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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 8, 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 num-ber. 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 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 O Lamm Gottes unschuldig, BWV 618 J. S. Bach Christie Lee, Organ Scholar Concerns of the Congregation Rev. Chris Torrey Call to Worship from Psalm 32 Kelly Millhaem One: Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. All: Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. Prelude Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BuxWV 211 Dieterich Buxtehude Christie Lee, Organ Scholar 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 #39 God Is Love *Invocation Kelly Millhaem All: Almighty God, your Son fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are but did not sin. Give us grace to direct our lives in obedience to your Spirit, that as you know our weakness, so we may know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our redeemer, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. *Prayer of Confession Rev. Chris Torrey All: God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained, and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Savior. *Moments of Silent Confession Service for the Lord’s Day

*Assurance of Pardon Rev. Chris Torrey One: The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Amen. *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 Prayers to Jesus Craig Courtney Covenant Choir Lord Jesus, think on me and purge away my sin; from selfish passions set me free and make me pure within. Lord Jesus, think on me, by anxious thoughts oppressed; let me your loving servant be and taste your promised rest. Lord Jesus, think on me, nor let me go astray; through darkness and perplexity point out the heavenly way. Lord Jesus, think on me, that when this life is past, I may the eternal brightness see; and share thy joy at last. Amen. 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 How Beautiful Are The Feet G. F. Handel Lea Nayak, Soprano How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings.

*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 #37 Great Is Thy Faithfulness Scripture Lessons Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. One: This is God’s Word for God’s people. All: Thanks be to God. Sermon Our Sin is Covered Rev. Chris Torrey *Hymn #288 Amazing Grace How Sweet The Sound *Benediction Postlude Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ Johann Pachelbel Andrew Hackett, Organist *Those who are able, please stand.

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8 Welcome Rev. Chris Torrey While Rev. Dr. Turis is away on study leave, we welcome Rev. Chris Torrey. It is always great to have Rev. Torrey back to fill in. Rev. Torrey and his wife Dawn live in New Richmond, Ohio. Chris retired from Lakeside Presbyterian church and now Chris enjoys filling pulpits for pastors while they are away and also looks for-ward to gardening and mowing his 13 acres of land once summer returns to Ohio. In retirement Chris has found time for some aspects of the church which most in-terest him. Presbyterian worship is a focus as is the effort to help those new to our tradition make sense of Presbyterian Christianity. “I look forward to coming back to the pulpit at Covenant-First Presbyterian Church. I’ve always enjoyed the peo-ple and the feel of worship here!”