Charlottesville, Va.—Amidst the threat of protests this weekend as commemorations of the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville riots which left three people dead and many injured are scheduled, Covenant Church of God is planning a Covenant Cares Celebration for both the 8:30 and 10:45 Sunday services in an effort to convey to the community and to the world that the unity they seek can be found in Christ.
Church of God General Overseer Tim Hill will be the guest speaker/singer in both services.
Led by Pastor Harold L. Bare, Sr. for 37 years, Covenant has transformed from an all-white congregation to one which now represents over 20 nations in morning services and has many community- and world-wide outreaches. Pastor Bare officiated at the funeral for Heather Heyer who was killed in the riots and who had conveyed to her family that she appreciated the diversity she found in the congregation when she had attended with friends as a teen.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency for Charlottesville this weekend as various kinds of protests are expected and the town has been flooded with uniformed and plainclothes police in anticipation of violence. Downtown city streets, parks and other gathering places will be closed for the weekend.
Officials with Covenant Church have appealed for prayers that this event will not be marked by protests and that the city will remain peaceful throughout the weekend