Covenant Presbyterian Church 9:30 a.m. Austin, Texas February 4, 2018

PREPARATION

PRELUDE Lift High the Cross Charles Callahan

WELCOME Please sign the friendship register at this time and pass it down the row, then return it to its original position, noting the names of those worshiping with you. At the conclusion of the service, take time to greet one another in the name of Christ.

PRAISING GOD

*CALL TO WORSHIP from Psalm 18

Leader: The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. People: The one in whom I take refuge. Leader: My shield and my stronghold. People: The one who is worthy to be praised. All: Let us praise the Lord!

*HYMN OF PRAISE Lift High the Cross Hymn 287

CALL TO CONFESSION Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ (stanza 1) Hymn 475

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

(silent confession…) Our Father, we confess that we have a great need to be loved; so great a need that no human person or earthly thing can possibly fill it. We bring this need to one another, in marriage, in families, in friendships, and still we are half empty. In our emptiness we become disillusioned, then desperate, and ultimately cynical. Forgive us for expecting others to provide what only you can. Only you can love us fully, without reservation. Enable us in faith to be open to your love for us in Christ. Let it be a great experience in our hearts. Let it drive out every fear and anxiety, that we may live in love and love in life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

RESPONSE Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ (stanza 2) Hymn 475

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE AND PARDON

*RESPONSE TO OUR FORGIVENESS Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ (stanza 3) Hymn 475

PASSING OF THE PEACE As we are forgiven and reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, let us be reconciled to each other by sharing a sign of Christ’s peace.

OFFERING OF OUR LIVES AND GIFTS

OFFERTORY

*DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow Hymn 34 *PRAYER OF DEDICATION

MINISTRY OF THE WORD

SCRIPTURE I Corinthians 13:1-8a New Testament, page 934

SERMON LOVE IS… Thomas Daniel Love and Truth * Those who are able, please stand

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

HYMN OF RESPONSE O God, We Kneel Before Your Throne KNOLLCREST FARM Please stand for stanza 4 The Sanctuary Choir Roy Hopp

COMMUNION LITURGY

INVITATION PRAYER OF PREPARATION WORDS OF INSTITUTION

COMMUNION ANTHEM The Hour of Banquet and of Song based on PENITENTIA The Sanctuary Choir hymn tune Edward Dearle (1806-1891) setting by Howard Helvey Hear, O my Lord, I see thee face to face; here would I touch and handle things unseen; Here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace, and all my weariness upon thee lean.

This is the hour of banquet and of song; this is the heavenly table spread for me; Here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong the brief, bright hour of fellowship with thee.

Too soon we rise; we go our several ways; the feast, though not the love, is past and gone, The bread and wine consumed, yet all our days thou still art here with us – our shield and sun.

Feast after feast thus comes and passes by; yet, passing, points to the glad feast above, Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy, the Lamb’s great marriage feast of bliss and love; Horatius Bonar (1808-1889), based on Revelation 19:6-9

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

*THE LORD’S PRAYER (Sung) Albert Hay Malotte

*RECOGNITION OF NEW MEMBERS

*BLESSING

*POSTLUDE Grand Chorus Theodore Dubois Assisting in Worship Jon Wasson at 8:15, 9:30, and 11:00, Jill Williams at 11:00 and 11:05

Lay Liturgists – Mike Austin at 8:15 The Sanctuary Choir – Tom Brown, director Organist – John Schmidt

Daniel Izquierdo preaching at 11:30 at Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada en Luyanó (our sister church in Cuba) Thomas Daniel preaching at 11:05 in the Contemporary Worship Service

The flowers in the sanctuary are given to the glory of God.

New Members - Kay Arms, Kim Belew, Jason Belew, Mary Jane Berry, Jon Berry, Ann Burns, Eddie Burns, Jordan Cain, Wheeler Cain, Laura Dixon, Jim Eskew, Kristine Eskew, Debbie Fincher, John Fincher, Jane Harris, John Harris, Philip Lewis, Erica Mann, Tyler Mann, Fred Masoni, Christian Meyer, Mike Meyer, Katie Netherton, Beau Osborne, Karen Osborne, Gary Pelphrey, Ruth Pelphrey, Royce Poinsett, Cora Rodenbusch, Will Rodenbusch, Sandra Segrest, Geneva Ross Encouraging one another to follow Jesus wherever we live, work, and play.

COVENANT GROUPS LENTEN STUDY – New groups will form for Lent and will engage in a six-week book study. The book, “The Me I Want to Be” is available for purchase on the patio today. Registration is underway. To learn more, go to covenant.org/covenantgroups or contact Kathryn Sedberry at ksedberry@covenant.org.

JAZZ SUNDAY – 9:30 and 11:00 worship services on February 11 plus Jambalaya Lunch served after both services on the patio (donations will be welcomed).

Tom Brown, the Sanctuary Choir, and the GraceNotes Ensemble will be joined by a stellar group of Austin jazz players to lead worship. The band will play additional music on the patio at noon.

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES – February 14 at noon and 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. A light lunch will be served in FE 200 after the noon service. Covenant will also impose ashes at its weekly Service of Morning Prayer on Wed. at 7:00 a.m. in FE 100.

For more information about events at Covenant, please see Covenant Matters.

NEW TO COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH?

Welcome! We are thankful you have chosen to worship with us today! Please introduce yourself by signing the red welcome booklet in each pew. Find out more about our community at the turquoise table on the patio following the service. Our prayer is that Covenant becomes your second family. We want you to feel comfortable here and hope that we can help you find ways to grow in your faith. For more information about Covenant’s many groups, programs and events, contact Amy Skaggs at askaggs@covenant.org. Amy is eager to meet and discuss ways of connecting. You can also find out more by visiting our website at covenant.org.

Four services of worship are offered each Sunday — 8:15 a.m. (a traditional communion service), 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (traditional services) and 11:05 a.m. (contemporary service). A shuttle service carries worshipers from the parking lot at the Texan Eye Center at 5717 Balcones Drive at Northland Drive, two blocks west of campus. Shuttle service runs from 7:55 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

COVENANT PRAYS

Prayers of celebration and joy: Brooke-Marie Taylor Tenscher, born January 16. Parents are Haley and Ryan Tenscher. Grandparents are Jennifer and Ryan Palm.

Prayers of sympathy and support: Jean and Don Zappone, family and friends, on the death of Jean’s mother, Evelyn Laza Hejl, on January 9.

Prayers for recently hospital ized: Tony Moreno, Eleanor Hurst.

Prayers for: Don Jones, Carole Johnson, Richard Sale, Jeanette Robbins, Riley Furlong, Rebekah Urban, Chuck Barnette, Lee Terrell, Erin Young, Tana Taylor, Mary Katherine Keller, Theo Fisher, Ed Pierson, Matt Blitch, Jim Clayton, Caroline Booth, Nancy Prideaux, Kristen Johnson Franklin, Nancy Spencer, Mary Carruth, Bob Stokes, Beth Lewis, Jacob Rodehaver, Marvin Cressman, Bridget Lonseth, David Phinney, Betty Andrews, T.J. Chapman, Kathy Shook.

Prayers for people serving in our country’s armed forces: Lt. Will Beckham, USAF 2LT Gonzalo Hernando, USMC 1st Lt. Katherine Ashton, USA Pvt. Jessica Choe, USA 2LT Ben Smith, USN LCDR Bryan Gunkel, USA Col. Janet Riley, USAF Lt. Katy Deiters, USAF A1C Taylor Cotham, USA Maj. Seth Pruett, USA Capt. Matt Irwin, USN LCDR Austin Wade Latour, USAF Lt. Col. Joseph Chennault, USA SFC Kevin Guy.

Prayers requested by our sister church, Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada en Luyanó, in Havana Cuba: Prayers for Manuel Pérez-Cubas, (Dania’s brother); for Lisbel; and for Yaneli’s family on the passing of her mother (Yadira’s and Yamila’s grandmother) on January 21. Praises and prayers of thanksgiving for missional outreach to our communities in Austin and Luyanó in the Spirit filled partnership between our loving and faithful congregations. ¡Gracias a Dios!

Prayers requested by the Mission Committee: Community First! and Thais and Doug Kilday.

Prayers requested by the Session: God, help us to make love an action verb. Help us to show agape love to you and to our neighbors.

Although prayer requests will be removed from this listing after three weeks, please contact Kay Austin in the church office, 512 334-3030, or kaustin@covenant.org, if prayer continues to be requested.

Recycling containers for this publication are available in the Narthex.