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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 April 5, 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. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and who-ever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” — John 11:26-26

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 num-ber. Please locate a greeter to complete 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 encour-aging conversation. Many of us travel from a distance to join together in worship on Sunday mornings, 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 Fugue sur le thème du Carillon des Heures Maurice Duruflé Christie Lee, Organ Scholar Concerns of the Congregation Rev. Dr. Dan Turis Call to Worship Darlene Nored One: Come, behold the tomb made empty by the Life of all. Christ is risen, death is trampled, and heaven summons earth to songs. Prelude Improvisation on Easter Hymn Andrew 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 #163 Christ the Lord is Risen Today *Invocation Darlene Nored All: O risen Word of the Father, dispel our darkness by thy resurrection light, and gather us into the joy of angels, that we may worship thee aright. *Prayer of Confession Rev. Dr. Dan Turis All: Lord Jesus Christ, risen and incorruptible, we confess that we still seek among the dead what lives in thee alone. Forgive our unbelief, our forgetfulness, and our slowness to trust thy mighty promises fulfilled in glory. *Moments of Silent Confession *Assurance of Pardon Rev. Dr. Dan Turis One: Hear the gospel: Why seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. In Christ, corruption is undone, sin is judged, and death is broken. Therefore, all who cling to the risen Lord are forgiven, renewed, and made alive unto everlasting communion with God. *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. Service for the Lord’s Day

Anthem Alleluia! Give Thanks to the Risen Lord Donald Fishel Covenant Choir Alleluia, shout for joy loud and long; alleluia, alleluia, sing to God a glorious new song. Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord, alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to his name! Jesus is Lord of all the earth. He is the king of creation. Alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord, alleluia, give praise to his name. Spread the good news o’er all the earth; Jesus has died and has risen. We have been crucified with Christ. Now we shall live forever. Come let us praise the living God, joyfully sing to the Savior. Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord, alleluia, give praise to his name. Alleluia sing to God a glorious new song! 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 Lift High the Cross Sydney H. Nicholson and Covenant Choir Jantz A. Black Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name. Come, Christians, follow this triumphant sign. The hosts of God in unity combine. Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name. Each newborn servant of the crucified bears on the brow the seal of him who died. O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, as thou hast promised, draw the world to thee. Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name. So shall our song of triumph ever be: Praise to the crucified for victory! Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name. Alleluia!

*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 #160 O Sons and Daughters Scripture Lessons Luke 24:1-12 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. One: This is God’s Word for God’s people. All: Thanks be to God. Sermon The Empty Tomb, the Empty Ark Rev. Dr. Dan Turis *Hymn #161 The Strife Is O’er *Benediction Postlude Toccata, from Symphonie No. 5 Ch. M. Widor Andrew Hackett, Organist *Those who are able, please stand. Thank you to all who donated Easter lilies for our Easter service today. A listing of those who donated lilies is listed on pg. 11.

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