Stories & News
The Covenant Companion
Official Magazine of the Evangelical Covenant Church
News
Ministering to Families Seeking Refuge
Serve Globally ministry partner Leonid Regheta talks with the Companion about Ukraine and his refugee resettlement ministry.
Celebrando con CIPE
Covenant ministers and laypeople participated in La Confraternidad de Iglesias del Pacto Evangélico (CIPE) in Quito, Ecuador.
Cycling Senior Supports Biking for Congo
Annalee Boulton of Arlington United Church cycles 50 kilometers at 88 years old to support the 2022 Biking for Congo Challenge.
Recent Storm Alters Landscape of Nome, Alaska
Western Alaska is recovering from the worst storm in nearly 50 years.
Excel Church Rallying to Serve, Rebuild After Fire
An August fire at Excel Church in Conyers, Georgia, is teaching the Covenant congregation new lessons on worship and outreach.
Covenant Church Serves Up Pies and Prayers for RAGBRAI Cyclists
Pomeroy (Iowa) Covenant Church turned their front yard into a rest stop for thousands of cyclists along the cross-state RAGBRAI route.
Featured story
We Don’t Do Much with That Sort of Thing
A fresh perspective in the face of all the overwhelmingly gaudy Christmas decorations.
Features
We Don’t Do Much with That Sort of Thing
A fresh perspective in the face of all the overwhelmingly gaudy Christmas decorations.
This Thanksgiving, Understand the Assignment
If we don’t take time to examine the purpose of the holiday and how it connects with our faith, then we risk missing what it was intended to accomplish.
Practicing Ethical Evangelism
Working alongside those with different belief systems stretched me to be a more humble, earnest, vibrant lover of Jesus.
My Sankofa Reprise
Twenty-two years after his first Sankofa journey, Jelani Greenidge got back on the bus.
Binding Up the Broken Winged
For Indigenous Heritage Month, The Companion sat down virtually with two staffers from Mending Wings, a youth healing and empowerment organization based in the Yakama Nation of central Washington.
A Calling to Retire
Ann Wiesbrock has been helping people to prepare for retirement for the past 12 years in her role at Covenant Trust. This fall she announced that it is now her turn.
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Featured story
My Sankofa Reprise
Twenty-two years after his first Sankofa journey, Jelani Greenidge got back on the bus.
Commentary
Love Like Family
Are we aspiring to the ideal, imperfect community of God found in his Word?
A Joy-filled Sacredness: Finding Life at Covenant Living
How God has helped me develop new pastoral skills, taught me from my elders, and deepened my life in Christ.
My Soul Problem Was Written on My Insoles
A sordid tale of boastful pride and the desire to be envied.
Learning to See Jesus
Learning from Jesus’s parable of the sheep and the goats to see people at the margins.
Arts & Culture
Wakanda Forever Has Lessons for the Culture
A review of the latest Marvel film and its deeply universal themes.
Christ-Shaped Solidarity
Covenant pastor Jesse Slimak reviews Michelle Sanchez’s new book, Color-Courageous Discipleship: Follow Jesus, Dismantle Racism, and Build Beloved Community.
When the Wind Is with You
Listening closely to CeCe Winan’s, “The Wind” provides needed inspiration to persevere.
Sound Bites
Throughout the denomination, Covenanters are creating original music to express devotion to God. We collected a few samples.
Home Altar
A devotional guide written by Covenanters, the Covenant Home Altar invites us to take time in our day for God’s word, quiet meditation, and prayer. To receive printed copies of the Covenant Home Altar you may subscribe below. One subscription is for one year, which includes four quarterly issues.
Announcements
Ann Wiesbrock Announces Retirement from Covenant Trust Company
Ann P. Wiesbrock announced her retirement as president of Covenant Trust Company effective in the spring of 2023. Wiesbrock has served as president of Covenant Trust Company and executive director of Covenant Estate Planning Services since 2010.
Paul Lessard Nominated for Second Term as Executive Minister of Start and Strengthen Churches
The Covenant Executive Board (CEB) announces the nomination of Rev. Paul Lessard to serve a second term as executive minister of Start and Strengthen Churches. He will stand for election at the denomination’s 137th Annual Meeting.
Paul Robinson Nominated for Second Term as Executive Minister of Love Mercy and Do Justice
The Covenant Executive Board (CEB) announced the nomination of Rev. Paul Robinson to serve a second term as executive minister of Love Mercy and Do Justice.
Michelle Sanchez, Executive Minister of Make and Deepen Disciples, Will Not Seek Renomination
In a letter to the Covenant Executive Board, Executive Minister of Make and Deepen Disciples, Rev. Michelle Sanchez, shared that she has prayerfully discerned not to pursue renomination. The Evangelical Covenant Church is grateful for all she has done to serve the Covenant since she began serving in this role in 2015.
Youth Ministry Update
In this season of transition, youth ministry remains a priority for Make and Deepen Disciples. We are excited to share updates on the new Covenant Interim Youth Ministry Leadership Team, the upcoming Next Gen Conference, and the status of new hiring.
Executive Board Votes on Involuntary Removal of Two Congregations
At its October meeting, the Covenant Executive Board voted to advance to the 2023 Annual Meeting the involuntary removal of Awaken Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Quest Church in Seattle, Washington.
Podcast
Sankofa: Join Us on the Bus
Hear from leaders and participants, as well as Sankofa veteran Nilwona Nowlin, who walks us through the journey—and shares her reflections after years of getting on the bus. For more information visit covchurch.org/sankofa
We Are a Multiethnic Mosaic
Mary Chung March outlines our history of becoming a multiethnic mosaic, growing from our roots as a Swedish immigrant church. And Steve Wong, pastor of the first Asian American church plant in the Covenant, reflects on his journey into the Covenant, how he has seen the denomination change, and our call to continue becoming the beloved community.
We Seek Racial Righteousness
Covenant historian Hauna Ondrey and Dominique Gilliard join us to talk about the end of the 1960s, the Black Manifesto, the Covenant’s unique response to this call to white churches and synagogues—and where we witness similar themes in our culture today.
We Make Affirmations
In the Covenant we identify as non-creedal, meaning we do not adhere to a specific creed. But non-creedal does not mean we are without theology. The six Covenant affirmations address the question, “What does the Covenant believe?” Retired North Park Theological Seminary professor Klyne Snodgrass joins us.
In Memoriam
Lorraine Pratt
Lorraine Pratt, widow of Covenant minister Wallace Pratt, died on October 19, 2022, in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. She was 95.
Velma Lagerstrom
Velma Lagerstrom, wife of the late Covenant minister Ron Lagerstrom, died September 29 in Santa Barbara, California. She was 90.
Bernice “Birdie” Anderson
Bernice “Birdie” Anderson, widow of Covenant pastor and former Covenant Bible College president Wendell Anderson, passed away on October 12, 2022. She was 96.
Bruce Kallenberg
Covenant pastor Bruce Kallenberg passed away from Lyme disease in Edina, Minnesota, on June 4, 2022. He was 75.
