Making Lists and Counting Blessings
Greetings!

I’ve always liked lists. I keep lists on paper and lists on my phone. Some of my lists are:
  • A weekly to do list
  • Movies I want to watch
  • States I’ve never visited (there are five--SC, AL, NM, NV, and OR)
  • Decent red wine for less than $12/bottle
  • People to pray for (that’s a long list)

Here’s a list of my inspiration for lists:

Lists help us think and clarify priorities. Some lists are fun. Some are profound. 

This Sunday, on the first Sunday of Lent, we begin a five-week series on the best-known list in the Bible: the Ten Commandments. (How many commandments can you name? Try making a list right now. Answers below!)
Did you ever notice that the woodwork in our sanctuary reflects the two tablets of the Ten Commandments? We take this list seriously.

On the first Sunday of every month, a worship leader says something like “As forgiven people, as loved people, how then shall we live?”

Then we share the commandments in the form of a future promise:
  • We will have no other gods before God….
  • We will honor the Sabbath as a day of holy rest….
  • We will not commit adultery….
  • We will not covet our neighbor’s things….

The commandments are more than a list of prohibitions. They are guardrails and guideposts for us, to help us continue our journey as God’s people in the right direction. They help us figure out how to live.
Did you know that there are different ways of numbering the commandments? What we consider the first two commandments (“You shall have no other gods before me" and “You shall not make for yourself an idol”) are considered the first commandment in Lutheran and Catholic traditions. In the chart above, we are part of the R (Reformed/Presbyterian) column. Click on the image above to learn more.

If you want to reflect more on the Ten Commandments, check out Adam Hamilton’s book, Words of Life: Jesus and the Promise of the Ten Commandments Today. Click on book cover to learn more.
I’ve been slowly reading a delightful and deep book called MAKE A LIST: How a Simple Practice Can Change Our Lives and Open Our Hearts, by Marilyn McEntyre. She uses "list" as a verb: “I list a lot.”

She writes about making lists: “Every time I make one, I learn something. Things come up. Sometimes it seems that the less I plan or try to foresee what might belong on a list, the more I find out.”

Maybe you want to try making a list and see what happens. McEntyre offers dozens of suggestions. Here are a few of mine:
  • My favorite foods
  • Bible verses that help me (or verses that challenge me)
  • People I miss seeing in person
  • What to do in the season of Lent
  • Pleasant surprises from one year of coronavirus
  • Things that make me smile
The religious leaders asked Jesus which of the hundreds of commandments was most important.

He could have offered a long list. But his list was pretty simple: Love God and love neighbor.

Maybe our to-do lists should always include that simple reminder: Love God and neighbor. That will help the rest of the list take shape.
Last Sunday, we had our congregational meeting, and we shared our traditional "Top Ten Blessings" of the year list.
If you want to see that list and give thanks to God for the blessings in a very challenging year, click on the photo above. Drive Thru Donuts was a big blessing and we're having another round on Sunday, March 7.

I count my blessings regularly in my prayers, and I am definitely blessed to be part of such a great church.

On the journey apart but together,
Charlie
In case you missed the Congregational Meeting...

We had 99 attendees at our Annual Congregational Meeting on February 14! Thank you to Gordon Enderle and Laurie Jones for their hard work putting the financial information together. The meeting Agenda, Narrative Annual Report, Financial Report, Financial PowerPoint, and our special "Top 10 Blessings of 2020" presentation are all available for viewing HERE.
Virtual Lenten Suppers
Wednesdays Feb. 24-March 31
6:00-6:45pm

Join your church family for Virtual Lenten Suppers on Wednesdays during Lent. These Zoom suppers meet from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. and include a short devotion and sharing time.

Of course, it’s bring-your-own-supper! If you’d like to stick with tradition and follow previous Lenten Supper menus, click on the image to the right to see recipe ideas compiled by Covenant Kitchen Manager Mandy Bocanegra! You can click the PDF for links to both "Kid Friendly" and "Something Different" recipe options.
Mission Updates

Lussier Center:
Covenant's February donations to the Lussier Community Education Center weighed 460.75 pounds! The photo to the right was taken on delivery day, showing a very full van! Thanks so much for your support of this vital community organization. Click on the photo to see more photos!
Blood Drive:
A huge, heartfelt thank you to all who braved the subzero temps and COVID to donate blood on Feb. 11. Your selfless act made someone else's life better and may have helped save it. Thank you also to the volunteers who answered the call and helped make the blood drive run smoothly. Thirty-two people arrived to donate, including 4 first-time donors. The Red Cross collected 28 total units—a real success.

Polly Guequierre, Drive Coordinator

Click here to see photos from the blood drive.
Middle and High School Youth Connection

Youth Connection is hitting the hill at Garner Park on Sunday! Bring your own sliding device and a mask. Garner Park is located on Mineral Point Road just west of Whitney Way. It will be good to see people in person!

Middle School Youth Connection will slip and slide from 2:00-3:30.
High School Youth Connection will have some fun from 6:30-8:00.
 
The High School Youth Connection will serve at The River on Friday, Feb. 26. (Madison and Edgewood are off that day.) Contact Youth Ministries Coordinator Steve Royalton for more information: sroyalton@covenantmadison.org.
Adult Ed Sunday, February 21:
Mercy Mats

Mercy Mats, based in the West Allis area, is committed to repurposing plastic shopping bags as a way to care for the environment. The bags are turned into sleeping mats for the homeless community. Donna Reimesch will explain how the group began, their community project, and how it can be replicated in our community (images and further information at (20+) Mercy Mats West Allis | Facebook).
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This class will meet at 10:00 am via Zoom.
Worship Sunday, February 21

  • First Sunday of our Lenten series "How Then Shall We Live?"
  • Pastor Charlie preaching on the 1st and 2nd Commandments: "Seek Ye First," Exodus 20; Matt. 6:24-33
  • Confirmation youth reading scripture
  • Children's Time with Donna Monson
  • Follow our blog to read Pastor Jeff's weekly reflections.

We'd love to see you at the Sunday morning

Let's keep growing the COVID fund!

Our Covid fund helps meet urgent needs in our community throughout the pandemic. Funds raised in 2021 will benefit Porchlight, Friends of the State Street Family, and Cook It Forward Madison.

More info here:
Vaccines are happening!

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

Click the blue box below to view pictures or add your own. For the safety of your personal information, please do not add or submit a photo of your vaccination card (or hide the personal info). Thank you!