Covenant CONNECTIONS:
-ER or -ING, or both?
Greetings!

This coming Sunday is Caregiving Sunday at Covenant. Last Sunday was Caregiver Sunday on the Presbyterian Church USA calendar. So which is it, -er or -ing?

How about both? Caregivers and Caregiving are both important.

It is appropriate to be thankful for caregivers of all kinds:
  • family members who give countless hours of their time and energy, who pray for patience and kindness in challenging circumstances, who find strength to do what needs to be done
  • volunteers who listen, run errands, hold hands, bring food, pray, and listen some more
  • health care workers and staff (many of whom are not paid very much) who provide medicine, change beds, clean floors and toilets, and do what needs to be done
Below is a caregiver prayer, from the Facebook page of the PCUSA
As we pray for and celebrate caregivERS, we also recognize that as Christians we are all called to caregivING. Wherever we are, whoever we are with, we can listen, encourage, and be kind.

As Rosalynn Carter famously said:“There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.”
We do a lot of caregiving at Covenant, through our Deacons, our Care Team, and more. Pictured above is Care Team member Jean S, visiting Barbara B.

Care Team members visit members and friends at home or in senior care facilities. Volunteers provide friendly visits, phone calls, Christian fellowship and prayer, an on-going connection with the church, and social and emotional support. To volunteer for this ministry or for more information contact Nan Schaefer. 

I hope you can join us in worship this Sunday, November 17, for a special service with lots of poignant music focused on caregiving, as we celebrate our caring ministry and hear again of our call to be caring.

As we celebrate the good news of God's love for us, we ask God to help us be more loving--to have the patience, kindness, and strength to be caregivers with the people in our lives.

On the journey together,
Charlie

PS--Sadly we have to say goodbye to one of our best examples of caregiving. Pastor Clara Thompson is retiring from the Parish Associate position at Covenant.
We have been blessed with her faith, wisdom, enthusiasm, compassion, meals, sermons, prayers, classes, support groups, and hugs since she joined the staff in 2015.

She has been a valued and trusted colleague to me. The Personnel Committee is working on staffing options for the future.

I’m sad for us at Covenant, but happy for Clara. Her husband is retiring, and they look forward to spending lots of time together. Thanks be to God for the ministry of Clara Thompson.
We'd like to plan a thank you celebration on Sunday, December 15 at noon. If you'd like to be part of that, please contact me ASAP.
ADULT EDUCATION

Three excellent classes to choose from, this Sunday at 10:00
  • MLK's Letter from a Birmingham Jail, led by Rev. Jeff Fox-Kline
  • Ending Extreme Partisan Gerrymandering in Wisconsin, led by Doug Poland
  • Alcoholism Recovery Using the 12 Steps, led by David Lincecum

Plus: Environmental Art at the Chazen. See and learn about two ecologically-relevant exhibits at the Chazen Museum, this Sunday at 2pm. Covenant member and Chazen docent Friedemarie Farrar will lead the tour.
GUATEMALA MISSION AUCTION

Final bidding this Sunday at 12:15, on event tickets, baked goods, handcrafted items, jewelry and all sorts of goodies, including a giant teddy bear! Proceeds support education of children at our partner church in Guatemala.
SERVING SURVEY

As a church, we are one body with many parts. To function more effectively, to know more about people's skills and interests, we are asking everyone at Covenant to fill out a Serving Survey. It will just take you a minute or two. Hardcopies are available at church, or even better you can fill it out on our website: https://covenantmadison.breezechms.com/form/serving-servey
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Enjoy an early Thanksgiving together on Sunday, November 24. Bring a dish to share and invite a friend. Please sign up by Sunday, Nov 17 to help us plan!
Sunday Worship
9:00 New Day contemporary
11:00 Traditional (with organ)
Sunday, November 17
Caregiving Sunday
Special music with cello and choir and organ at 9:00 and 11:00
Sermon: Steadfast
Preaching: Charlie Berthoud
Text: Psalm 136
Sunday, November 24
Christ the King Sunday
Baptism (11:00)
Mission Update: Mandarin Ministry
Sermon: Before All Things
Preaching: Jeff Fox-Kline
Text: Colossians 1:11-20