Covenant Presbyterian Church

First Sunday in Lent

February 26, 2023 – 10am

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

PRELUDE           “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” arr. Rouse

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Candle

CALL TO WORSHIP  

Leader:  Listen!

People:  There is hope to be found here.

Leader:  Listen!

People:  God calls you by name here.

Leader:  Listen!

People:  There is love that abides here.

Leader: This world is full of chatter, so may we do our best to listen.

People:  God is speaking.

Leader:  Let us worship.

*HYMN #166 “Lord, Who throughout These Forty Days”  (verses 1-4) Ribbon

1 Lord, who throughout these forty days 

for us did fast and pray,

teach us with you to mourn our sins 

and close by you to stay.

2 As you with Satan did contend

and did the victory win,

O give us strength to persevere, 

in you to conquer sin.

3 And through these days of penitence, 

and through this Passiontide,

yes, evermore, in life and death,

O Lord, with us abide.

4 Abide with us, till when this life 

of suffering shall be past,

an Easter of unending joy 

we may attain at last.

CALL TO CONFESSION 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION 

Holy God,

Too often we treat your Word like a radio station—something we can tune in and out of when it’s convenient. Our minds are full of ads, emails, news updates, and notifications. In the midst of this clutter, we tend to gravitate toward the voices that think like us—easily ignoring the voices being silenced, easily ignoring your voice. Forgive us for failing to listen. Forgive us for getting caught in distractions. Forgive us for forgetting what your voice sounds like. Drain the distractions from our minds and help us turn once again toward you. With earnest hearts we pray, amen.

WORDS OF FORGIVENESS 

I am loved!

I am loved!

I am held in grace!

I am held in grace!

I belong to God.

I belong to God.

Amen.

HYMN #581 “Glory Be to the Father” Ribbon

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen, amen.

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 Cross

THE FIRST READING Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 (NRSVUE) 

We live not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God. Thanks be to God.

THE GOSPEL READING Matthew 4:1-11 (NRSVUE)

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

PRAYER OF THE DAY †

Spirit of the desert, 

you drove Jesus 

to the edge of the world

to find his truth and calling: 

scour our hearts 

and awaken our hunger 

that freed from empty clinging 

we might find ourselves in you; 

through Jesus Christ, the Lord of the wilds. 

Amen.

SERMON “Seeking: Who Will You Listen To?”  

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

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

SPECIAL MUSIC “Land of the Seeking”

MINUTE FOR MISSION Welcoming and Inclusion Taskforce

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING

You can give online to Covenant by scanning this QR code

OFFERTORY               “I Surrender All” arr. Hayes

*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 “Who Will You Listen To?”   (verses 1-3) Ribbon

1 The voices from the past

That echo through our minds

Like noisy ghosts haunt and harass 

With words unkind

Who will we listen to?

Lies that bind and abase?

Or God who counters words untrue 

With words of grace?

2 Society demands

We always strive for more

Accumulating wealth and land

And leave the poor

Who will we listen to?

The tempter’s jealousy?

Or God’s provision and pursuit 

Of equity?

3 A rushing flood of hate

In news we often see

Conceals God’s kingdom in a great 

Cacophony

Who will we listen to?

The chaos all around?

Or God’s dream of a world made new 

Where love abounds?

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE           Reprise of “Who Will You Listen To?”

Unless otherwise noted, prayers by Rev. Sarah A. 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:

Adrienne Wise–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

“Tune In”

by Lisle Gwynn Garrity

Inspired by Matthew 4:1-11

Silk painting with digital drawing and collage