Greetings!
I’m heartbroken about what happened in Waukesha. There aren’t words sufficient to express how awful it truly was. Lives lost, people injured, children being forced to witness the absolute worst that can be seen. We pray for the families of the dead. We pray for those affected; all of those people, children of God, who suffered, and will continue to suffer as they process the trauma of that night. We honor the lives of: Virginia Sorenson, Leanna Owen, Tamara Durand, Wilhelm Hospel, and Jane Kulich.
This Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent, which is a time when Christians wait for the birth of Jesus Christ, whom we call savior. We wait. And every year we celebrate that birth, God breaking into the world, because we know what comes at the end of Advent. But no matter what happens on December 25th we will still be waiting. We continue to wait for the violence of the world to be eradicated by the triumph of the Prince of Peace. We confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, but we wait for our world to be saved from the evil that we do to each other. We declare that he is Emmanuel, God with us, but when evil seems so present it’s hard to see where exactly God is with us. Our wait may be long, but we wait together, supporting each other, carrying each other, crying with each other. We look for the end of violence and see it as a distant light. We look for the end of evil and it still seems like such a long wait. We will continue to wait for a long time for that. But as we wait, year by year, we continue to remember the birth of Christ. In doing this we remember that the way to celebrate God breaking into this world is to show God’s love to the world. In this we are called to bear the image of God to one another being Christ for one another.
Sometimes we wait impatiently for this, but sometimes our wait is a vigil. So we stand vigil now, remembering those hurt and those killed.
Night comes early in December, lengthening our vigil in the dark as we stand side by side. But distant points of light remind us that the dark is not impenetrable.
Let us be that same light for the world.
Together in expectation,
Pastor Jeff Fox-Kline
|
|
-
In-person services at 9:00 (band) and 11:00 (organ), with a livestream at 11:00. (click)
-
Ruling Elder Tracy Ebarb of the Medical Benevolence Foundation preaches on Luke 5:16-26, with a sermon called "What Does 'Thank You' Look Like?"
- Children's Time with the Nick & Claire Von Bergen
-
Follow our blog (click) to read Pastor Jeff's weekly reflections.
-
There will be NO Sunday School classes this week. Classes resume on December 12!
-
Join us for Adult Ed at 10:00 as guest Tracy Ebarb informs us on what the Medical Benevolence Foundation is up to. Can't join us in person? Click HERE for the Zoom link!
|
|
Covenant's History with the
Medical Benevolence Foundation
Covenant’s history with the Medical Benevolence Foundation runs deep in the roots of the church. We give thanks for the faithful saints who have journeyed with this organization as it has worked to change the world. The Medical Benevolence Foundation was started in 1963 in the southern stream of the Presbyterian church to support Presbyterian Mission hospitals throughout the world. A sister organization, Presbyterian Medical Mission Fund, was started in the northern stream of the Presbyterian church in 1972 by Dr. Burr Lewis, father of Covenant member, Sally Lorenz. After the two parts of the Presbyterian church reunified, MBF and PMMF joined in 1989 to form today’s Medical Benevolence Foundation. Both Sally’s Dad and husband Bob were each active on the PMMF and MBF boards for over 40 years.
|
|
Welcome Jo!
We are thrilled to welcome our Interim Children’s Ministries Coordinator, Jo Wiersema! Jo is so grateful to be a part of the Covenant team. She is currently a student at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and is working on her Master of Divinity. She has been in Madison for the last five years with her husband, Theodore, and their three cats. She is an avid reader, baker, and volunteer. She loves to work alongside the Madison community with organizations such as Literacy Network and Madison Cat Project. She's looking forward to stepping into the role of the Interim Children's Ministries Coordinator and working with the great volunteers and staff that have already done so much for the congregation and the community.
|
|
Join us on December 5 between services for our Advent Event! We’ll have crafts, music, and some treats for everyone! This event is a wonderful opportunity to welcome Advent with the church community. We rejoice in the opportunity to gather in this way and look forward to spending this time together! |
|
|
|
Fall Generosity Campaign Continues
The Fall Generosity Campaign asks people to support Covenant’s ministry with their time, talents, and treasures. Please contact the church office if you have not received an informational packet yet.
Here is a quick snapshot of where we currently stand financially as of 11/24/2021:
|
|
2022 Campaign: 189 pledges = $855,720.00
2021 Campaign: 177 pledges = $764,309.22
2020 Campaign: 193 pledges = $833,878.00
|
|
|
|
Thank you for your donations for the Guatemala Mission Auction! You can now preview bidding items on our auction page (link below). Also visit the Guatemala Auction table just outside the sanctuary! Bidding starts November 29 and goes until December 4.
This annual auction provides scholarships for students of the Monte Hebron Presbyterian Church in Santo Domingo. Visit the Guatemala Auction page for more info!
|
|
Being Presbyterian
Presbyterians are connectional, and we collaborate and support each other in ministry! We are one of about 50 congregations in John Knox Presbytery, which includes southern Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa, and southeastern Minnesota.
Leaders from JKP met via Zoom on Tuesday, November 16, one of our four annual stated meetings. There were over 75 participants, including pastors (Teaching Elders) and lay leaders (Ruling Elders). Covenant participants included Laurie Jones, Carol Philipps, Doug Rohn, Eric Wendorff, Jeff Fox-Kline, and Charlie Berthoud.
Highlights of the meeting include:
- Laurie Jones being elected as Vice Moderator of the Presbytery.
- Updates on candidates for ordained ministry, including Chelsea Cornelius (who is taking a self-directed class in Hebrew) and Natalie Handley (spouse of our new Communications Coordinator Derek Handley).
- Retirement celebration of our Executive Presbyter, Chaz Ruark, whose final day is in February.
- Acknowledgement of the closure of First Presbyterian Church of Andrew Iowa, after more than 170 years of faithful ministry.
- Formation of an Administrative Commission to help the Korean Presbyterian Church of Madison deal with a situation.
- A worship service with communion and a remembering of the saints, with lighting candles and reading the names of Elders and Deacons who have died in the past year. Covenant names that were read include: Frank Balistreri, Kathy Bell, John Cavin, Joann Malas, Molly Myrland, Kate Richardson, Terry Stewart.
There are over 7,000 members in JKP churches, and with over 700 at Covenant, we are the largest church by membership in the presbytery. Covenant people serve on a variety of presbytery committees and in many roles. The next meeting of the Presbytery is in February, via Zoom, and there is hope to return to in-person meetings after that.
|
|
COVID Safety
We continue to have in-person worship. To be as safe as possible, the entire left side of the sanctuary is now socially distanced seating, with every other pew taped off. We are also asking people to sing quietly to limit germ spread.
Masks required for all people, regardless of vaccination status.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
