Return to flip book view

Covenant-First Presbyterian Church • 717 Elm Street • Cincinnati, OH 45202 covfirstchurch.org • office@covfirstchurch.org • 513-621-4144 Covenant-First Presbyterian Church March 15, 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 Improvisation on Aberystwyth Andrew Hackett, Organist Concerns of the Congregation Rev. Dr. Dan Turis Call to Worship Karen Stine One: Come, followers of the Son of Man; the Jesus who stood for Stephen stands for you in every trial and trouble. Prelude Why Fumeth in Fight Thomas Tallis Andrew Hackett, 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 #246 Jesus Lover of My Soul *Invocation Karen Stine All: Lord Jesus, exalted at the Father’s right hand, we praise you as the one Stephen saw in glory. Gather us under your gaze. Strengthen faint hearts, steady shaky knees, and teach us to see our stories inside yours. Give us Spirit-born courage to tell the truth in love, whatever the cost, knowing you stand with your witnesses. *Prayer of Confession Rev. Dr. Dan Turis All: Courageous Christ, we admit that we prefer safety to sacrifice. Stephen’s boldness exposes our careful calculations. We fear losing reputation, comfort, or control far more than we fear denying you with our silence. Our tongues grow timid when your name is contested. Our prayers sometimes ask more for escape than endurance. We forget that, as Martin Luther said, “we are beggars” whose only hope is your grace, yet we live as if this world were our final treasure. Forgive our cowardice and short-sightedness. *Moments of Silent Confession Service for the Lord’s Day

*Assurance of Pardon Rev. Dr. Dan Turis One: Hear the assurance from the throne where Jesus stands for his people. The Judge who will one day will right every wrong has already borne your judgment at the cross. The stones that should have fallen on your head fell on his in your place. In him, your failures to confess, your compromises and fears are forgiven. The Spirit who filled Stephen in his last breath now lives in you, not to condemn you, but to comfort, cleanse, and embolden you. You are pardoned and upheld by the one who will never leave you alone. *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 Satisfied Lloyd Larson Covenant Choir All my life long I have panted for a drink from some cool spring that I hoped would quench the burning of the thirst I felt within. Hallelujah! I have found him whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my longings, through his blood I now am saved. Feeding on the banks around me ‘til my strength is almost gone, longed my soul for something better, only still to hunger on. Hallelujah! I have found him whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my longings through his blood I now am saved. Well of water ever springing, bread of life so rich and free, untold wealth that never faileth my redeemer is to me! Hallelujah! I have found him whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my longings through His blood I now am saved. 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 Give Me Jesus Moses Hogan Andrew Hallam, Baritone In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, you may have all this world but give me Jesus. Dark midnight was my cry, give me Jesus. Oh when I come to die, give me Jesus. *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 #259 Are You Weary, Heavy Laden? Scripture Lessons Acts 6:8-7:60 Pew Bible Pg. 775 One: This is God’s Word for God’s people. All: Thanks be to God. Sermon Faith that Stands While Stones Fly Rev. Dr. Dan Turis *Hymn #247 I Lay My Sins on Jesus Installation of Elders and Deacons See pg. 6 *Benediction Postlude Prelude from Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548 J.S. Bach Christie Lee, Organ Scholar “The Wedge” *Those who are able, please stand. The flowers on the communion table are given to the glory of God and in memory of a loving Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather, Donald W. Ross, Sr. from his children Don, Carl, David, and Ruth.

6 Ordination and Installation Questions • Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him as Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? (I do) • Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you? (I do) • Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to • believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God? (I do) • Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of the Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions? (I will) • Will you be governed by the church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit? (I will) • Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors and work for the reconciliation of the world? (I will) • Do you promise to further the peace, unity and purity of the church? (I do) • Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? (I will) • (For Elder) Will you be a faithful elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in governing bodies of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ? (I will) • (For Deacon) Will you be a faithful deacon, teaching charity, urging concern, and directing the people’s help to the friendless and those in need? In your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Christ? (I will) Today we ordain and install: Deacons: Joe Gray and Karen Stine And install: Elder: Rod Crousey and Rob Heidenreich; Deacon: Sophia Colclasure

8

9