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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 22, 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 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 Prélude, Fugue et Variation op. 18 César Franck Christie Lee, Organ Scholar Concerns of the Congregation Rev. Dr. Dan Turis Call to Worship Zach Burnham One: Scattered saints, gather; the God who writes straight with crooked lines turns persecution into pathways and relocations into new pulpits of grace. Prelude Christe, du Lamm Gottes, BWV 619 J. S. Bach 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 #395 Lord of Our Life *Invocation Zach Burnham All: Lord of every zip code and time zone, you turned Jerusalem’s pressure into missionary propulsion. Gather us now, then scatter us with purpose. As we sing and listen, tune our hearts to see every displacement—job change, move, disruption—as a possible chapter in your mission story. *Prayer of Confession Rev. Dr. Dan Turis All: God of providence, we confess that when life scatters us, our first instinct is complaint, not calling. We treat inconveniences as insults, not invitations. When plans shift, we assume you’ve lost the script. Like spiritual tourists, we look for comfort, not assignment. Our mouths go quiet just when our neighborhoods most need hope. We forget, as John Calvin said, that our hearts are “a perpetual factory of idols,” including the idol of control. Forgive our grumbling, our self-pity, our small view of your sovereign creativity. *Moments of Silent Confession Service for the Lord’s Day
*Assurance of Pardon Rev. Dr. Dan Turis One: Hear the good news: The same Jesus who turned a murderous mob into a missionary movement has already turned your greatest disaster—the guilt of your sin—into a doorway of grace. At the cross, he absorbed your rebellion; in the resurrection, he announced your forgiveness. Your past relocations, regrets, and rebellions do not rewrite his finished work. As you trust him, nothing can separate you from his love. You are forgiven, beloved, and, yes, strategically placed. Even your scatterings are held inside the nail-scarred hands that will never let you go. *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 Witness Lloyd Larson Covenant Choir Who will be a witness? Will you be a witness for my Lord? The God of life came down to live among us, and we have seen the power of love revealed. Foretold by prophets that he’d dwell among us; now by his grace our pardon has been sealed. The Son of God came down to live among us. The blind were made to see, he healed the lame. He said that we could live a life victorious. Sing “Hallelujah! Praise his holy name!” In Christ we bear witness to God’s holy plan: God’s Son, made flesh for all to see. By faith we can touch the nail prints in his hands, and by his grace our spirits are set free. Who will be a witness? Will you be a witness for my Lord? The Lamb of God was pierced for our transgressions, a man of sorrow and of suffering; his punishment, the price for our salva-tion; Messiah, Lord of lords and King of kings! Who will be a witness? Will you be a wit-ness for my Lord? 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 If With All Your Hearts Felix Mendelssohn Zach Burnham, Tenor If with all your heart ye truly seek me, ye shall ever surely find me, thus saith our God. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might even come before his presence. If with all your heart ye truly seek me, ye shall ever surely find me, thus saith our God. *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 #151 Beneath the Cross of Jesus Scripture Lessons Acts 8:1-8 Pew Bible Pg. 776 One: This is God’s Word for God’s people. All: Thanks be to God. Sermon Scattered, But Not Silent Rev. Dr. Dan Turis *Hymn #148 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross *Benediction Postlude Improvisation on Hamburg Andrew Hackett, Organist *Those who are able, please stand. The flowers today are given to the glory of God by the Bell family in loving memory of their parents.
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