Church of the Covenant

Boston, Massachusetts

This Week at Covenant

NEW & NOTABLE THIS WEEK AT COVENANT

IMAGINE WHAT'S NEXT

Immediately following worship this Sunday, January 29, 2023, newcomers to Life Alive are invited to a free pizza lunch forum with the pastors. This will be an opportunity to discuss who we are as a church and for young adults to imagine what’s next in their lives. Please RSVP here.

DENOMINATIONAL MEETINGS

The denominational meetings of the Central Congregational Society and the First Presbyterian Society will be held this Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 11:50am following worship (hybrid) for the purpose of electing the nominees – Linda Pursley (UCC) and Sharon Wright (PCUSA) – to serve on the Nominating Committee for two years in the class of 2024. 

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meetings of the Corporation and Congregation will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2023 following worship at 11:45am at Church of the Covenant and on zoom (hybrid meeting) for the purpose of adopting the 2023 budget, electing 2 members to the Covenant Council for a 3-year term, 1 member to the Covenant Council for a 1-year term, 4 members to the Board of Deacons for a 3-year term, and accepting 2 members to the nominating committee as elected at the denominational meetings.

SOUP SALE NICA FUNDRAISER

For the past few years, the Nica Companions have held a soup sale to benefit future delegations to and from Dulce Nombre de Jesus, Nicaragua. We are once again planning to cook mouth-watering soups for your purchase. We will have order forms at Covenant’s Annual Meeting on February 5. In the meantime, if you would like to show off your soup-making skills and help a good cause, please offer to make soup for the sale. Contact me, Karen Henry, at kams.henry@gmail.com or call 781-784-4165, to let her know by today what kind of soup you would like to offer.

WORSHIP IN THE STREETS, BOSTON'S WINTER WALK

Our worship service on Sunday, February 12 will be a bit different than usual. We will join in the 7th Annual Boston Winter Walk, as we walk 2 miles in shoulder-to-shoulder solidarity with those experiencing homelessness in our city, and re-commit ourselves to the prayerful work of housing justice. There will be 3 options: to join the walk in person at 9am; to join the walk virtually on your own; or to join in a virtual “prayer walk” at home. We are then invited to join Women’s Lunch Place for a pancake brunch back in Bates Hall!

There will be 3 options: to join the walk in person at 9am / to join as a remote walker / or join in prayerful solidarity.

To join the walk in person or on your own, please register by following these steps. PLEASE NOTE: We want to encourage ALL who are interested to participate whether you feel called to donate, fundraise or not. 

1. Click on this link. 
2. Click on “Join Our Team.” On this page, we encourage you to click “Women’s Lunch Place” so that the money we raise will go directly to our close partners.
3. Then click next: (a) “I’ll fundraise my fee” and later have an option to donate any amount. You also can feel free to donate nothing but still fully participate! (b) A full $100 registration fee exists only for those who feel called to donate this/ can afford this or (c) Remote Walker (or any other category that fits you – including bringing your dog!
4. On the next page, the rectangle “Church of the Covenant” should be highlighted already so you can then type in your fundraising goal. This can be any amount from $0 and up. Our goal as a church is to raise $1000 – so anything from $0-100 is great for this slot. And since this is only a few weeks away, you may find it hard to fundraise, consider naming an amount you feel called to give yourself. But please feel no pressure to donate here if a hardship – we mostly desire your presence! Note: you can click the box: “I don’t want a fundraising page” and this allows your name to be listed on our church page, but without a $ figure. You can still donate separately. 
5. Type in your details (name, contact info, how you heard about the Winter Walk, and waiver, etc.) Click Next.
6. On final page, click: Complete Registration. 

To join the walk in prayerful solidarity in lieu of walking 2 miles, please register here: forms.gle/hQ4nxZ5S5ieBZcJF9 

Learn more about the Winter Walk at winterwalk.org. 

UPCOMING WORSHIP

Please join us each Sunday at 10:30am and during the special services listed below as we come together in community to pray, sing, share celebrations and concerns, and hear God’s still-speaking Word proclaimed in these Hybrid services (in-person and Zoom options). Zoom Link for each service.

• Sunday, January 29, Rev. Joshua preaching, Denominational Meetings
• Sunday, February 5, Rev. Rob preaching, Communion, Annual Meeting
• Sunday, February 12, Winter Walk! Worship in the streets
• Sunday, February 19, Rev. Rob preaching, Communion
• Wednesday, February 22, 6:30pm, Ash Wednesday Service

THIS WINTER AT COTC

CLIMATE JUBILEE ALL CHURCH BOOK DISCUSSION

Join us on Sunday, February 19, 12pm following worship for a hybrid (in-person and online) book discussion on Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book Braiding Sweetgrass (indiebound.org/book/9781571313560).

EPIPHANY EVENING PRAYERS

Join us for our weekly Wednesday evening prayers from 6:00-6:30 pm with intentional liturgy, contemplative song, psalms & sharing of prayers with our siblings from Newton Presbyterian, on Zoom.

NO PLACE AT THE INN? A CHALLENGING WINTER

For many reasons, this will be a challenging winter. One way we can help those experiencing homelessness in downtown Boston is to support our partners Women’s Lunch Place, who have an ongoing wish list for items, found here: https://womenslunchplace.org/in-kind-donations.

BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAYS

Our weekly morning Bible Study is each Wednesday morning at 9:15am on Zoom. We have just begun reading the Gospel of Matthew. If you’d like more information or want to be on the list to get regular reminders & Zoom info, contact Jan Gough at revjangough@gmail.com.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILIES

The nursery is open during in-person worship, and we're continuing Godly Play, youth classes, and other special activities with kids, youth, and families. We share details via email, so let Rev. Kate know if you want to receive updates.

THE JANUARY ISSUE OF THE COVENANT NEWS can be read online here.