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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 January 18, 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 number. 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 encouraging conversation. Many of us travel from a distance to join together in worship on Sunday morn-ings, 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 Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 654 J.S. Bach Christie Lee, Organ Scholar Concerns of the Congregation Rev. Dr. Dan Turis Call to Worship Jahlil Meatchem One: People of the risen Lord, come. Bring restless hearts and minds into his upper room of promise, prayerful listening, and patient dependence. Prelude Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist, BWV 674 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 #193 Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me *Invocation Jahlil Meatchem All: Waiting Lord, you are never late and never hurried. Gather us into the quiet center of your will. As those first disciples waited together, knit us in prayer, tune us to your Word, and ready our hearts to obey whatever you reveal. Teach us that “not yet” is still grace. *Prayer of Confession Rev. Dr. Turis All: Patient Father, we confess we are better at refreshing screens than waiting on you. We treat prayer as a background app, not the engine of our lives. You direct every lot that is cast, yet we grasp for control and fear surrender. We rush ahead when you say “wait,” and drag our feet when you say “go.” Like Martin Luther’s beggars, we come with empty hands, but with hearts full of anxiety and self-reliance. Forgive our hurried unbelief and teach us holy patience. *Moments of Silent Confession Service for the Lord’s Day
*Assurance of Pardon One: Beloved in Christ, take heart. The same Jesus who chose Matthias by his providence has chosen you in his grace. Your worth is not measured by how efficiently you manage life but by his cross and empty tomb. “We are beggars; this is true,” Luther wrote—but beggars beloved, supplied from heaven’s riches. In Christ your impatience is pardoned, your past is covered, and your future is held in nail-scarred hands. You are forgiven, welcomed into his will, and kept as you wait. *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 I Need Thee Every Hour Arr. John Ness Beck Covenant Choir I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord; no tender voice like Thine can peace afford. I need Thee, O I need Thee; every hour I need Thee! O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee. 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 All Beautiful the March of Days Arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams Hugh Ralston, Tenor All beautiful the march of days, as seasons come and go. The hand that shaped the rose has wrought the crystal of the snow; has sent the hoary frost of heaven, the flowing waters sealed and laid a silent loveliness on hill and wood and field. O'er white expanses, sparkling pure; the radiant morns unfold; the solemn splendors of the night burn brighter through the cold. Life mounts in ev'ry throbbing vein, love deepens round the hearth, and clearer sounds the angel hymn, "Good will to all on earth." O thou, from whose unfathomed law the year in beauty flows, yourself the vision passing by in crystal and in rose, day unto day shall utter speech and night to night proclaim, in ever changing words of light, the wonder of your name.
*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 #435 What a Friend We Have in Jesus Scripture Lessons Acts 1:12-26 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” 18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’ 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. One: This is God’s Word for God’s people. All: Thanks be to God. Sermon The Quiet Work of Waiting Rev. Dr. Dan Turis
*Hymn #35 Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise *Benediction Postlude Chaconne in F Major Henry Purcel Andrew Hackett, Organist *Those who are able, please stand. The flowers on the communion table are given to the glory of God in memory of Dan Nather. Dan was fondly remembered at a Service of Celebration of the Resurrection yesterday. We extend sympathy to Dan’s family.
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