Last weekend, my wife and I went to Boston, to visit my brother and his fiancé. In addition to a Red Sox game and lots of seafood, we enjoyed a day at the beach and a hike up Mount Wachusett. Spending time in the beauty of nature renews me. (So does fresh New England clam chowder!) |
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I hope you get the chance to enjoy lakes, forests, and more this summer. I hope you get outside on a regular basis, even to just look at the trees or the clouds or the flowers.
Like many others, I remain deeply concerned about climate change and the future of our planet. The scientists keep telling us that we’re heading in the wrong direction, but we haven’t found the political will or the moral courage to make necessary changes.
"Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care."
As Christians, we have responsibility to tend the earth that God has entrusted to our care, and to love our neighbors.
We’ve made some positive steps here at Covenant thanks to our “Green Team” with solar panels, recycling, and composting, but I feel like we need to do more.
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You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell,
for I the Lord dwell among the Israelites.
-Numbers 35:34
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On Sunday, August 21 at 10:45am, we’re having an in-person summer book club gathering to talk about climate change, inspired by the book Under the Sky We Make.
I haven’t read it yet, but it comes highly acclaimed. I have five copies to share with anyone who commits to coming on August 21 and trying to read the book. Let me know ASAP if you’re interested. Click on the image below or scroll all the way down for more information on our book club.
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I’m hopeful this time will jumpstart our Green Team and our congregation, so we can live more faithfully in this beautiful world. |
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On the journey together,
Charlie
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- Charlie Berthoud preaching: "Give Me Strength Lord!" (Colossians 1:3-12)
- Holy Communion
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Steve Royalton's final Sunday! (scroll down)
- Weekly Memory Verse
- Music from Doug McNeel, Melissa Hinz, and Jenn Sauer
- Children's Time with Jo Wiersema
- Kaleidoscope Kids during worship following Children's Time
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In-Person and Livestream worship at 9:30am (ONE SERVICE)
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Visit our Worship HQ for everything you need to worship with us online!
If you missed a service or would like to watch a service again, all livestreamed services are saved to our YouTube channel. Or you can give the sermons another listen on our sermon podcast!
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After 26 years of youth ministry at Covenant, Steve Royalton is retiring this month. We are grateful for Steve’s faithful service over the years. With gratitude for his ministry, we will hold a celebration THIS SUNDAY at 10:45am. Refreshments provided! There will be a short presentation and a basket to leave Steve a card showing your appreciation.
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As you know, we had a Ukraine Benefit Concert in July. We raised $22,206.01 for this amazing concert. These proceeds were split evenly between Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc. If you also recall, we had a special offering for Ukraine which we sent to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance as well. We raised $28,824.01 in that effort. So, in total, that’s $52,100.02 for the people of Ukraine! Thank you Covenant, Christ Presbyterian, Westminster Presbyterian, and friends of Covenant who gave to these causes.
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"If I waited until I had the right words, God would feel so far away from the everyday pain and frustration."
Prayer is becoming a theme around here. This week's Midweek Musings explores many approaches to prayer that we all can relate to. Click on image above.
Midweek Musings is a weekly Covenant blog with a variety of authors and spiritual topics. Feel free to leave a comment as you are moved. We hope that it blesses you this week and the weeks to come.
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Teens, parents and alums of our youth ministry are all welcome. We do have an interim staffing plan and we have ideas for how to get things going in September, which we’ll share at the sessions. Questions? Contact Pastor Charlie or Jo Wiersema.
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Join our Children's and Youth team to work with Extended Hands to celebrate their back-to-school celebration. We are looking for volunteers of all ages to do a variety of tasks. Any volunteers under 13 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. We will meet at Covenant at 11:15 to carpool to Northport Apts on 1740 North Port Dr. We’re also looking to collect school supplies by August 15! Supplies can be dropped off in the church office. Please sign up to volunteer or donate in the gathering space or at covenantmadison.org/youth.
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With growing concern about climate change, we'll come together to read and discuss the acclaimed book Under the Sky We Make: How to Be Human in a Warming World, by Kimberly Nicholas. Click HERE for more info on this book. Join Pastor Charlie and several folks from Covenant's "Green Team" for this important discussion. Charlie has 5 copies of the book for those interested. Contact him ASAP!
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