ANNUAL MEETING
of the CONGREGATION

Sunday, Feb 14 at 10:00 am

We need 73 members present to have a quorum. Members, please join us for this 30 minute (+/-) gathering. To join the Zoom meeting, click here:

More info on the meeting below.
Christmas Lights for Valentines Day!
Greetings!

Last week, I wrote about our holiday lights still being up. It turns out I’m not the only one.

Dozens of homes in a Long Island community just put their lights back up, in solidarity with a grieving neighbor.

Sara Pascucci and her father lived together in Bethpage, NY. He put up the Christmas lights after Thanksgiving like always, but he died from Covid-19 on January 15. Sara couldn’t bring herself to take down the lights, so she left them up.
Then she got an anonymous note in the mail: “Take your Christmas lights down! It’s Valentines Day!!!”

As neighbors heard about this, they decided to get their lights back out, so now lots of light is shining in Bethpage. Read about it by clicking on the photo above, or just google the family name.

I imagine the person who sent the note is either a lot more angry....or hopefully more aware of the Pascucci family situation. Maybe they even put their lights up too.

We have a lot of sad people in our country right now. We have a lot of angry people. Frustrated people. Lonely people. Bitter people.

We need God’s love as much as ever.
I hope you're finding consistent ways to hear the good news of the gospel, that God loves you.

I hope you are regularly nourished with that good news and I hope that nourishment allows you to share love (and patience and kindness and compassion and more) with the people around you.
Sunday is Valentines Day. In addition to joining us at the congregational meeting at 10 am(!!!), I invite you to make the effort to reach out to three people with care and love. Maybe an email, a phone call or a note. Maybe nothing more than “Happy Valentines Day!”

We need to welcome God's love and do what we can to share it.

On the journey, apart but together,
Charlie
Congregational Meeting via Zoom at 10:00

The Session has called the Annual Congregational Meeting for Sunday, February 14, at 10:00am, via Zoom. The agenda includes:

  • Approval of the 2020 Annual Report
  • Financial update from Treasurer Gordon Enderle
  • Approval of the terms of call for both pastors
  • Presentation of the 2021 Budget
  • Top Ten Blessings of 2020 slideshow

Click HERE to read Covenant's 2020 Narrative Annual Report.
Click HERE for the Financial Report.

These are also available on our website (see the "Resources" section of the homepage), with hard copies available for pick-up at the church office.


We need 73 members present, so PLEASE try to make time for this important part of being a Presbyterian. After the business meeting, we can say hello to each other via Zoom.
Ash Wednesday Zoom Service
Wednesday, February 17
6:00 pm
For Ash Wednesday, we will have a brief Zoom worship service with music, scripture, prayer and ashes.

Local ashes: Please have some dirt from a house plant or ash from a candle or a fireplace ready. Ordinarily, we worship leaders mark worshippers with ashes (on forehand or hand) in the sign of a cross, reminding one another that we are dust and to dust we shall return. This year via Zoom, we will mark ourselves with dirt or ash. Note you may want to mix the dirt or ash with a little bit of oil or perhaps water.)

The Gospel According to
Matthew:
the Gospel in our own handwriting for Lent 2021

Do you have a good pen? Would you be willing to write out a chapter of the gospel according to Matthew?

We want to compile a handwritten version of Matthew for the congregation to read and ponder during the month of March, right in the middle of Lent.

We’re looking for 28 people to each take one chapter of Matthew to write out by hand and add any appropriate underlining, bolding, drawings, comments, questions, etc. Click HERE to learn more and sign up! Act soon--we need these by February 21!
Vaccines are happening!

We are grateful for the COVID vaccine and we're compiling a photo album of Covenant members getting their vaccines to celebrate!

Pastors Charlie and Jeff both got their first vaccines this week. Click on bluc box below to their pix along with several other new additions, or to add yours. Or email Lexie Ofe and she will add it for you!). For the safety of your personal information, please do not add or submit a photo of your vaccination card. (Or hide the personal info.) Thank you!
Soul Sisters Small Group

Soul Sisters will gather remotely again on Sunday, February 14th; the Zoom chat begins at 7:00pm each second Sunday of the month.

Soul Sisters is open to all Covenant women. The purpose of gathering together is in three parts, woven together:
  • To have thought-provoking, inspiring and educational discussions
  • To envelop each other with warmth
  • To get to know other Covenant women better

Contact Nan Schaefer with questions and/or to be added to the mailing list for Zoom connection info.
Worship &
Adult Ed
Sunday,
February 14



  • Words of Wisdom, Words of Faith Sermon Series--final Sunday! Click HERE for the devotional.
  • Pastor Charlie preaching on the word "LISTEN"; Mark 9:2-9
  • Covenant member Beth Wilson on piano, featuring jazz-style music
  • Children's Time with Jeremy Schroeder
  • NO Adult Ed this morning--see you at the congregational meeting at 10:00!
  • Follow our blog to read Pastor Jeff's weekly reflections.

We'd love to see you at the Sunday morning

Let's keep growing the COVID fund!

Our Covid fund helps meet urgent needs in our community throughout the pandemic. Funds raised in 2021 will benefit Porchlight, Friends of State Street, and Cook It Forward Madison.

More info here: