Covenant Connections:
We will rise
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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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On Ash Wednesday, in the beginning of Lent, we are reminded that we came from ashes and to ashes we return.
On Good Friday, we remember the death of Jesus.
Many of us would rather not think about death, but it's a reality at one point or another for all of us. I'm grateful that our faith tradition takes death seriously.
And it seems more real now, in our coronavirus pandemic.
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While death is often sad and sometimes tragic, for us as Christians it is not the last word. We have faith that somehow death is not the end, that somehow God makes things right.
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I can't explain it, but I believe it.
The older I get, the more sadness and suffering I see; but at the same time, the more I have faith in God to ultimately give us peace.
Two recent books have helped me think about life and death and faith in our world today.
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We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland, tells about the plane crash of the University of Evansville (IN) basketball team in 1977. If you missed "March Madness" this might help, telling an honest story of real people, struggling to make sense of a tragedy and find a way forward, together.
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UNAFRAID: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times was written by one of my favorite authors, Rev Adam Hamilton, a few years ago. His focus is broad: crime, loneliness, money, disease, and death. His insights and stories are as readable and as relevant as ever.
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Click on either cover to learn more about the book.
Etched on a monument at the University of Evansville is a paraphrase of the University's president after the plane crash that killed 29 people, including the whole basketball team: "Out of the agony of this hour, we will rise."
We still have a long way to go in dealing with this virus. We need to stay home as much as possible, wash our hands, say our prayers, and keep caring for each other.
But somehow, as we journey forward, we will rise--with scars and hurts and challenges. But we will rise together.
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On the journey, apart-but-together,
Charlie
PS--I encourage you to invite a friend to church for Easter! All you have to do is share the email on Sunday morning. Or invite your friend to our Facebook page. What a great time for a tentative visitor to check us out; they don't even have to walk in the door. The service includes great music and some inspiring prayers and a sermon called "Apart But Together" based on Matthew 28. Think of someone right now, and make a note to invite them.
PS#2--Please take and share an Easter Selfie!
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We can't be together in person on Easter Sunday, but at least we can see each other! Please share a photo of yourself and any loved ones on Easter Sunday (in your Sunday best, in your jammies, whatever!) and send it to me:
charlie@covenantmadison.org or the church office:
info@covenantmadison.org We will share the photos next week!
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
On Easter Sunday, April 12 we will worship
online
together. Sunday morning, you will receive an email from Covenant with a link to watch the 40-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.
Worship this week features Vocalist Melissa Hinz and several congregation members, Organist Doug McNeel, Pianist Ben Welch, Trombonist Cole Bartels, and a sermon by Pastor Charlie Berthoud, with prayers by Associate Pastor Jeff Fox-Kline and Parish Associate Sue Melrose, and a message for the children by Cindy Lovell.
Easter Sunday music notes: The prelude "Rise" is composed and performed by our own Ben Welch. The postlude features our own Doug McNeel playing Charles Widor's "Toccata."
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ICYMI: Click to watch and worship:
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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:
www.covenantmadison.org/videos
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