Covenant phone lines are down. Repairs are scheduled for Monday morning. If necessary, contact staff via email or cell phone, or on Covenant Facebook page. 

We are collecting apples this Sunday, October 2, to provide a healthy snack for the kids at Glenn Stephens Elementary. Please bring in a bag or two--we need 600 apples! And we need a few people to help wash and organize the apples at noon on Sunday. 

Hello, Bailey-

It’s a hard time for kids and teens in the world today.

After 2.5 years of Covid stress and isolation, things are not magically “back to normal.” For adults, Covid has been a few rough years out of our many years of adulthood. But for young people, a large chunk of their formative years was massively disrupted.

We need to do all we can to help support kids and organizations that work with kids. Today, I celebrate three ways we at Covenant are supporting kids and youth.

1) Mission dollars to RISE

Formerly known as the Center for Families, RISE helps with early childhood care, mental health support, and crisis services. I got to visit their building on Fordem Avenue this week, as part of a Downtown Rotary group. 

I was impressed with the staff and facility. Some of the money you give to Covenant goes to RISE through our mission budget. Thank you! Click on the photo of the Respite Center to see more.

2) Partnership with Glenn Stephens Elementary School

Two weeks ago, we shared snacks for the teachers; see photo below. This Sunday, we’re collecting apples for the kids; see info above. And dozens of Covenant people will be penpals with students this year.  

Over the years with Stephens , we’ve also helped with funding for the playground and support for clothes and food for families and more.

3) Our own children and youth ministries

On Sunday morning, our Sunday School helps kids grow in faith. On Sunday afternoon/evening, our youth are gathering for faith, fun, and fellowship. We have kids singing in worship this Sunday in the Celebration Choir, and youth will be throwing a neighborhood wide Halloween Party for children at the end of October.

"Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ…. Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all…."

-from Galatians 6

Your prayers, dollars, involvement, and encouragement help make these and other efforts possible. In Jesus Christ, God calls us to love one another, to bear one another's burdens. Let us not grow weary in doing what is right and what is needed, especially for kids and youth. Thank you.

On the journey together,

Charlie

• World Communion Sunday! 
• Charlie Berthoud preaching "What Happened to the Jebusites?" (Genesis 15:17-21)
• In-Person and Livestream worship: 9:00am & 11:00am
• Music from guest organist Gary Lewis, Celebration Choir, New Day Ensemble, and Ben Welch
• Church Matters sharing time by Melissa Schmidt
• Special PC(USA) Offering - Peace & Global Witness (more below)
• Children's Time with Nick & Claire Von Bergen
• Nursery Hours: 8:45am-12:15pm
• 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!

Join us for Adult Ed Sunday at 10:00am in Bradfield and via Zoom. Sunday’s class is Racism and Poverty, led by guest speaker Justine Rufus. As a continuation of our learning and living as a Matthew 25 congregation, Justine will join us virtually to discuss the challenges that structural racism and systemic poverty pose to tribal communities. Justine Rufus is a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, is Co-Chair of the Wisconsin Task Force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. She is also the Rural Coordinator at Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Grab some coffee and join us!

All Adult Education classes take place in Bradfield Hall and are available via Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/j/89540028471. Please visit covenantmadison.org/adult for more info.

This Sunday, we are receiving PC(USA)’s Peace & Global Witness Offering. Through this special offering, congregations are encouraged and equipped to find and address the anxiety and discord that is prevalent throughout this broken and sinful world. 25% of funds received will go to Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS), a Covenant mission partner. To learn more about this offering, click HERE. To give to this offering, click HERE. Or give in person on Sunday!

"God of all creation is what they call you. Could you have really created this awful place? Are you proud of it?"

A little bit of a different Midweek Musings this week! A fictional account of Hagar praying to her Creator God. Hope you can take a few minutes to pause and reflect today. Click above for this week's Midweek Musings, "Hagar's Prayer" by our own Jo Wiersema.

Racists Anonymous Fellowship has a new book study coming up on the book

How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith. This study lasts 6 weeks and is on Zoom only. Contact Jennifer Morgan to get the link! For more info on RAF, visit covenantmadison.org/raf.

Tailgate - 5:00pm  |  Game - 7:00pm

Join us for a Covenant tailgate before the UW Men's Big Ten Soccer game against Michigan! For the tailgate, bring a snack to share and your own beverages. We will provide games, tables and service ware, you provide the fun! A great event for ALL ages! And it is FREE - there is no entrance fee for the game or parking. Further details to come!