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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 Our mission is to praise the Father, proclaim the Son and submit to the perfecting power of the Holy Spirit. June 8, 2025 • 10:30 AM Worship
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. Parking Validated parking is available in the adjacent garage for all worship services. Please pick up a validation stick-er and apply the sticker to your parking ticket to use for validation. Then simply scan your ticket with the sticker at the parking gate on your way out of the garage. If you are unsure how to obtain your parking stick-er, any greeter or our security personnel will be happy to assist you. 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 Prelude on Adoro te devote Doug McConnell Joan McConnell, Organist Concerns of the Congregation Call to Worship Kelly Millhaem One: Come, gathered in one accord: The Spirit descends as wind and flame, uniting scattered tongues in the Word made flesh. Let us worship the triune God, who speaks peace and power into every nation. Prelude Now to the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray Dietrich Buxtehude Joan McConnell, 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 #193 Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me *Invocation Kelly Millhaem All: Living God, who poured out your Spirit upon all flesh, speak now in the tongues of grace. Kindle holy fire in our hearts, that in Christ, your Word made audible, we may be one. Draw us into communion through your self-giving love, that we may worship you—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—with reverent joy and unified voice. *Prayer of Confession Rev. Dr. Dan Turis All: Triune God, you spoke in fire and breath, yet we muffle your voice with fear, pride, and division. We confess our resistance to your Spirit’s unifying work. Forgive us for clinging to Babel instead of Pentecost. Cleanse us by Christ’s blood, renew us in the Spirit, and draw us deeper into your reconciling grace. Teach us again to speak in love. *Moments of Silent Confession Service for the Lord’s Day
*Assurance of Pardon One: Hear the good news: The risen Christ has poured out the Spirit not in judgment, but in mercy. In him, every nation hears the language of forgiveness. You are cleansed, renewed, and sent—by the Father’s will, the Son’s blood, and the Spirit’s power. Live now as those made new by Pentecost grace. *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, Amen. Anthem Spirit of God, Descend Upon my Heart Arr. Frederick C. Atkinson Covenant Men’s Choir Spirit of God, descend upon my heart; wean it from earth, through all its pulses move; stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art, and make me love thee as I ought to love. I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies, no sudden rending of the veil of clay, no angel visitant, no op'ning skies; but take the dimness of my soul away. Teach me to feel that thou art always nigh, teach me the struggles of the soul to bear, to check the rising doubt the rebel sign, teach me the patience of unanswered prayer. 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 Beneath The Cross of Jesus Arr. Frederick C. Maker Covenant Men’s Choir Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand; the shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land; a home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, from burns beneath the noontide heat and burdens of the day. I take, O cross, your shadow for my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face; content to let the world go by, to know no gain or loss; my sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.
*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 #187 Breathe on me Breath of God Scripture Lesson Acts 2:1-13 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” One: This is God’s Word for God’s people. All: Thanks be to God. Sermon Spirit of the Risen Christ Rev. Dr. Dan Turis *Hymn #25 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Graduate Recognition See pg. 9 *Benediction Postlude Carillon on Le p'ing Michael Bedford Joan McConnell, Organist All Creation Praises God for the New Day *Those who are able, please stand. The flowers on the communion table are given to the glory of God by Margaret Valentine in celebration of Pentecost Sunday.
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