Covenant Connections:
Clean hearts and clean hands
Greetings!
As Lent begins and as concern grows about the COVID-19 virus, my message today is simple. Stay calm and clean.

Lent begins with the prayer from Psalm 51, in verse 12:
"Create in me a clean heart O God..."

Our purposes in Lent are to listen to God, turn away from sin, and grow as Christians, as followers of Jesus. In other words, clean up our lives.
Toward those purposes, we are focusing on Matthew's gospel this year, and you have many ways to grow:
  • a five-week Sunday sermon series and adult ed class on Jesus the Teacher,
  • a Wednesday dinner worship focused on the beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12
  • a devotional written by Covenant folks guiding us through the entire gospel of Matthew
More info below on these opportunities.

As for COVID-19 (the coronavirus), health experts advise us to wash our hands and not panic.
Read more here from the Center for Disease Control and stay informed as the situation develops. Washing your hands is always good advice, especially now. (Click on the blue "KEEP CALM and WASH" image to download and print your own.)

So let's do what our parents and teachers have always told us to do: wash our hands, cover our mouths when we sneeze, get plenty of rest, don't touch our nose or mouth or eyes if we can help it, and stay home if we've got a fever or cough.

And at the same time, let's read our Bibles, say our prayers, encourage each other, turn away from sin, love our neighbors, work for the Kingdom, and trust in God.

Now as we enter into Lent, it is as good a time as any for clean hearts and clean hands.
On the journey together,
Charlie

PS--We had a wonderful SALSA Sunday last week. Many thanks to Melissa Hinz for organizing the music and leading us in singing. Enjoy two video clips:
To listen to "Somos Uno En Cristo" ("We Are One in Christ") and other music, click here: Salsa Sunday audio files
Wednesdays in Lent
Dinner at 5:30
Worship at 6:15
Everyone is welcome for a simple dinner and a 40-minute worship service at 6:15. Our worship focus is the beatitudes, the blessings that Jesus offers his followers in Matthew 5:1-12 .

Sue Melrose (our new Parish Associate) is leading worship this week, and deli sandwiches are on the menu. Dinner is $5/person ($10 family max) and it's FREE if it's your first one. Please sign up on the "Coming Events" bulletin board, or email the church office if you want to come, so we can plan accordingly. Click above for more info.
Through the season of Lent we are reading the Gospel of Matthew and want you to join along! Members and friends of Covenant have written devotional reflections to help you with your reading. Hard copies of the devotional are available at the church.Click to download the Lenten devotional.

Or click on the image above and enter your email address to receive a daily email from Covenant with the day's reading and devotional. (Note: the devotional begins Sunday, March 1.)
HEALTHY SNACK
for Stephens Elementary
Please bring in some clementines this Sunday, March 1. We will share them with kids at Stephens Elementary, where we've had a partnership for several years. Click on the clementines to read a profile and see statistics about Stephens.
Adult Education
Sunday at 10:00
Click on images for more info
Learn about the gospel according to Matthew over the five Sundays of March. Melissa Hardy is teaching on March 1, in room A101, downstairs under the sanctuary.
Continue to wrestle with racism and what we can do. Led by Jenny Von Bergen, Dick Lovell, and Jeff Fox-Kline, in C206, which is around the corner from Bradfield Cafe.
INQUIRERS' CLASS: If you want to meet some great people, learn more about Covenant Presbyterian Church and the Christian life, while considering membership, please join Pastor Charlie in the Lounge, on Sundays March 1, 8, and 15. Come to as many classes as you can. Questions? Email Pastor Charlie
Trash and Treasure
Rummage Sale
Donations welcome thru Wed March 4
The sale is Saturday March 7
Proceeds benefit youth ministries.
Click on image for more info.
Sunday Worship
9:00 New Day Contemporary
11:00 Traditional
"Jesus the Teacher" series
Click on poster for more info
Sunday , March 1
First Sunday of Lent
Sermon: "Let It Shine...Carefully"
Text Matthew 5:14-16, 6:1-4
Preaching: Charlie Berthoud
New Day Band (9:00)
Celebration Choir (9 &11)
Handbells (9 &11)
Holy Communion

Sunday, March 8
Second Sunday of Lent
Sermon: "Called and Sent"
Text Matthew 9:35-38, 10:1-16
Preaching: Charlie Berthoud
New Day Band (9:00)
Chancel Choir (11:00)