A Service of Worship for
The First Sunday of Lent
February 21, 2021
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Adult Education - TODAY, 9AM
Today, Dr. Portia Hopkins, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Data Curation for African American Studies at Rice, will join us to discuss the history of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Missouri City. Founded in 1869 by formerly enslaved people, St John’s has overcome challenges such as racial oppression, arson, and vandalism through the dedication of its small congregation. In 2017, it received a Texas state historical marker, assisted by Dr. Hopkins, who is an expert in community-driven historic preservation. Zoom link is available on the Online Gatherings page on our website: https://www.covenanthouston.org/covenant-gatherings.html Full worship service video:
COFFEE TIME Gathering on Zoom
Today, 11AM We will begin as a large group before we transition into “rooms" for coffee time. Log in details on the Online Gatherings page. SPECIAL EVENT: Today, 3PM Central
Topic: A Coming Together to Talk About Being Apart Our own Thelma Jean Goodrich and Tom Cole will be facilitating a time of support and encouragement on Sunday, February 21 from 3:00-4:30 PM. We will gather on zoom and make use of the zoom breakout rooms. See below for more details. Log in details on the Online Gatherings page. |
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Prelude
"Fairest Lord Jesus" arr. Vernon Charter; Karen Kline, piano. Call to Worship Opening Sentences Why have we come together? Not to escape life, but to see life as it really is. Not to avoid reality, but to confront reality and affirm Ultimate Reality. We gather to hear the Word that, come what may, we can live. And to embrace life in all its ambiguity - sorrow and joy, healing and hurt, suffering and love. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear when the earth trembles. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Scripture Lesson: Mark 1:9-15, Psalm 25:1-10
Hymn "Lord of All Hopefulness" Tune "Slane" The Covenant Singers. Time for Children Confession Unison Confession
For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us. This is the era of just redemption we feared at its inception. We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour but within it we found the power to author a new chapter. To offer hope and laughter to ourselves. So while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe? Now we assert, How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us? We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be. We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation, because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation. Our blunders become their burdens. But one thing is certain, If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy, and change our children's birthright. When day comes we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid, the new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.
Music "Show Me Thy Ways" Walter Pelz; The Covenant Singers, Heather Laureles, clarinet; Patrick Parker, piano. |
Proclamation
Prayer Gracious God, Please continue to be a source of strength and hope for those in our state and across the US suffering from extreme weather, a lack of water, food shortages, and out of touch politicians. We pledge to continue to do the hard work to help our neighbors in need to the best of our abilities. As I turned my thoughts to prayer, three words continued to tumble around in my head. Wilderness. Bill Howze wrote the Call the Worship and the “wilderness” he describes feels very, very close right now. And uncomfortable. But will we forget the wilderness as soon as things thaw? What can we hold and keep from this wilderness we are experiencing to bring back to our "normal" life that will help us feel more comfortable in our next metamorphosis? Freedom. Janice Ramsey wrote the Prayer of Dedication. Her word freedom was a wonderful reminder of what we can hope to be free from. During a difficult a time when many of us feel trapped. Trapped by cold, by lack of basic needs, we know that we can still embrace the freedom to love, to care, to be thankful. Perseverance. This word has brought me so much unexpected joy this week. The aptly named rover is all of us right now. It's in a cold place with little or no water - but it made its incredible journey in a pandemic within a pandemic and that is the most hopeful, strength-giving idea I've heard about in a long time. We will persevere. Amen. - Jodi Bash Invitation
Prayer of Dedication O God of Freedom, we are free to love because you are love. Free us from being hard to love, hard to forgive, hard to enjoy. Free us from sitting in the darkness of our despair rather than standing in the light of your confidence. Free us from grasping for the past so that we miss the present. Free us from grasping for the new before we learn to appreciate the old. Free us from the way we distort our faith and from the inconsistencies that mark our lives. Free us from the fear of change that we may fight for the changes that are needed. Free us from the dread of death that we may live eternal life now. O God of Freedom, free us to hope as we live in the hope expressed in Jesus. Amen. Doxology
Affirmation of Faith God of history and of my heart, So much has happened to me during these whirlwind days: I've known birth and death; I've been brave and scared; I've hurt, I've helped; I've destroyed, I've created; I've been with people, I've been lonely; I've been loyal, I've betrayed; I've decided, I've waffled; I've laughed, I've cried. Help me to believe in beginnings and in my beginning again, no matter how often I've failed before. Benediction Postlude "Be Thou My Vision" Healey Willan; Andrew Bowen, organ. |
Worship Notes
The worship leader is Amy Corron and Linda Phenix.
The Lent banner pictured at the top of this page was created by Nancy Henry.
The prelude is played by Karen Kline, piano.
The Call to Worship is by Bill Howze.
The Opening Sentences are from a Covenant Order of Worship, October 12, 1980.
The Unison Confession is from “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman.
"Show Me Thy Ways" is sung by The Covenant Singers, from September 15, 2019; David Lee, director; Heather Laureles, clarinet; Patrick Parker, piano.
The Prayer of Dedication is by Janice Ramsey.
The Affirmation of Faith is from Guerrillas of Grace by Ted Loder.
The postlude is played by Andrew Bowen, organ.
A Coming Together to Talk About Being Apart - TODAY at 3PM Central
Our own Thelma Jean Goodrich and Tom Cole will be facilitating a time of support and encouragement on Sunday, February 21 from 3:00-4:30 PM. We will gather on Zoom and make use of the Zoom breakout rooms.
The hope for this time is to provide space and support for sharing about the impact of our isolation brought on by the pandemic. We will ask ourselves about common reactions and their cause and we will discuss how we can manage these reactions. We will use psychological research, spiritual guidance, telling stories, shaping experience through writing to guide our experience.
Dr. Thelma Jean Goodrich, PhD, in addition to being a member of our church and a wonderful addition to the choir is a therapist who, in addition to working with clients, services on the faculty of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center and Houston Galveston Family Therapy Institute Advisory Council. She also works with the McGovern Center for Health, Humanities, and the Human Spirit, UT-Houston Medical School. Thelma Jean has been worship leader.
Dr. Thomas Cole, PhD, in addition to being a regular attender of Covenant, has just been ordained as a Jewish Spiritual Director. He is the director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics and the author of many books. He has been a proclaimer at Covenant and has led Adult Education on multiple topics.
The details for the Zoom meeting are on our Online Gatherings Page:
https://www.covenanthouston.org/covenant-gatherings.html
The worship leader is Amy Corron and Linda Phenix.
The Lent banner pictured at the top of this page was created by Nancy Henry.
The prelude is played by Karen Kline, piano.
The Call to Worship is by Bill Howze.
The Opening Sentences are from a Covenant Order of Worship, October 12, 1980.
The Unison Confession is from “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman.
"Show Me Thy Ways" is sung by The Covenant Singers, from September 15, 2019; David Lee, director; Heather Laureles, clarinet; Patrick Parker, piano.
The Prayer of Dedication is by Janice Ramsey.
The Affirmation of Faith is from Guerrillas of Grace by Ted Loder.
The postlude is played by Andrew Bowen, organ.
A Coming Together to Talk About Being Apart - TODAY at 3PM Central
Our own Thelma Jean Goodrich and Tom Cole will be facilitating a time of support and encouragement on Sunday, February 21 from 3:00-4:30 PM. We will gather on Zoom and make use of the Zoom breakout rooms.
The hope for this time is to provide space and support for sharing about the impact of our isolation brought on by the pandemic. We will ask ourselves about common reactions and their cause and we will discuss how we can manage these reactions. We will use psychological research, spiritual guidance, telling stories, shaping experience through writing to guide our experience.
Dr. Thelma Jean Goodrich, PhD, in addition to being a member of our church and a wonderful addition to the choir is a therapist who, in addition to working with clients, services on the faculty of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center and Houston Galveston Family Therapy Institute Advisory Council. She also works with the McGovern Center for Health, Humanities, and the Human Spirit, UT-Houston Medical School. Thelma Jean has been worship leader.
Dr. Thomas Cole, PhD, in addition to being a regular attender of Covenant, has just been ordained as a Jewish Spiritual Director. He is the director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics and the author of many books. He has been a proclaimer at Covenant and has led Adult Education on multiple topics.
The details for the Zoom meeting are on our Online Gatherings Page:
https://www.covenanthouston.org/covenant-gatherings.html
Sunday schedule for today:
9:00 - Adult Education with Zoom
10:00 - Worship via videos on the Worship Page
11:00 - Transition from worship to coffee time with Zoom
9:00 - Adult Education with Zoom
10:00 - Worship via videos on the Worship Page
11:00 - Transition from worship to coffee time with Zoom
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