Hello, Bailey-

What a blur this program year has been! Maybe that’s just me, but I’m in awe that it’s already mid-May and we are celebrating our Sunday School teachers this weekend. While it’s easy to think about seed and tree metaphors when thanking our Sunday School teachers because the work they do every week really is planting seeds that will hopefully stick with our children and them as we all continue to grow and bloom. I think it’s very fitting that we are celebrating our children’s musical and Sunday School time on Pentecost Sunday. 

Pentecost is the Sunday in our liturgical calendar when we celebrate the Holy Spirit descending upon the disciples in Acts 2, empowering them (and us!) to go out and proclaim the good news to all people. It’s a big scene of rushing wind and dancing flames and the ability for all of them to speak in new ways and hear one another. 

Often when we talk or think about the Holy Spirit, we say things like “how is the Spirit moving you?” or “see how the Spirit is moving in this place, with these people.” The Holy Spirit is often associated with these very action-oriented thoughts and expressions. So what could be more appropriate for celebrating the end of this program year than reflecting on how the Spirit has moved among us this year?

As I reflect on my first Sunday School season with you all, I am keenly aware of how beautifully the Spirit is moving in this space and through you all. Some of my highlights of this year are when the children’s choir learned to sing and sign Here I Am, Lord, when we celebrated Heifer Sunday, and recently when the 4th and 5th graders left notes of encouragement for us to find. By the way, have you seen these letters that say “open”, you should open one! 

So as we celebrate Pentecost, our Sunday School year, and worship together with our children and youth presenting their "Faith News" Musical, I hope you can feel the Holy Spirit stirring within this space and within you, moving you towards your next steps on this journey of faith. 

Grace and Peace, 

Megan

• In-Person and Livestream worship: 9:30AM (ONE SERVICE)
• "Faith News" Children & Youth Musical
• Pentecost Sunday
• Thank You to Sunday School Teachers
• Text: Acts 2:17, 21
• Music: Doug McNeel, organist; Jenn Sauer, vocalist; Sunday Schoolers
• NO Kaleidoscope Kids
• Nursery Care: 9:15-11:45AM (note different hours)
• Sunday School Celebration: 10:30-11:30AM
• 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!

PLEASE NOTE: This Sunday (May 19) will be the last official Youth Connection gathering until the Fall.

We are receiving the Pentecost Offering from May 5-19. This special offering is one of the four special offerings of the PC(USA), and is a church-wide effort to support and inspire young people. Covenant’s Mission Committee has chosen Bikes for Kids Wisconsin (formerly Free Bikes 4 Kidz) to receive 40% gifts received. The remaining 60% goes to the PC(USA). Visit covenantmadison.org/pcusaoffering for more info or to give.

Covenant’s Racist Anonymous Fellowship (RAF) continues well into it’s 4th year of weekly Zoom meetings. With our 12-step program and relevant book studies, we have been preparing our hearts and minds for the work of anti-racism and one of the Matthew 25 foci: dismantling structural racism. Click here to learn more.

If you are interested, please contact Jennifer Morgan to receive the weekly emails. Anyone is welcome at any time!

New this week:

Rodney Peterson, friend of Sally Lorenz; Sandi & Brian Thompson-Royer, Covenant Friends; Bill Blewett, brother of Tom Blewett; Haty Rotberg, sister of Friedemarie Farrar; Troy Griswold, nephew of Lori Voss.



This week's white rose commemorates the life of John Navis, brother of Gary Navis and cousin of Ken Joosse, Dennis Joosse, and Margie Coons.

This week's red rose celebrates the birth of Noah David Brown, son of Sawyer and Betsy Brown and grandson of Brad Brown and Maribeth Gettinger.

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.

Bradfield Café Volunteer

Greeter & Welcome Center Volunteer

Young Professionals! Join us for trivia, food, spirits, and good fellowship at Brass Ring (701 E Washington) on Thursday, May 23. Trivia starts at 7:00, but feel free to come early for dinner with Pastors Jess & Megan (6:15ish). Questions? Contact Pastor Jess.

Our May Spiritual Stroll will be held at Holy Wisdom Monastery and led by Peggy Donahue. These strolls are part of CONNECT, a program of deacon-sponsored events with the intention of fostering connection between Covenant and the community. Spiritual Strolls are on the 4th Sunday of the month and we visit a different green space every month.

"Come on, children, to the Gospel Feast!" Children ages 4-11 are invited to this year's Vacation Bible Camp, hosted by Covenant Presbyterian Church and Bethany United Methodist Church. This year's theme is BREAD. Register below!