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Covenant-First Presbyterian ChurchOur mission is to praise the Father, proclaim the Son,and submit to the perfecting power of the Holy SpiritApril 26, 2026 ·10:30 AM WorshipCovenant-First Presbyterian Church · 717 Elm Street · Cincinnati, OH 45202covfirstchurch.org · office@covfirstchurch.org · 513-621-4144

Welcome to Covenant-First Presbyterian ChurchWhether you attend Covenant-First Presbyterian Church on a regular basis or are here for the firsttime, we are glad you are here. Covenant-First Presbyterian Church was founded in 1790, and hasbeen a part of downtown Cincinnati ever since. Our almost 2,000 pound tower bell is from thePaul Revere Foundry in Boston, and first rang from the steeple of one of our earliest buildings.This building was completed in 1875, and the Austin Pipe Organ dates to 1915, with itsapproximately 3,500 pipes. We have traditional worship with Bible-based preaching each week.Our music program is enhanced by our Music Scholar program and we are excited to have themlead in worship most Sundays. If you need help with directions to restrooms, the fellowship hall, or to the lower level nursery, theperson who greeted you this morning will be glad to help you. Children and worship We delight in children, and your children are always welcome to stay with you in worship. However,if you would prefer nursery care for your infants and toddlers, we do have a professionally staffednursery in the lower level. We invite children ages 2 years to 5 years to participate in Junior Church.If your child wants to participate in Junior Church, you may escort them to the lower level duringthe singing of the Doxology. You may then pick your child up following the service from thedownstairs classrooms. Validated Parking Validated parking is available in the 222 W. 7th St. Garage. Validation is done using your car’slicense plate number. Please locate a greeter to complete the validation process which requires yourlicense plate number. Fellowship Time After worship, we invite you to gather with us in Metzger Hall for a reception featuring coffee,treats, and encouraging conversation. Many of us travel from a distance to join together in worshipon Sunday mornings, and we find this weekly fellowship time to be a valuable and enriching timefor us to catch up and meet new people. Please join us! About us If you are interested in learning more about Covenant-First Presbyterian Church, see your morning greeter, help yourself to any of the literature located on the back tables, contact the church office at513-621-4144, or visit our website at covfirstchurch.org.

Service for the Lord’s DayPre-Service Music Fantasie in C Major (excerpt) César Franck Christie Lee, Organ ScholarConcerns of the Congregation Rev. Dr. Dan TurisCall to Worship Zach Burnham One: Come, former enemies and current strugglers; the Jesus who tackled Saul in blinding grace still specializes in wrecking resistance with mercy. Prelude Heut’ triumphieret Gottes Sohn, BWV 630 J. S. BachChristie Lee, Organ Scholar Ringing of the Revere Tower BellLet the ringing of the bell call our attention away from ourselves and onto the living Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.*Hymn #22 Stand Up and Bless the Lord *Invocation Zach Burnham All: Lord Jesus, pursuing shepherd, you do not wait for enemies to wander home; you go after them on their angry roads. Gather us in your surprising kindness. For thosewho feel too far gone, make Damascus shine. For those who feel “good enough,” expose the deeper rescue we need. Turn this room into holy ground where old identities fall, and new names are spoken. *Prayer of Confession Rev. Dr. Dan TurisAll: God of scandalous grace, we confess our inner Saul. We may not breathe murderous threats, but we often breathe quiet contempt—toward enemies, toward “those people,” sometimes even toward ourselves. We classify some as beyond yourreach and ourselves as beyond serious critique. We forget that, as Charles Spurgeonsaid, “If any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse thanhe thinks.” Our pride resists being knocked down so you can raise us up. Forgiveour self-righteousness, our loveless labels, and our lack of faith in your power totransform anyone. *Moments of Silent Confession

*Assurance of Pardon Rev. Dr. Dan TurisOne: Hear the gospel: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—not the mildly misguided, but enemies. On the cross, he took the place of Sauls and self-righteous Sauls-in-training rising, he turned persecutors into preachers and rebels into sons and daughters. If he can rewrite Saul’s story, he can certainly rewrite yours. In Christ, your record is cleared, your status is changed, your future is re-scripted. You are forgiven, reconciled, and, like Ananias said to Saul, you are now “Brother, Sister” in the family of God. *Gloria Patri Glory Be to the FatherGlory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, isnow and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Anthem Come Follow MeCovenant ChoirTake up your cross and follow. Come, faithful seeker of the light, my voice is calling in the night. Walk with me; I’ll be your guide. Follow me. Come weary pilgrim, take my hand. I’ll lift you up and help you stand. All who seek the promised land, follow me, come follow me. All who hunger, all who suffer, all who sorrow, all who would be free, follow me. The path is steep, the road is long, but with my love I’ll keep you strong; then my grace will leadyou home. Come follow me. Come follow me, O faithful one, until the final race is won, until the great Amen is sung! Follow me, come follow me, until the great Amen is sung! Follow me, come follow me. I am theway, the truth, the life. Follow me. Prayers of the PeopleLord’s Prayer All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will bedone, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts,as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Forthine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. Call for the Offering (If you would like to give online see the back of the bulletin.)

Continued on next pageOffertory O Saviour, Hear Me! Arr. Dudley Buck Lauren Albano, SopranoOh Savior hear me, I implore thee. In thee alone can peace be found. Thou cans’t sustain andthou restore me whate’er the cares that hover round. Hear my supplication. Turn on me thyloving eyes, oh turn on me thy loving eyes. Lord I long for thy salvation and would feign attainthe prize. When care of earth to me seem heavy, heart sore I seek of thee relief. Thy grace remaineth everready to soothe my pain to assuage my grief. Hear my supplication. Turn on me thy lovingeyes, oh turn on me thy loving eyes. Lord I long for thy salvation and would feign attain theprize. *Doxology #572 Praise God from Whom All Blessings FlowAt this time all children are invited to go to Children’s ChurchPraise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. *Prayer of Dedication*Hymn #503 Jesus Calls Us; O’er the Tumult Scripture Lesson Acts 9:1-31 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He wentto the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he foundany there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners toJerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed aroundhim. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecuteme?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men travelingwith Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got upfrom the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by thehand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 InDamascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”“Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Streetand ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a mannamed Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananiasanswered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holypeople in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest allwho call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen

instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 Iwill show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house andentered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared toyou on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filledwith the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he couldsee again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in thesynagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked,“Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? Andhasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more andmore powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 23After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saullearned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, notbelieving that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed withthem and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talkedand debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned ofthis, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 Then the church throughoutJudea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear ofthe Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.One: This is God’s Word for God’s people. All: Thanks be to God.Sermon The Enemy God Loved Rev. Dr. Dan Turis*Hymn #448 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah *Benediction Postlude Fugue on St. Michael Andrew Hackett Andrew Hackett, Organist *Those who are able, please stand.