CONNECTIONS: Breathing Clean Air and a Major Staffing Update

Hello Bailey-

With the air quality challenges this week, I’ve found myself prayerfully singing:

Breathe on me, Breath of God;

fill me with life anew,

that I may love what thou dost love,

and do what thou wouldst do.

May the wind of God, the breath of God, the Spirit of God fill us all with life anew.

And may we be diligent about caring for each other, especially people at risk. I am praying for homeless people who spend a lot of time outside, for people who don’t have air conditioning, for farmers and construction workers and all who have to work outside.

Our friends at the Wisconsin Council of Churches have helpful reflections on our smoky environment. Click on the logo to read.

As we pray for the breath of God to bring new life, we have good news about staffing with the hope of renewed life at Covenant.

We have a candidate to be Associate Pastor with emphasis on children and youth ministry, and the candidate is eager to get started.

So the Session has called for a congregational meeting on Sunday, July 16, immediately following the 9:30 worship service for the sole purpose of voting on the unanimous recommendation of the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee.

The candidate will be preaching the sermon that day. We will be sharing biographical info on the candidate soon. For now, mark your calendar for July 16.

As you may recall, we have two staff vacancies, so our work is not done. And our staffing model has changed.

At its regular fourth-Tuesday meeting this week, the Session (the elected leaders of the church) approved a revised model, with full support of the Personnel Committee and the two search committees.

The initial model included two full-time positions:

An Associate Pastor (AP) with emphasis on adult education and mission.
A Children & Youth Ministries Coordinator (CYMC), a non-ordained position

The new model includes two full-time Associate Pastors:

An ordained AP coordinating and leading the children and youth ministries, along with other pastoral duties
An ordained AP with emphasis on adult education and mission, along with other pastoral duties

The CYMC search committee worked diligently but received only a few applicants. The AP Nominating Committee however connected with several candidates interested in children and youth ministries, so we made this pivot, after consulting our financial picture and praying for God’s guidance.

The new model will cost more, but the Session deemed this a wise and appropriate use of resources for our church. With Madison growing quickly, this seems like an opportune time to strengthen and grow our ministries.

We are grateful for Kathy Mohs’ work as Interim Children’s Ministry Coordinator these past several months, and we wish her well on her next endeavor. Donna Monson will remain on staff in a part time role helping with pastoral care until both AP’s are in place.

The APNC continues to work on the second AP position. Please continue to pray for each other, for our church, and for our world.

Thanks to our Associate Pastor Nominating Committee: Brad Brown, Betsy Erickson, Bret Larget, Brenda Moten, Carrie Sanders, TJ Sargent, and Jenny Von Bergen.

Thanks to our Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator Search Committee: Brad Brown, Sally Lorenz, Arlene Kennedy, Ann Sydnor, Haila Conley, Grady Brown, and Steve Whayland.

I’m very excited about this new chapter for our congregation! May God continue to guide us and lead us.

On the journey together,

Charlie

PS--In compliance with Madison Policie Department recmmendations, we now have large numbers on all exterior doors. These will be helpful in case of an emergency.

We continue working on ways to improve safety and security at Covenant, while also providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

PS#2--I had breakfast this morning with Rev Eric Miller. Eric is a Presbyterian pastor who has been connected with Covenant for about 40 years.

He spends most of his time in Kenya, doing Bible study and leadership development with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. Eric plans to be in worship with us again this coming Sunday. Please say hello, and please keep him and his ministry in your prayers!

In-Person and Livestream worship: 9:30am
Holy Communion
Preaching: Charlie Berthoud | Text: Matthew 5:17
Guest Musicians: The Beltline Bones
Children's Time with Kathy Mohs
Nursery Care (9:15-10:45am)
Kaleidoscope Kids (during worship)
Bradfield Café (10:30-11:15am)
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!

During the summer on Sundays, we will have an arts or crafts display in the gathering space, all original art made by Covenant members. This Sunday, we feature Fiber Friends. Fiber Friends is a group here at Covenant that knits and crochets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month from 10:00-11:30am in the church lounge. They will display some of their work. For more info on Fiber Friends, visit covenantmadison.org/smallgroups.

If you want your art featured on a Sunday this summer, you can sign up here.

Do you play the ukulele? Well join us on Mondays: July 3, and July 10 from 5:30-6:30pm. Bring a ukulele! Music is provided! Contact Melissa Hinz at mhinz@covenantmadison.org if you have any questions.

Traveling this summer? Take a picture (maybe even with your Covenant t-shirt on!) and add it to our map in the narthex. Contact the office if you want to purchase one of the new t-shirts! We ask for $10 just to cover the cost of production, and are available in Covenant mauve, burnt orange, ocean blue, and leaf green.

New this week: Julie Sadowsky, Covenant member; Judy Stevenson, Covenant member.

This week's white rose commemorates the life Mildred Wiegand, friend of Art Kanitz.

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.

(click on the image header for full prayer list on Worship HQ)

Monthly schedule of preachers and sermons is available at covenantmadison.org in the "Next Sunday" box.

Come enjoy some pepian de pollo, empanadas, and other delicious food along with good music at our fiesta after worship on Sunday, July 9! We have six youth and seven adults going to Guatemala on July 31 to serve, learn, and grow. At the fiesta, you'll get to hear a few words from the youth and donate to support the trip if you'd like. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Are you an active-duty service member or veteran? At Covenant, we would like to honor and support you, and let you know that we appreciate your service. Fill out our online informational form. Any info collected here will not be shared outside of staff without your permission. We thank you for your service - and Happy 4th!

Boys & Girls Club of Dane County holds their annual Move‘N’ Groove on Saturday, July 15 and as always Covenant is participating. The Presbywheelians is the team from Covenant that bikes for this fundraiser for BGCDC. Join their team on July 15 for bikes/runs/walks of different lengths. Registration is $45. Click HERE or above to register! You can also support the team financially. The DONATE button is right at the top. Click HERE for detailed instructions on registering vs. donating.

Sunday morning opportunities

We are in need of some help on Sunday mornings!

Bradfield Cafe Volunteer:

Click HERE to sign up!

Greeter & Welcome Center Volunteer:

Click HERE to sign up!

covenantmadison.org