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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 March 1, 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. The Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper We offer Communion during the worship service on the first Sunday of each month. We welcome anyone who proclaims Christ as Savior to partake. The Communion table is not restricted to Presbyterians. During the service, the church elders will distribute the elements, while the congregation remains seated in the pews. 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 compete the validation process which requires your license plate number. Validation must be done each Sunday you park in the garage. 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, please pick up any of the litera-ture located on the back tables, see your morning greeter, contact the church office at 513-621-4144, or visit our website at www.covfirstchurch.org.
Pre-Service Music Improvisation on Leoni Andrew Hackett, Organist Concerns of the Congregation Rev. Dr. Dan Turis Call to Worship Darlene Nored One: Generous God calls us: Bring your anxieties, your cluttered schedules, your small loves into his growing, grace-shaped, Spirit-organized family. Prelude I Call to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, BWV 639 J.S. Bach 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 #36 The God of Abraham Praise *Invocation Darlene Nored All: Lord Jesus, head of the Church, you grow your people and then grow them up. As we worship, rearrange our priorities around your holiness and compassion. Thank you for patient deacons, faithful elders, and ordinary saints. Let our life together match the gospel we proclaim, so no practical need hides under spiritual words. *Prayer of Confession Rev. Dr. Turis All: Holy God, we confess that growth makes us grumble. When ministry gets messy, we often protect comfort rather than pursue wisdom. You organize compassion by your Spirit, but we drift toward dysfunction, turf wars, and quiet resentment. Our giving can be sporadic, our service half-hearted, our concern for the vulnerable elective. Sometimes we, like Ananias and Sapphira, prefer reputation over truth. Forgive our hypocrisy, our disorganization of love, our reluctance to share burdens. Teach us to see administration as an altar where mercy is arranged for your glory. *Moments of Silent Confession Service for the Lord’s Day
*Assurance of Pardon One: Good news: The Church’s health does not finally rest on our systems but on Christ’s sacrifice. The one who exposed hypocrisy in Acts also covered real sinners with real grace. In him, every deceitful half-truth and every neglected widow finds an answer—his cross and his resurrection. You are forgiven, not because you have been perfectly generous or wisely organized, but because Jesus gave himself fully for you. The Spirit who raised up servants in Acts 6 is still raising you into a people of mercy. *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 See the Bread, See the Wine Jay Althouse Covenant Choir See the bread, broken bread, ever may our souls be fed. See the wine, royal wine: Jesus’ blood come from the vine. Here we taste the bread of God, drink the wine of heaven. See the bread, see the wine. May our sins all be forgiven. Here, 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. See the bread, broken bread, ever may our souls be fed. See the wine royal wine: Jesus’ blood come from the vine. See the bread, see the wine, this sacrament divine. 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 Fairest Lord Jesus Friedrich Von Spee Covenant Choir Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son, thee will I cherish, thee will I honor, thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, robed in the blooming garb of spring: Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer who makes the woeful heart to sing. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine. *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 Scripture Lessons Acts 4:32–6:7 Pew Bible Pg. 773 One: This is God’s Word for God’s people. All: Thanks be to God. Sermon Growing Pains of the Holy People Rev. Dr. Dan Turis *Apostles Creed All: 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.
Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper We offer Communion during the worship service on the first Sunday of each month. We welcome anyone who proclaims Christ as Savior to partake. The Communion table is not restricted to Presbyterians. During the service, church elders will distribute the elements, while the congregation remains seated. The Invitation The Thanksgiving The Words of Institution The Communion We will share in the body together. You may drink of the cup when desired. The Prayer of Blessing *Hymn Bulletin pg. 8 Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days Annual Meeting of the Congregation We invite everyone to join in our Annual Meeting of the Congregation directly following the singing of the hymn. Livestreaming will conclude before the beginning of the meeting. During this meeting the Nominating Committee will review their work and present nominees, and we will elect elders and deacons. We will also review and approve Pastor Dan’s Terms of Call. Those who are not members are invited to attend, although only members are able to vote. All are invited to Fellowship Time following the conclusion of this brief meeting. Annual reports are available on the back tables. See meeting agenda on the next page. *Those who are able, please stand.
7 Annual Meeting of the Congregation — March 1, 2026 Meeting Agenda Call to Order/Declaration of Quorum Rev. Dr. Dan Turis Opening Prayer Rev. Dr. Turis State of the Church Rev. Dr. Turis Nominating Committee Report Elder Mike Millhaem/Nominating Chair Election of Officers and Nominating Committee Rev. Dr. Turis Recognition of outgoing Elders and Deacons Rev. Dr. Turis Terms of Call Elder Rob Heidenreich/Clerk Presentation of Budget See Annual Report Closing Prayer/Adjournment Rev. Dr. Turis Closing Hymn In Christ There is No East or West Hymnal in pew #513
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