PRELUDE: Processional by Martin Shaw
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
HYMN: Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks [Alleluia No. 1]
PRAYER
INTROIT: Covenant Prayer by Karen Marrolli; Miles Mineer, bass
Creator, we belong to you, and you dwell within our hearts. Though the road be rough, we will follow you with the strength your grace imparts. Though we be brought high, though we be brought low, though we journey far from home, let us always seek to grow in love, no matter where we roam. Now let us reach out with loving hands to accept, affirm, embrace every child of God throughout the world and shower them with grace. And let us reach out with grateful hearts and praise our God above through our acts of light and justice as we warm the world with love. Creator, let us understand that our covenant with you is a covenant with humankind to honor and pursue the road of Christ, through the rocky fields, to the broken and unshod. Let us heal with love, for each soul we meet is a precious Child of God.
PRAYER
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Acts 1:4-8
HYMN: Go in Grace and Make Disciples [Wondrous Light]
SERMON: “Seeing Our Purpose”
ANTHEM: God Is Working His Purposes Out by Martn Shaw/arr. by David A. Wehr
God is working His purpose out as year succeeds to year: God is working His purpose out, and the time is drawing near; nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be, when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea. All we can do is nothing worth unless God bless the deed; vainly we hope for the harvest tide till God gives life to the seed; nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be, when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea. March we forth in the strength of God with the banner of Christ unfurled, that the Light of the glorious gospel truth may shine throughout the world: fight we the fight with sorrow and sin to set their captives free, that the earth may be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea. [Arthur Campbell Ainger]
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS
Jill Brock, Armando Cervantes, Paul Cook, Tonya Pearce, Dan Schneberk*, Marilyn Turpin*, Pat Worden and Richard Worden [“*” indicates that unable to attend due to family obligation]
HYMN: I Love to Tell the Story [Hankey]
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Here I Am, Lord by Dan Schutte/arr. by Lloyd Larson
Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. [based on I Samuel 3:1-4]
POSTLUDE: We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations arr. by Robert Powell
The flowers are given today by Karen Kennedy in loving memory of her mother.
Would you like to sponsor flowers for one week for worship? You can place your order for any Sunday throughout 2023 by using this link that takes you to Covenant’s Flowers for Worship form — https://forms.gle/9C98VA1d17SPmTBV8
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