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If you have not been into the sanctuary in person to see the first seven restored clerestory windows that have been reinstalled, the Building Committee urges you to come during Sunday morning service or during our hours of Open Sanctuary. They are simply spectacular. Two more windows will be reinstalled within the next two months.

As an alternative, we now have six videos on Covenant's website at https://www.cotcbos.org/building-videos.html:

1) a COTC Virtual Tour with our Open Sanctuary Tour Guide Simone DeVito

2) the Historic New England Webinar Opalescent Glass Treasures with our stained glass artisan Roberto Rosa

3) a visit to Serpentino Stained Glass Studio with Roberto discussing the restoration of the Angel and Cornelius window

4) a time-lapse video showing the reinstallation of the Angel and Cornelius Window

5) shots of the Tiffany Sanctuary with Tom Handel playing the organ

6) a new video entitled “Renew the Light,” with Reverend Rob discussing our art and mission.

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Diane Lauber Doherty reports she had a fabulous 11 days in Iceland with her family in July. "Since Jim and I celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary on June 21, and since next year Josh will graduate from University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Jon will graduate high school, and who knows where they will end up, it seemed an important time to take a trip all together.

"I suggest anyone who owns a home should look into homeexchange.com or lovehomeswap.com for a wonderful way to travel. We used homeexchange.com, and did not do a direct exchange, but were able to stay in a fantastic house outside Reykjavik. We hiked all over. Iceland is an unbelievably gorgeous country, just over five hours direct flight from Boston, cool, clean, and English easy. Their electricity is 70% hydroelectric, 30% geothermal. Everyone has a hot tub. It was never dark the whole time we were there. Ask me for more details and to see our photos of the stunning landscapes!"

On July 19, Liz Vizza had the pleasure of traveling with a KingBoston delegation to Walla Walla, Washington, to visit the foundry that is creating The Embrace monument to Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King, to be unveiled on the Boston Common on MLK Day, 2023. It’s the biggest piece by weight that the foundry has ever fabricated—40,000 pounds of bronze and steel in 609 pieces that are being welded together and will be driven cross country in five trucks. Here she is pictured with KingBoston Executive Director Imari Paris Jeffries, next to a hand of Dr. King.

Our beloved sibling and COTC member Phyllis Galt moved from Cambridge Homes to Connecticut in mid-July to be closer to her family. Phyllis has moved to Waterstone on High Ridge Assisted Living at 215 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT 06905, Room #457, a few miles away from some beloved cousins. The main number is 475-400-9200. We will miss

Phyllis here in the Greater Boston area, but remain deeply connected. Phyllis grew up in the Stamford CT area, and attended First Presbyterian Church there—a church we have helped already re-connect her with. All are welcome to drop Phyllis a card, as this would make her day!

Each Sunday in Covenant worship, we remember and hold in our hearts our sibling community in Dulce Nombre in rural Nicaragua. What does it mean to be holding worship at the same time as these long-time siblings, and what does it mean when each year we celebrate World Communion Sunday and imagine faith communities around the world engaging in worship. We often have strong common practices: reading and reflecting on the same scripture, singing songs that have a voice all over the world. But the differences in our worship also reflect some of the differences in our experiences and in our lives.

Here are two photos Dulce Nombre and Covenant share through WhatsApp on a recent Sunday, July 24. What do you see in these two photos? What are you curious about? What can you imagine that our Nicaraguan siblings are curious about as well?

Council approved calling a congregational meeting on September 4, 2022, immediately after worship service, for the purpose of extending the term of the half-time designated Associate Pastor by two years starting on September 15, 2022, and to approve the terms of call.

Report from the Pastor - Wednesday Evening weekly prayer with Newton Presbyterian continues to go well. New banners designed and two in place. Attended rally for Eco-Justice with Barbara Darling at Statehouse. Attended GBIO clergy caucus and GBIO Action.

Climate Jubilee Centered Innovative Outreach - Several recent events received positive energy—Two Adult Eds: Democracy and Climate and Heat Pumps/Electrification in Homes, Herring Pond Wampanoag Workday, Mass Power Forward Statehouse event, Summer Solstice Evensong, and the Arboretum Jaunt. To celebrate the Harvest Moon, a plant-based potluck will be held on September 11. Food will be on tables in Berkeley Street vestibule and people will flow to steps and sidewalk. It will also be held for those on Zoom to share a meal and talk. In August, we encourage Summer Jaunts for individuals and groups wherever they traverse. We are asking people to take pictures and write up a few notes. An adult Ed on 9/25 will be held to share these stories and pictures. The Fall Equinox is Thursday, September 22, at 6:41 pm. We agreed to hold another event - details TBD.

Building Committee - Clerestory windows—the seven restored windows on the Newbury Street side have been reinstalled and look wonderful. The eleven alley-side windows have been removed and temporary windows are in place. The alley windows are in better shape than the Newbury ones, though still in critical condition. The cost per window has gone up to $40,580 from $38,991 for the Newbury ones. There has been no further word on the Women’s Lunch Place’s landscaping plans. New air handler for Gallery NAGA will be installed this month. Plumbing of small bathroom at top of stairs in front foyer had to be redone, costing $1600. No further word on cost of elevator repair.

Committee on Youth and Children’s Education - We will take up the search for a childcare provider in the fall

2       Melissa Morgan

6      Nancy Hollomon

11    Mark Huston

21    Mary Goward Robinson

26    Harry Forsdick

31    Walter Moczynski

If your August birthday does not appear above, please hit Reply and notify us so we can include you next year!

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Editor and Graphics: Evelyn Kimber 

Deadline for the September 2022 Covenant News is Friday, August 25. Please email your submissions to Evelyn Kimber at [email protected].