Greetings!
The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker is a fascinating and engaging book about enhancing anything from a birthday party to a huge conference to a Thanksgiving dinner to a neighborhood picnic to university seminar to a funeral.
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Chapter titles include
- Decide why you’re really gathering
- Create a temporary alternative world
- Never start a funeral with logistics
- Accept that there is an end
Click on the image to learn more about the book. I really enjoyed it.
I’ll admit it seems a strange book to read at a time when we cannot gather together in person. But I’m confident that sometime in 2021 we’ll be able to be together in person, and I want to be ready.
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Until then, we will gather in spirit and through technology. I want to encourage you to think about two special gatherings coming up:
CHRISTMAS EVE: In addition to our two pre-recorded services (the family-oriented pageant early service and the music prelude and more traditional service), we’re going to have a Zoom gathering on Christmas Eve at 7pm!
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I will be in the sanctuary along with Melissa Hinz (Music Coordinator) and Doug McNeel (Organist). We’ll share some scripture and music, and we’ll light candles as we sing Silent Night “together.” We’ll celebrate the birth of Jesus, the good news of great joy for all the people, and we’ll wish each other “Merry Christmas.” The zoom link will be available soon.
DISCIPLE Class: Do you want to start 2021 with a commitment to reading the Bible and growing spiritually? This 12-week DISCIPLE class may be for you.
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We’ll gather for one hour on Wednesday evenings via Zoom, and in between participants will read and reflect on the New Testament, with weekly themes like: Good News, Least, Life, Power, Sacrifice, Victory, and Ministry.
Together we’ll grow in biblical knowledge and practical Christian living, encouraging and supporting each other in the process.
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Our Christmas gatherings won’t be the same this year, but we can still connect with each other in a variety of ways: phones, email, video chat, and prayer! And thankfully God stays connected with us, through Jesus, the one who promised to be with us always.
On the journey, apart but together,
Charlie
P.S. Click the photo below to reminisce on Christmas Pageants past!
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Some Covenant Elves Are Dropping By...
A group of Covenant elves has been very busy putting together a special Christmas surprise.
Sometime in the next few days, Covenant members can expect a knock on the door. We have a small gift box for you!
Merry Christmas!
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Please try to send in your pledge cards (or simply call the church office with the information) as soon as possible!
We have received 184 commitment cards totaling $834,681 (combined operating and per capita totals). Thank you, Covenant!
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Donate here with the designation "Christmas Eve Mission Offering."
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You can support PC(USA) church leaders and communities of color through the PC(USA)'s Christmas Joy Offering (click here to learn more).
The Christmas Joy Offering is one of four special offerings of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The others are:
Donate here with the designation "Christmas Joy Offering."
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Support our community partner, GatherX!
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Reflect on hope, peace, joy, and love while coloring with these awesome coloring sheets from Illustrated Ministry! Click here for the PDF: Advent Words
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Get in the Christmas spirit by celebrating and singing Christmas hymns with us! Follow our Carol-a-Day series through our YouTube playlist or through Covenant's Facebook page!
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Soul Sisters Small Group
Soul Sisters, a women's fellowship group that meets once per month, will gather remotely again this Sunday, December 13th. The Zoom gathering will begin at 7:00 pm. The Zoom link is sent out on the day of the gathering, so your name and email address is needed for this invitation. Contact Nan Schaefer if you would like to be added to the mailing list. All Covenant members and friends are welcome!
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Hat & Mitten Tree THIS WEEK! Dec. 6-13
Covenant member Anita Landry is 91 years old and has been knitting since she was 7. She has been very busy knitting mittens for Covenant's Middle School Youth Connection's annual Hat & Mitten Tree. Since 2008, she has knitted 800 pairs for this cause. That was not a typo. EIGHT HUNDRED pairs of mittens! She drops a friendly note into each pair, and the photo below shows a note mentioning that it's her 800th pair.
The bottom photo shows 50 pairs of mittens, along with 7 hats and 10 headbands. She also made 40 pairs of mittens for Middleton Outreach Ministry in October.
We can't thank her enough for all the warmth and love she has given our community and our church. Much love to you, Anita!
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The Hat & Mitten Tree, sponsored by MSYC, benefits the children clients of The River Food Pantry.
• Donations of new hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves will be collected the week of December 6-13.
• Donations may be brought to the church and placed in the blue bin under the overhang. This bin will be checked daily and donations will be hung on the tree just inside the doors.
• Contact Youth Ministries Coordinator Steve Royalton if you need to make special arrangements for a front porch pick-up during the week.
Thank you for helping to keep our neighbors warm!
MSYC & HSYC
Middle School Youth Connection will Zoom on Sunday at 4:00 and High School Youth Connection will Zoom at 6:30. The high school youth will be shopping for Christmas gifts for children and youth clients of The River Food Pantry on Sunday at 1:00 at Target Hilldale. Funding comes from the most recent “Trash & Treasure Sale.” Contact Steve Royalton for more info.
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10:00 Sunday morning Adult Ed
You're also invited to check-in at 1:00 pm M-W-F via Zoom with Jeff Fox-Kline for short, weekly Acts of Advent activities. On Mondays we'll be journaling, on Wednesdays we'll have scripture readings, and on Fridays we'll share a prayer together: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82345355509
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Covenant will once again be offering a special virtual afternoon gathering where, together, we will remember those things that are heavy on our hearts: the loss of loved ones, the loss of opportunities, the shifting of hopes and dreams. We will give thanks for the strength and support we have in each other and in Jesus Christ.
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Worship
Sunday, December 13
- Third Sunday of Advent
- Lighting the Candle of JOY (the Schmidt family)
- Children's Time by Jeremy Schroeder
- Sermon series: "REDISCOVERING CHRISTMAS: Who Is Jesus?"
- Jeff Fox-Kline preaching on Matthew 1: 20-21 and Luke 2:10, "Jesus is Savior"
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Follow Pastor Jeff's reflections on the Advent sermon series on Covenant's blog! Click HERE.
We'd love to see you at the Sunday morning
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