Covenant CONNECTIONS:
Spike Lee, Cookies, Biking, and More!
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Like a lot of people, we signed up for Disney+ this month, so that we could watch "Hamilton" with the original cast.
Perhaps the best $6.99 we've ever spent.
But adding to our digital lineup added thousands more choices of things for us to watch.
A hundred years ago, when I was a kid, we watched movies in the theater or when they were on network TV.
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It still is stunning to me that I can watch "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" or "The Wizard of Oz" or thousands of other movies any time I want, even on my phone, not just once a year on the TV. And now I can watch Lin-Manuel Miranda and friends any time as well. Click on the image to learn more about "Hamilton."
With all the choices we face today, especially with extra time at home because of the virus, we need to heed the apostle Paul's words in Ephesians 5.
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Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time.... So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
--Ephesians 5:14-17
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So what are you doing with your time?
We are called to be wise and make good use of every day.
Have you seen any good movies lately? We all need entertainment that is fun and relaxing, but it's also good to read books and watch movies that challenge us and help us think about loving our neighbors.
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I saw Spike Lee's 1989 drama "Do the Right Thing" shortly after it came out, when I lived in New York City.
It tells the story of a hot summer day in Brooklyn, when simmering racial tensions explode. It's not a movie for young kids, and it doesn't give simplistic feel-good answers.
But it makes you think.
Click on the image to learn more from IMDB.com.
But there are seven movies on the list that I haven't seen, in part because watching simpler movies is easier.
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As we continue our journey through this virus season, and this time of racial unrest, we need to encourage each other to make good use of our time and to daily seek ways to grow in faith and love our neighbors. Good movies (and good books--see below) can help.
On the journey, apart-but-together,
Charlie
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
Join us for apart-but-together video worship on Sunday. 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
9:30 on Sunday morning
to watch the pre-recorded worship as a community.
Worship this week features
- Sermon by Rev. Charlie Berthoud on Ephesians, "Good Works"
- A message for the children from Marge Resan
- Children's Celebration Choir sings twice!
- Video of organist Doug McNeel and of pianist Ben Welch
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Coffee Hour and Bible Study!
Sundays 10:30 via Zoom
Grab some coffee and connect with your Covenant friends! Click on the Zoom link above at 10:30 this Sunday. Pastor Charlie will share about Ephesians and then we'll have time for zoom fellowship.
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Every week we provide a devotional to help you reflect on the little book of the Bible. These reflections are from members and pastors, and provide some rich texture to aid you in your reading.
If you want to receive the devotional by email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
CLICK RIGHT HERE AND SIGN UP
. The devotional will also be available on the homepage of our website and a PDF of our Ephesians devotional is right
here.
Upcoming "little books" include:
- Colossians on Sunday, July 26
- Youth Led Worship on Sunday, August 2 (no little book)
- Amos on August 9
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THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT READING
In case you need more inspiration on reading good books and the Good Book, several Covenant folks have responded to these three questions:
- What is a favorite book of yours? (fiction, non-fiction, whatever)
- What is a favorite verse or book of the Bible?
- What are your reasons for reading and reflecting on the Bible?
New responses this week from
Chelsea Cornelius, TJ and Kate Sargent, Donna Monson, Deb Cohn, and Marilyn Unruh To see them all, click here:
Three questions about reading
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Giving Blood to Serve God!
Wednesday August 19, 2020
1:00 – 6:00 PM
Covenant Presbyterian Church
Love your neighbor; give blood!
During this pandemic safe guards will be in place to insure that your health is protected. They include a temperature check as you enter, face masks on you and the phlebotomists (please bring a mask or they will have one for you), hand sanitizer, and pre-packaged snacks and juice for you after your donation. For more information about safety protocols feel free to contact Jeff Fox-Kline. Because of the pandemic walk-ins will not be allowed, so it is extra important that you sign up ahead of time. Please add your name to the
Sign-Up Genius linked right here or email Jeff at
jfoxkline@covenantmadison.org to select an appointment time.
If August 19 doesn't work for you, there is another blood drive at Covenant on Wednesday, July 22, organized by Memorial High School students. Only a few sign up spots left:
https://www.redcross.org/
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The Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County continues to be a tremendous force for good during the pandemic. Their annual fundraiser, MOVE4BGC (formerly BIKE4BGC), is encouraging us to stay in motion during the pandemic while also supporting a great cause.
Every year, the Presbywheelians ride in support of the Boys and Girls Club and this year is no different (at least in the respect that we’re still supporting BGC!). So far, the Presbywheelians have raised over $8,300 and are in third place for total money raised.
There’s a new fundraising challenge for all of us to work towards together. Eric Girard, Gretchen Girard, Charlie Berthoud, and Jeff Fox-Kline will match every mile ridden through the week of July 20
th-July 27
th, Monday-Monday. In order for the miles to count on our total you have to either register for the Presbywheelians team or have donated to the Presbywheelians. Anyone who donates can
EDIT THIS GOOGLE SPREADSHEET or email the miles ridden for the week to
jfoxkline@covenantmadison.org and we will ride those miles before the end of August.
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We’re also collecting photos of people getting active! Post a photo of yourself or your family biking, walking, jogging, kayaking, or just getting out and moving in this google photo album (click on the picture of Pastor Charlie) or email your photo to
jfoxkline@covenantmadison.org
So for the next week, donate, ride, and force the four of us to get outside!
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YOUTH: MISSION MADISON
Our high school youth have a week of “Mission Madison” activities planned for July 27-30. They will be putting together backpacks for grade school kids served through The River Food Pantry, shopping for food for The River and then serving there, and serving at Second Harvest. Funding will come from the Trash & Treasure Sale.
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Interested youth should signup by July 24. Also, we
hope to have some teens available to help some of our older folks with outdoor tasks such as weeding and watering a garden, spreading mulch, or washing first floor exterior windows. This would is slated for Thursday, July 30. Youth will not enter homes. Please
email Steve Royalton for more information.
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Baking Buddies at Covenant!
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Maybe you have been diving into the exciting world of baking during the pandemic but have been baking more than you’re able to eat. Maybe you are not a good baker and you miss having tasty items to eat. Maybe you still want to bake and eat baked goods but love to be surprised. At Covenant, we are starting a baking exchange program to keep us connected through one of our favorite ways to be together – food!
Click here for a signupgenius that gives you three options:1) I would like to bake, but not eat 2) I don’t like baking, but I do like eating 3) I’m sick of eating my own baking.
When signing up please enter any dietary restrictions. You can also indicate if there’s any baked good that you will not eat (Oatmeal raisin cookies often unfairly end up on this list), though if there’s nothing you’re dead-set against the surprise is half the fun!
Once we see who has signed up, Pastor Jeff will match people up. Once you are matched up, you will receive further information about how to package and deliver your goods. If you are unable to make the delivery yourself, no worries, we can figure it out together. As you arrange for the exchange of baked treats please be careful to practice safe social-distancing and stay healthy!
Here is the CDC information on surface transmission and food. Please also practice good hand hygiene while baking (which you should be doing anyway).
It’s entirely possible that we’ll receive a large proportion of people who want to bake for someone but not receive treats for themselves. In light of this, please do not be shy to sign up to receive treats without baking in return!
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