Twice this past week, I was outside in the cold, listening to "Amazing Grace."

On Wednesday, my wife and I gathered with some neighbors and huddled around the fire pit to watch the inauguration.

We were grateful for the resilience and strength of our democracy and we were in awe of 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman.

On Tuesday evening, I gathered in the courtyard with three of our bellringers for a 12-minute time of prayer and remembrance for those who have died from Covid-19--including three members of Covenant. We streamed it live on our Facebook page. Millions of people around the country were ringing bells and remembering at the same time.

I read from Psalm 13 ("How long O Lord?") and I asked for the bells to ring 400 times--one ring for every 1,000 people who have died from Covid (in the USA alone).

As they rang for five minutes, I became overwhelmed, realizing that each ring meant 1,000 lives lost. I wanted to scream "STOP!" as if that would halt the deaths.

We concluded the service with the bells ringing "Amazing Grace." Click on the photo to watch the video and to join us in prayer.

I'm grateful for God's grace that surrounds us and sustains us.

I'm grateful for the hope of politicians working together for the common good.

I'm grateful for the vaccine and for the hope of putting Covid behind us.

But we're not there yet. We have a long way to go with Covid. I fear with the optimism of the vaccine, we might let our guard down too soon.

We don't want to be like the football player who celebrates a touchdown before getting into the endzone. Click an image below to see several examples of premature celebrations. Let's not be like that with Covid.

So please keep wearing your masks, washing your hands, and keeping your distance. Please keep caring for each other, reaching out to people in need, saying your prayers, and taking care of yourself. And together we live and share God's amazing grace.

On the journey, apart but together,

Charlie

PS--Go Pack go!

Valentines should be colorful and creative and fit on one side of a paper no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches.

The deadline for submission of Valentines is Sunday, January 31.

We are grateful for the COVID vaccine and we're compiling a photo album of Covenant members getting their vaccines to celebrate!

Click the button below to add a photo of you getting vaccinated or a photo of your vaccination card (or email your photo to Lexie Ofe and she will add it for you!).

Thanks to Covenant's Ministry Associate (and UW Hospital Chaplain) Chelsea Cornelius for sharing her vaccination photo!

Have you been keeping up with the "Words of Wisdom, Words of Faith" congregational devotional? We'd love for you to read this special devotional with us--it ends on Feb. 14!

Thank you so much to all who have contributed to this month's toiletry & household goods collection for Lussier Community Education Center. We have one week left! You can bring donations to Covenant at any time and leave them in the collection bins outside the front door. If you need donations to be picked up from your home, contact Pastor Jeff Fox-Kline. Thank you for your generosity!

Covenant will be hosting a blood drive on February 11 from 1:00-6:00 pm. See page 4 of the latest Caravan for instructions on reserving your time slot.

"The Last Days of Theresienstadt” will be presented by Dr. Skye Doney, Covenant member and the Director of the George L. Mosse Program in History at UW-Madison. Click HERE to learn more. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83189424277