Covenant CONNECTIONS:
Supplies for School...
and for the Journey of Faith
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A new school year is starting, and it’s a year unlike any other, with many schools not meeting in person. |
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Within hours (perhaps minutes) of the announcement of local public schools starting the year online, Michael Johnson of the Boys and Girls Club posted a black-and-white summons on Facebook about making sure all kids have the supplies they need. |
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I’m grateful that our Presbywheelian team raised over $12,000 for the Boys and Girls Club. Our team was the second best in dollars raised! Special thanks to big fundraisers Steve Whayland, Eric Girard, and Jennifer Morgan, along with generous donors Bob & Pat Aune, Sue Melrose, and many others. That money will help kids in Madison with school supplies and more!
In our family, we have all the supplies we need and we don’t need childcare or tutors, but many families are going to have a hard time with this school year. So I’m glad Covenant is supporting BGC, along with Lussier Community Education Center and other local missions.
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Sunday, September 6 is our “Back to School Sunday” and we’ll be praying for teachers and staff, students and families, while we continue to seek ways to help students learn and teachers teach.
What about you? Are you ready to learn this year? Do you have your supplies ready?
If you don’t have a good Bible, now is as good a time as any to get one. Among the many good study Bibles available, I recommend these two. Click on images to learn more.
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You can also read God's word (and get daily devotionals) with apps and web-based Bibles. The two that I use regularly are Bible Gateway and YouVersion, both of which provide multiple translations, many languages, and daily devotionals. Click on images to learn more. |
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One of my hopes with our “Little Books with BIG Impact” series this summer has been to encourage the habit of reading the Bible. If you don’t have that habit, now is a good time to try, to guide us on the journey of faith.
We are called to follow Jesus the Teacher—the one who helps us learn about God’s love, so that we can live as new people and share God’s love.
On the journey, apart-but-together,
Charlie
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PS--Not only is Sept 6 our "Back to School Sunday" but it's also time for another "Drive-Thru Donuts and Devotionals" at 10:30.
We're going to have dog treats this time as well, so bring your pooch! And you can drop off school supplies for Glenn Stephens Elementary. Save the date!
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
Join us for apart-but-together video worship on Sunday, as we continue our "little books" series, focusing on 1 THESSALONIANS . Check your email Sunday morning for the link. Or check the Covenant website. Or visit our YouTube page
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Worship this week features
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Sermon by Sue Melrose on 1 Thessalonians, "A Note of Affirmation"
- A duet with Melissa Hinz (vocals) and Emma Hinz (ukelele)
- A duet with Doug McNeel (organ) and Doug McNeel (piano)
- A message for the children from Donna Monson
- Singing led by Melissa Hinz, Doug McNeel, Ben Welch, and members of the Covenant music ministry
WORSHIP by PHONE: If you know someone who does not have internet access but wants to join us for worship, please ask them to call (608) 237-1739, where anyone can listen to the most recent worship service.
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Coffee and Conversation
Sunday 10:30 via Zoom
Grab some coffee and connect with your Covenant friends! Pastor Jeff is leading a brief Bible study on 1 Thessalonians and then we'll break out for some coffee hour conversation. Click on the Zoom link above at 10:30 this Sunday!
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Small Groups!
In September and October
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Participating in small groups helps us stay connected while growing in our faith together. We may meet people we’ve never met, and deepen our connection with people we already know!
Beginning the week of September 13th, Covenant will be offering weekly, hour-long small groups meeting primarily via Zoom for six weeks. We will study the book that inspired our upcoming sermon series: Kathy Escobar’s PRACTICING: Changing Yourself to Change the World.
She unpacks overlooked, but deeply vital Christian practices: healing, listening, loving, including, equalizing, advocating, mourning, failing, resting, and celebrating.
You do NOT have to read the book—each meeting will have quotations from the book to discuss, with all of the relevant context explained. Email jfoxkline@covenantmadison.org if you have any questions or would like a copy of the book.
Follow this link to sign up for one of the groups to connect, grow, and share together! The groups meet at different times on different days, so find the one that works best for you!
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Supplies for Glenn Stephens! |
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While schools are ramping up for distance learning, there is still a need in our community for school supplies. Our partners at Glenn Stephens Elementary School have asked if we can support them in helping their students start their school year strong.
Below are the supplies the school has indicated will be most needed for their students:
- dry erase markers
- craft materials (construction paper, scissors, glue sticks, markers)
- Pencil cases
- pens
- pencils
- notebooks (spiral - one subject- wide ruled)
Stop by the church any weekday through Monday, August 31 between 9:00-12:00 to find a bin next to the front door to add school supplies to, and help our neighbors! Take a picture of yourself or of your supplies and send them to jfoxkline@covenantmadison.org so we can inspire others to support Stephens as well! If you cannot make the drop-off times, contact Pastor Jeff ( jfoxkline@covenantmadison.org) to arrange an alternate way to get the supplies to the church. |
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Sharing the Bread and Cup |
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The Sacrament of Communion is central to our worship and brings us together as a community linked by the bread of life and the cup of salvation. During the pandemic, our spirits have been no less linked for our bodies not being present together. However, there are still ways for the ties that bind us to be strengthened.
Food was central to Jesus’ ministry in his time with us, and is such an important part of Covenant's ministry together.
Some Covenant bakers have offered to bake rolls for you for the sacrament of Communion. On Saturday, September 5, someone from Covenant will deliver an individually wrapped roll and a juice box of grape juice for you to use for Communion for the online worship service on September 6. Follow this link to Sign up to have your bread and cup delivered. Even if you have bread in your house please feel free to sign up. The bread will not be enough to make a meal for you, but it is definitely enough to connect us to one another through the Spirit of Christ.
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