Covenant Presbyterian Church
Fifth Sunday in Lent
April 3, 2022 – 10am
Covenant is an accepting, welcoming community sharing the glory of God’s love with all.
PRELUDE “Variations on Aberystwyth” arranged by Linker
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: May we find courage here—
People: courage to follow our call, courage to live out our faith.
Leader: May we find hope here—
People: hope for a better world, hope that refuses to let us go.
Leader: May we find truth here—
People: truth that lives in sacred community, truth that lives in ancient stories.
Leader: May we find all that we seek.
People: And in our seeking, may we know God. Amen.
*HYMN #664 “Morning Has Broken” (verses 1-3)
1 Morning has broken
like the first morning;
blackbird has spoken
like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing
fresh from the Word!
2 Sweet the rain's new fall
sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall
on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness
of the wet garden,
sprung in completeness
where God's feet pass.
3 Mine is the sunlight!
Mine is the morning,
born of the one light
Eden saw play!
Praise with elation;
praise every morning,
God's re-creation
of the new day!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Jesus of Nazareth,
we admit that often we tuck our faith into our pockets, hiding in a place of comfort rather than proudly declaring: yes we are Christian, yes we believe, yes this faith has changed me. We are so afraid of offending others or embarrassing ourselves that we have established rules: no faith at the dinner table, no faith in politics, no faith with strangers. Forgive us for whispering when we could be singing. Forgive us for staying quiet when we could be part of rewriting the narrative. We want to be brave. We want to pour out perfume over your feet. These things we pray, amen.
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS
Family of faith, hear this good news:
Even in our silence, God loves us.
Even in our fear or shame, God chooses us.
Even when we sin, God wraps us in grace.
You are free—to be bold, to be brazen, to be exactly who God called you to be.
Thanks be to God, amen.
HYMN #447 “We Are Forgiven”
We are forgiven. We are forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.
We are forgiven. We are forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.
PASSING OF THE PEACE The peace of the Lord, be with you all. And also with you.
HYMN #188 “Jesus Loves Me”
TALK WITH CHILDREN
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
THE GOSPEL READING John 12:1-8
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY †
Extravagant God,
lavishing your love
on our poverty of heart:
inspire us to give without stint,
to lose life
that we might find it again,
so the world will be filled
with the fragrance of your love;
through Jesus Christ, who offers himself for us. Amen
SERMON “Full to the Brim: Brazen Acts of Beauty”
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
I believe in beauty—
beauty pulled into being by our Creator,
beauty that catches our breath,
beauty that turns us toward awe.
I believe in courage—
courage to believe,
courage to stand up for the people we love,
courage to love without hesitation.
I believe in the Holy Spirit
who prays for us when we cannot,
who is brave for us when we are not.
I believe in Jesus Christ
who stood up for Mary,
who quieted the voice of critique,
who welcomed every bid for relationship.
I believe in God.
I believe in God who believes in us. Amen.
INTRODUCING THE BATTISTONE AND MCALISTER FAMILIES
PRESENTATION OF OFFERING
OFFERTORY "And Can It Be?" by Dan Forest
*DOXOLOGY #606
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
HYMN #368 “We Fall Down” (2x) Ribbon
We fall down;
we lay our crowns
at the feet of Jesus:
the greatness of
mercy and love,
at the feet of Jesus.
And we cry holy, holy, holy.
And we cry holy, holy, holy.
And we cry holy, holy, holy
is the Lamb.
THE LORD’S SUPPER
See the back page of the Hymnal
*HYMN #201 “A Prophet-Woman Broke a Jar” (verses 1, 3, 4)
1 A prophet-woman broke a jar,
by Love’s divine appointing.
With rare perfume she filled the room,
presiding and anointing.
A prophet-woman broke a jar,
the sneers of scorn defying.
With rare perfume she filled the room,
preparing Christ for dying.
3 Though woman-wisdom, woman-truth,
for centuries were hidden,
unsung, unwritten, and unheard,
derided and forbidden,
the Spirit’s breath, the Spirit’s fire,
on free and slave descending,
can tumble our dividing walls,
our shame and sadness mending.
4 The Spirit knows; the Spirit calls,
by Love’s divine ordaining,
the friends we need, to serve and lead,
their powers and gifts unchaining.
The Spirit knows; the Spirit calls,
from women, men, and children,
the friends we need, to serve and lead.
Rejoice, and make them welcome!
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Reprise of A Prophet-Woman Broke a Jar
Unless otherwise noted, prayers in this service are by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
† From Prayers for an Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare. New York: Church Publishing, 2009
Assisting in Worship Today:
Terry Kennedy Mancini–Liturgist
Jason Guthrie–Vocalist
Cherie Brooks – Director of Music & Technology
Katie Wynkoop–Organist/Pianist & Assistant Director of Music
Erin Wise – Director of Children’s & Youth Ministries
Brian Biller – Media Production Specialist
Rev. Joel A. Esala – Pastor
Brazen Beauty
by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity
Inspired by John 12:1-8
Acrylic on raw canvas with digital drawing
