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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 12, 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 Suite gothique, op.25 Léon Boëllmann Christie Lee, Organ Scholar III. Prière à Notre-Dame Concerns of the Congregation Rev. Dr. Dan Turis Call to Worship Randy Page One: Come, receivers not achievers; the God who cannot be bought invites empty-handed sinners into the free economy of his grace. Prelude Erstanden ist der heil'ge Christ, BWV 628 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 #25 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Three *Invocation Randy Page All: Holy Spirit, priceless gift of the Father and the Son, we cannot tip you, trade for you, or control you. We confess our inner Simon and ask you to cleanse our motives, re-center our desires, and make this gathering less a spiritual marketplace and more a gift exchange of grace. *Prayer of Confession Rev. Dr. Dan Turis All: Generous God, we confess that spiritual consumerism is alive and well in us. We bargain, negotiate, and quietly assume that our efforts, intensity, or experiences should purchase extra favor. We love the idea of power more than the person of the Spirit. We chase platforms instead of presence, influence instead of intimacy. As Martin Luther reminded us, we are beggars, but we pretend to be donors. Forgive our transactional hearts, our subtle attempts to use you, and our suspicion of grace that is truly free. Service for the Lord’s Day
*Moments of Silent Confession *Assurance of Pardon Rev. Dr. Dan Turis One: Beloved, you cannot buy the Spirit—and you also cannot un-buy what God has freely given in Christ. Jesus has already paid the full price with his blood. Your mixed motives, spiritual pride, and failed attempts to impress God were known at the cross and borne by him there. In him, you are justified by grace alone, not by spiritual achievement. The Spirit is not a trophy for the strong but a gift for the needy. In Christ, you are forgiven, welcomed, and indwelt—not rented but permanently sealed for the day of redemption. *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 There Is a Balm in Gilead Covenant Choir and congregation join on refrain Refrain: There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. Some times I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. All sing refrain. Don't ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend, and if you lack for knowledge he'll not refuse to lend. (Refrain) All sing refrain. If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus and say "He died for all." All sing refrain. 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 Locus Iste Anton Bruckner *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 #325 My Shepherd Will Supply My Need Scripture Lessons Acts 8:9-25 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” 25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. One: This is God’s Word for God’s people. All: Thanks be to God. Locus iste a Deo factus est, inaestimabile sacramentum, irreprehensibilis est. This place was made by God, a priceless sacrament; it is without reproach.
Sermon You Can’t Buy the Spirit Rev. Dr. Dan Turis *Hymn #176 The Head That Once Was Crowned *Benediction Postlude Overture, from The Fireworks Music G. F. Handel Andrew Hackett, Organist *Those who are able, please stand.
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