GRACE COVENANT

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Awakening a Love for Christ in the Heart of Richmond
April 28, 2013 The Fifth Sunday of Easter 10:55 a.m.

WE GATHER TO GLORIFY GOD

Please fill out the communication card and place it in the offering plate during the offertory. WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE Balleto del Granduca

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, 1562-1621

CALL TO WORSHIP One: Many: One: Many: One: Many: All:

from Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the LORD is God! It is He that made us, and we are His; We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him, bless His name! For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.

HYMN 207 (Red Hymnal) Welcome, Happy Morning!

Fortunatus

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Almighty and heavenly Father, In Christ Jesus You bore the burden of our sin, suffering the pain of death, and rising from the dead to new life. But we confess that we have taken Your grace for granted. We rejoice in Your Resurrection, But divert our eyes from the Cross. We proclaim the mercy of Your forgiveness, But disregard its cost to You. We celebrate the blessing of new life in Christ, But continue old habits that keep our Selves on the throne. Lord, have mercy upon us, and forgive us our sins, we pray. Melt our hard hearts with the brilliance of Your glory; Open our eyes to the sins we ignore; And spark in us a longing for holiness; That we may truly repent of self-serving ways, And seek to serve You in newness of life; Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, And in the name of Jesus, Your risen Son, we pray. ASSURANCE OF PARDON EASTERTIDE ALLELUIA
(All sing the Alleluia after the organ introduction.)

Victory

Alleluia, music by William Monk, 1823-1889, 1986 by G.I.A. Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-715262.

WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD

PRESENTATION OF TITHES, OFFERINGS, AND GIFTS

ANTHEM It Is a Good Thing to Give Thanks to the Lord

David Hurd, b. 1950

It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord; and to sing praises to your Name O Most High; to tell of your loving kindness early in the morning, and of your faithfulness in the night season; on the psaltery and on the lyre, and to the melody of the harp. For you have made me glad by your acts, O Lord; and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands. Psalm 92:1-4

DOXOLOGY 592 (Blue Hymnal) PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Old Hundredth Christopher Tweel

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Christopher Tweel

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 49:5-9a Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 148

Holy Bible, p. 644 OT

(See green insert)

NEW TESTAMENT READING Acts 11:1-18 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

Holy Bible, p. 124 NT

SERMON

How God Grows His Church

Brint Pratt Keyes

WE RESPOND TO GODS WORD

HYMN 421 (Blue Hymnal) The Church of Christ in Every Age AFFIRMATION OF FAITH GLORIA PATRI 579 (Blue Hymnal) PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORDS PRAYER The Apostles Creed Wareham Red Hymnal, p. 12 Greatorex Red Hymnal, p. 12

WE GO FORTH TO LOVE AND SERVE

HYMN 504 (Red Hymnal) Weve a Story to Tell to the Nations BENEDICTION AND CHORAL RESPONSE Threefold Amen POSTLUDE Sortie (Pices pour grand orgue) Message

Walter Hall

Joseph Marie Guy Ropartz, 1864-1955

Please join us in the Social Room following worship for refreshments and fellowship. The flowers are given to the glory of God and in honor of The Reverend Mr. Brinton Keyes in appreciation for his care and leadership as our Interim Pastor by Tom and Janet Miller.
1627 Monument Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23220 804-359-2463 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Email: info@grace-covenant.org Website: www.grace-covenant.org Radio: WLES 590 AM Interim Pastor: The Reverend Mr. Brinton Keyes Director of Music: Christopher Martin Administrative Assistant: Vanessa Strait Bookkeeper: Martha Rubin Custodian: James Greene Child Development Center Director: Nicole Williams Seminary Intern: Christopher Tweel