The Lord’s Day in WorshipC O V E N A N T P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H

T h i r d d S u n d a y o f E a s t e rA p r i l 3 0 , 2 0 1 7

The four creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who

sits on the throne and lives from aeon to aeon. This means that

they render or ascribe to Him that which belongs to Him. They

acknowledge that all these things are His, and cannot belong to any

other. They acknowledge Him as God. Hence they do not do anything

which is strange, but that which is natural and self-evident to their

nature as creatures. They do not do anything which is particularly

solemn or festal, but that which is supremely everyday. They do that

which is proper to them and to all creatures from the very first. They

do not know any other creaturely act but that which they fulfil with

the threefold “holy.” To be sure, this is a liturgy, but it is the kind

of liturgy which can find a true correspondence on earth on when

earthly creatures join the heavenly with the same self-evident totality.

—Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics III.3

7 OPENINg HYmN

“Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder”

Let us love and sing and wonder Let us praise the Savior’s name

He has hushed the law’s loud thunder He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame

He has washed us with His blood He has washed us with His blood

He has washed us with His blood He has brought us nigh to God

Let us love the Lord Who bought us Pitied us when enemies

Called us by His grace and taught us Gave us ears and gave us eyes

He has washed us with His blood He has washed us with His blood

He has washed us with His blood He presents our souls to God

Let us sing though fierce temptation Threatens hard to bear us down

For the Lord, our strong salvation, Holds in view the conqu’ror’s crown

He, Who washed us with His blood, He, Who washed us with His blood,

He, Who washed us with His blood, Soon will bring us home to God

Let us wonder grace and justice Join and point to mercy’s store

When through grace in Christ our trust is Justice smiles and asks no more

He Who washed us with His blood He Who washed us with His blood

He Who washed us with His blood Has secured our way to God

Let us praise and join the chorus Of the saints enthroned on high

Here they trusted Him before us Now their praises fill the sky

Thou hast washed us with Thy blood Thou hast washed us with Thy blood

Thou hast washed us with Thy blood Thou art worthy Lamb of God.

Words: John Newton, Music: Laura Taylor ©2001 Laura Taylor Music.

7 CALL TO WORSHIP

Pastor: Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

People: Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

Pastor: The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the LORD, over many waters.

People: The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

Pastor: The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;

the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

ALL: May the LORD give strength to His people!

May the LORD bless His people with peace!

Psalm 29:1-4; 10-11

7 PRAYER OF INVOCATION

O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in

the breaking of bread: Open, we pray, the eyes of our faith, that we

may behold him in all his redeeming work; through the same, your

Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the

unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, bow and forever. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer

7 SECOND HYmN

“Come Ye Sinners”

Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched, Weak and wounded, sick and sore;

Jesus, ready, stands to save you, Full of pity, joined with power.

He is able, He is able;

He is willing; doubt no more.

Come ye needy, come, and welcome, God's free bounty glorify;

True belief and true repentance, Every grace that brings you nigh.

Without money, without money

Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden, Bruised and broken by the fall;

If you tarry 'til you're better, You will never come at all.

Not the righteous, not the righteous;

Sinners Jesus came to call.

Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream;

All the fitness He requires Is to feel your need of Him.

This He gives you, this He gives you,

'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.

Lo! The Incarnate God, ascended; Pleads the merit of His blood.

Venture on Him; venture wholly, Let no other trust intrude.

None but Jesus, none but Jesus

Can do helpless sinners good.

Words: Joseph Hart Music: Matthew Smith ©2000, detuned radio music (ASCAP).

OLD TESTAmENT READINg

Isaiah 6:1-7

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon

a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the

temple. 2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with

two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and

with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!

4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him

who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5And I said: “Woe

is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in

the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the

King, the Lord of hosts!”

6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a

burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7And

he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your

lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

CONFESSION OF SIN

Pastor: Thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits

eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy

place, but also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of

the contrite.”

Isaiah 57:15

ALL: Almighty God, you have raised Jesus from the grave

and crowned him Lord of all.

We confess that we have not bowed before him

or acknowledged his rule in our lives.

We have gone along with the way of the world

and failed to give him glory.

Forgive us and raise us from sin,

that we may be your faithful people,

obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who rules the world and is head of the church, his body. Amen.

7ASSURANCE OF PARDON Pastor: “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him

and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, creating

the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace to the far and to the near,”

says the LORD, “and I will heal him.”

Isaiah 57:18-19

The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and

remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of

life, and the grace and consolation of His Holy Spirit.

ALL: Amen.

HYmN OF RESPONSE AND gIVINg OF FIRST FRUITS

“Come Ye Souls By Sin Afflicted"

Come ye souls by, sin afflicted,

Bowed with fruitless, sorrow down;

By the broken, law convicted,

Through the cross, behold the crown;

Look to Jesus; Look to Jesus; Look to Jesus;

Mercy flows through Him alone.

Take His easy, yoke and wear it;

Love will make your, obedience sweet;

Christ will give you, strength to bear it,

While His grace, shall guide your feet

Safe to glory, Safe to glory, Safe to glory,

Where His ransomed captives meet.

Blessèd are the, eyes that see Him,

Blest the ears that, hear His voice;

Blessèd are the, souls that trust Him,

And in Him, alone rejoice;

His commandments, His commandments, His commandments

Then become their happy choice.

Sweet as home to, pilgrims weary,

Light to newly, opened eyes,

Like full springs in, deserts dreary,

Is the rest, the cross supplies;

All who taste it, All who taste it, All who taste it

Shall to rest immortal rise.

Look to Jesus; Look to Jesus; Look to Jesus;

Mercy flows through Him alone.

Words: Words: Joseph Swain (alt Twit). Music: Kevin Twit ©2013 Kevin Twit

Music (ASCAP).

RECOgNITION OF RUF mINISTERS AND INTERNS

Reverend Walt Davis

samford university

Reverend Tom Franklin

birmingham-southern college

George Hamm

university of louisville

Reverend Daniel Hightower

jacksonville state university

Reverend Les Newsom

midsouth area coordinator

Reverend Wes Simmons

auburn university

Reverend Stewart Swain

university of alabama

Reverend Kevin Twit

belmont university

Reverend Adam Venable

university of alabama at birmingham

b

Tim Grider

intern,

samford university

Josh Harper

intern,

erskine college

Jeremy Shank

intern, smu,

ruf international

Daniel Tortorici

intern, university of

south carolina

RECOgNITION OF SENIORS

Daniel Edward Alonso

Mississippi College

Emilie Kathryn Alonso

Mississippi College

Ansley Oxford Balogh

Auburn University

Madeline Elizabeth Brown

Auburn University

Katherine Alatia Butler

University of Mississippi

McKenzie Boyce Couch

University of Alabama

Virginia Foster Farrar

Mississippi State University

William Lewis Gurner III

Auburn University

Sarah Grace Hayes

Mississippi State University

Anna Pierce Hogewood

Wake Forest University

Sophie Caroline James

Auburn University

Abigail Northington Jenkins

Auburn University

Kate Emily Jessup

Auburn University

Elizabeth Gibson Johnston

Auburn University

Elizabeth Ingram Link

Laboratory Institute of Fashion College

Robert Allen Jackson Luke

Washington and Lee University

Duncan Taylor Morris Junior

United States Naval Academy

Caroline Grace Parker

University of Alabama

Maxwell Edward Parker

Hendrix College

Gracie Elizabeth Powell

Auburn University

William Thompson Robinson

University of Mississippi

Barbara Grace Tortorici

Mississippi State University

FINANCIAL UPDATE through April 14, 2017

GENERAL FUND GIVING (180 commitments totaling $2,299,030)

Budget Receipts Expenses

$961,285 $752,150 $941,198

2017 Operating Surplus/(Deficit): ($189,048)

2017 Operating Reserve: $145,683

2017 Line of Credit: $0

FAITH PROMISE GIVING (66 commitments totaling $176,860)

Budget Funds Received Funds Disbursed

$45,081 $69,984 $45,081

FAITH PROMISE RESERVE: $79,083

If you have questions regarding the budget, please contact Marty Crawford

in the church office or members of the Joint Finance Committee:

Ty Dedmon Lee Sheppard

Gary Gorham Todd Sitton

Merrill Johnston Darrell Tucker

Mark Miller John Wood

Pledges (252 commitments): $3,506,682

Receipts: $2,637,346

Funds from sale of building: $1,987,385

Total funds provided: $4,624,731

Funds used for debt: ($1,983,644)

Funds available: $2,641,087

Costs to date: ($2,522,934)

Net funds available: $118,153

7 PASSINg OF THE PEACE

Pastor: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

People: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Greet one another with words of peace and reconciliation such as

those above.

PREPARATION FOR COmmUNION

The “passing of the peace” precedes the Lord’s Supper as a liturgical reminder

of our unity as members of Christ’s body. 1 Corinthians 11:18-19 implores us

to not let factions and divisions remain in our midst. Thus, the peace calls us

to move toward our brothers and sisters as Christ moves toward us.

All who are united in Christ Jesus by faith and are baptized, communing

members of His visible Church are invited to come to the Lord’s Table. If you

are not communing but would like to participate, come forward and fold

your hands, and you will receive a prayer of blessing from the server.

mINISTRY ANNOUNCEmENTS Visitors, please take a moment to fill out the attendance cards

located in the pew racks.

You may read all of our ministry announcements on page 14.

Children are dismissed at this time.

mINISTRIES AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Children's Worship Information. Following the Sunday morning worship service, parents will find their children attending Children's Worship in the following rooms: 3K b C224 (available for the entire worship hour) 4K b C221 (available for the entire worship hour) Kindergarten b C227 (dismissed during the worship hour) 1st through 3rd grades b C316 (dismissed during the worship hour)

Today's guests. Please welcome all of our guests today serving with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). Les Newsom, RUF Midsouth Area Coordinator, is our guest preacher today, and Kevin Twit, RUF Campus Minister at Belmont University and founder of Indelible Grace, is leading us in worship.

Officer Nominations. Please take a moment to submit nominations for the offices of Deacon, Elder, and Trustee, and also for our Nominating Committee (class of 2020). There is a form at the back of our Worship Guide, or you may visit covpres.com/nominations.

New members' Class. Our next new members' class is scheduled for Sunday, May 7, at 11:30 a.m. in the Dining Room. This is a time to learn about Covenant's beliefs and mission from our pastors. Lunch will be served, and nursery childcare will be available for children ages 5 and under. Please email Victoria Williams if you are interested in attending (vwilliams@covpres.com).

Celebration Stories. Ladies, join us May 9 at 11:00 a.m. in the Dining Room for a time to hear from the women of Covenant about the truths they have learned through the Bible Studies they have been involved in over the past year. This is an encouraging time as women share their hearts about what God has shown them through study and fellowship.

VBS: Wild, Wild West. Join us in the Wild, Wild West June 12-15! Email Laura Tucker (ltucker@covpres.com) if you would like to teach, decorate, and more. It's gonna be a wild time following Moses through the wilderness while he experiences God's faithfulness and power. VBS is for ages 4k-4th grade and is Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m-12:00 noon. You may register for VBS at covpres.com/summer-programs.

THIS WEEK AT COVENANT: April 30-may 6, 2017

SUNDAY, April 309:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

mONDAY, may 18:15 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, may 35:30-7:00 p.m.6:00-7:15 p.m.7:30-8:45 p.m.

Gathered Worship (Sanctuary)Children's Worship | 3 years through 3rd gradeSunday School for all ages and stages(RUF Ministers and Interns will be sharing in classes)

Women's Prayer Time (E305)

Women's Study: From Garden to Glory (E303)Choir RehearsalMusicians' Rehearsal

Should you need pastoral assistance after our regular office hours, please contact our pastor on call at 205-874-3559 (Marty Crawford, May 1-7).

mORNINg PRAYER AND LORD'S PRAYER

And so Lord, we pray as Christ taught:

ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in

heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us

our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into

temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the

kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.

gOSPEL READINg

Revelation 4

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven!

And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a

trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take

place after this.” 2At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne

stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3And he who sat

there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around

the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the

thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with

golden crowns on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of

lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the

throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven

spirits of God, 6and before the throne there was as it were a sea of

glass, like crystal.

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living

creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7the first living creature

like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living

creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like

an eagle in flight. 8And the four living creatures, each of them with

six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night

they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!”

9And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and

thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and

ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated

on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They

cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

mORNINg mESSAgE

rev. les newsom

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11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created.”

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

gOD WELCOmES US TO HIS TABLE

INVITATION

The Apostle's Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;

he descended into hell;

the third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church;

the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;

the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.

Amen.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Mark 14:22-25

PRAYER OF HUmBLE ACCESS

ALL: We do not presume to come to this your Table, O merciful

Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your

manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much

as to gather up the crumbs under your Table, but you

are the same Lord whose property is always to have

mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the

flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His

blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by His

body and our souls washed through His most precious

blood, that we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us.

Amen.

CONSECRATION OF THE ELEmENTS

Celebrant: Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon

us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine,

that the bread we break and the cup we bless

may be the communion of the body and blood

of Christ. By your Spirit make us one with Christ,

that we may be one with all who share this feast,

united in ministry in every place. As this bread

is Christ’s body for us, send us out to be the body

of Christ in the world.

*If you desire gluten free bread, please walk down the center aisle, either upstairs or

down, and the server will provide it accordingly. Congregation will sing the printed

hymns during Communion.

HYmNS FOR THE EUCHARIST

“Christ is Made the Sure Foundation”

For the bread which you have broken,

For the wine which you have poured,

For the words, which you have spoken,

Now we give you thanks O Lord.

By this pledge that you do love us,

By your gift of peace restored,

By your call to heaven before us,

Sanctify our lives O Lord.

With our sainted ones in glory,

Seated at our Father’s board,

May the Church that waits now for Thee,

Keep love’s tie unbroken Lord.

In your service Lord defend us.

In our hearts keep watch and ward.

In the world where’r you send us,

May your kingdom come O Lord.

Words: Louis Benson Music: Kevin Twit © 2009 Kevin Twit Music (ASCAP)

“Be Thou My Vision”

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,

Thou mine inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High king of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

High king of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Words: Charitie Lees Bancroft. Music: Vikki Cook, 1997 Sovereign Grace Worship

(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing (IM)).

7 BENEDICTION

STAFF CONTACT INFORmATION

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Bill Boyd, Senior Pastor bboyd@covpres.com

Rick Barnes, Director of Musical Arts rbarnes@covpres.com

Marty Crawford, Church Administrator mcrawford@covpres.com

David Driskill, Director of Ministries ddriskill@covpres.com

Dan Edwards, Pastor to Children and Families dedwards@covpres.com

Scott Leveille, Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor scottleveille@gmail.com

Ingram Link, Director of Women's Ministries ilink@covpres.com

MINISTRY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Jami Bennett, Director of MDO and Nursery Ministries jbennett@covpres.com

Caleb Blow, Director of Jr. High Ministries cblow@covpres.com

Austin Braasch, Student Ministries Intern jabraasch129@gmail.com

Katie Caldwell, Director of Design and Production kcaldwell@covpres.com

Meg Cotney, Financial Secretary mcotney@covpres.com

Rachel Davis, Assistant Director of Girls Ministries shields.rachel.c@gmail.com

Katie Flores, Director of Pre-School Ministries kflores@covpres.com

Phyllis Hamm, Assistant to Director of Ministries phamm@covpres.com

Bill Hay, Pastor Emeritus bhay@covpres.com

Sara Litten, Director of Girls Ministries slitten@covpres.com

Stacey Loyless, Director of Communications and Media sloyless@covpres.com

Traci Parker, Director of Food Services tparker@covpres.com

Tyrone Perry, Facilities Manager tperry@covpres.com

Josh Harper, Audio/Visual Director joshua.harper@ruf.org

Brooke Stewart, Covenant Day School Director bstewart@covpres.com

Karan Stuart, Receptionist kstuart@covpres.com

Laura Tucker, Ministry Assistant, Children & Families ltucker@covpres.com

Victoria Williams, Pastoral Assistant vwilliams@covpres.com

RULINg ELDERS

DEACONS

2017

Lee Baker

Aaron Coffey

Paul Darden

John Gant

Jonathan Gidley

Grant Haines

John James

Stephen Mince

Carey Rome

Steve Stigler

2018

Brandon Bishop

Nathan Collums

John Harrelson

Randall Lancaster

Matt Searson

Patrick Strong

Darrell Tucker

2019

Jim Bennett

Gary Gorham

Keith Harrelson

Jeff Hayes

Steve Killgore

Steve Pfitzer

Brent Powell

John Shank

Todd Sitton

William Slappey

2017

Paul Loyless

Russell Martin

Mark Miller

Norman Pless

Charlie Regan

Lee Sheppard

Mark Taylor

2018

AC Frese

Eric Getty

John Hamilton

Daniel Murray

Warren Norville

Jason Peevy

Ben Walker

Clay Wheeler

Charles White

2019

Ty Dedmon

Jeff Dyess

Rick Flynn

Heath Henderson

Tom McKnight

John Smith T

Richard Thompson

All 2017 officers are set to roll off and must be nominated again to be considered for

another term. We encourage all officers to take one year off after serving two consecutive

three-year terms.

DAILY WORSHIP RESOURCES

These readings are provided as a personal, family or group worship resource. Use them along with your worship guide as resources for readings, prayers and hymns. Set in the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), a schedule of daily Bible readings in accord with the Church year, these scripture readings are designed around a three-year cycle that will take you through the Old Testament once, the New Testament twice, and the Psalms frequently.

SUNDAY, THE LORD’S DAY • THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Morning Psalm 148, 149, 150 Daniel 4:1-18 John 21:15-25

Evening Psalm 114, 115 1 Peter 4:7-11

mONDAY

Morning Psalm 25 Daniel 4:19-27 Luke 4:14-30

Evening Psalm 9, 15 1 John 3:19-4:6

TUESDAY

Morning Psalm 26, 28 Daniel 4:28-37 Luke 4:31-37

Evening Psalm 36, 39 1 John 4:7-21

WEDNESDAY

Morning Psalm 38 Daniel 5:1-12 Luke 4:38-44

Evening Psalm 119:25-48 1 John 5:1-12

THURSDAY

Morning Psalm 37:1-18 Daniel 5:13-21 Luke 5:1-11

Evening Psalm 37:19-42 1 John 5:13-21

FRIDAY

Morning Psalm 105:1-22 Daniel 6:1-15 Luke 5:12-26

Evening Psalm 105:23-45 2 John 1-13

SATURDAY

Morning Psalm 30, 32 Daniel 6:16-28 Luke 5:27-39

Evening: Psalm 42, 43 3 John 1-15

SUNDAY, THE LORD’S DAY • FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Morning Psalm 63, 98 Joshua 4:19-24, 5:1-9 Matthew 7:15-29

Evening Psalm 103 1 Peter 5:1-11

A member of the Presbyterian Church in America | PCA

65 Old Montgomery Highway | Birmingham, Alabama 35209

205.871.7002 | www.covpres.com

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