Church of the Covenant
Boston, Massachusetts

This Week at Covenant
Sunday, January 26, 2020
With Wild Abandon
Third Sunday of Epiphany
This Sunday at Covenant
Worship Service
10:30 am in the Sanctuary

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:12-25

Worship Participants:
Preacher Rev. Adam Isbitsky
Liturgist – Rev. Rob Mark
Lector – Faith Perry
Minister of Music – Tom Handel
Ushers – Denice Thornhill, Evelyn Kimber, Anne Crane
Sexton – Fred Lopes

This Upcoming Week at Covenant
UPCOMING SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES (WORSHIP / AFTER WORSHIP)

February 9 ~ Rev. Rob preaching / Annual Meeting

Sunday, February 16 at 10:30 AM ~ Rev. Adam preaching, Holy Communion / Potluck, Just Mercy discussion
Sunday, February 23 at 10:30 AM ~ Rev. Rob preaching, Installation of New Officers / Deacons Meeting

Wednesday, February 26 at 6:30 PM ~ Ash Wednesday Service, Bates Hall


BIBLE STUDY: Bible Study is reading the book of Matthew. Come join us for new insights and lively discussion. We meet at 9:15 each Sunday before the service in the 2nd floor Williams library. Newcomers are welcome..

ANNUAL MEETING:We will gather together in our annual meeting to celebrate our life together, looking over this past year and into the future, elect our nominees, approve our 2020 budget, and do all of those things that being a congregation is all about. Lunch is provided by the Council and childcare is available. 

ANNUAL REPORT: The 2019 Annual Report will be distributed electronically this year. If you would prefer a printed physical copy, please fill out this Google form at this link here
Please submit your requests by midnight Wednesday, January 29. Thanks.

20s-30s-40s GROUP AT COVENANT: We have an active young adult group that meets regularly to share meals, visit sites around New England, and discuss how our faith motivates and guides us to live through this unique life stage. Our next event together will be a potluck at at the Young Adult Volunteers (YAV) house in East Cambridge on Saturday, January 25 at 6pm. If you'd like to join us, or be added to the e-listserv, email Rev. Adam at adam.isbitsky@cotcbos.org.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: Sunday, January 26, 2020 following worship, in Bates Hall. Building on the excellent work our congregation has done over the past few years as we ask the important questions of what does it look like to be a vital congregation that follows Jesus in creative ways through our life together in community, in our worship, and through our commitments to peace, justice and climate justice – your Council calls this meeting for the purpose of making final decisions about the ministry and proposed scope of our next three-quarters time settled Associate Pastor in light of our 5-year Missional Plan.

ANNUAL DENOMINATIONAL MEETINGS SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2020: The denominational meetings of the Central Congregational Society (Barbara Darling, chair) and the First Presbyterian Society (Nancy Hollomon, chair) will be held on February 2, 2020 following worship in the sanctuary, for the sole purpose of electing the nominees – Diane Lauber Doherty (UCC) and Kay Carleton (PCUSA) – to serve on the Nominating Committee for 2 years in the class of 2021.

CLIMATE JUSTICE INTERFAITH WITNESS IN WEYMOUTH: “Strength in the Struggle: Renewing spirits for the work of climate justice”: Consider joining us tomorrow on Monday, January 27 from 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM for an important interfaith witness against the unjust, dirty, fossil-fueled Weymouth Compressor Station, and for more love and solidarity. Meet at Quincy Point Congregational Church, 444 Washington St., Quincy (carpooling from there). Speak to Rev. Rob if you have questions or interest. Sign up: https://www.facebook.com/events/542756426320850/ 

ANNUAL BRIEF DENOMINATIONAL MEETINGS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2: The denominational meetings of the Central Congregational Society (Barbara Darling, chair) and the First Presbyterian Society (Nancy Hollomon, chair) will be held on February 2, 2020 following worship in the sanctuary, for the sole purpose of electing the nominees – Diane Lauber Doherty (UCC) and Kay Carleton (PCUSA) – to serve on the Nominating Committee for 2 years in the class of 2021. These meetings take only a few short minutes.

YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE SEE: Every winter Covenant collects eyeglasses that you no longer need, and they are processed through opticians who donate their time to read the prescriptions and to repair any problems of the frames.  Then the glasses are sent to areas of this country and to many other countries where people do not have access to eye glasses or do not have the money to buy new ones. There will be a basket with a sign in the back of the sanctuary waiting for your donations of old glasses, ones which you no longer wear.  If you have more questions, ask Nancy Hollomon. If you wish to enlarge this mission, make a sign for your work place, your apartment house, your gym… Help people see.

REAL HEALTHCARE REFORM: The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO), of which we are an active member, is seeking three things to bring about Real Healthcare Reform: 1) to lower the cost of prescription drugs, 2) to enforce parity for mental health and substance use disorders care, and 3) to regulate out of network surprise billing. 

Upcoming Hearing: Gov. Baker has presented a bill to the combined House and Senate. There will be a hearing at the State House rooms A1 and A2 this Tuesday, January 28 from 11 AM – 4 PM. GBIO needs a show of support. If you can come for the whole or any part of the hearing, please email Holly at hollyhumphreys@verizon.net she will pre-register you. The Senate supports reform, not the House yet. We are trying to rally support. This will be an important rally as both House and Senate members will attend.

In-District Meetings: organized by GBIO will be held with our state legislators over the coming weeks. Members of the church will be contacted by the Covenant GBIO Team and asked to attend a GBIO meeting with their local legislators. 
• Some residents of Brookline, Brighton and Boston will meet on Tuesday, February 4 at 7 PM at Temple Beth Zion, 1506 Beacon St., Brookline. 
• Residents of Cambridge & Somerville will meet on Thursday, February 6 at 7 PM at Reservoir Church, 170 Rindge Ave., Cambridge.
• Other meetings are coming up. Ask members of the Covenant GBIO Team: Kathryn Barry, Anne Crane, Tim Groves, Holly Humphreys, Faith Perry, and Tom Reid. 

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR RON McDOUGALD: We will celebrate the life of Ron on Saturday, February 8 at 3:30pm in our sanctuary and a reception in Bates Hall will follow. A link to his obituary: https://www.keefefuneralhome.com/memorials/ronald-j-mcdougald/4076372/index.php 

OUR BELOVED SIBLING REINE ABELE: Please continue to remember our sibling Reine Abele at Havenwood Heritage Heights in Concord NH and support him in your thoughts, prayers, and/or cards. If anyone who would like to coordinate a visit, please contact Linda Pursley.
 
IMAGE CREDIT: by Alexander Andrews via Unsplash.com

THE JANUARY ISSUE OF THE COVENANT NEWS can be read online  here
 
EVERY SUNDAY AT COVENANT
click on the links to learn more:   

617.266.7480  info@cotcbos.org  www.cotcbos.org
67 Newbury St
Boston, MA 02116