“Turtley Awesome” and the Blessed Tie that Binds

When I went to my mailbox here at the church on Sunday morning, I found a surprise waiting — a tiny purple turtle pinned to a card that read, “You’re turtley awesome. I know it, you know it. Tenny Turtle is always here whenever you need a little cheer.”

There was no name on the envelope and no note with it anywhere. There was just this quiet act of kindness from someone who thought I might need a reminder that I’m not alone.

I’ve kept that little turtle close by these past few days, giving perhaps more thought to it than the giver intended. The more I thought about it, I became convinced that this little turtle and card were special--not because they are fancy or elaborate gifts, but because they are covenant in miniature.

In the United Church of Christ, covenant is the sacred promise that holds us together — not a contract with conditions, but a relationship built on faithfulness and care. It’s the invisible thread that says, "You are not alone in this work, in this joy, or in this struggle."

A few weeks ago during worship, Jennifer Cohrt — who serves on the Iowa Conference Board of Directors — shared her reflections with us after attending the Conference’s Annual Meeting. Her biggest takeaway was that the Annual Meeting was a great reminder that we are not alone. Even when it feels like we’re just out here in Oskaloosa, trying to make a way by ourselves, we are part of something much larger. We belong to a wider covenant — a network of people and congregations holding one another up across Iowa and beyond.

And this weekend, we’ll be reminded of that again as we welcome our Conference Minister, Rev. Roberto Ochoa, to worship and to fellowship. His visit isn’t just a guest appearance — it’s covenant embodied. It’s one more way we remember that we are connected, encouraged, and supported by the wider Church.

That’s the beautiful thing about covenant — it doesn’t always show up in grand gestures. It’s often much smaller, quieter, and more subtle. It’s a simple check-in call with someone who’s been missing worship lately. It’s a shared prayer that holds space for each other’s griefs and hopes until we’re strong enough to hold them again ourselves. It’s a small purple turtle left in a mailbox — something that says, I see you. You’re not alone.

In the end, that's one of the main reasons that I'm still a part of the Church. Because while I have witnessed moments when the Church and her people have been at their absolute worst, I've also seen them at their absolute best--through intentional choices to choose community over isolation. Through slow, steady acts of love that keep us showing up for one another and on behalf of one another when it would be so much easier to stay home. Through covenant that stretches wide enough to hold our doubts and differences, yet strong enough to keep pulling us back toward love.

That covenant is what keeps calling us back — to one another, to hope, to the hard and holy work of love. It’s what keeps us from unraveling when everything feels uncertain, and reminds us that grace doesn’t give up, even when we’re tired. So if you’ve been feeling a little worn down or far away, maybe this is the Sunday to come home. We'll see you at 10 AM - there's a place for you here.
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In covenant with you,
​Pr. Melissa

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