Covenant CONNECTIONS:
Food, masks, and generosity
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I have been going to church once or twice a week, to get mail, to check in with office and custodial staff, and to do some sermon planning in the church library. (I'm getting tired of my windowless basement, which I have taken to calling "The God Cave.")
It's very quiet at church, and I'm sad that we can't be open for everyone right now.
While I was at church on Thursday, feeling bummed about us being physically apart, I was happy to see people bringing donations for the
WKOW food drive. From a safe distance and with my mask on, I enjoyed chatting with a few folks as they left food in the barrel out front. And I was glad to see the Covenant logo on the poster!
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In addition, while at church I was happy to learn that Covenant people have given
over $10,000 so far to our COVID-19 "Loving Our Neighbors" offering. (See below.) I was also glad to see a few people had made extra gifts to the 2020 operating fund, knowing that church income is down.
Many people are really struggling now, so kindness and generosity are making a difference.
I was also glad to receive lots of photos of Covenant people in masks. See link below. And I was happy to share email and phone calls with several Covenant people, learning about how Covenant folks are caring for each other.
Yes it's sad that the church building isn't open. (And we will be very patient and cautious in any steps toward reopening for worship and other activities.)
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But as we continue the long and challenging journey, we heed our calling at Covenant, which is not dependent on a building. We are Learning God's Love and Living God's Love.
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On the journey, apart-but-together,
Charlie
PS-- Our latest photo album is here, featuring Covenant people wearing masks--being healthy and being good examples! Click on the image below to see more people from Covenant in their masks!
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
Join us for apart-but-together video worship. Check your email Sunday morning for the link. Or check the
Covenant website.
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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.
Worship this week features
- Sermon by Jeff Fox-Kline, "(Im)perfection" on 1 John 4:16-21
- Vocalist Melissa Hinz and several congregation singers
- Organist Doug McNeel, Pianist Ben Welch
- Pastor Charlie Berthoud and Chelsea Cornelius offer prayers
- Marge Resan has a message for the children
- Several Covenant members lead us in an excerpt from "A Brief Statement of Faith"
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"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
We are collecting a special offering to benefit our partners in the Madison community. All offerings collected will be divided between the
Lussier Community Education Center and
Glenn Stephens Elementary School. The Lussier Community Education Center will use these funds to purchase items from their wish list to help families in need and to provide support to struggling families. These are items such as diapers, shelf-stable foods, and activities for kids and families. Glenn Stephens Elementary School will use these funds to support children and families in need. Funds sent to Stephens will help with rent, utility bills, and groceries for hungry families in partnership with Luna’s Groceries in the Allied Neighborhood.
To support this offering please indicate “Covid Relief” in the memo line of your check, or go to
https://www.covenantmadison.org/give, click on “Give Online” and write “Covid Relief” where appropriate. Thank you!
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Practicing the Law in a Pandemic
Learning from Lawyers
Sunday, May 17
ZOOM at 11:30
Working Differently in Different Times
This Sunday we will hear from these Covenant lawyers:
- Marge Resan the School Administration Consultant for the Special Education Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction;
- Raleigh Jones, a labor arbitrator, mediator and hearing examiner for the WI Employment Relations Commission; and
- Betsy Erickson, Principal at Jackson Lewis, P.C., which is a nationwide labor & employment law firm.
Join us to find out how the practice of the law, in all it's various forms, has been affected by the Pandemic in our series:
"Working Differently in Different Times". If you missed last week, don't worry! Each week will stand on its own. Each week a panel will reflect on changes in their professions during the stay-at-home order. We hope that through this we will gain a new appreciation for the resiliency, flexibility and strength of all sorts of people during the pandemic.
Sunday, May 17, at 11:30 am
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ZOOM Bible Study!
Psalm 90
Wed, May 20 at 7:00 pm
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Grow in faith, and stay connected with Covenant people! Pastor Sue Melrose will share some insights on Psalm 90, to help us be more prayerful and grow closer to God. No experience or expertise necessary.
Wednesday evening at 7:00. Zoom link is here:
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Read Psalm 90 online here:
To download a pdf with Psalm 90 in two different translations, click here:
If you missed the class on Psalm 30 led by Pastor Charlie Berthoud, you can check out the slides here:
Psalm 30
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