GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

January 22, 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: Sexton: Child Development Center Director: Student Assistant for Christian Ed: Brint Keyes Christopher Martin Vanessa Strait Martha Rubin Willie Alford Nicole Williams (Acting) 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

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it. - Jonah 3:10 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him. - Mark 1:14-20 Divine forgiveness is absolutely unconditional. We are not forgiven because we are not very bad. We are not forgiven because we are trying to be good. We are not forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. We are not forgiven because we have suffered; as the iniquity of Jerusalem was pardoned because she had received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. In the Old Testament forgiveness is always conditioned upon the repentance and suffering of the sinner; in the New Testament repentance grows out of forgiveness. We are forgiven because we are sinners. Forgiveness is the form God's love takes when it rests upon sin. - Edward Judson (1844-1914), The Outlook, v. XCVII, Lyman Abbott, ed., Outlook Co., 1911, p. 748

A SERVICE OF WORSHIP
January 22, 2012 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 Prlude Csar Franck

(1822-1890)

Please stand for these parts of the service.

CALL TO WORSHIP

(from Psalm 62)

Leader: For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from Him. People: He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. Leader: In God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God People: Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. All: For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. Praise the LORD!

HYMN 144 (Red Hymnal) I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art

Toulon

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Merciful God, You pardon all who truly repent and turn to You. We humbly confess our sins and ask Your mercy. We have not loved You with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with You, our God. Have mercy on us, O God, and forgive us our sins, we pray. In Your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Cast us not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation and sustain us with Your bountiful Spirit, that we may hereafter bear faithful, righteous, and joyful witness to the Christ who died that we might have new life, for it is in His name that we pray. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON ALLELUIA Taiz

Alleluia, music by Jaques Berthier 1987 by GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-715262.

WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD

OFFERING ANTHEM King of Glory, King of Peace Howard Helvey

(b. 1968)

King of glory, King of peace, I will love Thee; And that love may never cease, I will move Thee. Thou hast granted my request, Thou hast heard me; Thou didst note my working breast, Thou hast spared me. Wherefore with my utmost art I will sing Thee, And the cream of all my heart I will bring Thee. Though my sins against me cried, Thou alone didst clear me; And alone, when they replied, Thou didst hear me. Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise Thee; In my heart, though not in Heaven, I can raise Thee. Small it is, in this poor sort To enroll Thee: Een eternitys too short To extol Thee.
- text by George Herbert (1593-1633)

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

Virginia Hudson

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Virginia Hudson

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Jonah 3:1-10

Holy Bible, p. 814 OT

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. CHILDRENS SERMON JUNIOR CHOIR This Is the Day Brian Baird Mark Burrows

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. This is a day for worship, this is a day for song, a day to praise our gracious Lord who loves us all life long. This is a day for sharing, this is a day for prayer, a day to talk with one who listens, the one whos always there.

EPISTLE READING GOSPEL READING

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20

Holy Bible, p. 161 NT Holy Bible, p. 37 NT

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. SERMON HYMN 353 (Blue Hymnal) AFFIRMATION OF FAITH New Beginnings
Great God, Your Love Has Called Us Here

B. Brinton P. Keyes Das Neugeborne Kindelein

The Apostles Creed

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) 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 281 (Blue Hymnal) BENEDICTION CHORAL RESPONSE POSTLUDE Fourfold Amen (Deutsche Messe) Improvisation No. 4 Franz Schubert Camille Saint-Sans (1835-1921) Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah Cwm Rhondda

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 Gwen Ridenour Freeman, Charles Campbell Ridenour and Charles W. Appich, Jr., by the family.

Pray for: Juliette Harriman; Cheryl Jacobs mother, Lucinda, recovering from knee surgery, and her dad, Rolland; Ella Appich, from a shoulder fracture; Chris Martins mother Brenda, from an ankle fracture; Maurice Bells friend, Van; Erika Tabor, recovering from foot surgery; Sudie and Carol Woods sister Bettie, undergoing chemo; Stella Schlieser; Susan Farrells grandmother, Mary Lou (Uh-Oh) and father, Jim; Svetlana Chicus mother, Estera, with lymphoma; Evelyn Turner; Peter Albertis; Rosie and George Turner; and Nela Bostian Steve Satterfield and Ainura Aitmurzaeva as they negotiate her travel to the US Those facing vocational challenges: Erika Tabor; Carlos Juara; and Logan Moorheads daughter-in-law Sharie Leslie Hartmans community garden ministry, and John Lootens away on travel Our Session, that they may faithfully lead this congregation by humbly following Gods Word; and for the Mission Study Team, that they may discern, together with the congregation, Gods will for GCPC Our Child Development Center, as they seek candidates for Director 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; and the people of Haiti, Japan, New Zealand and Turkey, as they continue to recover from natural disasters Missionaries we support: Elizabeth Gee back in US from Indonesia (fighting cancer); Valentin and Svetlana Chicu in Moldova; The Zobule family in the Solomon Islands, facing employment uncertainty; Beth Baleke in Uganda Overcoming in Christ's name the heritage of racism: To overcome ignorance, indifference, resentment, and bitterness with regard to race in both private and public life.

Csar Franck was one of the most influential figures in the history of French music; his works have had an enormous impact on an entire generation of French composers. Franck was a deeply religious person, and his works often reflect his religious beliefs. The organ was probably his favorite instrument and Franck wrote a large number of pieces for it. Todays prelude is the opening movement of a larger work, his Prlude, Fugue et Variation. Written between 1860 and 1862, it was dedicated to Camille Saint-Sans, himself an organist of considerable skill. The flowing B-minor Prlude has a gentle melody that has often been compared to a shepherd piping his horn. Howard Helvey (b. 1968) resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is active as a composer, arranger and pianist, and serves as organist/choirmaster of historic Calvary Episcopal Church. Known particularly for his published and commissioned choral music, many of Mr. Helveys compositions have been featured on various recordings, national network and PBS television broadcasts, and in eminent concert venues. His anthem King of Glory, King of Peace is paired with a text by George Herbert, a 17th-centruty English poet and Anglican priest. Our Junior Choir joins us this morning, presenting This Is the Day by Mark Burrows. Full of syncopated rhythms and a recurring refrain on Psalm 118:24, this energetic anthem calls for frequent claps and stomps! French Romantic composer Camille Saint-Sans approached the organ very early in life. His works for organ can be divided into three groups: early (1852-1866), classical (18941898), and late (1917-1919). His Seven Improvisations for organ are among his final works. The Improvisations, in particular, look back to the improvisations Saint-Sans regularly included as part of his organist's duties, performances which, contemporary listeners maintained, were so perfectly proportioned and thoroughly worked out they often could not be distinguished from fully notated works.

WORSHIP SUPPORT FOR TODAY (January 22): Opener Rob Rosebro; Greeters Leslie Hartman; Nursery Worker Gay Moss; Elementary Sunday School Virginia Hudson; Worship Kits Jean Appich; Fellowship Hour Lee Farrar and Nell Dickenson WORSHIP SUPPORT FOR NEXT SUNDAY (January 29): Opener Jef Londrey; Greeters Presbyterian Women; Nursery Worker Mary Gray; Elementary Sunday School Janet Chenoweth; Worship Kits Jean Appich; Fellowship Hour NEED VOLUNTEER WNL GLASS OFFICE MONITORS: A special thank you to all the volunteers who monitor the rear entrance from the glass office for Wednesday suppers and WNL. This is a valuable service to the church! The new schedule is on the bulletin board in the glass office and in the mailboxes for elders and deacons.

REFRESHMENTS AT FELLOWSHIP HOUR: The time following worship is an opportunity for members, friends, and guests to enjoy fellowship and grow in community. We are in great need of volunteers to fill this request. Without volunteers this ministry would not happen. Everyone is invited to share in this rewarding ministry of hospitality by agreeing to provide refreshments one Sunday. Coffee and punch are already provided. Only a small snack is needed, such as donuts, cookies, or muffins. Simply sign up using the sheet on the piano in the Social Room, or on the counter in the Glass Office. If you have any questions, please contact Everett Reveley at everett.reveley@gmail.com or 703/4006316. Thank you.

5 CENTS A MEAL OFFERING: On the first Sunday of every month we highlight our 5 cents a Meal offering. 75% of this offering goes toward the PCUSAs national hunger relief program. The other 25% goes to local causes chosen by the Missions Committee. While we highlight this offering on the first Sunday of the month, you are welcome to make donations any Sunday simply use the marked yellow envelopes in your pew. You may also donate money in the specially-marked cans at our Wednesday night suppers. Thank you for your participation in this important mission.

A NOTE FROM THE BOOKKEEPER: Statements are available today, January 22, 2012 in the Narthex. If you have changed your address recently, please make sure we have your updated information.

FLOWER DONATIONS: Throughout the year people (members and friends) will honor or remember special people in their lives by providing donations for flowers. These flowers are displayed in the Sanctuary for Sunday Service. There are two open dates in February, February 5 and February 26. If you would like to participate in this ministry, please contact Lisa Gray at 804-673-0587 or by email at c.lgray@comcast.net. After the service the flower arrangements are often taken to home-bound members or those who are ill.

CONNECTIONS: with Brian Baird and/or Christof Meyer. Room # 303 FORUM SUNDAY CLASS: Nelson Reveley is currently our leader, speaking on the topic of Wisdom from the Early Church. Room B 4 (Basement) GRACE BIBLE CLASS: John Nevin is currently teaching on the Reformed Tradition for the next two weeks. Room # 212 VANGUARD CLASS is beginning to study the Gospel of Matthew with Matt Johnson. Room B 7 (Basement)

Join us this Wednesday, January 25, at 6:00 p.m. Menu includes: Brunswick stew, corn bread, salad bar, fruit cocktail and cookies. Wednesday Night Programs are from 6:30-7:15 p.m. every week in the Fellowship Hall.
PRAYER TIME START A NEW THING IN THE NEW YEAR: Do you enjoy pray-

ing with others or have a sense that God is calling you to pray for others in the life of our church? If so, please come and join the prayer team on Sunday mornings from 9:15-9:30 a.m. in the social room. You just might find out you have the gift of prayer! For prayer requests or questions please contact Carol Wood at 804-282-2446 or cwjer2911@aol.com or the church office. SAVE THE DATE: CARITAS is coming back to Grace Covenant this year. We will need a lot of volunteers to make this successful. Save the date beginning Saturday, March 3, through Saturday, March 10. RUNNING WITH GRACE, 2012: Again this year, some members and friends of Grace Covenant will be running and walking on Monument Avenue each week. We plan to start in the Grace Covenant parking lot at 4:00 p.m. sharp on Sunday afternoon. The pace is flexible and all are welcome - runners, walkers, whatever you may be. Get into the spirit of the 10k with us! Contact Brian Baird at 804.586.4156 or brian.baird5@gmail.com for details. Get your hats and boots and head on over to see the Cotton Patch Gospel presented by the BTSR* Shoestring players, including Cameron Thomas and Christopher Tweel and choreography by Rev. Crystal Sygeel, event coordinator from Union Presbyterian Seminary Richmond Campus. Performances are at Richmond Chapel on the BTSR campus on Brook Road at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, February 2-4, and again February 911. Tickets are $12 ($10 for students) at the Cokesbury bookstore on the Union Presbyterian Seminary campus. * Baptist Theological Seminary of Richmond

THIS WEEK AT GRACE COVENANT

Sunday, January 22 8:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 9:15 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:55 a.m. 12:00 noon 12:30 p.m. Monday, January 23 12:00 noon Tuesday, January 24 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 25 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:15 p.m. Thursday, January 26 9:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, January 28 9:30 a.m. Sunday, January 29 8:30 a.m. 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. Handbell Rehearsal Mission Study Team Prayer Sunday School Worship Service Fellowship Hour Disciple Bible Study Handbell Room Vanguard Room Social Room Various Rooms Sanctuary Social Room Fellowship Hall

Mens Luncheon Staff Meeting Care Team Meeting Carol Choir (ages 3 K) rehearsal Junior Choir (grades 1-6) rehearsal WNL Supper and Program Chancel Choir rehearsal Mothers Together Evangelism Committee Meeting New Members Class

Vanguard Room Room 213 Room 200 Choir Room Choir Room Fellowship Hall Choir Room

Fellowship Hall

Mission Study Team Vanguard Room Prayer Social Room Sunday School Various Rooms Worship Service Sanctuary Fellowship Hour Social Room Lunch for Disciple and Community GroupFellowship Hall Disciple Bible Study Room 303 Community Group Discussion Fellowship Hall

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) Maurice Bell (13) Kent Cardwell (12) Matt Hartman (13) Virginia Hudson (14) Cheryl Jacobs (12) Katie McCullough (13) Dana McKnight (14) Christof Meyer (12) Tom Miller (12) Joy Nevin (14) Everett Reveley (12) Robert Rosebro (13) Rob Turner (14) DEACONS: Pat Ball (12) Cherry Corley (12) Susan Farrell (12) Nikki Hazlegrove (13) Jan Kessel (14) Jim McCullough (13) Ann Pais (14) Erika Tabor (14) Judy Waldron (14) Dawson Watkins (13) Carol Wood (13) Sid Yates (12) MISSION STUDY TEAM: John Nevin (M) Matt Johnson (Co-M) Brian Baird Matt Hartman Christof Meyer Everett Reveley Brint Keyes (ex officio) (M=Moderator)

SERMON NOTES
New Beginnings B. BRINTON P. KEYES