Covenant Connections:
Flowers, music, ZOOM, and the Brady Bunch
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All in-person activities at Covenant have been canceled until further notice.
PLEASE STAY AT HOME as much as possible.
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If you are sad and discouraged right now, that's understandable.
We are in a scary and challenging time, and our lives have been massively disrupted. Businesses, schools, libraries, restaurants, and churches--closed doors. Graduations, vacations, family reunions, weddings and even funerals--postponed or canceled.
Economic and medical uncertainty are all around us. And in the midst of all this, when we most need support, we can't shake hands, hug, or even get within six feet of each other.
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We need to acknowledge our grief and our fear. I encourage you to talk with loved ones about these things. If you want to talk with a church staff member our contact info is below.
And yet... At the same time, we can be thankful and hopeful, as people are being kind and good things are happening. Just like flowers emerging after a long winter, new life is blooming.
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People are finding ways to connect and care, to make God's love real.
The internet is filling with stories of connection and care, of kindness and hope, of inspiration and courage.
One of my favorites this week is the Rotterdam Philharmonic recording of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." Click on the photo for beautiful music along with their inspiring message to work together. And sing along if you like....
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Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee
Op'ning to the Sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
fill us with the light of day
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As we connect and care and sing and pray, I believe that God is at work, melting the clouds of sin and sadness, bringing joy and light.
I witnessed connection and care here in Madison on Wednesday evening with a hastily-planned online Bible study. At noon on Wednesday, I sent out an email inviting people to a ZOOM Bible study at 7pm that night. About 35 people joined, most with video, some with just audio.
Together we reflected on
Psalm 27 and prayed for each other and the world. We took comfort in verse 13: "I believe I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
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To see the PowerPoint slides from our study of Psalm 27, click on the smiling faces above.
We're going to meet again on Wednesday, April 1, at 7pm, via ZOOM, to reflect on
Psalm 13. Please join us. Download ZOOM and on Wednesday at 7:00pm, click on this link:
https://zoom.us/j/879788444 . You can join the group with video and audio, or just audio if you prefer to be "invisible."
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I have a favor to ask of you....
As a church, we are doing the best we can with this new reality. Since our contact with each other is very limited, I invite you to help us see the bigger picture of how people are doing.
Please take 3-5 minutes to fill out this anonymous and secure survey, put together by Barna Group, a well-respected church research and resource organization. Click on the link below:
Several elders and staff members have already taken the survey and the Session approved it for congregational use, to help assess our collective mood. This will help us to know how we are doing and how we can more faithfully be the church now.
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During this virus season, we have to work harder to stay connected and to care for each other. Please continue to care for one another. If you need help, reach out.
Continue to pray, asking God for strength and courage. And remember, God is with us always. We will get through this.
On the journey together,
Charlie
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Children and Families:
Find resources and spiritual nurture here:
Youth:
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
On Sunday March 29 we will worship
online
together. Sunday morning, you will receive an email from Covenant with a link to watch the 30-minute service anytime.
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
10:30 on Sunday morning
to watch the pre-recorded worship as a community.
With the new "Safer at Home" order, worship leaders are all working from home and we're doing our best to combine video clips into one seamless video, including a message for the children.
Worship this week features Vocalists Jenn Sauer and Martha Stoner, Organist Doug McNeel, and a sermon by Associate Pastor Jeff Fox-Kline, prayers by Pastor Charlie Berthoud and Parish Associate Sue Melrose, and a message for the children by Cindy Lovell.
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ADULT EDUCATION:
The U.S. Census
Sunday, March 29, 11:30
This Sunday, via Zoom, we have the privilege of learning about the 2020 Census from Becky Schigiel, the Census Senior Partner Specialist for the region.
To join the presentation click this link at 11:30 on Sunday, March 29:
https://zoom.us/j/638275308. If you need to find the meeting in another way on Zoom the meeting ID is 638 275 308.
While we are unable to meet in person, the Adult Education Committee has been hard at work to provide opportunities for everyone to learn and grow together. In the future, we hope to be able to record Adult Education presentations to allow people to continue learning on their own schedules, but are unable to record this presentation.
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Daily Prayer
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon, we are offering a brief time of scripture and prayer, through our
Facebook page
. You can watch and pray live, or later. You can watch recent prayer gatherings and online worship here:
https://www.covenantmadison.org/videos
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Stay Informed
Center for Disease Control updates here:
Public Health Madison and Dane County
Many reputable news sources (Wisconsin State Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, etc.) are offering
free
online coverage of the coronavirus.
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Stay Connected
Call or text your Covenant staff if you have a concern or emergency:
- Pastor Charlie Berthoud, 608-515-3761
- Associate Pastor Jeff Fox-Kline, 608-352-9062
- Parish Associate Sue Melrose, 608-352-4066
- Children's Ministries Coord & Pastoral Care Donna Monson, 608-212-7257
- Youth Ministries Coord Steve Royalton, 608-358-9495
- Church Administrator Mary Kieta, 608-516-9798
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As you pray for one another, please also pray for your Covenant staff--including those not pictured in our "Brady Bunch" Staff Meeting photo! Pray that God would give us all energy, intelligence, imagine, love, and courage!
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I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
---Psalm 27:13-14
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