GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

May 6, 2012

Loving God & Our Neighbors in the Heart of the City

WELCOME TO GRACE COVENANT!

We are an historic Presbyterian congregation offering traditional worship and multiple ministries for persons of all ages. Please join us after worship for fellowship in the Social Room.
Thank you for turning off your cell phones, pagers, cameras, and other electronic devices during worship, and for leaving food and beverages outside the sanctuary. Interim Pastor: Director of Music: Administrative Assistant: Bookkeeper: Temporary Sexton: Child Development Center Director: Student Assistant for Christian Ed: Brint Keyes Christopher Martin Vanessa Strait Martha Rubin James Greene Nicole Williams Christopher Tweel

1627 Monument Avenue Richmond, VA 23220 Phone: 804.359.2463 Fax: 804.278.6298 www.grace-covenant.org info@grace-covenant.org

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Radio: WLES 590 AM www.wlesradio.com

Hearing Aids, Large Print Hymnals, and Bulletins are available each week from the ushers.

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. - Isaiah 40:29
(RSV)

Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. - John 15:4
(NRSV)

Our faith begins at the point where atheists suppose it must be at an end. Our faith begins with the bleakness and power which is the night of the cross, abandonment, temptation and doubt about everything that exists! Our faith must be born where it is abandoned by all tangible reality; it must be born of nothingness, it must taste this nothingness and be given it to taste in a way that no philosophy of nihilism can imagine. - Hans-Joachim Iwand

A SERVICE OF WORSHIP
May 6, 2012 Fifth Sunday of Easter 10:55 a.m.

WE GATHER TO GLORIFY GOD

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Please fill out the communication card and place it in the offering plate during the offertory. PRELUDE Communion (Messe basse)
Please stand for these parts of the service.

Louis Vierne

(1870-1937)

CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader: People: All:

from Isaiah 55 Rev. Charles Sutton

Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the evil man his thoughts; let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. Let us worship God!

HYMN 21(Red Hymnal)

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Hymn to Joy

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Most gracious and forgiving God, our Father: You have promised mercy through Jesus Christ to all who repent and believe in Him. We confess that we have all missed the mark of keeping Your law and commandments. We hold envy toward others, and desire what our neighbors have. We speak hurtful words to those around us, even to those whom we love. We are quick to criticize others and fail to offer our guidance and assistance. Eagerly we take, but we are hesitant to give. We are surrounded by people in need yet we look in a different direction. We praise our church buildings and seek our own comfort instead of giving praise to Your love, grace and salvation. Our hearts are cold, Lord, for lack of the warmth of the Holy Spirit. Have mercy upon us merciful Father! In Jesus, Your Son, is our salvation; in Your promises is our hope. Help us to live in Your light, and walk in Your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON EASTERTIDE ALLELUIA

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 My Eternal King Jane Marshall (b.1924)

My God, I love Thee; not because I hope for heavn thereby, Nor yet because who love Thee not Must die eternally. Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me upon the cross embrace; For me didst bear the nails and spear, And manifold disgrace; Why, then why, O blessed Jesus Christ, Should I not love Thee well? Not for the hope of winning heavn Or of escaping hell; Not with the hope of gaining aught, Not seeking a reward; But as Thyself hast loved me, O ever-loving Lord! Een so I love Thee, and will love, And in Thy praise will sing; Solely because Thou art my God, And my Eternal King!
- Poem (anonymous), 17th century Latin tr. by Reverend Edward Caswall

DOXOLOGY 592 (Blue Hymnal) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Old Hundredth

Ed Adams

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Ed Adams

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Isaiah 40:27-31

Holy Bible, p. 635 OT Ed Adams

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. CHILDRENS SERMON EPISTLE READING Acts 8:26-40 Christopher Tweel Holy Bible, p. 121 NT Jo Garber Holy Bible, p. 105 NT

GOSPEL READING

John 15:1-8

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. SERMON HYMN 404 (Blue Hymnal) AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Risen Christ: Jesus Power Precious Lord, Take My Hand The Apostles Creed B. Brinton P. Keyes
Precious Lord

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

GLORIA PATRI 579 (Blue Hymnal) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen. SACRAMENT OF THE LORDS SUPPER AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORDS PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Greatorex

WE GO FORTH IN GODS NAME

HYMN 368 (Red Hymnal) BENEDICTION CHORAL RESPONSE POSTLUDE Come and Fill Our Hearts with Your Peace Wedding March No. 1 Taiz Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less Solid Rock

Please join us in the Social Room following worship for refreshments and fellowship. The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of James B. Roberts, Ann and Bill Van Steenburgh, Vicky Roberts Giblin and Ethel Jones Gray by Cal and Lisa Gray.

Continue to pray for: Willie Alford, at home recuperating from surgery; Ben Gordon, for health, and his mother Alice, undergoing chemo; Ann Pais daughter-in-law Jane, with cancer, and nephew Paul, with ALS; Juliette Harriman White; Susan Farrells grandmother, Mary Lou (Uh Oh) and father, Jim; Svetlana Chicus mother, Estera, with lymphoma; Evelyn Turner; Peter Albertis; Rosie and George Turner; Nela Bostian Our Christianity Explored outreach that began April 18, and this summers Vacation Bible School, that God would use both to plant and nurture seeds of faith Erika Tabor and Carlos Juara, facing vocational challenges; and Leslie Hartmans community garden ministry Our Session, that they may faithfully lead us by humbly following Gods Word; and our Pastor Nominating Committee, that they might seek faithfully and listen patiently to discern the pastor whom God is calling to Grace Covenant Beth Lloyd Daniel Reas, Stuart Chapman, William Bridenstine, David Russell, Chris Pais, and Mike Child, serving in our nations Armed Forces The people of Egypt, Libya and Syria, as they seek peaceful ways forward for their countries; the governments of Iran and Israel, that they may pursue peaceful coexistence rather than mutual aggression; and the people of Haiti and the Midwest US, as they continue to recover from natural disasters Missionaries we support: Elizabeth Gee, for protection and blessing while on travel to Southeast Asia May 5 June 9; Valentin and Svetlana Chicu in Moldova; The Zobule family in the Solomon Islands, facing employment uncertainty; Beth Baleke in Uganda For the Spirit of Resurrection in Metropolitan Richmond: For spiritual renewal, leading to prayer and care for all regardless of race, national origin, religion, income, or neighborhood ...

Louis Vierne (1870-1937) was one of the most important French Romantic organists of his time. Vierne was an organ student of Csar Franck, who possessed perhaps the richest harmonic palette in Western music. Viernes music clearly reflects the influence of his teacher. His most important post was as organist at Notre-Dame de Paris from 1900-1937. He is best-known for his six organ symphonies and shorter free-style organ works. Viernes legacy also encompasses less well-known works for the organ, including an earlier work, Messe basse (1912). Communion from the Low Mass is a meditative prelude which was written for the Grand Orgue at Notre-Dame. Jane Marshalls anthem My Eternal King was composed in 1954. Church choral music at the time, having experienced no major changes for several years, was on a plateau. When this anthem came into print, it immediately changed the entire landscape of American sacred choral music. It was uniquely different. Based on a translation of a 17th-century Latin text, My Eternal King progresses from a serene introduction to a magnificent climax which seems to reach for the heavens. Carefully coupled to the text, the musicwith its colorful harmonics for the organhas, at times, utterly simple chords for the singer. Even with its old English text, My Eternal King remains a favorite in the repertoire of thousands of church choir directors and singers. Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) was a leading Jewish composer who was born in Switzerland. Bloch is remembered for his orchestral, choral, and chamber music. He composed only ten works for the organ, including four wedding marches. Todays postlude is a stately wedding processional and by far the most popular of the four marches.

The Junior Choir (grades 1-5) will have their final rehearsal for the season this Wednesday, May 9, at 5:00 p.m., with a pizza and ice cream party at 5:30 p.m. in the Vanguard Room. The Junior Choir will sing for the last time this season on Mothers Day next Sunday, (May 13). Chancel Choir rehearsals continue through Wednesday, May 16. The Chancel Choirs last Sunday for the season is June 10.

Vacation Bible School

Save the date!! Vacation Bible School this year will take place June 24 (Sunday) - June 28 (Thursday). This is the week after the week of Father's Day. Mark the date now on your calendars; more information will follow. If you can be of help to any part of this ministry, please contact Christopher Tweel at christopher.tweel@upsem.edu or call 304-4881610. Thanks!

Older Adult Sunday May 6

Today is Older Adult Sunday where we will be recognizing and giving thanks for those among us whose faithfulness in ministry has spanned the decades, and upon whose shoulders the Church stands.

Stewardship of our Buildings

While our sexton Willie Alford is on sick leave, the Property Committee has hired James Greene to handle many of Willies duties. He is here on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; please introduce yourself if you see him and welcome him to Grace Covenant. The committee has also asked Wayne Casey to coordinate our temporary janitorial work with church volunteers and cleaning duties at the church. If you have any questions, concerns or requests, please contact Wayne at 804-222-3468 or by email at caseywt1@verizon.net. Thank you.

Flower Donations
We need someone to donate flowers for Sunday, July 29, 2012.
Please contact Lisa Gray at 804-673-0587 or by email at c.lgray@comcast.net if you are interested.

Sunday Mornings
CLASS
(all begin at 9:30am)

TOPIC

TEACHER

Forum (Room B-7) Next week Grace Bible (Room 212) Vanguard (Room B-4) Connections (Room 303)

Did Jesus Really Have to Die? The three epistles of John The Book of Galatians (no information)

Tom Miller

Christopher Tweel
Jack Corley Matt Johnson

Disciple Bible Study and Community Group will not be meeting next week, Sunday, May 13, due to Mothers Day.

Sunday Afternoons
DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY is a 34-week in-depth Bible
study for small groups. Led by a trained facilitator, the study includes 30 minutes of daily reading and a weekly 2-1/2 hour seminar. If the curriculum looks appealing, then youre invited to consider signing up for the next class. Here are the topics for the coming week: Week 15: Hope People Hope for a Savior
Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Daniel 1-3 (young Daniel and his three friends, the fiery furnace) Daniel 4-6 (two kings, Daniel in the lions den) Daniel 7; 12 Messiah and end times) Isaiah 24-27 (apocalypse of Isaiah); 53-55; 65 (suffering servant, vision of Gods kingdom) Zechariah 9 (the coming king); Isaiah 9:1-7; 11:2-10; 42:1-9; Micah 5:2-4; Malachi 3-4 (future hope of Israel) Read and respond to The Bible Teaching and Marks of Discipleship.

Wednesday Evenings
Join us this Wednesday, May 9, at 6:00 p.m. Menu: Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad & apple crisp This weeks program is THE CROSS: Why Did Jesus Die?, the fourth in our sevenweek Christianity Explored series (go to www.christianityexplored.org for more information). Bring a friend for a free meal and a great discussion!

Grace Covenant needs summer volunteers for the preschool room. We are asking volunteers to commit to only one Sunday this summer. Volunteers would arrive to lead Sunday school (9:30) and stay in the preschool room through the worship hour (12:15). Although it is a longer time frame than required during the school year, the intention is to ask for a commitment of only one Sunday for the entire summer. Volunteers are needed every Sunday beginning on May 27th through September 2nd. Please contact Carson Price (928 -4875, chefcarson@alacarson.com). Fathers are encouraged to sign-up!

Bread Breakers is Saturday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Bairds home which is located at 1704 Hanover Avenue. Please bring a yummy dish to share. Contact Brian at 804-355-4703/brian.baird5@verizon.net or Katherine at klaybourn@verizon.net.

Honduras Mission Yard Sale BenefitJune 9

SPRING CLEANING? Once again, a collaborative yard sale will be held to benefit the Honduras Mission. Immanuel Episcopal Church in Old Church, Grace Covenant's partner in this important mission, has once again agreed to host the event and to supply all the manpower. We are looking for "STUFF!" In anticipation of the yard sale on SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE 9, please begin to set aside items for donation. Watch for further announcements concerning where and when your donations will be picked up. Many thanks! Ron David and Susan Pillsbury David can be reached at 804-328-2207 or by email at clwturtle@aol.com

THIS WEEK AT GRACE COVENANT

Sunday, May 6 9:15 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:55 a.m. 12:00 noon 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. OLDER ADULT SUNDAY Prayer Sunday School Worship Service Fellowship Hour Lunch for Disciple & Community Group Disciple Bible Study Community Group Discussion Social Room Various Rooms Sanctuary Social Room Fellowship Hall Room 303 Fellowship Hall

Monday, May 7 12:00 noon Tuesday, May 8 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

Mens Luncheon

Vanguard Room

PW Circle 3 Social Room PW Circle 2 Covenant Room PW Circle 4 205 Kinloch Road Staff Meeting Room 213 Care Team Meeting Pastors Office Finance Committee Room 213 Worship Committee Meeting Vanguard Room Missions Committee Meeting Christian Education Committee Meeting Library Junior Choir (grades 1-5) rehearsal Wednesday Night Live Chancel Choir rehearsal Choir Room Fellowship Hall Choir Room

Wednesday, May 9 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:15 p.m. Thursday, May 10 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 12 2:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 13

Mothers Together

Fellowship Hall

VCU English Department Graduation Sanctuary Bread Breakers 1704 Hanover Avenue (The Bairds) Mothers Day Prayer Sunday School Worship Service Fellowship Hour

9:15 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:55 a.m. 12:00 noon

Social Room Various Rooms Sanctuary Social Room

2012 Officers
Our Elders serve the church as leaders. Our Deacons lead the church in service. Please feel free to approach them with any questions or feedback about Grace Covenants ministries. CLERK OF SESSION: Everett Reveley

ELDERS: Jordan Ball (14) - Nominating (M); Finance Kent Cardwell (12) - Fellowship (M) Matt Hartman (13) - Mission (M) Virginia Hudson (14) - Evangelism (M) Cheryl Jacobs (12) - Worship (M); Fellowship Katie McCullough (13) - Administration (M) Dana McKnight (14) - Finance, Worship Christof Meyer (12) - Christian Ed (M), CDC (M) Tom Miller (12) - Christian Education Joy Nevin (14) - Administration Everett Reveley (12) - Finance (M) Robert Rosebro (13) - Property (M) Rob Turner (14) - Worship, Nominating DEACONS: Pat Ball (12) - Flowers Cherry Corley (12) - Communication Cards Susan Farrell (12) - Transportation, Care Team Nikki Hazlegrove (13) - Vice-Moderator - Meals Jan Kessel (14) - Care Team Jim McCullough (13) - Deacons Fund, Nominating Ann Pais (14) - Care Team Erika Tabor (14) - Secretary - Communication Cards Judy Waldron (14) - Moderator - Cards Dawson Watkins (13) - Care Team Carol Wood (13) - Prayer, Communication Cards Sid Yates (12) - Ushering

TODAY (May 6 ): Opener Rick Nochta Greeters Bob Copeland Nursery Worker Carson Price Elementary Sunday School Katherine Baird/Big Tent Worship Kits Lewis Rosebro

NEXT SUNDAY (May 13): Opener Whit Whitley Greeters Nursery Worker Mary Gray; Elementary Sunday School Virginia Hudson; Worship Kits Lewis Rosebro

SERMON NOTES
The Risen Christ: Jesus Power B. BRINTON P. KEYES