Covenant Church
an ecumenical liberal baptist congregation
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A Service of Worship for
The Second Sunday of Lent

February 28, 2021


Picture
The gospel of Jesus 
is not a rational concept 
to be explained in a theory of salvation, 
but a story about God’s presence 
in Jesus’ solidarity with the oppressed, 
which led to his death on the cross. 

What is redemptive is the faith that 
God snatches victory out of defeat, 
life out of death, 
and hope out of despair.

James H. Cone

Worship Order
Worship notes are included at the bottom of this page and in the Worship Order located at the link below.
With this link you can make a donation to Covenant through PayPal or a credit card. 
Adult Education - TODAY, 9AM
​Today, Lisa Spiro will share her spiritual journey with us. We hope you can join!
​
​​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. 



Prelude
"Jesus, Still Lead On" by Gerald Near. Andrew Bowen, organ.

​Call to Worship

Opening Sentences
We are called on not to mirror
but to challenge culture,
not to sustain
but to upend the status quo,
and if that to some
sounds overly bold,
isn’t it true that God
is always beckoning us
toward horizons
we aren’t sure
we want to reach?


​Scripture Lesson: Mark 8:27-38

​Time for Children

Confession
Unison Confession
Listen! I will be honest with you. I do not offer the old
smooth prizes, but I offer rough new prizes.
 
These are the days that must happen to you:
You shall not heap up what is called riches,
You shall scatter with lavish hand all that you earn or achieve.
However sweet the laid-up stores.
However convenient the dwelling,
You shall not remain there.
However sheltered the port,
​and however calm the waters,
You shall not anchor there.
However welcome the hospitality that welcomes you,
You are permitted to receive it but a little while.
Afoot and lighthearted, take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before you,
The long brown path before you leading wherever you choose.
 
Say only to one another:
Camerado, I give you my hand!
I give you my love more precious than money,
I give you myself before preaching or law:
Will you give me yourself?
​Will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?
​
​Music

"Forth in Thy Name" words by Charles Wesley, music by Judy Sclater. The Covenant Singers, directed by Fran Avera. Carl McAliley, organ.
​​Proclamation
​
​Prayer

We build on foundations we did not lay
We warm ourselves by fires we did not light
We sit in the shade of trees we did not plant
We drink from wells we did not dig
We profit from persons we did not know
This is as it should be.
Together we are more than any one person could be.
Together we can build across the generations.
Together we can renew our hope and faith in the life that is yet to unfold.
Together we can heed the call to a ministry of care and justice.
We are ever bound in community.
May it always be so.
Amen
By Rev. Peter Raible and inspired by Deuteronomy 6:11


​Invitation
​
​Prayer of Dedication

May I, may you, may we
not die unlived lives.
May none of us live in fear
of falling or catching fire.
 
May we choose to inhabit our days,
to allow our living to open us,
to make us less afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen our hearts
until they become wings,
torches, promises.
 
May each of us choose to risk our significance;
to live so that what comes to us as seed
goes to the next as blossom
and that which comes to us as blossom,
goes on as fruit.


Doxology

Affirmation of Faith
Through Jesus’ life and teachings
we see that God’s power consists
not in coercion but in God’s willingness
to forgive and have mercy.
 
God wills nothing less than that
men and women should love their enemies
and forgive one another.
 
Jesus challenged both the militaristic
and ritualistic notions of what God’s kingdom required.
 
He issued this challenge not only through his teaching
but through his life. The announcement of the reality
of the kingdom, its presence here and now,
is embodied in life.
In him we see that living a life of forgiveness and peace
is not an impossible ideal
but an opportunity now present.


Benediction

Postlude
"The Wayfaring Stranger"  Old Southern Melody, arr. Cindy Berry. Karen Kline, piano.

Worship Notes

The worship leader is Amy Corron.

The Lent banner was created by Nancy Henry.

The prelude is played by Andrew Bowen, organ.

The Call to Worship is from War Talk by Arundhati Roy.

The Opening Sentences are from Credo by William Sloane Coffin.

The Unison Confession is from “Song of the Open Road” by Walt Whitman.

The Covenant Singers sang “Forth in Thy Name,” directed by Fran Avera, from November 16, 2014.

The Prayer of Dedication is a prayer by Dawna Markova from Prayers for a Thousand Years edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon.

The postlude is played by Karen Kline, piano.


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

Copyright (c) 2021, Covenant Church
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Covenant Church
4949 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004
office@covenanthouston.org
713-668-8830
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