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Covenant-First Presbyterian Church • 717 Elm Street • Cincinnati, OH 45202 covfirstchurch.org • office@covfirstchurch.org • 513-621-4144 Covenant-First Presbyterian Church January 25, 2026 • 10:30 AM Worship Our mission is to praise the Father, proclaim the Son and submit to the perfecting power of the Holy Spirit.
Welcome to Covenant-First Presbyterian Church Whether you attend Covenant-First Presbyterian Church on a regular basis or are here for the first time, we are glad you are here. Covenant-First Presbyterian Church was founded in 1790, and has been a part of downtown Cincinnati ever since. Our almost 2,000 pound tower bell is from the Paul 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 its approximately 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 them lead in worship most Sundays. If you need help with directions to restrooms, the fellowship hall, or to the lower level nursery, the person 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 staffed nursery 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 during the singing of the Doxology. You may then pick your child up following the service from the downstairs classrooms. Validated Parking Validated parking is available in the 222 W. 7th St. Garage. Validation is done using your car’s license plate number. Please locate a greeter to compete the validation process which requires your license 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 worship on Sunday morn-ings, and we find this weekly fellowship time to be a valuable and enriching time for 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 at 513-621-4144, or visit our website at covfirstchurch.org.
Pre-Service Music Chaconne in D minor Louis Couperin Andrew Hackett, Organist Concerns of the Congregation Rev. Dr. Dan Turis Call to Worship Zion Sullivan-Quinn One: Come, people of God; the same Spirit who shook Pentecost still blows today. Bring your many tongues; he has one gospel. Prelude Improvisation on Madrid Adrew Hackett, Organist Ringing of the Revere Tower Bell Let the ringing of the bell call our attention away from ourselves and onto the living Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. *Hymn #60 Come, Christians, Join to Sing *Invocation Zion Sullivan-Quinn All: Spirit of the risen Christ, you turned an upper room into a launchpad. Breathe on us again. Melt our fear, ignite our praise, and harmonize our many stories into one. Your wonders are gladly spoken here. *Prayer of Confession Rev. Dr. Turis All: Holy Spirit, we confess that we often prefer safe silence to risky praise. You are the Lord and giver of life, yet we act as though your presence is optional, an accessory instead of our breath. We hoard the good news in one language, one culture, one comfort zone, while the nations you love walk past us every day. Our tongues, made for declaring your wonders, too easily gossip, complain, or flatter. Forgive our Spirit-resistance and small expectations of your power. *Moments of Silent Confession Service for the Lord’s Day
*Assurance of Pardon One: Hear the good news: The same Spirit who came at Pentecost is the Spirit of adoption, not accusation. In Christ, your many failures cannot outshout his finished “It is finished.” The fire that could have consumed you now rests on you as welcome, not wrath. You are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. The Spirit himself bears witness with your spirit that you are God’s child— pardoned, embraced, empowered. *Gloria Patri #575 Glory Be to the Father 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. Anthem His Eye is on the Sparrow Arr. Mark Hayes Covenant Choir Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely and long for heav’n and home, when Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is he: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. I sing because I’m happy—I sing be-cause I’m free— for his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, when songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to him; from care he sets me free: his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me; his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. I sing because I’m happy—I sing because I’m free— for his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he’s protecting, and I know that he’s loving, and I know he watches me. Prayers of the People Lord’s Prayer 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; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine 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.)
Offertory Speak to Me Frances R. Haverghal Covenant Men’s Chorus and Robert Schumann Lord, speak to me, that I may speak in living echoes of thy tone; as thou hast sought, so let me seek thine erring children lost and ‘lone. O fill me with thy fullness, Lord, until my very heart o’erflow in kindling thought and glowing word, thy love to tell, thy praise to show. O use me, Lord, use even me, just as thou wilt, and when, and where until thy blessed face I see, thy rest, thy joy, thy glory share. *Doxology #572 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow At this time all children are invited to go to Children’s Church Praise 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 #198 Spirit of God, Descend upon my Heart Scripture Lessons Acts 2:1-13 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” One: This is God’s Word for God’s people. All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon Wind, Fire, and Uncontainable Words Rev. Dr. Dan Turis *Hymn #219 O Word of God Incarnate *Benediction Postlude Fantasia from Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 J.S. Bach Christie Lee, Organ Scholar *Those who are able, please stand.
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