Christ Church Evangelical Covenant

Where do we find our identity? As we consider this, we realize it is a multi-faceted question. We have the family contexts that we grew up in, we have the cultures that have shaped us, and the places where we have lived. We have the schools we have attended, the friendships and hobbies we've enjoyed, and so much more. But as we consider the Christian faith in this question. we come to realize that...

The gospel of Jesus Christ transformed the world in the first three centuries after the resurrection, spreading from town to town and nation to nation with great speed. The book of Acts documents the start of that amazing process. Reflecting on the effectiveness of the early church, Pastor Cheryl highlights both the urgency they felt and the grounding of their faith.

In Acts chapter 10, after a vivid and unsettling dream about eating food that was forbidden by Jewish Law, Peter goes to meet a Roman centurion, who had already been instructed by God to look for Peter. The result of this encounter was salvation for the first non-Israelite who believed that Jesus was the messiah. Through this story, Pastor Cheryl invites us to explore the themes of consistent pray...

As we celebrate Pentecost today, we remember the story of Philip, who was led by the Holy Spirit to come alongside the eunuch from Ethiopia. As the eunuch studied the scriptures, Philip helped him see how they were fulfilled in Jesus, and this led to the eunuch being baptized. Philip took the opportunity to share what he new with the eunuch, and it is believed that the eunuch took the good news of...

Luke highlights two exchanges that involve between Jesus on the subject of generosity. On the surface, they seem to be about money, but Jesus is trying to get to something deeper. Ryan Lospaluto, a member of our Leadership Team, shares about the contrast between these two stories and helps us understand what Jesus was getting at in each of the conversations.

As we continue to look at the ways that the Holy Spirit works in us today, Pastor Cheryl highlights the example of the early church in the ways that they shared the labor! As we consider this, we must recognize that God sees all of the work that the Spirit does through as vital! While it can be hard to remember sometimes, caring for one another is just as much the work of the Holy Spirit as teachi...

What was it like in the earliest days of the church? The beginning of Acts documents for us the exciting growth and the challenges that came with it. As we look at the ways that Jesus's disciples became apostles, we notice that the people turned to them in amazement whenever God moved, and the apostles revealed the heart of God to them with boldness.

As we launch our Model & Multiply series, Pastor Cheryl focuses us on the book of Acts when the church started to grow. As the church gathered and the apostles proclaimed Jesus as Lord and messiah, the church expanded, with thousands being added to their number! And this was only the beginning ...

As part of our monthly series on Spiritual Practices, Pastor Cheryl shares a number of tools about how to share our faith.

Lyle Mook, former Senior Pastor at Christ Church, invites us to focus on the first part of Hebrews 12, which the writer of the book of Hebrews offers as an application of the stories found in the list of "heroes of the faith" in the previous chapter. As we learn what it means to cultivate 'audacious joy,' despite our circumstances, he invites us to learn from Jesus, lean into gladness, leverage ou...

For our Easter sermon this year, Pastor Cheryl narrates the story of Mary, imagining her eyewitness account of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. As Mary reflects on the miracles that Jesus performed and her own doubts, she shares about what it meant to her to follow Jesus, and invites us to consider what it means for Jesus to be our Messiah, King, Christ, and risen Lord.

🌿 What does true Biblical justice look like? In this powerful Palm Sunday message, Pastor Cheryl reveals how Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem wasn't just a celebration—it was a peaceful protest that challenged an entire empire. This timely message challenges us to rethink how we engage with justice in our modern world, following Jesus's example of peaceful, transformative change.

As part of our Spiritual Disciplines series, Pastor Cheryl helps us understand the connections between the imagery of water in scripture, the significance of Christ's Baptism, and our own experience in baptism.

How often do we come to the conclusion that it's just easier to do things on our own? While that might lead to the most immediate satisfaction, there's something about the way that God works to build His Kingdom that requires us to work together. Paul, throughout his letters, addresses the people that he partners with across the various cities he visits. and we, too, can join together for an even...

As recipients of God's incredible grace and forgiveness, how are we to respond when we are confronted with the reality that brokenness still pervades our relationships? Whether a result of another person's actions against us, or our own actions toward others, the invitation to forgiveness is very real. However, it is almost never easy. Pastor Cheryl shares about the call to forgiveness, and its pr...

When we read a scriptural text that talks about hosueholds, it’s easy for us to overlay our 21st century understandings into the text. But, when Jesus talks about the idea of households and families, he’s referring to a 1st-century idea called “oikos” in the Greek. As Pastor Cheryl helps us reframe our understanding of the oikos that Jesus invites us to participate in, it will re-shape our underst...

As we turn our focus toward what it means to be a people shaped by our Christian faith, Pastor Cheryl Lavornia speaks about being "Mission Minded." Our call as followers of Jesus isn't to simply receive his grace. Instead, God asks for us to reorient our lives around the values of his kingdom.

We often think of our spiritual lives as having that intangible "spiritual" dimension, something we hope guides us but sometimes feels out of reach. Pastor Cheryl revisits Isaiah 58, inviting us to dive into the tangible, practical parts of our lives. Fasting becomes more than just a ritual; it's a way to bring together our mind, body, and spirit, opening up new ways to connect with God and find h...

As a Covenant church, we approach scripture through five lenses: faithfully, communally, rigorously, charitably, and holistically. Pastor Cheryl invites us to re-consider our understanding of scripture in light of these five approaches in this week's sermon.

Is there more to prayer than asking God to answer the lists of requests we have for him? In this week's sermon, Pastor Cheryl invites us to consider prayer in a deeper way. When we practice God's presence, our hearts are aligned with His heart. And when our hearts are aligned with His heart, our lives become a living witness to His character and His kingdom.

Ever wonder why a simple meal of bread and juice holds so much meaning for Christians? In this eye-opening message, discover how communion isn't just about remembering Jesus - it's a pattern that can transform how we live every day. What would change in your life if you started living out the love and grace you receive at the communion table?

When storms hit - whether in nature or in life - they reveal what lies beneath the surface. In Pastor Chery's message, we explore how God uses seasons of upheaval not to harm us, but to bring needed ventilation, revival, and transformation to His church. Through Mark's account of Jesus calming the storm, we discover what it means to stay close to Christ even when the waters are rough.

Greg Johnson, Executive Director of Revive New England, an organization dedicated to helping New England churches prepare for spiritual renewal, was our guest preacher.

Pastor Vann shares about the three things that shape us as a God's people. First, we are called to bear witness to the Kingdom. Second, we are to be people shaped by the Spirit of God. And third, we are to be people who live with great expectation of Christ's return.

Pastor Vann shares this morning about the 8 names of God in scripture that begin with Yahweh. As we learn to trust in the character of God as he has revealed it through these names, Pastor Vann encourages us to specifically focus on one of them: Yahweh-Rohi (the LORD, my shepherd), and invites us to consider what it means for God to truly be our Shepherd and King.