This week's message is from Pastor Karla Conditt Daniels.  I will admit that it had been a long time since I had read the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, the lengthy collection of oracles prophesying the impending downfall of the Kingdom of Judah. After God’s faithful guidance of the people of Israel out of slavery, through the wilderness, and into a land of plenty, they have “forgotten” God. Some have even turned to the cult of Baal. With language reminiscent of a courtroom, God indicts the people for breach of covenant.  

It can be difficult to imagine life in a small Mediterranean land of tribal units over two and a half millennia ago. The ancient religious structure and practices can seem too remote to offer guidance today. It might be easy to believe that “the word of the LORD” uttered by Jeremiah wouldn’t have much relevance to the fast-paced, digitally and globally informed lives we lead. But friends, the ways we "forget" God are not so different from how ancient people denied God. In fact, it is likely that our “advanced” culture provides more idols to distract and capture our devotion.

God’s stinging indictment to our ancient forbears, “But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit.” (Jeremiah 2:11b), should still sting us today.

John Calvin once said that the human heart is a perpetual idol factory. What idols might you have manufactured recently?  

As pastor Katelyn Gordon Cooke tells us this week, there's a verse in Isaiah where God says to the prophet, "Come now, let us argue it out." I read that verse for the first time when I was in seminary, and I was struck by the idea that God would welcome us to argue with God. Given the number of people in Scripture who disagree with God, perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised.

Our readings this Sunday all focus on the challenges of being people of Christian faith. And as Pastor Andy Cooke tells us, sometimes, we get the impression that is it supposed to be easy and fun to follow Christ. If you look at the passages from Jeremiah and Hebrews, that myth is quickly dispelled (same with Luke 12:49-56, which is the gospel reading for this Sunday). Hebrews 11 and 12 focuses on the travails of God's people, and the writer compares Christian faith to running a race. I'm looking forward to exploring this with you.

Pastor Katelyn Gordon Cooke said, "To say this Sunday is going to be a big day at Covenant feels like an understatement." It's Preschool Sunday, which means we are inviting preschool families and staff to join us for worship. We'll commission the preschool staff and have a blessing of the backpacks for students (of all ages!) during the service.

Our Scripture passages this Sunday are like medicine: as Pastor Andy Cooke says, they may not taste great, but they are good for us. Our call to worship comes from Psalm 49, and our readings are from Ecclesiastes and Luke (see links above). All of these readings have to do with money, wealth, and our labor. In our society, it can sound a little depressing to hear a spiritual critique of wealth. After all, isn't wealth the goal? Everywhere I look, it seems to be. But the messages that we get from culture need to be tempered by the words of Jesus and other teachings in Scripture. Come with an open mind as we explore these texts together.

This is our final message in the Double Take Series of sermons in which co-pastors Katelyn Gordon Cooke and Andy cook preach different sermons on the same scripture passage.  Prayer is often a daunting subject. We might love God, but we get nervous about talking to God--especially in front of other people. We don't quite know what to say or how to say it. We worry that we don't do it well. We assume that someone else can do it better.

This week we continue our Double Take Series of Sermons with our wonderful pastors, Rev. Katelyn Gordon Cooke and Rev. Andy Cooke.  During a recent conversation with some Covenant youth, one of the teenagers said this about their sibling: "Sometimes it's hard to believe we're related. We're just so different." I imagine some of you reading this email have had that thought about your own sibling or others siblings you know. Just because we share DNA and grow up in the same family doesn't mean that we're necessarily alike in personality or preferences.

Pastor Andy Cooke said he really enjoyed preaching the first Double Take sermon last week. Katelyn and I each preached half of a sermon, which is what we are doing throughout the month of July. We are in Luke 10 again this week, specifically the story of the Good Samaritan. Last week, we heard about Jesus sending out 72 "missionaries" to towns in the area and telling them to carry no purse, bag, or sandals. They all go out and after some time, they return. Then, he tells them the story of the Good Samaritan.

This week you get not one but two messages from Pastor Katelyn Gordon Cooke and Pastor Andy Cooke.  This Sunday, we start our Double Take sermon series where Andy and I each preach a sermon on the same Scripture passage. This week's reading from Luke 10 includes some hard (and somewhat confusing?) words from Jesus, and it also includes some pertinent reminders for this weekend when we'll celebrate Independence Day and commission our high school youth and their chaperones who will be going to Montreat Youth Conference next week. 

Guest minister Amy Hobby Rickard says she loves the fruits and vegetables that are available to us this time of year. June is when the juicy locally grown tomatoes and peaches make it to farm stands, and neighbors beg you to take the zucchini proliferating in their garden.  None of this fruit happens by accident. It requires planting and careful cultivation. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is no different.