I could not have imagined a better introduction to Acts than an all-fellowship retreat focused on community and the Holy Spirit. And, of course, I didn’t plan it. While I was working on our fall teaching series, a different group was finding an available date and location, planning communal meals, and praying about discussion topics. Like fellow devout Jews
Read MoreWhat do you know to be true? Eastern Mennonite University asked, and one of the teenagers in our fellowship, Theophilus Jackson, responded. Before he leaves to join the EMU freshmen class, Theo shares his thoughts with us. -Renée * * * * * What I know is true is that there are way
Read MoreNew Covenant Fellowship has a long tradition of memory-making retreats—one that we’re reviving this August 25-26 at a new (for us) location: East Bay Camp on Lake Bloomington. We’re looking forward to sharing 24 hours of laid back, intergenerational fun and fellowship in a beautiful spot. The timing makes it a good opportunity to pause
Read MoreEditor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Renée’s July 2 teaching on Genesis 31. I was tempted to skip the verses where Jacob talks about the sheep. I figured it would help make the teaching shorter, and we already talked about the sheep last week during the children’s teaching. But as a white pastor,
Read MoreThis past Sunday, we continued our celebration of the resurrection of Easter with a joyous service of baptisms. Three members of the NCF community—Anna, Patrick, and Theo—were baptized after they shared part of their personal testimonies and Renée shared a teaching about the meaning of baptism. An excerpt of that teaching follows. (You can listen
Read MoreHoly Week. Palm Sunday. Blood Drive. They go together, right? Or does it seem that “one of these three is not like the others….”? Are we having a Blood Drive at church? During the service? Really? Our challenge this Lent has been to “double down” on community. Singing with other neighborhood churches. Studying a book
Read MoreToday, Ash Wednesday, begins my favorite season. I am still surprised by the gift of it, having come into acquaintance with Lent not through my family of origin, but gradually, after leaving home. Anticipation of Lent is vulnerable and exciting; what does the Lord have in store this year? For me it is always different—sometimes adding
Read More“But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” (Luke 7:35) As a member, and now pastor, of such a gifted faith community, I am grateful for the many and diverse sources of wisdom among us. Today’s blog post is by Paige Weston, who has been an ambassador of listening and peace-making within NCF for
Read MoreIn the summer of 2016, then Co-Pastor Kye Ewing drafted a blog post with the working title What Kind of Church is NCF? His journey has since led him out of the pastorate, seeking a vocation that better fits this stage of his life while continuing to value the New Covenant community. His reflections, here
Read MoreAs we prepare our hearts for Jesus to come as a baby, I am still puzzling over the gospel reading from the first Sunday of Advent. Jesus compares himself to a thief in the night, breaking in at an unexpected hour. I wonder, how are babies and thieves alike? They do often come at night. Or
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