Bulletins - Covenant Presbyterian Church UA

Covenant Presbyterian Church

August 28, 2022 – 10am

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

PRELUDE “He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought” arranged by Hayes

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Candle

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: God calls us to service,

People: rather than honor.

Leader: God call us to love the unknown,

People: rather than the familiar.

Leader: We come to this time of worship,

People: trusting in the grace of Jesus Christ,

Leader: who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

*HYMN 645 “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” (verses 1-4) Ribbon

1 Sing praise to God who reigns above,

the God of all creation,

the God of power, the God of love,

the God of our salvation.

With healing balm my soul is filled,

and every faithless murmur stilled:

to God all praise and glory!

2 What God’s almighty power has made

God's gracious mercy keepeth;

by morning glow or evening shade

God's watchful eye ne'er sleepeth.

Within the kingdom of God's might,

lo! all is just and all is right:

to God all praise and glory!

3 The Lord is never far away,

but, through all grief distressing,

an ever-present help and stay,

our peace and joy and blessing,

as with a mother's tender hand

God gently leads the chosen band:

to God all praise and glory!

4 Thus all my toilsome way along

I sing aloud thy praises,

that all may hear the grateful song

my voice unwearied raises.

Be joyful in the Lord, my heart;

both soul and body, take your part:

to God all praise and glory!

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Cross

Lord, all that we have is a gift from you,

yet we do not live lives of gratitude.

We ignore strangers

and turn away from those in need.

We seek honor for ourselves

and allow pride to take root in us.

Forgive our foolish ways, O God,

and restore us to you,

that we may walk in the way of love. 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.

HYMN #188 “Jesus Loves Me” (verses 1-2)

1 Jesus loves me! This I know,

for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong.

They are weak, but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

2 Jesus loves me! This I know,

as he loved so long ago,

taking children on his knee, saying,

"Let them come to me."

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

TALK WITH CHILDREN

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Cross

THE FIRST READING Proverbs 25:6-7 (CEB)

Holy wisdom, holy word. Thanks be to God.

THE GOSPEL READING Luke 14:1, 7-14 (CEB)

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

PRAYER OF THE DAY †

Inviting God,

laying open your table

to the deviant and deranged,

setting a place

for the foreign and unwanted:

overturn our tables of power

and teach us to receive bread

from strange and wounded hands;

through Jesus Christ, the One given for all.

Amen.

SERMON The Big Table: VIP Seating

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

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

PRESENTATION OF OFFERING

OFFERTORY “Just As I Am” by Craig Courtney

*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 #839 “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine!” (verses 1-3) Ribbon

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

[Refain]

This is my story; this is my song,

praising my Savior all the day long;

this is my story; this is my song,

praising my Savior all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight,

visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

angels descending, bring from above

echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

[Refrain]

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest;

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

watching and waiting, looking above,

filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

[Refrain]

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE Reprise of “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine!”

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

Assisting in Worship Today:

Mary Hoyt Hemmer–Liturgist

Whitney Dodds–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