Hello, Bailey-

We began our PLAYLIST series last Sunday. Pastor Jess invited us to hear God in the music and witness of Taylor Swift. And many people enjoyed making friendship bracelets—a Taylor Swift mainstay. I’ve been grateful for my bracelet this week. (Thanks for making it, Polly!) 

This week, we turn to Irish rock band, U2. When I began college in 1982, for a while I felt caught between two conflicting worldviews. The music of U2 helped me to synthesize and find a way forward.

One night I would attend a Christian campus group. Such groups helped me learn about God and the Bible, but too often the theology felt almost selfish, with the primary focus of Christian faith being for individuals to escape judgement and secure a place in eternity. Faith seemed very moralistic and individualistic.

The next night I would attend a peace and justice group, focusing on world hunger or human rights. I became really interested in Latin American efforts to empower poor people and to make the world a better place. But in these groups, there was a lot of hostility toward the church, which was seen as elitist and out of touch. 

I felt like these two groups needed to come together and find common ground. 

As I read my Bible, it became clear that following Jesus meant striving to make the world a better place: feeding hungry people, loving neighbors, working for the sake of God’s kingdom. "Thy Kingdom come, on earth, as in heaven." And at the same time, following Jesus meant being intentional about my own life and choices. Morality and decency are vital. 



I was learning that being a Christian encompasses both a sense of social justice and individual responsibility.

U2’s album "War" came out in 1983 and it remains one of my favorites, with powerful calls to work on ourselves and our world. This album, along with ministry of Sojourners and liberation theology in Latin America, helped me find a more integrated Christian faith. Click on the album cover to learn more about "War," which was ranked 223 in a 2012 Rolling Stone magazine list of greatest all time albums.  

In "Like a Song," Bono recognizes the importance of individual transformation in social conflict:  

Angry words won't stop the fight 

Two wrongs won't make it right 

A new heart is what I need 

Oh, God, make it bleed 

And in the well-loved "Sunday Bloody Sunday" Bono makes it clear that followers of Jesus are called to make this world a better place.  

And today the millions cry 

We eat and drink while tomorrow they die 

The real battle yet begun 

To claim the victory Jesus won.  

The album closes with the prayerful "40" inspired by Psalm 40, a psalm of hope in the future. The band closed their concerts with this song, as the crowd sang prayerfully "How long to sing this song?"

Inspired by U2 faith, the first sermon I ever offered was at my college baccalaureate service, and I titled it "The Real Battle," reflecting on our calling for individual and social transformation. You can read it here. 

If you’re really interested in learning more about the spiritual depth of U2, check out the book We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2. This book has been very helpful for me in planning for this sermon.  

On Sunday, I’ll be sharing more about U2, which I hope will encourage you not only to appreciate their music but more importantly listen for what God might be saying to you in whatever music you enjoy. I invite you to check out our video music playlist, which three U2 songs which inform Sunday’s sermon. Together let’s keep listening for God, as we learn and live God’s love. 

On the journey together,

Charlie

PS - Tonight is the presidential debate. Our friends at Presbyterian Outlook shared a prayer which you can read here: "A Prayer Before a Presidential Debate." And a few weeks ago a reporter from Religious News Service interviewed me about faith and politics. You can read the article here: Why the swing state faith voters who really matter in 2024 aren’t evangelicals

• In-Person and Livestream worship: 9:30AM
• "Playlist: Gospel on the Radio" | U2
• Preaching: Charlie Berthoud | Text: Luke 4:16-21
• Music: Doug McNeel, organist; LeRoy Stoner, vocalist
• Children's Time with Nick Von Bergen
• Kaleidoscope Kids during worship
• Nursery Care: 9:15-11:15AM
• Bradfield Cafe:10:30AM
• Friendship Bracelet Station! 10:30AM
• 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!

Sometimes even secular music hits a grace note. On your favorite radio channel or streaming, which music artists do you connect with spiritually? Below is the lineup of artists picked buy our pastors for the series. Click on the button for a playlist so you can listen to music by each artist the week before. It should be a fun summer of listening to and reflecting on music together!

LAST SUNDAY TO GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN!

The PC(USA) General Assembly is under way! Last Sunday, we commissioned our Clerk of Session, Laurie Jones, who also serves as Moderator to the John Knox Presbytery. Click here to learn more about the General Assembly. If you are interested in observing GA226 online, click on the logo or HERE.

We celebrate communion on the 1st Sunday of each month, remembering the Last Supper and being renewed with the bread of life and cup of salvation. On July 7 and August 4 (and possibly beyond), we will share communion by intinction when one is given a piece of bread and invited to dip (“intinct”) the bread in a cup of wine. Our bread will be gluten-free crackers, and our wine will be grape juice. If anyone prefers, we’ll also have small plastic individual cups. Using this style of communion will mean less plastic use and will give us a new way to experience the bread and the cup. The Worship Committee welcomes your feedback: Worship Chair Rhonda Rohn, Elder Skye Doney, or Pastor Charlie Berthoud.

New this week:

Marion Graff, aunt of Barb Eikenberry

This week's red roses celebrate the births of:

Jett James Imhoff & Theo James Imhoff, identical twin sons of Dorothy & Michael Imhoff, and grandsons of Arlin & Judy Brannstrom

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.

Bradfield Café Volunteer

Greeter & Welcome Center Volunteer

Boys & Girls Club holds their annual Move ‘N’ Groove fundraiser on July 20 and Covenant is participating! The Presbywheelians is the team from Covenant that bikes for this fundraiser for BGCDC. You can now sign up to join the team or donate to support the team! Registration is $60 until July 1 ($65 after).

We are looking for a few more folks interested in travelling to Guatemala (November 9-16), where Covenant has a longtime connection with two Presbyterian communities. We’ll visit Coyolate and Santo Domingo to do some good work and reconnect, we’ll learn about immigration issues, and end our time with a visit to scenic colonial town of Antigua. If you are interested, please contact either Pastors Jess or Charlie ASAP. More info will be in the July issue of The Caravan (Covenant's monthly newsletter).

Join us for a Mallards baseball game! For double the fun, the Madison Night Mares softball team is playing a game before the Mallards that afternoon and your ticket gets you into both events. The softball game starts at 4:05pm and the Mallards first pitch is at 6:35pm.

There are two ticket options: 1) $25 Ticket w/ Pregame Buffet option (5:30-7:00) and 2) $16 Ticket w/ Mallards Hat (no buffet). Click below for more info and to sign up!

Join Pastors Jess and Charlie for conversation about this fascinating new book. Blending personal stories, Bible study, and contemporary issues, Jim Wallis challenges us to learn about our world and stand up for God’s love. The gathering will last for one hour. Feel free to come even if you haven’t finished the book! Visit the event page here.