COVID UPDATE
Due to the sharp rise in Covid cases, we will NOT be gathering in-person on Sunday mornings through the end of February. All worship will be on YouTube, and Adult Education will be on Zoom. We apologize for the inconvenience, but the physical health of our congregation and community is important. 
Greetings!
Here’s the church,
here’s the steeple.
Open the doors,

where are the people?
That's not how the nursery rhyme goes! But due to Covid, we are not worshipping in the church building for the next several weeks, so there aren't many people in the church building.

However, “the church” is more than a building. The church is the people of God in the world.

Our constitution, the Book of Order, helps us understand who we are as the church:
The Great Ends of the Church are:
  • the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind;
  • the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;
  • the maintenance of divine worship;
  • the preservation of the truth;
  • the promotion of social righteousness;
  • and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.
(F-1.0304)
Note that the great ends say NOTHING about a building.

The church is the people, making a difference in the world. Our calling isn’t to a building. Our calling is to be filled and changed by God’s love in Jesus Christ, and then to love our neighbors—at work, at school, at home, in the neighborhood—wherever we find ourselves.
Yes our building is important, really important. I look forward to gathering in person sometime soon.

But the church is more than the building. The church is US—sharing God’s love every day, with our words and deeds.

So the rhyme could be re-written:

Here’s the church,
here’s the steeple.
Serving God everywhere,
there go the people!

There we go, there you go. Off to serve God and share God's love!

Grace and peace,
Charlie
Worship
  • Livestream services at 9:00 & 11:00am
  • Click HERE for bulletin
  • Let's Talk About Sex Sermon/Adult Ed: Week 2
  • Chelsea Cornelius preaching: "New Rules" (John 8:1-11)
  • Children's Time with Nick & Claire Von Bergen
  • Sermon Talk-Back Opportunity at 12:00pm on Zoom
  • Children's At-Home Sunday School Lessons available HERE!
Adult Education
Join us Sunday at 10:00am on Zoom for Week 2 of a 6-week series Let’s Talk About Sex: Theological Reflection on Sex, Sexuality, Gender Identity and More.
 
Dr. Kate Walsh joins us to talk about "Sexual Trauma and Ways to Access Help in the Community". Dr. Walsh is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology and Gender & Women's Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on risk factors for and the prevention of sexual violence among adolescents and adults as well as treatment for mental health and substance use disorders among those who have experienced violence. She runs the UW's Sexual Violence Research Initiative, has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and 7 book chapters on sexual violence and related topics, and her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Justice.
 
Click on the image for the Facebook event and INVITE your friends! For more info on this series or Adult Ed at Covenant, visit covenantmadison.org/adult-ed-classes. All Adult Ed classes will be recorded and shared on our website and YouTube page.
Going along with last Sunday's theme of getting more comfortable talking about.... sex *whispered furtively*, Pastor Jeff offers a different approach in doing this. Click on the image for his latest blog post!
Though the study began on January 6, you can join at any time! We may have a copy of this book in the Covenant Library – give us a call for availability. Visit covenantmadison.org/adult for more info.
Click image to register!
Generosity Campaign Continues
The Generosity Campaign asks people to support Covenant's ministry with their time, talents, and treasures. Thank you all who have submitted pledges for 2022. As of 1/13/22, we have received 218 pledges totaling $961,508.50.

Planning to pledge, but just haven't gotten around to it? Now would be a great time to do so! Session meets next week to finalize the 2022 budget. Your pledge will help us stay strong and healthy this year!