Bulletins - Covenant Presbyterian Church UA

Covenant Presbyterian Church

The Blessing of the Backpacks

August 14, 2022 – 10am

Covenant is an accepting, welcoming community sharing the glory of God’s love with all.

PRELUDE “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” arranged by Schrader

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Candle

*CALL TO WORSHIP +

Leader: Calling all children of the Living God: the gospel is good news for every age

and every stage.

People: Let us worship together, the young and the old.

Leader: The good news is proclaimed in God’s words, and also with crayons, silly

songs, snacks, and rest time.

People: Let us worship together, every generation.

Leader: We come together with different abilities and disabilities, learning in a rainbow

of ways and styles.

People: Let us worship together, with our family of faith.

Leader: All are welcome in the arms of Christ, who proclaimed, “Let the children come!”

People: Let us worship together, united in our eternal hope.

*HYMN 44 “Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us” (verses 1-4) Ribbon

1 Like a mother who has borne us,

held us close in her delight,

fed us freely from her body,

God has called us into life.

2 Like a father who has taught us,

grasped our hand and been our guide,

lifted us and healed our sorrows,

God has walked with us in life.

3 Though as children we have wandered,

placed our trust in power and might,

left behind our brothers, sisters,

God still calls us into life.

4 When we offer food and comfort,

grasp our neighbor’s hand in love,

tread the path of peace and justice,

God still walks with us in life.

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Cross

Ever-faithful God,

how often we turn away from you,

yet you remain constant to us.

We run from you, but you call us back.

When we dishonor you,

you still profess your love for us.

Forgive our faithless and fickle ways

and increase our gratitude,

that we might grow in faithfulness to you,

for the sake of Jesus Christ,

in whose name we pray. Amen.

(Silence for personal confession)

WORDS OF FORGIVENESS

HYMN #582 “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me” (verses 1-2) Ribbon

1 Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,

and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,

and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

2 World without end, without end. Amen.

World without end, without end. Amen.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Cross

THE FIRST READING Psalm 138 (CEB)

Holy wisdom, holy word. Thanks be to God.

THE GOSPEL READING Luke 11:1-13 (CEB)

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

PRAYER OF THE DAY †

Lord of gifts,

share with us

a hunger for the bread of your kingdom;

give to us

a yearning impatience with injustice;

free us

from clinging to debts gone bad;

teach us

to pray with honesty

in words filled with earth

and lit by desire;

through Jesus Christ, our Jubilee.

Amen.

SERMON The Big Table: Today’s Bread

THE BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS AND THE LORD’S PRAYER +

Congregational response: Loving God, hold us and our prayers.

Our Father who art in heaven… (Hymnal p. 35. We say “debts & debtors.”)

PRESENTATION OF OFFERING

OFFERTORY The Prayer by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster with Italian

Lyrics by Alberto Testa and Tony Renis

*DOXOLOGY #606 Ribbon

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 Cross

*HYMN #547 “Go, My Children, with My Blessing” (verses 1-3) Ribbon

1 “Go, my children, with my blessing,

never alone.

Waking, sleeping, I am with you,

you are my own.

In my love’s baptismal river

I have made you mine forever.

Go, my children, with my blessing,

you are my own.”

2 “Go, my children, sins forgiven,

at peace and pure.

Here you learned how much I love you,

what I can cure.

Here you heard my dear Son’s story;

here you touched him, saw his glory.

Go, my children, sins forgiven,

at peace and pure.”

3 “Go, my children, fed and nourished,

closer to me.

Grow in love and love by serving,

joyful and free.

Here my Spirit’s power filled you;

here my tender comfort stilled you.

Go, my children, fed and nourished,

joyful and free.”

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE Reprise of “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”

† From Prayers for an Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare. New York: Church Publishing, 2009

Assisting in Worship Today:

Jim Hamilton–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