Hello, Bailey-

Please remember: You don’t have to give up cookies, or caffeine, or social media to be a good Christian. But it does help if you engage in some sort of disciplined practice during this season, so over these five weeks we are encouraging you to consider at least one of five practices or disciplines: 

Last Sunday, we turned our focus on prayer.



When people tell me they don’t know how to pray (and I hear this a lot!), I offer suggestions and in one way or another say: Pray as you can, not as you can’t. Here are a few of the many ways to connect with God in prayer:

• You can pray with the Lord’s prayer, or any written prayer; here are daily prayers.
• You can use the Presbyterian Daily Prayer app
• You can sit in silence, just focusing on a word or phrase, like “peace” or “guide me”
• Pick a psalm (try 23 or 27 or 100) and let that be your prayer

I’m a big fan of simple prayer, especially the Help-Thanks-Wow model from Ann Lamott. The idea is simple. Ann Lamott wrote many years ago that her two favorite prayers are:

• Help me, help me, help me
• Thank you, thank you, thank you

Lamott later added the prayers of “Wow!” and wrote a delightful book called: Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers.

Megan spoke about simple prayer in her excellent sermon last Sunday, and Jess led us in a wonderful simple prayer exercise on Wednesday evening, giving us the chance to offer our prayers in these three categories, along with “Sorry” on post-it notes. 

Here are a few samples of our collective simple prayers:

THANKS

• Trees and birds
• The ability to learn
• Family, friends, water, food, and shelter
• Our church

SORRY

• Being quick to judge
• Not taking time to pray
• Messing up our planet
• I might not have been there when needed

WOW

• Sandhills cranes
• The birth of a baby
• Sunsets
• I have the grace to change

HELP

• Our leaders to work for peace
• Purge stuff
• Find courage to do the right thing
• Please heal and comfort my mother

I hope these examples will inspire you to make your own list and explore simple prayer, as another way to connect with God and grow as a Christian.

On the journey together,

Charlie

We had fun strolling through Hoyt Park last Sunday. Originally, this was supposed to be "Stroll & Sled" (combination of Spiritual Stroll and annual sledding party). Then Mother Nature took away our snow, but we had a great time anyway... and look at that view! Click on pic to see more!

• In-Person and Livestream worship: 9:00AM & 11:00AM
• "The Discipline of Discipleship" Sermon Series
• LISTENING | Preaching: Charlie Berthoud | Text: Mark 1:35-39
• Music (9:00): New Day Ensemble (Ben Welch, leading)
• Music (11:00): Covenant Handbell Choir (Melissa Hinz, leading); Doug McNeel, organist
• Children's Time with Megan Berry
• Nursery Care: 8:45AM-12:15PM
• NO Kaleidoscope (Communion Sunday)
• Bradfield Café: 10:00-10:45AM - coffee and donuts!
• 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!

This Lent, we are reflecting on five Christian practices to help us become more faithful Christians and followers of Jesus. Sermons will present biblical foundations, and (along with Adult Ed and Lenten Suppers) will offer ways to implement practices, with the goal of a deeper faith.



Click below for everything you need to know about Lent at Covenant.

Join Adult Education Sunday at 10:00am for this series called “Practice Spiritual Disciplines.” We will be using the Follow Me curriculum that focuses on biblical practices for faithful living. Each week, facilitators will lead a conversation and/or have participants reflect on a specific spiritual practice. Each class stands alone so participants do not need to have attended a previous class to join in.

This Lent, come join us for supper, fellowship, and worship in Bradfield Hall. Supper and fellowship time starts at 5:30pm and at 6:15pm, we move into a time of intergenerational and casual worship together. All are welcome to attend dinner and/or worship. Please RSVP below. Though RSVP’ing is helpful, it is not required. We ask $5 for suppers, but it’s FREE for first-timers! Note: Lenten worship on Wednesdays will not be livestreamed.

Click on the photo to see more from our first two Lenten Suppers!

Join this new book club that meets on the 1st Sunday each month! Join us as we read and discuss A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. Each month, we discuss an essay from this book. In March, we will look at the second essay. Questions? Contact Melissa Hinz.

Covenant Church has been diving into what it means to be a Matthew 25 Church. Part of that effort has been our ongoing Racist Anonymous Fellowship, which continues weekly via Zoom, 7:00pm Thursday evenings (no meeting on Maundy Thursday). Click HERE or above for more info on RAF and info on upcoming book studies, including one coming up in April!

New this week

Naomi J. Stark, friend of Carol and Jim Ruhly

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

Feel free to bring a friend as we enjoy a time of good food and warm fellowship! Cook something at home, or pick up something at your favorite grocery store or restaurant to share. Beverages, plates, and utensils will be provided. Our guest speaker will be Sarah Day, who will share about her life as an actor.

Every year, children, youth, and adults from Covenant serve at Feed My Starving Children in Verona. FMSC is a Christian non-profit organization committed to feeding God’s starving children hungry in body and spirit. We have over 20 spots yet to fill. Sign up at below! This event is ages 5 and up. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. CLICK HERE to see some pics from last year's FMSC.

Women of Covenant are invited to Soul Sisters! Nan Schaefer will lead our discussion: “What does being a Matthew 25 congregation mean to you?” Please bring a lunch for the first part of the meeting! Soul Sisters is a group of women who gather on the 2nd Sunday monthly for discussion and Bible study. Contact Barb Eikenberry for more info or to join the mailing list.

Mark your calendars! On Sunday, March 17, we will be holding an installation service for our Associate Pastor for Mission, Spiritual Care, & Growth Jess Scholten! Light refreshments will be provided afterward.