Covenant CONNECTIONS:
The building is still closed--
but the church is very busy!
Greetings!
"The church is open, but the building is closed."

We are striving to continue learning and living God's love, even though we cannot gather in person at the church building.
  • Kids are reading, crafting, singing, and learning at home, with our "Church Carry Out" pizza boxes. Click on the photo to see more action photos.
  • People are connecting for worship through our web page, our You Tube page and our Facebook page.
  • Mission dollars help feed hungry people and support needy families.
  • Members are calling, writing, emailing, and praying for one another, sharing Christian love.
  • Our youth are making plans for socially-distanced mission work in Madison this month.
  • Church leaders are meeting via zoom to guide is into the future in this challenging time.
  • Small groups are meeting, and people are reading the Bible, with the help of devotionals. (See below.)
  • Volunteers are keeping the courtyard looking good. Click to see more flower photos!
Our "Reopening the Building Task Force" has about a dozen members and staff who have been working on a variety of health and logistical issues in preparation for an eventual opening:
  • socially distant seating in the sanctuary
  • extra hand sanitizer and masks
  • alternatives to corporate singing and passing the peace
  • mapping out one-way traffic through the sanctuary and narthex, and more

Earlier this week, our custodian Jeff tested out a sanitizing mist for the sanctuary, and he was pleased with the results.
Despite all these efforts, sadly, we don't think it would be wise to open the building for corporate worship any time soon, given the ongoing concern about the coronavirus.

The NY Times had a cautionary article about churches that reopened too quickly:
I am very grateful for the good info coming from the Wisconsin Council of Churches on a variety of coronaviurs issues. To learn about the variety of issues churches are facing, click here: www.wichurches.org/2020/03/11/coronavirus/

We are continuing to explore ways of enhancing our online ministry, while also connecting with folks who aren't on the internet, as we journey through this challenging season. Thank you for your patience, your prayers, and your support! We will get through this.

On the journey, apart-but-together,
Charlie
PS--Without the routine of Sunday worship together in one place, we need to be intentional about staying connected with God.

This month, I am praying with the help of one of my favorite devotional books: A Diary of Private Prayer, by John Baillie, updated by Susanna Wright.

The book has a morning prayer and an evening prayer for every day of the month. Over the years, I have given out dozens of copies of this book, with the hope that people would stay rooted and grounded in God's word and God's love.
Click on the cover image to learn more and to order a copy for yourself. Below is a sample, the end of the morning prayer for the ninth day of the month.
Dear Father, take this day’s life into your keeping. Guide all my thoughts and feelings. Direct all my energies. Instruct my mind. Sustain my will. Take my hands and give me the skill to serve you. Take my feet and make them quick to do whatever you ask. Take my eyes and keep them fixed on your everlasting beauty. Take my mouth and give me the words to tell others of your love. Make this day a day of obedience, a day of spiritual joy and peace. Make this day’s work a little part of the work of the kingdom of my Lord Jesus, in whose name these prayers are said. Amen.
--John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer (p. 36). Scribner.
Love your neighbor:
Wear a mask!
The Public Health Office in Madison has mandated masks, starting Monday, July 13. To encourage regular mask usage, we have a photo album of Covenant people in their masks. Click on the long skinny mask photos and see if you can recognize other church folks! Feel free to add your own mask photo to the album, or email it to the church office.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
Join us for apart-but-together video worship on Sunday. Check your email Sunday morning for the link. Or check the Covenant website.
If you want to interact with other people as you worship, you can join with a Facebook Watch Party. Just go to Covenant's Facebook page 9:30 on Sunday morning to watch the pre-recorded worship as a community. 

Worship this week features
  • Sermon by Rev. Sue Melrose on Esther, "Just Such A Time"
  • Children's Celebration Choir sings "We Love Because God First Loved Us."
  • A mother-daughter duet featuring Nan Schaefer and Kim Huff
  • A message for the children from Donna Monson
  • Organ video postlude from Doug McNeel

View (and print if you like) a Worship bulletin for Sunday, July 12
Coffee Hour and Bible Study!
Sundays 10:30 via Zoom

Grab some coffee and connect with your Covenant friends! Click on the Zoom link above at 10:30 this Sunday. Pastor Sue will share about Esther and then we'll have time for zoom fellowship.
Every week we provide a devotional to help you reflect on the little book of the Bible. These reflections are from members and pastors, and provide some rich texture to aid you in your reading.

If you want to receive the devotional by email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday CLICK RIGHT HERE AND SIGN UP . The devotional will also be available on the homepage of our website and a PDF of our Esther devotional is right here.

Upcoming "little books" include:
  • Ephesians on Sunday, July 19
  • Colossians on Sunday, July 26
Giving Blood to Serve God!

Wednesday August 19, 2020
1:00 – 6:00 PM
Covenant Presbyterian Church

This summer we’ve been reading some of the little books of the Bible, and they repeatedly tell us that God wants us to express our faith by loving our neighbor. Our neighbors include those next door, across town, in the next state, and even far, far away.

One way to love those who need blood transfusions is by donating your blood. You have an opportunity to do just that at our blood drive in August at the Church.

During this pandemic safe guards will be in place to insure that your health is protected. They include a temperature check as you enter, face masks on you and the phlebotomists (please bring a mask or they will have one for you), hand sanitizer, and pre-packaged snacks and juice for you after your donation. For more information about safety protocols feel free to contact Jeff Fox-Kline. Because of the pandemic walk-ins will not be allowed, so it is extra important that you sign up ahead of time. Please add your name to the Sign-Up Genius linked right here or email Jeff at jfoxkline@covenantmadison.org to select an appointment time.

If August 19 doesn't work for you, there is another blood drive at Covenant on Wednesday, July 22, organized by Memorial High School students. Sign up at https://www.redcross.org/
Who is My Neighbor?
Reflections on Stained Glass
of the Chartres Cathedral
July 15 th at 7:00 via Zoom
Sign up by CLICKING HERE or by emailing info@covenantmadison.org
Using the book,  Who is My Neighbor?, Stuart Stotts and Nancy Enderle are offering a 50 minute class for adult learners that explores the Parable of the Good Samaritan through photographs of the stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral, in France. In addition to the history of stained glass windows and how they educated and illuminated the believers who worshiped in grand cathedrals, the class will employ the spiritual contemplative practice of Viseo Divina to open up the timely and important story of loving kindness and hospitality to strangers. The class will held using zoom, and includes the use of breakout rooms and graphics and discussion, as well as time for contemplation and reflection.

The Leaders:
Stuart Stotts is an author, songwriter, storyteller, and educational consultant. For over thirty years he has traveled to schools, trainings, and conferences around the world, performing, presenting, and working to nurture the arts in people’s lives. Stuart is the author of over ten books and has released many recordings of songs and stories. He lives with his wife Heather in Deforest, Wisconsin.

Nancy Enderle is a teaching elder (pastor) in the PC (USA). For over thirty years, her ministry has unfolded in large and small congregations, in rural and urban settings, and in a couple of non-profit organizations. Nancy is currently serving at an ecumenical monastery co-directing a center for clergy spiritual renewal. She lives with her husband Gordon in Madison, and they have been part of Covenant for a long time.

If you're interested in purchasing their new book click here!
Do you like words? Do you like friends? If you like those things, then you’ll love Words With Friends, a mobile game that plays a lot like Scrabble! 

Just download the Words With Friends app on your cell phone or tablet and sign up. Folks from Covenant have been playing against each other this past week, and you are more than welcome to join in on the fun.  Click here for a google doc with people’s Words With Friends usernames and enter your own name and username and start a new game with your Covenant family!