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For Wisconsin, 2023 is the Year of Mental Health, according to Gov Tony Evers. Good for him for spotlighting this issue. We need to acknowledge the reality of mental illness and find ways together to work for mental health.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, 19% of U.S. adults experience some form of mental illness. That’s one out of five people. And beyond that, as far as I can tell, a majority of people are just weary of the stress of politics, Covid concerns, and the long grey days of winter here in Wisconsin.
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I’ve seen this meme making the rounds on social media among several friends and given the “likes” and affirming responses, it seems a lot of us are struggling. Below are some small steps toward taking care of ourselves.
If you need help, please reach out. Family and friends are almost always a good source of support and encouragement.
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If you’re in a rut, connect with other people. We need each other. Church is one of many great places to connect—with small groups, music groups, mission projects, serving coffee on Sunday mornings. While you may be needing connection with others, it’s likely that someone else will be blessed by your presence.
Breathe. Just sit for a few minutes and take some deep breaths. “Be still and know that I am God” says the psalmist.
Kindness. Be kind to yourself if you’re in a rut. “It’s OK not to be OK” as we’ve told each other the past few years.
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Move around and get outside if possible. With very cold weather here, we need to be careful about going outside, but wherever you are, you can move around. Even tapping your toes or making arm circles is good. And if you can’t get outside, look out the window. Enjoy the snow. Look for a bird. Imagine what the view will be like in a few months with trees budding, flowers growing, and grass turning green again. | |
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Like pretty much everyone else, I love sunshine and blue skies, so the past week or two has been rough here in Madison, and the forecast doesn’t look much better.
Remember, even on cloudy and snowy days, the sun is still shining. Even in the times when life is hard and God seems far away, God is still with us.
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"Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
--Joshua 1.9
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Speaking of the sun, as we continue with our Creation Care series, we celebrate the five year anniversary of our solar panels next month. Click on the chart below to see more info about how much energy the panels have provided for us. | |
According to our solar panel report, January is the least sunniest month of the year, so we can look forward to sunshine in the next few months. Hang in there! | |
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On the journey together,
Charlie
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PS - One other way to brighten our lives is with flowers. We like to have beautiful flowers in front of the sanctuary. You can give those in celebration or in memory of someone, and we put that info in teh bulletin. Sign up on the list by the sanctuary or contact the church office. Cost is $75 and you get to take the large bouquet of flowers home after worship. | |
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PS #2
Christian Century, one of my favorite magazines, has compiled a variety of articles on climate change, while also providing a list of further reading, and suggestions for congregational action.
To get a copy, click on the windmill image.
If you're looking for a monthly journal of Christian thought on the world, I recommend subscribing to CC.
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Last week, we informed you of Jo Wiersema's decision to leave her position here at Covenant and pursue a part-time student pastor position at a local small church. Jo’s last Sunday is February 19. Though we are very sad to see Jo go, we are excited that Kathy Mohs will become our Interim Children’s Ministries Coordinator starting in early February.
Kathy grew up at Covenant as a participant in Sunday School and youth group, so she knows our church culture well. She will be helpful to us in this transition time. Kathy is thrilled to be back at Covenant, fulfilling the role of Interim Children’s Ministries Coordinator! She has sung at Covenant numerous times and has had positions at various other churches as well. She was most recently the Assistant Music Director at Christ Lutheran Church in Stoughton, WI. She is a voice and piano teacher as well. She taught at the Stoughton Center for the Arts for 17 years and is now at the Monroe Street Arts Center as a voice and piano teacher as well as a Certified Music Together teacher. Kathy and her husband Omar Lopez have one son Micah, who is in 2nd grade at Anana Elementary.
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In-Person and Livestream worship: 9:00am & 11:00am
- Jo Wiersema preaching: "Taking Charge" (Genesis 1:24-26)
- Music from New Day Ensemble, Ben Welch, Covenant Chancel Choir, and Doug McNeel
- Children's Time with Nick and Brooke Von Bergen
- Kaleidoscope Kids worship education (9:00am only)
- Sunday School from 10:00-10:55am
- Nursery Care (8:45am-12:15pm)
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Visit our Worship HQ for everything you need to worship with us online!
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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! | |
Join us Sunday at 10:00am for the class “Matthew 25 (Part 2)” led by Monica Mark. Not long ago, Covenant became a Matthew 25 church. Join us for part 2 of this Bible study (from the Fall) in which we will read and reflect on the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 25), which is the inspiration for the PC(USA) Matthew 25 vision. With that scriptural grounding, we will also consider and discuss what it means for Covenant to be a Matthew 25 church. | |
This sermon series ties in so deeply to our mission here at Covenant… We are approaching the 5-year anniversary of installing our solar panels (which you will see as you leave the sanctuary right outside the gathering space windows), and conversations are being held in order to install electric car charging stations in our parking lot, as well as a BCycle station being installed on our street corner in the more distant future. More information to come on all of this! | |
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Creation Care: A Scholarly Overview
This week's Midweek Musings is unique. A very balanced overview on Creation Care submitted by an anonymous contributor. We are glad you have joined us on this journey to realize what is at stake, and discover what our role is in it all. Click on the image above to read this week's blog.
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Join us for our annual Heifer Celebration at Covenant Presbyterian Church! Help the children of Covenant raise money for Heifer International by gathering spare change around the house, write a check, or give online. There will also be treats and games! | |
We are collecting clementines in February! The Mission Committee collects fresh fruit for Glenn Stephens Elementary School so every student has a healthy snack. If you would like to join in this fruit collection, please bring a bag (or two) of clementines to the gathering space at church on February 5. Thank you! | |
Save the date for this celebration, when you can offer best wishes to Jo Wiersema in Bradfield Hall and have a piece of cake! She has been a huge blessing in her time at Covenant as Children’s Ministries Coordinator (and now Ministry Associate for Children, Family & Youth), and we will miss her. She will remain a member of Covenant, under care of John Knox Presbytery in the process leading to ordination. | | | | |
