Covenant CONNECTIONS:
Home for the Holidays
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Greetings!
Our oldest son is home for a few days this week, from his first semester at college. We've enjoyed food, games, and conversations together. It's good to have him home.
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At Thanksgiving and Christmas, we like the idea of being "home for the holidays." Home can be a place of joy and laughter, or sometimes home is a place of sadness, or bitterness, or stress. "Home" may be more of a mindset or a memory for some of us.
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The good news of Christmas is that in Jesus Christ, God came to be at home with us, to live among us. Whatever our homes may be like, God is with us.
Advent is the four week season before Christmas, when we prepare ourselves to welcome God anew, to recognize God dwelling among us.
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And the Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth
--John 1:14
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Over the four Sundays of Advent at Covenant (Dec 1-22), in worship we'll be reflecting on what Christmas looks like in each of the four gospels. As we ponder the different perspectives of
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John on the birth of Jesus, we'll give thanks for the way that God has come to be with us, to be at home with us, to love us.
In this busy season of shopping, parties, snow, and family, I hope you'll make the time to stay close to God and to welcome God anew into your heart and your home.
Along with coming to church worship and activities when you can, carve out a few minutes each day for prayer, scripture, silence....so you can welcome the God of love who has come to be at home with us, to be with us every day.
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Pray for your loved ones this month. Give thanks to God for them. Ask God to bless them. Pray for God's patience, kindness, honesty, and love for yourself and your loved ones.
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I invite you to specifically
pray for your family this season. Take a few moments each day and simply pray:
Thank you God for ___ and ___ and ___. I pray that you bless them. Help me to love them.
Take a few deep breaths, and listen for what God might be saying back to you, how you might become an answer to your own prayer.
My hope is that our homes would be filled anew with God's love this season.
On the journey together,
Charlie
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HEALTHY SNACKS for KIDS
Please bring in some
apples or clementines on Sunday, December 1. Fruit will be shared with students and our partner school, Glenn Stephens Elementary, on Monday, December 2. Thank you!
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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
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THANKSGIVING POTLUCK
We had a fun gathering last Sunday! Click on the photo to see more photos!
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Sunday Worship
9:00 New Day contemporary
11:00 Traditional (with organ)
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Sunday, December 1
First Sunday of Advent
Candle of HOPE
Communion
Sermon:
Christmas at Mark's House
Text: Mark 1:1-8
Preaching: Charlie Berthoud
Children's Celebration Choir
Handbell Choir
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Sunday, December 8
Second Sunday of Advent
Candles of HOPE and PEACE
Sermon:
Christmas at Matthew's House
Text: Matthew 1:18-25
Preaching: Clara Thompson
Exodus Youth Band (9:00)
Liturgical Dancers
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