Covenant Connections:
LEGOS in the Hospital, Salsa in the Sanctuary, New Staff, and Four Gallons of Blood!
Greetings!

Ki-Jana Upshaw is a hospital custodian. He cleans floors and changes sheets. He also has made a huge difference in people's lives.

KJ works at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital, in the bone marrow transplant unit. When he realized that two young patients in adjoining rooms were both in isolation and were both LEGO fans, KJ went to work.

Over the course of many weeks, he gave daily reports back and forth between the boys, passing notes and updating them on each other's LEGO constructions.
If you need some encouragement to be kind and loving on this Valentine's Day, click on the image to watch a two-minute video about KJ and the Lego boys. Or listen to the two-minute NPR story here Two Boys, a Custodian, and Legos
On Valentine's Day, we think about romantic love, which is wonderful. As Christians however, our calling is to love our neighbors, whoever they are. Thanks for the good example, KJ.

On the journey together,
Charlie

PS--Last Sunday we had our Annual Meeting to report on the budget and church life in 2019.
To read the narrative or financial reports for the year, click here: Annual Reports. Or go to our web page, click on RESOURCES/News and Updates.

To see my "Top Ten Blessings of 2019" with lots of photos, click on the Top Ten image.
PS #2--The holy season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 26. And on Transfiguration Sunday, February 23, we have a SALSA BAND leading worship. (Yes, a salsa band...!) More info below.
Welcome New Staff!
Sue Melrose
Interim Parish Associate
Sue will be helping with pastoral care, worship leadership, and fellowship. Sue is a retired Presbyterian pastor. She moved to Madison with her husband Paul, a retired Methodist pastor, a few years ago.
Mandy Bocanegra
Kitchen Manager
Mandy will be coordinating Sunday morning Bradfield Cafe along with other special events. She joined Covenant in 2019 with her husband and two young children. She works at Epic.
Trash and Treasure
Rummage Sale
Donations welcome starting Sun, Feb 23
The sale is Saturday March 7
Proceeds benefit youth ministries.
Click on image for more info.
Adult Education
This Sunday at 10 am
Click on images for more info
Covenant Blood Drive
Thanks to your generosity and compassion we collected 32 units of blood! That’s four gallons that will go to save lives in Madison and all over the country. Click on the image to see more photos of the blood drive.
Sunday Worship
9:00 New Day Contemporary
11:00 Traditional
Our seven-week series, "The Issues that Divide Us: Seeking the Common Good" concludes this Sunday, February 16. In previous weeks, we've reflected on abortion, gun violence, race, LGBTQ+ community, and immigration. Hard copies of previous sermons are at church. You can listen to or read sermons on our web page or by clicking the "Seeking the Common Good" banner below.
Sunday , February 16
Sermon: Learning to Love
Text: Matthew 22:34-40
Preaching: Charlie Berthoud
New Day Band at 9:00
Chancel Choir at 11:00

Sunday, February 23
SALSA SUNDAY
Transfiguration of the Lord
Sermon: Listen to Him
Text: Matthew 17:1-13
Preaching: Charlie Berthoud
Salsa Music featuring Cole Bartels on Trombone and Ben Welch on Piano
SALSA Music for Worship!
Sunday, Feb 23