A Service of Worship for
January 24, 2021
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There is so much
I want to say, as if the saying could prepare you for this path, as if there were anything I could offer that would make your way less circuitous, more smooth. Once you step out you will see for yourself how nothing could have made you ready for this road that will take you from what you know now to what you cannot perceive except, perhaps, in your dreaming or as it gives a glimpse in prayer. But I can tell you this journey is not about miles. It is not about how far you can walk or how fast. It is about what you will do with this moment, this star that blazes in your sky though no one else might see. So open your heart to these shimmering hours by which your path is made. Open your eyes to the light that shines on what you will need to see. Open your hands to those who go with you, those seen and those known only by their blessing, their benediction of the road that is your own. Jan Richardson |
We light the Christ candle this morning in honor of Charliene Hooker. Charliene died this past Wednesday. She was a long-time member of our congregation and will be greatly missed.
Adult Education - TODAY, 9AM
This Sunday Richard Johnson will share his spiritual journey. 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 and discuss the elements of worship we find particularly meaningful. After that, we will transition into “rooms" for coffee time. Log in details on the Online Gatherings page. 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.
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Prelude
"Be Still, My Soul" by Jean Sibelius, arr. Cindy Berry; Karen Kline, piano. Call to Worship Opening Prayer From the midst of our real lives with their very real problems, We come to seek courage and strength from the presence of God and the support of one another. As persons who love imperfectly and are loved imperfectly, We come to be renewed by the perfect love of God, proclaimed in this community of love and faith. As persons who never fully live up their high calling in Jesus, We come to be encouraged to do our best for one more week. Let us worship, with hearts open to the love of God, with hands outstretched to one another, and with whole selves willing to accept the cost and joy of being Christ’s disciples. Amen. Scripture Lesson: Mark 1:14-20 Music "Hush!" African-American Spiritual, arr. Alice Parker; Fran Avera, conducting. Time for Children Confession Unison Confession
God of Grace- We confess: You call us, but we do not want to hear. You call us, but it sounds so unreasonable. You call us, but we seem so ill-equipped. You call us, but we are not ready. You call us. God of Grace- We pray: Like the hound of heaven, pursue each one of us; be tenacious in your calling, for your sake and for our world's sake. Proclamation
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Hymn
"Jesus Calls Us O'er the Tumult" led by Karen Kline, piano and The Covenant Singers.
Prayer "From Closed to Open” a prayer by Dave McNeely *you are invited to hold out your hands in front of you and then to ball your hands into fists Loving Lord, We come to you today with the temptation to remain closed and guarded. After all we have been through over the past year, we close our hearts for fear of any further pain. We close our minds and retreat to the comfort of what we have always known We close our hands because we feel defensive, even attacked But God, we also know that closed minds do not learn, Closed hearts cannot love, And closed hands cannot give. And all that cannot learn or love or give Can only shrivel up and die. *you are invited to unclench your fists and open your hands with your palms raised to the sky So, God of life - God of our learning, God of love, God of giving - We ask that You would open our minds to a new season of growth. We ask that You would open our hearts to a deeper well of love. And we ask that You open our hands, not only to receive these blessings but to pass them on to those around us in need. When we open ourselves to You, a whole new world of possibilities emerges, and the new world we so desperately need begins to take shape. In the name of Jesus, who opened Himself up to the deepest gift of love, we pray, Amen. -Dave McNeely Invitation
Prayer of Dedication Trusting God is not an assurance that whatever we do, all will work out well. It is instead confidence that God’s call is wise and good. It is sensitizing ourselves to this call so that we can be led and guided by it. It is the renewed willingness to give up the security we experience in ideas and customs and to enter into the adventure of the trusting life. Doxology
Affirmation of Faith One reason we are Christians is that we would like to follow Christ more than we do… Deep down we know that our lives are too cluttered with things and that we fall short of the simpler living to which Christ calls us. Our lives have not caught up with our better intentions. At best, we are but Christians in the making. Benediction Postlude "Fuga 'alla Handel'" Opus 49, No. 6; by Alexandre Guilmant; Carl McAliley, organ. |
Worship Notes
The worship leader is KT Tilford.
The prelude is played by Karen Kline, piano.
The Call to Worship is adapted from Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Christ’s Teachings About Love, Compassion, and Forgiveness by Wendell Berry.
The Opening Prayer is from Bread for the Journey edited by Ruth C. Duck.
“Hush!” is sung by The Covenant Singers, directed by Fran Avera, from May 6, 2018.
The Unison Confession is by Jay Leach.
The Prayer of Dedication was adapted from Process Theology: An Introductory Exposition by John Cobb and David Griffin.
The Affirmation of Faith is adapted from Living from the Center: Spirituality in an Age of Consumerism by Jay McDaniel.
The postlude is played by Carl McAliley, organ.
Additional Links:
Poor People’s Campaign: 14 Policy Priorities to Heal the Nation: A Moral and Economic Agenda for the First 100 Days
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/14-policy-priorities-to-heal-the-nation-a-moral-and-economic-agenda-for-the-first-100-days?source=facebook&&fbclid=IwAR17dJnBwjj57IeHJE9qU-3ejMDf5bin5OFzns0NP-_Vr3Dky66mssFOpSM
Christians Against Christian Nationalism: https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/statement
The worship leader is KT Tilford.
The prelude is played by Karen Kline, piano.
The Call to Worship is adapted from Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Christ’s Teachings About Love, Compassion, and Forgiveness by Wendell Berry.
The Opening Prayer is from Bread for the Journey edited by Ruth C. Duck.
“Hush!” is sung by The Covenant Singers, directed by Fran Avera, from May 6, 2018.
The Unison Confession is by Jay Leach.
The Prayer of Dedication was adapted from Process Theology: An Introductory Exposition by John Cobb and David Griffin.
The Affirmation of Faith is adapted from Living from the Center: Spirituality in an Age of Consumerism by Jay McDaniel.
The postlude is played by Carl McAliley, organ.
Additional Links:
Poor People’s Campaign: 14 Policy Priorities to Heal the Nation: A Moral and Economic Agenda for the First 100 Days
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/14-policy-priorities-to-heal-the-nation-a-moral-and-economic-agenda-for-the-first-100-days?source=facebook&&fbclid=IwAR17dJnBwjj57IeHJE9qU-3ejMDf5bin5OFzns0NP-_Vr3Dky66mssFOpSM
Christians Against Christian Nationalism: https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/statement
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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