 12:30pm, there is a 30 minute time of contemplative prayer in the Chapel.
On Wednesdays at 8am, there is a brief morning worship consisting of silence, singing, prayer and the reading of the lectionary passages for the week. It is followed by a discussion of the scripture readings in the Lodge of the Fishermen.
Other study opportunities are offered from time to time for the strengthening and deepening of the spiritual life and Christian discipleship. Intern, Covenant, and Community Members are especially encouraged to participate regularly in these classes.
You are invited to explore the call to share in the life and ministry of the Church of the Covenant.
If you seek …
- a deeper spiritual life,
- the challenge of greater commitment to God’s call
- to discover and use your unique God-given gifts
- for the sharing of the Good News of God’s love
- to be in a more loving relationship with others
… the Church of the Covenant may be the community in which you can find the spiritual
journey of a lifetime.
