PEACE BE WITH YOU IN THESE DAYS:
We are so grateful to be connected as a family of faith! As we all do our part to love our neighbor as ourselves to help “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus/COVID-19, our building remains closed; all meetings and events that are offered, including worship, have shifted to an online or conference call format.
We are grateful for the technology that allows the majority of us to gather together online. And in faith and through God’s ceaseless, amazing grace—as we practice “social distancing” we also practice “spiritual nearing” to each other and the Sweet Holy Spirit.
The announcements that follow reflect the ongoing abundant life that is Church of the Covenant.
COVENANT BOOK DISCUSSION THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 25: This Sunday, April 25 at 5pm, there will be a discussion of the book
Dear White Christians by Jennifer Harvey. As always, you are welcome whether or not you've ever attended a Covenant book discussion before and whether or not you've read the book. Here's the Zoom link, and we look forward to seeing you!
GBIO LISTENING SESSIONS - AFTER CHURCH THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 25: The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization has a long history of working on social justice issues that are of deep concern to its member organizations. Now that GBIO been “refounded” with about 20 new member organizations, it is sponsoring “Listening Sessions,” to hear about what most concerns you and why. Here at Covenant, we began with 3 sessions on April 11th . We will continue by offering 2 to 3 sessions this Sunday, a few minutes after church. We will be invited to share, in confidence, our worries, our hopes and fears. We will be holding several of these sessions during April and May. Then in June we will begin the process of pulling all our stories together and working to shape an agenda for 2022 and beyond. If you would like to join us simply stay on the zoom and you will be randomly assigned to a small group led by Covenant’s GBIO Team members.
UPCOMING WORSHIP ON SUNDAYS: Please join us each Sunday at 10:30 am as we come together in community through Zoom to pray, sing, share celebrations and concerns, and hear God’s still-speaking Word proclaimed.
- April 25, Earth Sunday service led by New England GLOW Youth collaborative / GBIO Listening Session
- May 2, Rev. Rob preaching, Baptism of Hannah Miller Waters, Communion / Arbor Day Focused Climate Jubilee adult ed
IN CASE OF MAJOR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES DURING WORSHIP: Should any major technical glitches arise during worship and Zoom become challenged / the meeting end before worship is over, please relocate to our
YouTube livestream page where a new livestream will start up. In the case of minor technological glitches (your mic doesn’t work, your video doesn’t seem to work), feel free to reach out to any church staff member for assistance.
STAFF SCHEDULES & VACATIONS: Our Minister of Music Tom Handel is taking vacation from COTC work to focus on teaching responsibilities April 5-27, and will not be replying to messages during this time. Lead Pastor Rob Mark is away on vacation this week for school vacation, April 19-26. For specific pastoral concerns while Rev. Rob is away, please be in touch with Rev. Joshua and/or the Deacons.
EASTER EVENING PRAYERS 4/28: Join us during this Easter season on Wednesday, April 28 from 6-6:30pm for our evening prayer service. As we did in Lent, if you'd like to help choose a reading for either of these services, please
email.
Zoom link for Wednesday.
CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING: Each Sunday beginning at 9:45AM we gather using Zoom for Godly Play and Youth Class. Our Godly Play class gathers to sing, share news with each other, pray together, and hear ancient and contemporary stories of our faith. Our Youth Class shares their weekly gathering rituals and explores topics of interest and curiosity in faith and identity. If you need a Zoom link, email
children@cotcbos.org or contact Rev. Kate at
kate.carlisle@cotcbos.org.
20s-30s-40s GROUP AT COVENANT: We have a vital group for young adults, young professionals and students – and we’d love you to join us! We currently hold brunches (virtual for the time-being) on the third Sunday of each month. If you would like to be added to our email list, or connect one-to-one, please contact Rev. Joshua at
joshua.lazard@cotcbos.org
join by phone: (646) 558 8656, Meeting ID: 104 478 666, Password: 581626
FREE TREES!! & ARBOR DAY ADULT ED 5/2: Following up on an adult ed session in March, our Climate Jubilee Team is teaming up with Boston’s Speak for the Trees and offering free tree seedlings to anyone who is interested: Persimmon, Fraiser Fir, Bur Oak, White Oak, and Black Tupelo. On Saturday, May 1, we will be safely handing these out from the steps of COTC. Drop offs also available. Please
email Betty Southwick if interested. Climate Jubilee will also host another adult ed session following worship on May 2 in connection to Arbor Day.
MOTHER'S DAY WALK FOR PEACE MAY 9, 9am: The annual
Louis D. Brown Peace Institute of Dorchester, will be doing their annual
Mother's Day Walk for Peace again virtually. But this year you can also commit to walking each day for 25 days starting the day after Easter, in solidarity. This Walk is the Institute's major public fundraiser of the year. Please consider supporting the important resurrection work they do all year: support and healing to those who have lost a family member to homicide and to those families on the other side, support to community trying to heal, and work to prevent any further violence. The Peace Institute stands in the dark places, and brings true light, through its stated principles:
Love, Unity, Faith, Hope, Courage, Justice, and Forgiveness. Knowing that vulnerable populations are hit much harder by our current situation, and aware of the extra pain of those who normally found the community and solidarity of the Walk to be an escape from personal isolation and grief,
please give what you can here on the Church of the Covenant Team page, or send a check to Louis D. Brown Peace Institute at the address here. Contact Diane Lauber with any questions
dianelauber@comcast.net or 978-376-6574. Thank you!!
VACCINATIONS: As we all know, our Commonwealth is in the process of ensuring everyone gets a COVID-19 vaccine according to MA/CDC guidelines/ phasing – yet the process can feel a bit daunting and frustrating. As we give thanks for the miraculous reality of these vaccines, we lament the unequal access still in our state, and the confusing roll out.
Everyone ages 16+ is now eligible for the vaccine. See this Mass.gov website where you can pre-register when there is availability: vaccinesignup.mass.gov/#/ If you are feeling confused, you are not alone, and we are here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Rob, Joshua, Kate or our Deacons if you could use some help in making sense of this and making a plan to get vaccinated. We also recommend everyone be in touch with their PCP as a first step. And remember, even in the face of a long history of unequal health care access, we at COTC deeply believe in the importance and efficacy of this vaccine as a necessary next step in reaching public health. Here are some helpful websites:
https://www.macovidvaccines.com/ and
https://www.cic-health.com/vaccines-location#fenway in addition to
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-covid-19-vaccination-data-and-updates
WHAT CAN I DO ONCE VACCINATED? As we give thanks that increasing numbers of people are getting vaccinated, many are asking this question, here are a few guidelines:
FACING OUR RACISM WORKSHOP: Our friends at Co-operative Metropolitan Ministry are organizing an excellent few hours long workshop, join Rev. Rob, $45 (scholarships available - please ask Rob), “Facing Our Racism: Becoming Conscious Partners” on Sunday, May 16, noon-4:30pm –
click here to register.
ARE YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW FACING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES? Info on fuel and electricity discounts in MA available
here.
CONTINUED GIVING: Even in face of important, life-giving changes, our COTC ministry remains moving full steam ahead. Our staff and pastors continue to be hard at work. Our building continues to be faithfully stewarded. Our deacons and pastors continue to carry out vital pastoral care in these days. Therefore, your continued generosity and giving to help support the work of our church community is even more valued in these challenging days. And we are deeply grateful for your tangible signs of generosity. Here are a few ways you can continue to financially support the church and its ministries:
- Directly on our website: http://www.cotcbos.org/give.html
- Download free app: GIVEPLUS+ (GIVE+ by Vanco Services, LLC) in the App Store, Google Play, or at https://giveplushelp.vancopayments.com. Then, type in our zip code 02116 to find Church of the Covenant. Both online options allow you to make a one-time or a recurring gift.
- If you are uncomfortable with online giving, yes, you can still mail checks!
ZOOM Tutorials:
Here are the Zoom details for Sundays:
join by computer/tablet/smartphone:
one tap mobile:
+16465588656,,91025989890#,,#,892502#
join by phone:
+1 646 558 8656, Meeting ID: 910 2598 9890, Password: 892502
Some suggestions to aid in your worship for you to consider:
- Printing the bulletin out in advance so you have it during worship
- Pulling the bulletin up on a second device/phone/screen
- Pulling both the bulletin up and Zoom, and switch between them as needed. The liturgy, songs, and scripture are the important times to have this bulletin visible if possible.
- And if none of these options work for you, no worries—just following the link will be fine – you will be able to worship fully.
If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, click this link
Zoom How To for a video on how to join Zoom Meetings. Here are a few step by step procedures on how to join a Zoom meeting from your specific device.
BUILDING ACCESS: Our church building remains closed except for services connected with Women’s Lunch Place, our Food Pantry, and a subset of our church staff (Rev. Rob, Tom Handel, Bill Brown, Alan Lane, Faith Perry, Nancy Stockford, and Chuck Ferrell), who only enter for specific and limited purposes. All other staff, church leaders, and key holders are required to keep away from the church building until further notice. While we are not opening for our normal Open Sanctuary program this year, we have protocols in place to allow for safe group tours by appointment through Bill Brown.
THE APRIL ISSUE OF THE COVENANT NEWS can be read online
here.
