A Blended Worship Family in Northwest Reno
Covenant Presbyterian Church of Reno sits at 6695 Mae Anne Avenue on the west side of Reno, Nevada, where the congregation has shaped a warm, mid-sized fellowship around a simple motto: "Where EACH person MATTERS, where YOU Matter!" Pastor Jay Hull describes the church as a Christ-centered family whose members seek to reach out with the message and love of Christ, and the building welcomes a steady stream of first-time visitors alongside long-time members each Sunday.
What Sunday Morning Looks Like
A single Sunday worship service begins at 10:00 a.m. with elements that draw from both the traditional and modern streams of Christian worship. The choir and organist lead hymns from the church's hymnals, while a worship and praise team supplies contemporary music on guitars, drums and keyboards. The order of worship moves between printed recitations, Bible readings, congregational singing, prayer, and a sermon that walks straight through a passage of Scripture. The choir steps away during the summer months and returns in September.
Before the service, between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m., a small open prayer time gathers to pray for the pastor and his family, the morning's sermon, the government and those in authority, the service and church members. After the service ends, the fellowship hall opens for Coffee and Fellowship at 11:15 a.m., giving visitors an unhurried chance to meet people and ask questions.
Parking, Dress, and Welcoming First-Time Visitors
Free parking sits adjacent to the church, with the driveway entrance and exit on Mae Anne Avenue. Visitors are invited to park anywhere they see an open space. There are no stairs to climb from the parking lot, the restrooms are accessible, and the church offers assistance for the hearing impaired. A greeter meets people at the front door and helps them find their way. Dress is comfortably casual, and the morning crowd ranges from blue jeans and faded T-shirts to dresses and business suits.
What the Church Believes
Covenant's teaching centers on the Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God, the final authority in matters of faith and life. The church affirms one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and confesses that Jesus Christ became truly man through the virgin birth, died on the cross for sin, ascended, and will return personally and bodily to judge the living and the dead. Salvation rests on God's free grace received through faith in Christ, applied by the Holy Spirit who indwells believers, empowers them for ministry, and seals them for the day of redemption. The visible church finds expression in local congregations where the Word is preached in purity and the sacraments are administered with integrity. These Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the church's connection to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church shapes its Presbyterian governance and worship.
Children's Ministry from Nursery Through Elementary
Covenant treats children's ministry as a serious part of weekly life. The Nursery welcomes babies and toddlers through age 3 in a space designed for play, socializing, snacks, and simple songs and stories about God. Potty-trained three-year-olds move up to a preschool class. Every volunteer working with children must pass a background check.
During worship, children ages 3 through fifth grade begin in the sanctuary with their families for the first part of the service and are invited to Children's Church after the Children's Prayer Time. Children's Church runs during the service and follows its own age-appropriate order with music, a Bible lesson, and prayer.
Kid's Club and XL-ENTeens on Wednesday Afternoons
On Wednesday afternoons after school, the church runs Kid's Club for kindergarten through fifth grade in a "VBS-style" midweek format. A walking group leaves Westergard Elementary School at 2:15 p.m. and a van picks up at Rollan Melton Elementary School around 2:45 p.m. The afternoon includes snack and recess, a Bible class, hands-on activities, and a homework club, with pickup running from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. The cost is $45 per student, with scholarships available, and Marti Lipovsky coordinates the program.
XL-ENTeens gives middle and high school students in grades 6 through 12 their own space alongside Kid's Club. The teens help lead the younger kids while taking part in their own Bible study, snacks, dinner, outdoor activities and study time. Middle schoolers can walk directly to Covenant from Billinghurst Middle School at 1:30 p.m. The semester fee is $35.
Vacation Bible School Each Summer
Each summer the church hosts Vacation Bible School across four evenings for children from preschool (age 3 and potty trained) through incoming fifth grade. The in-person program runs from 5:45 to 8:00 p.m. with group worship, outdoor play, a Bible lesson, a hands-on activity and a snack. Recent themes have walked children through Genesis, the Psalms, the story of Jesus' death and rising again, and the visions of Revelation. Registration is free through early June and $5 per child after that. Children who are three but not yet potty trained may attend with a parent.
Men's and Women's Ministries
Men's ministry at Covenant centers on a Sunday-morning Bible study and fellowship for men who want to grow deeper in knowing God and supporting one another, with new attendees encouraged to drop in. Each fall the men gather for a retreat weekend at Zephyr Point Conference Center on the shore of Lake Tahoe, where they share meals in the Tahoe Center Dining Room, study together in Dobbins Hall, and stay in hotel-style rooms that sleep two.
Women's ministry includes the Wednesday Morning Women's Bible Study from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., a Thursday all-church Bible study at 1:00 p.m., the MOMCo chapter at Covenant (a community for women in the mothering years), and a fall retreat at the same Lake Tahoe conference center. The retreats include worship, Bible study, fellowship and relaxation on the lake.
Preaching, Teaching, and the Sermon Archive
Pastor Jay Hull preaches as the main teaching voice of the church, walking systematically through books of the Bible. Series have covered 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, James, Luke, John, Acts, Ruth, Judges, the minor prophets and many other passages. Guest preachers, missionaries and elders also fill the pulpit from time to time. The sermon archive stretches back many years and is available to download or stream.
Praise Band, Choir and Music
Music is shared between the praise band and the choir. The praise band rehearses each week and leads contemporary songs on guitars, drums and keyboards. The choir, supported by the church organist, leads the traditional hymns and choir anthems. The choir traditionally takes the summer off and returns in September.
Supporting the Church
Members and visitors can give online through the church's Realm account, and giving is also accepted by mail or in person at the church office. Basic Gospel Newsletters, available from the church, summarize the core teaching of the Christian faith for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the beliefs of the congregation.
A Place to Belong in Reno
Covenant Presbyterian Church of Reno keeps a steady rhythm of worship, Bible study and ministry to families, children and youth. The office at 6695 Mae Anne Avenue is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the phone rings at 775-746-8118. Anyone new to Reno, new to church, or simply curious about the Christian faith is welcome to walk in on a Sunday morning and find a place in the pew, in the children's program, or in one of the week's many Bible studies and fellowship groups.