Covenant Church
an ecumenical liberal baptist congregation
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A Service of Worship for
June 14, 2020


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.
​
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We light the Christ candle this morning in honor of Margo Hibler. Margo died earlier this week. She was a vibrant spirit and long-time friend of Covenant who was loved by many.

Prelude
Adagio from Symphonie V by Charles-Marie Widor, Patrick Parker, organ.

​Call to Worship

Opening Sentences
In a fractured age, 
when cynicism is god, 
here is a possible heresy: 
we live by stories, 
we also live in them.  
One way or another 
we are living the stories 
planted in us early 
or along the way, 
or we are also living 
the stories we planted – 
knowingly or unknowingly – 
in ourselves.  
We live stories that either 
give our lives meaning 
or negate it with meaninglessness.  
If we change the stories we live by,
quite possibly we change our lives.


​Scripture Lesson: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

​Time for Children
Elementary Sunday school Lessons can be found here.

​Call to Confession
Unison Confession
We have important work.
But none of us can do this work alone.
As much as we need constructive self-examination
and critical dialogue, we need each other.
 
We may never come to think alike
or to act alike. I hope not.
But by participating in each other’s faith journeys,
by reaching out to each other and sharing in the struggles
to name and claim our theologies,
we can strengthen our public prophetic voice
and deepen our sense of community
and our commitment to a shared faith tradition.

​Music
“Make Me an Instrument”  by Hannah Rice, Dana Guidroz, soprano.
​Proclamation
​
​Hymn

“God of the Women,” the Covenant Singers, text is by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.
​
(You are invited to sing along, the words are within the video.)

​Prayer
Spirit of life, be present with us this hour.

Join us today as we gather in a wider search for truth and purpose. In this quest, may we greet one another with open hearts and minds;

may we inspire each other to consider new questions and seek deeper meaning; and may we cultivate wisdom and compassion. 

And may all that is done and said here today be in service to love and justice.
​- by Kathy Huff

​
​Invitation

​Prayer of Dedication
We join the struggle of those hurting. 
And we commit every breath to work,
march, fight, vote, and organize 
in order to breathe life into the promise of the 
establishment of justice, 
provision for the common defense, 
promotion of the general welfare, 
and the assurance of domestic tranquility
and equal protection under the law. 
Because we are yet alive and breathing,
yet free to stand up,
we commit ourselves to this work
with every breath we have. 
With every breath we have,
we make this declaration to fast from apathy. 
Everybody has a right to live. 
With every breath we have, we declare:
Somebody’s hurting our brothers and our sisters. 
It’s gone on far too long,
​and we won’t be silent any more.

​Affirmation of Faith
Our story is one that explores what happens when, in the face of any circumstance, we choose to have faith. 

Ours is the story of learning to have faith
in our own innate goodness and capacity to love. 

Ours is the story of seeing past
the apparent randomness of happenings to uncover layers and layers of connection. 

Ours is the story of knowing,
even in the midst of great suffering, that we are not cast out and alone. 

​Benediction
And so we leave this worship together even while we are physically apart. We go praying, with our words and actions, for justice.

Postlude
Toccata in E Minor by Johann Pachelbel, Patrick Parker, organ.

Worship Notes

The worship leader is Pat Martin.

The prelude is played by Patrick Parker, organ.

The Call to Worship is from “The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith” by Marcus Borg.  

The Opening Sentences are by Ben Okri. 

The Unison Confession is adapted from Faith without Certainty: Liberal Theology in the 21st Century by Paul Rasor.

“Make Me an Instrument” is sung by Dana Rice Guidroz, soprano. 

“God of the Women” text is by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. 

The Prayer of Dedication is from “Litany for Moral Monday National Day of Fasting and Focus” created by the Poor People's Campaign.

The Affirmation of Faith is adapted from Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience by Sharon Salzberg.


The postlude is played by Patrick Parker, organ.
Copyright (c) 2020, Covenant Church
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Covenant Church
4949 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004
office@covenanthouston.org
713-668-8830
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