Covenant Connections:
Mourning, dancing, and leaning
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All in-person activities at Covenant have been canceled until further notice.
PLEASE STAY AT HOME as much as possible.
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I've been thinking about my parents this week. They were married 60 years ago--April 2, 1960. (Apparently they didn't have a very good wedding photographer...)
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My dad died in 1995 and my mom died in 2014. I was sad when they each died, but at least we got to come together for a service and family remembrance.
One of the saddest things about life now, is that families cannot gather in person for funerals. Some are postponed. Some are done via video and phone. Mourning has even gotten complicated.
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In our ZOOM Bible study on Wednesday evening, we talked about mourning and sadness, as we reflected on a song of lament--Psalm 13 (see below).
I reminded the group that mourning and being sad (and even angry) are legitimate responses to sad situations. Jesus wept and even got angry. Sometimes well-meaning people of faith tell us to not be sad, but I disagree. There is a time to be sad.
So in our study, while we acknowledged the enormity of the COVID-19 crisis, we also shared our sadness about the disruptions of daily life, about some of the simple things we miss:
- hugging grandchildren and grandparents,
- spending time with friends,
- going to the gym,
- sitting in our favorite restaurants,
- NCAA basketball, PGA golf,
- coffee and donuts at church, and more.
As this health crisis goes on, things will continue to be hard, maybe very, very hard. We will be challenged, we will be sad, we will be mourning.
And it's OK to acknowledge our sadness, our grief, our anger.
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And yet....
The Bible tells us "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (
Matthew 5:4)
To watch/hear a wonderful reflection on this verse by UW Chaplain Lisa Hermann, click on her photo.
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Mourning is not the last word. Sadness will not rule in the end. After the crucifixion, there is resurrection.
With this hope in mind, the Bible encourages us to keep going through our mourning and sadness:
Psalm 30:11 affirms "O Lord, you have turned my mourning into dancing."
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In the spirit of turning mourning into dancing, and in the spirit of leaning on each other, you might enjoy a delightful compilation of Bill Withers' classic "Lean on Me." Sadly Mr. Withers died this week, but the spirit of his song lives on.
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It's hard to go alone, so I'm grateful for all the ways we are sticking together. If you are lonely and hurting, please reach out. Email or call me, or someone at church, or a friend. We need to lean on each other, and we need to lean on God's everlasting love.
On the journey apart-but-together,
Charlie
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Palm Sunday April 5 is upon us! If you'd like a palm branch to print and color at home.
Just click on the colorful branch here to get your own blank one to color however you like.
Feel free to have a branch with you for Palm Sunday worship. You could even put a couple in the windows of your home!
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
On Palm Sunday, April 5 we will worship
online
together. Sunday morning, you will receive an email from Covenant with a link to watch the 30-minute service anytime.
If you want to interact with other people as you worship, you can join with a Facebook Watch Party. Just go to
Covenant's Facebook page
10:30 on Sunday morning
to watch the pre-recorded worship as a community.
With the new "Safer at Home" order, worship leaders are all working from home and we're doing our best to combine video clips into one seamless video, including a message for the children.
Worship this week features Vocalist Melissa Hinz and several congregation members, Organist Doug McNeel, Pianist Ben Welch, and a sermon by Pastor Charlie Berthoud, with prayers by Associate Pastor Jeff Fox-Kline and Parish Associate Sue Melrose, and a message for the children by Donna Monson.
Mark your calendar for worship on Easter Sunday, April 12, as we celebrate the promise of new and abundant life and God's abiding presence.
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HOLY WEEK WORSHIP
Join us to remember the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, April 9 with
communion,
a short sermon, and a powerful musical presentation, "In the Garden." Join us as we remember the betrayal, trial, and death of Jesus, on Good Friday, April 10, in a collaboration with Westminster Presbyterian Church. Please have bread and juice or wine available on Thursday, along with candles on Friday.
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--Worship videos available next week
--Links to the service will be sent via email
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ADULT EDUCATION:
Matthew Study
Sunday, April 5, 11:30 via ZOOM
We will have a conversation on the Gospel of Matthew with thought provoking questions provided by Covenant member Eric Wendorff. This will be an excellent time to hear reflections on scripture alongside members of the church, and to have some connection and conversation with your church family. To join the meeting click this link at
11:30 on Sunday April 5:
https://zoom.us/j/732856060 or join the meeting using meeting ID: 732 856 060.
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VIRTUAL SMALL GROUPS
Are you interested in joining a small group? Throughout our time being “safer-at-home” we would like to provide opportunities for connection with your church family. We have asked some members of the church to be small group leaders and host weekly (or bi-weekly depending on the leader) meetings for the duration of our time apart. These meetings would last one hour. The first portion of the meeting will be checking in on, and catching up with, one another. The second portion of the meeting will be a Bible study based on whatever next Sunday’s sermon text is. If you are interested in joining a small group contact Pastor Jeff,
jfoxkline@covenantmadison.org. Because of the nature of this endeavor the spaces and times available are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. If space runs out by the time you contact Jeff the hope is that we will be able to have more leaders shortly, so you may receive a contact at a later date.
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Daily Prayer
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon, we are offering a brief time of scripture and prayer, through our
Facebook page
. You can watch and pray live, or later. You can watch recent prayer gatherings and online worship here:
www.covenantmadison.org/videos
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BLOOD DRIVE
W
ith the approval of Session, there will be an American Red Cross blood drive at Covenant, on Friday, April 17, 8:15-1:15, sponsored by students at Memorial High School. All people entering the building will have their temperature taken and all staff and volunteers will have masks. The ARC has strict safety protocols in place.
For an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS
(1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org
Enter Sponsor Code: Madisonmemorialhs
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About 35 people enjoyed our Wednesday evening ZOOM Bible study, reflecting on Psalm 13. The lament psalm (see below) might be a good prayer for you. To see the PowerPoint slides from the study, click here:
Psalm 13 notes.
We'll have another Wednesday study on April 15. No study on April 8, during Holy Week.
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How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes,
or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
--Psalm 13
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