Covenant Presbyterian Church
September 4, 2022 – 10am
Covenant is an accepting, welcoming community sharing the glory of God’s love with all.
PRELUDE “When in Our Music God is Glorified” arranged by Limbaugh
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Candle
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Rejoice with me, people of God.
People: God has gathered us in from the wilderness.
Leader: Rejoice with me, people of God.
People: God has swept away the darkness of the night.
Leader: Rejoice with me, people of God.
People: Today, there is joy in the presence of the angels.
*HYMN 667 “When Morning Gilds the Skies” (verses 1-4) Ribbon
1 When morning gilds the skies,
my heart awaking cries:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer
to Jesus I repair:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
2 Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
3 Let earth's wide circle round
in joyful notes resound:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Let air and sea and sky
from depth to height reply:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
4 Be this, while life is mine,
my canticle divine:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this the eternal song
through all the ages long:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION Cross
Creator of the universe,
we imagine that we are in familiar territory,
that we know what to expect of this hour,
that we will leave much the way that we came.
Do not abandon us to our foolishness.
In judgment, illumine our darkness.
In mercy, bear us home—
until we recognize your presence wherever
evil is confronted,
truth is spoken,
and life is restored.
(Silence for personal confession)
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS
HYMN #447 “We are Forgiven!” Ribbon
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.
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!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
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!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
TALK WITH CHILDREN
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Cross
THE FIRST READING 1 Timothy 1:12-17 (CEB)
Holy wisdom, holy word. Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL READING Luke 15:1-10 (CEB)
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY †
God of the dirtied hands,
the wandering feet;
you seek out the lost
before ever they turn to you:
take us with you
into the abandoning places
to find a new community
outside our fortress walls;
through Jesus Christ, the Searching One.
Amen.
SERMON The Big Table: Resentment or Rejoicing
SPECIAL MUSIC “A Woman and a Coin” by Fred Kimball Graham and Jarosalv Vajda
PRESENTATION OF OFFERING
OFFERTORY “Share Your Faith” by Don Phillips
*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
THE LORD’S SUPPER
See the back page of the hymnal
SPECIAL MUSIC “All Belong Here” by the Many
*HYMN #749 “Come! Live in the Light!” (verses 1-3) Ribbon
1 Come! Live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called
to be light for the kingdom,
to live in the freedom
of the city of God.
Refrain:
We are called to act with justice;
we are called to love tenderly;
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.
2 Come! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called
to be hope for the hopeless
so hatred and violence
will be no more. (Refrain)
3 Sing! Sing a new song!
Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign,
and we’ll walk with each other
as sisters and brothers
united in love. (Refrain)
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Reprise of “Come! Live in the Light!”
Unless otherwise noted, prayers in this service are reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word® Worship Companion. Copyright 2012.
† From Prayers for an Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare. New York: Church Publishing, 2009
Assisting in Worship Today:
Linda Gabel–Liturgist
Brian Gray–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
