EMAIL and WEBSITE ISSUES: Due to technical issues, our website and email were down from yesterday around 6pm until 1pm Friday. While things are up and working now (as of 2pm) emails sent to Covenant staff between Thursday evening and Friday at 1pm may never be received or recovered. Please email us again. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience. 

Hello, Bailey-

Our mission trip to Guatemala was excellent. Twelve of us spent a week to learn, work, pray, sing, share, and play together with our Guatemalan connections. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers!

The Guatemala team will be leading worship on Sunday, November 13, with more info and photos. If you want to see more now, check out Facebook page and/or keep reading. 

We spent time in Coyolate, helping with a church construction project at the Monte Horeb Presbyterian Church. While not working (it was HOT and rainy), we met with families, visited the school, and played with the kids.

In Santo Domingo we hosted a health clinic for the community. After a few of us measured height and weight, our two doctors (Jane Pearson--pictured above--and Carolyn Lorenz-Greenberg) consulted with over 50 people on a variety of health issues.

We heard updates from about 20 of the students we have helped with scholarships and we met Jorge Ascension (above in middle with me and Sally Lorenz), who got a kidney transplant in Madison in 2005 with Covenant’s assistance. And we shared worship and fellowship (and a birthday cake!) with the Monte Hebron Presbyterian Church. 

We were hosted by CEDEPCA (the Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America)—who are doing great work in Guatemala. Presbyterian Mission Co-worker Rev. Betsey Moe, pictured above with two Mayan women, works with CEDEPCA and spent all week with us. I am renewed in my gratitude for the wonderful work of Presbyterian World Mission.

At both churches, we sang the “Song of Hope” (Canto de Esperanza), in Spanish and English, and the words capture the spirit of our trip. 

May the God of hope go with us every day,

filling all our lives 

with love and joy and peace.

May the God of justice speed us on our way,

bringing light and hope to every land and race.

Praying, let us work for peace;

singing, share our joy with all;

working for a world that's new,

faithful when we hear Christ's call.

Maybe those words could become a prayer for you today.

I’m grateful to Clara, Bailey, Derek, and others for holding down the fort at church while Melissa, Jo, and I were on the trip. And I’m grateful to God for the connections and reconnections we made, and for renewed strength for faithful Christian living. 

Grace and peace,

Charlie

• Commitment Sunday & Reformation Sunday
• Charlie Berthoud preaching: "Blessed to Be a Blessing" (Genesis 12:1-2)
• In-Person and Livestream worship: 9:00am & 11:00am
• Music from Cole Bartels, Ben Welch, and Doug McNeel
• Church Matters sharing time by Martha Stoner
• Children's Time with Nick & Claire Von Bergen
• Nursery Hours: 8:45am-12:15pm
• Visit our Worship HQ for everything you need to worship with us online!

If you missed a service or would like to watch a service again, all livestreamed services are saved to our YouTube channel. Or you can give the sermons another listen on our sermon podcast!

Agenda: Election of new Elders and Deacons, and a brief update from the Personnel Committee on staffing.

The Nominating Committee is presenting the following names:

Elder: John Guequierre, Marilyn Krichko, Tom Popp

Deacon: Bob Cole, Sherry Hershberger, Mary Kieta

Note: there will be no Adult Education classes on Sunday due to this meeting.

Happy Halloween!! Join us today in your costumes for plenty of fun. There will be a haunted house (oooooh). There will be games. And of course there will be candy. Hope to see you there! This party is for kids ages 3-11 and will be in place of the normal Youth Connection Sunday gatherings. If you are interested in helping out with set-up and clean-up, please contact Bailey or Jo!

Sunday is Commitment Sunday! Hopefully you have received a generosity packet and had a chance to prayerfully consider a commitment to Covenant for 2023, whether it be financially or through your time/talents. On Sunday, you can put your commitment cards in the offering lectern at the back of the sanctuary. If you don’t have one, you can grab one in the office. You can also fill out a commitment form, ECT form, and/or serving survey on our Generosity Page.

"A Church Administrator's Guide to Listening

to God When You'd Rather Go to Europe"

"As a 26-year-old woman with larger-than-life dreams, letting go of control and learning to hone into where God was directing me was at the bottom of my to-do list."

This week, our Church Administrator Bailey Green weighs in on the musings of life. As always, feel free to leave a comment here or on our blog (and subscribe so you don't miss any future blog posts). Click on the image above to read!

Covenant is a polling place on November 8. Let’s provide coffee and treats for all those who vote! Sign up in the gathering space on Sunday if you can help provide homemade TREATS (cookies, bars, etc.) and/or if you can HOST (2-hour shift) on Election Day. Questions? Contact Pastor Clara or Chris Turner. 

Join your Covenant friends at a delicious Turkey Dinner Potluck in Bradfield Hall immediately following the 11:00 service on the 13th. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy will be provided. Please bring a potluck dish to share. Bring your family and friends, or come on your own and make new friends! Let us gather together and enjoy a wonderful meal as we give thanks for the bounty we have each received from God. Sign up in the gathering space on Sunday and RSVP by November 6. If you’d like to volunteer, contact Pastor Clara.