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Humility, Resurrection, Unplugging: Practice Continues!
Palm Sunday and Easter are coming!
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I am very grateful for this season of Lent, and the five practices we have explored together. I hope you found some new ways to connect with God through fasting, praying, listening, simplifying, and/or unplugging.
I hope you’ll continue with whatever practice has helped you to clear the junk out of the way so that you can sense God and journey forward in faith.
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This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and we continue the practice focus, reflecting the humility of Jesus. Palm Sunday is a good Sunday to ask ourselves how we can practice humility, service, and sacrificial love. On Easter Sunday, March 31 we’ll focus on the practice of resurrection—opening ourselves to new life, new possibilities, and new hope.
I hope you’ll invite a friend or family member to join you for worship. If you’re travelling, I hope you’ll find a church wherever you are, or connect with Covenant through our YouTube channel.
This week, I’ve heard from a lot of people who are thinking about unplugging from last Sunday. We’re all too aware of the excess of screen time and media time in our world.
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One clarification on the survey I cited last Sunday in the sermon on UNPLUGGING. According to Reuters, the average American spends 11 hours on media time (including radio and earbuds), not 11 hours on screen time. Read about the nuances of screen and media time in an engaging article from Psychology Today HERE. | |
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With new awareness of the importance of unplugging, I’m being more mindful this week about my screen time and finding ways to be present with people and be more open to God.
In April, I’m going to do a different sort of unplugging, with a five-week sabbatical, starting on Friday, April 5. I will be spending some time at a retreat center, a clergy conference, a church conference, and after the sabbatical ends on Friday May 10, I’m spending the next week at a preaching conference in Pittsburgh.
During the sabbatical, I’ll also be relaxing, as the past few years have been rather busy. I look forward to biking, reading novels, exploring new places (including Minocqua and Savannah GA), and sleeping. I grateful for Covenant’s sabbatical policy (five weeks every five years) and for the chance to unplug from work, with hopes of coming back refreshed and renewed on Sunday, May 19. But for now my focus is on Holy Week and Easter.
May this Holy Week be a blessing to you.
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On the journey together,
Charlie
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In-Person and Livestream worship: 9:00AM & 11:00AM
- Palm Sunday
- Preaching: Charlie Berthoud | Text: Mark 11:1-11, Philippians 2:1-11
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Music (9:00): Beth Wilson, guest pianist
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Music (11:00): Covenant Chancel Choir (Melissa Hinz, leading); Doug McNeel, organist
- Children's Time with Megan Berry
- Nursery Care: 8:45AM-12:15PM
- Kaleidoscope Kids: during 9:00AM worship
- Bradfield Café: 10:00-10:45AM
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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! | |
Join us on Sunday at 10:00am as we continue looking at spiritual practices! Through time, people of faith have been bold and tried hundreds of spiritual disciplines with the goal of freeing up space to draw near to God. After exploring spiritual disciplines in Lent of fasting, praying, listening, simplifying, and unplugging, come hear about the wide range of spiritual practices through which we can more fully connect to God. Some you'll already know like reading the Bible and attending worship, but what about watching bees or listening to a friend, prayer beads, chanting, advocating? Pastor Jess Scholten will walk us through a number of other practices in Scripture and faith communities. | |
Children & Youth Ministries | |
Note: there will be NO Sunday School on Easter Sunday (March 31). | |
Note: there will be NO YC or Confirmation on Easter Sunday (March 31). | |
Join us THIS SUNDAY at Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton! We will meet on the north end of Clark Street. These strolls are part of CONNECT, a program of deacon-sponsored events with the intention of fostering connection between Covenant and the community. We visit a different green space every month. | |
This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and we are collecting the One Great Hour of Sharing PC(USA) special offering. Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of Christians to share God’s love with our neighbors in need. You can give: 1) in person on Sunday or 2) online by clicking below. | |
Each plant is a $15 donation. Checks can be put in the offering lectern at the entrance to the sanctuary (memo line: Easter Flowers). Email us with a dedication (“in honor of, in celebration of, in memory of”) by Wednesday, March 27. | |
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New this week:
Mark Middleton, Covenant member
Heather Oliver, cousin of Melissa Schmidt
The family of Michael O'Brien, friends of Janice Walden
April Goldman, niece of Frankie Leisering
Loving God, in your mercy, hear our prayers for each of these your children. We pray for healing, for courage, and for peace, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Greeter & Welcome Center Volunteer | | |
Join us in between services on Easter Sunday for our annual Easter Brunch in Bradfield Hall! We will have yogurt, fruit, assorted sweet treats, and of course coffee! | |
Racists Anonymous Fellowship continues to meet weekly on Thursdays (except Mar 28). On April 4, we will begin a 4-week study of John Lewis’ Across That Bridge - A Vision for Change and the Future of America! In this book, the late US Congressman and civil rights leader provides lessons that give us a ray of hope in the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Visit covenantmadison.org/raf for more info. Contact Jennifer Morgan to get the Zoom link. | |
Anyone in their 20s or 30s are invited! Meet us at the Brass Ring at 6:30. Trivia begins at 7:00! Contact Pastor Jess if you have any questions. Come out even if you don't consider yourself to be a trivia buff! We'll enjoy beverages, apps, and good company together. | |
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Acts comes after the gospels and it describes how, in a time of uncertainty, the disciples grew stronger in faith and began a community movement (the church). We present a challenge to you for April - read a chapter a day of the book of Acts (28 chapters). Join us in this challenge and for the sermon/small group series.
Small Groups: Read the book of Acts and connect with others this Spring by joining a small group for 6 weeks! Visit covenantmadison.org/smallgroups for more info. Sign up below!
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