COVID Safety
For this Sunday, we continue to have in-person worship. Masks required for all.
If you have not been vaccinated, or if you feel sick, please worship from home. The balcony and the left side of the sanctuary is socially-distanced seating, with every other pew taped off. We are also asking people to sing quietly to limit germ spread.
Note: We are distributing Epiphany star-words this Sunday. If you want us to mail you one, please contact the church office.
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Greetings!
“Let’s Talk About Sex” is our new sermon and education series, starting on Sunday, January 9, running for six weeks.
Sermons will use biblical texts and traditional Christian theology (goodness of creation, idolatry, sin, new life, and love) to reflect on sex, sexuality, and healthy relationships.
Classes will help us to frame our discussions, understand sexual trauma, learn about gender and sexual identity, encourage conversation with children and grandchildren, and more.
I’m excited and nervous about the series. I’m excited about another opportunity for us to learn and grow as Christians, with the hope of making this world a better place. We pray every Sunday “thy Kingdom come, thy will be done.”
I’m nervous because we don’t usually talk about sex, and because I’ve been hearing from people about their challenging and traumatic experiences.
One of my primary hopes is, as the series title says, is that we’ll talk about sex—with our partners, with our children, with our trusted friends, with our medical professionals. With that, I hope the series will bring healing and new resolve to live and love faithfully.
To help get those conversations going, I suggest reading either of these books.
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With chapters like "'My Favorite Feel': Pleasure as a Gift from God" and "Playing Fair: The Ethics of Good Sex" and "Naked: A Theology of Vulnerability" this book helps us learn and grow. |
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This book helps us reconsider many traditional teachings on sex. The author writes: "It doesn't feel very difficult to draw a direct line between the messages many of us received from the church and the harm we've experienced in our bodies." |
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Both books are like memoirs, in which the authors (who happen to be pastors) share some of their sexual journey and experiences, with theological reflection. Reading their stories helped me to think about my own and to realize the importance of ongoing conversation and learning, while also appreciating that sex and sexuality are God's gifts to us. Click on either to learn more.
As we journey into this series (and note it starts January 9, not this coming Sunday January 2), I encourage you to remember that God loves you just as you are, and if you need to reach out for a listening ear or a caring presence, please do. At the same time, please be aware that people around you might need you to listen and care.
On the journey together,
Charlie
PS--In addition to the two above-mentioned books, I was blessed to read many wonderful books this year. My list of 46 titles with my own books awards is here: 2021 books--Charlie Berthoud
Jo Wiersema, our new Coordinator of Children's Ministries, is a book-lover and voracious reader, with 157 books completed in 2021! I asked her for her favorite books on Christian faith and she shared this graphic. If you need a recommendation for a good book, ask Jo!
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In-person services at 9:00 and 11:00, with a livestream at 11:00. (click)
- Epiphany STARS are given to all attending with their reflection word for 2022
- We hear from Jennifer Morgan, Melissa Hardy, Sarah Day, and the Hershberger family as they reflect on their Epiphany Star words from 2021
- Communion is served, with individual bags and cups
- Children's Time with Pastor Jeff Fox-Kline
- NO Sunday School or Adult Ed classes (both resume January 9)
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We had three services on Christmas Eve. About 120 joined us in the sanctuary for each service, and dozens (hundreds?) more joined us from home, online. |
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Click on the sanctuary photo to see more photos from Christmas Eve. |
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2022 Inspirational Coloring Sheet |
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Grab some markers or crayons and set some goals for 2022! Click on the image below to download a blank coloring sheet, and spend some time in playful prayerful pondering to get the year off to a good start. Thanks to our friends at Illustrated Ministry for the sheet. |
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Merry Christmas! A short but sweet post this week from Pastor Jeff Fox-Kline and his weekly blog. Click on the image and enjoy the words of Howard Thurman.
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Our calling at Covenant is to learn about God’s love and to live it, to make it real. To help us do so, we’ve planned a sermon and education series in early 2022 focused on sex and sexuality. With a variety of perspectives, sermons will engage biblical texts and help us have more conversations about topics that we too often ignore: the goodness of the body and sex, the challenge of making good choices and building healthy relationships. Worship is at 9:00 and 11:00. Each Sunday at noon, we’ll have a “sermon talk-back” gathering for questions and conversation. Visit covenantmadison.org for full sermon series titles (link is under "Next Sunday" section of home page).
Sunday morning Adult Education classes (click) at 10:00 will help us understand gender and sexual identity, encourage more conversation with children and grandchildren, recognize and respond to sexual trauma, and more. Join us in person or online for this six-week series. Feel free to invite a friend.
Due to the sensitive nature of the sermon series, we will have Kaleidoscope 2.0, a time of learning for children in grades 2-6, to go along with our regular Kaleidoscope program which is for children ages 3 through grade 1.
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Introducing Richard Griffin, our new Custodian at Covenant! We're glad to have Richard on board. If you see him while you're here, be sure to give him a warm welcome. He'll be working Monday thru Friday from about 7:00am 3:00pm
We also want to bid a farewell and say thank you to former Custodian Ken Corbett, who came out of retirement filled in as our Interim Custodian.
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Generosity Campaign Continues
The Generosity Campaign asks people to support Covenant’s ministry with their time, talents, and treasures. If you have not yet gotten your pledge in, please do so soon.
Every gift helps our common ministry be stronger.
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Here is a quick snapshot of where we currently stand financially as of 12/22/2021 (and the same week in previous years):
2022: 209 pledges = $932,571
2021: 203 pledges = $894,270
2020: 219 pledges = $926,797
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