A Service of Worship for
The Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 14, 2021
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Adult Education - TODAY, 9AM
During Adult Education this Sunday, please join Laura Mayo to discuss substitutionary atonement. What is substitutionary atonement? Why is substitutionary atonement problematic? Where did the idea come from? If we don’t buy into substitutionary atonement then why did Jesus die on the cross? What theological meanings does Jesus’ death on the cross have? 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. |
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Prelude
"Our Father, Thou In Heaven Above" by J.S. Bach. Andrew Bowen, organ. Call to Worship Opening Prayer God of Justice, whenever we settle for the way things are instead of the way you would have them to be, forgive us. Whenever we are paralyzed by fear or limited in vision, increase our trust in you. Whenever we offer charity, but fail to work for justice, show us the more excellent way that your love requires. Whenever we tire of the struggle and tomorrow feels overwhelming, restore our hope. Whenever we forget those who have gone before us or act as if we were the first to follow in the way of peace, allow us to recognize our arrogance. May the resources of our faith encourage us to dream again. Amen. Scripture Lesson: Ephesians 2:1-22
Hymn "Oh Christ, the Great Foundation" words by Timothy Tingfang Lew. The Covenant Singers. Patrick Parker, organ. Time for Children 
Confession Unison Confession
O God, You have called us to peace, for You are Peace itself. May we have the vision to see that each of us, in some measure, can help to realize these aims: Where there are ignorance and superstition, Let there be enlightenment and knowledge. Where there are prejudice and hatred, Let there be acceptance and love. Where there are fear and suspicion, Let there be confidence and trust. Where there are tyranny and oppression, Let there be freedom and justice. Where there are poverty and disease, Let there be prosperity and health. Where there are strife and discord, Let there be harmony and peace. Amen.
Music "A Hymn to God" by John Ness Beck. The Covenant Singers, directed by Fran Avera. |
Proclamation
Prayer 
Invitation
Prayer of Dedication Often we are found in our grief and comforted calmed by some kindness brought alive again by beauty that catches us undefended. Even when the sun is most thin and far even at the hour the storm is at its height we can go through renewal nests within sorrow love abides, ever beyond anger, beyond death. We are held in an embrace invisible but infinite moving with all creation between wholeness and fragmentation moving always toward the one. Small joys and great sorrows pass and we, with steps uncertain, move on to whatever is next but continually seen, heard, held by Life infinite and remote, intimate and abiding. Love, do not let us go. Amen. Doxology
Affirmation of Faith It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing. It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy. mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic. I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the moon, "Yes!" It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for the children. It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back. Benediction Postlude "Menuet" from Partita No. 1 by J.S. Bach. Karen Kline, piano. | |||
Worship Notes
The worship leader is Clinton Gambill.
The Lent banner was created by Nancy Henry.
The prelude is played by Andrew Bowen, organ.
The Call to Worship is from When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön.
The Opening Prayer is adapted from a prayer by J. Bennett Guess.
The Unison Confession is adapted from Gates of Prayer, The New Union Prayer Book, Central Conference of American Rabbis.
“A Hymn to God” is sung by The Covenant Singers, Fran Avera, directing, from March 25, 2016.
The Prayer of Dedication is “Love Abides” by Barbara Pescan.
The postlude is played by Karen Kline, piano.
The worship leader is Clinton Gambill.
The Lent banner was created by Nancy Henry.
The prelude is played by Andrew Bowen, organ.
The Call to Worship is from When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön.
The Opening Prayer is adapted from a prayer by J. Bennett Guess.
The Unison Confession is adapted from Gates of Prayer, The New Union Prayer Book, Central Conference of American Rabbis.
“A Hymn to God” is sung by The Covenant Singers, Fran Avera, directing, from March 25, 2016.
The Prayer of Dedication is “Love Abides” by Barbara Pescan.
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
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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