GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

March 4, 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 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

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness. - Romans 4:13-14, 19-22 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, [Jesus] said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. - Mark 8:34-35 When we get our spiritual house in order, we'll be dead. This goes on. You arrive at enough certainty to be able to make your way, but it is making it in darkness. Don't expect faith to clear things up for you. It is trust, not certainty. - Flannery O'Connor, "Letter to Louise Abbott" The radical is that unique person who actually believes what he says. - Saul Alinsky

A SERVICE OF WORSHIP
March 4, 2012 The Second Sunday in Lent 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 I Lay My Sins on Jesus Aaron David Miller

Chorale Prelude on the Hymn Tune Munich Please stand for these parts of the service.

(b. 1972)

CALL TO WORSHIP Leader:

from Psalm 22

I offer my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear God. People: The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him shall praise the LORD! Leader: All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, People: And all the families of the nations shall worship before Him. All: For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations. Praise the LORD!

HYMN 263 (Blue Hymnal)

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

St. Denio

PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of mercy, in Jesus Christ You emptied yourself and took the form of a servant, coming to our world to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have wandered away from Your voice and turned aside from Your costly love. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained, and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, ignored Your truth, and shown ourselves wholly undeserving of Your grace. Lord, have mercy upon us, and forgive us our sins, we pray. Remove from us the weight of sin that clings so closely. Accept our repentance, and nurture in us Your humble Spirit. Deliver us from wayward detours, and return us to paths of righteousness, that our lives may be an offering to You, and we may be fit to serve Your will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON KYRIE

Lord Have Mercy, music by John Merbecke, 1550; arr. Healey Willan, 1930, 1990 by The Presbyterian Hymnal, Westminster/John Knox Press, All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-715262.

WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD

PRESENTATION OF TITHES, OFFERINGS, AND GIFTS
On the first Sunday of each month, in addition to your tithe and regular giving, we receive the "5 Cents Per Meal" offering, which is used to help feed the hungry in Richmond.

ANTHEM

O Saviour of the World

Sir John Goss (1800-1880)

O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us; Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord. Amen. text by Sir John Goss

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

Pete Sizemore

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION OLD TESTAMENT READING Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Pete Sizemore Holy Bible, p. 13 OT

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. CHILDRENS SERMON Leslie Hartman

EPISTLE READING GOSPEL READING

Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38

Holy Bible, p. 146 NT Holy Bible, p. 45 NT

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. SERMON HYMN 368 (Red Hymnal) AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Righteousness of Faith
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less

B. Brinton P. Keyes
Solid Rock

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) 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. Greatorex

SACRAMENT OF THE LORDS SUPPER DISTRUBUTION 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.

WE GO FORTH IN GODS NAME

HYMN 195 (Red Hymnal) BENEDICTION CHORAL RESPONSE POSTLUDE Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord Felix Mendelssohn In the Cross of Christ I Glory Rathbun

Grand plein jeu (Livre dOrgue) Louis-Nicolas Clrambault (1676-1749)

Please join us in the Social Room following worship for refreshments and fellowship. The flowers are given to the glory of God and in memory of my parents and other family members and friends who have completed their time on earth by Jo Garber.

Give thanks for: Stella Schliesers improved health. Continue to pray for: Ann Pais daughter-in-law Jane, with cancer, and nephew Paul, with ALS; Juliette Harriman; Lauren Corby, whose baby is due March 20; Cheryl Jacobs mother, Lucinda, recovering from knee surgery, and her dad, Rolland; Erika Tabor, recovering from foot surgery; 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 Those facing vocational challenges: Erika Tabor and Carlos Juara; 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 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 Health care in Metropolitan Richmond: For persons living with HIV/AIDS and for their families, friends, and communities; for persons working to find a cure; for persons helping to develop new treatment options, and for persons who provide the finances to support HIV/AIDS research, education, and prevention efforts.

Aaron David Miller is widely renowned as both a performer and a composer. His specialties include performances of early music on organ and harpsichord, as well as organ improvisation. His compositions range from song cycles and musical theater works to sacred choral and organ works. Miller is a sought-after concert organist and composer who currently serves as Director of Music at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis. His chorale prelude on the German hymn tune MUNICH (1693) opens with an improvisatory Arabesque, followed by the chorale tune played in the pedal. The inventive prelude concludes with the opening thematic material. John Goss was an English composer, chiefly of English cathedral music and hymnody. His position in the London musical world was an influential one as a teacher, writer, composer, and critic. In 1838 Goss became organist of St Paul's Cathedral where he wrote many of his anthems and hymn-tunes for special services in the Cathedral. Some authorities consider his anthems to be the finest examples of Victorian church music. Soon after he resigned from his post as organist at St. Pauls in 1872, he was knighted by Queen Victoria. He is buried at St. Pauls Cathedral. O Saviour of the World is one of his most cherished choral anthems. Louis-Nicolas Clrambault was thoroughly grounded in the French classic style of music, but was also influenced by the Italian music that became popular in Paris in the early eighteenth century. He was well-known during his lifetime as an organist as well as a composer of keyboard works. Todays postlude comes from Clrambaults Premier Livre dOrgue which is his only known work for organ and dates from 1710.

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 is one open date that is available, April 29. 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.

WORSHIP SUPPORT FOR TODAY (March 4): Opener Jake Savage; Greeter Bob Copeland; Nursery Worker Gay Moss; Elementary Sunday School Katherine Baird; Worship Kits Evelyn Tower; Fellowship Hour Doris Farquhar WORSHIP SUPPORT FOR NEXT SUNDAY (March 11): Opener Lloyd Bostian; Greeters Megan Meyer and Cherry Corley; Nursery Worker Jo Garber; Elementary Sunday School Virginia Hudson; Worship Kits Evelyn Tower; Fellowship Hour needed CARITAS: We are blessed by the visit of about 40 women this week as part of the CARITAS ministry. CARITAS stands for Churches Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter, and we are grateful that God has blessed us with a building that this vital ministry of hospitality can make use of. Thanks to members of the Appich Family, PW Circles 3 & 4, the Community Group, the Deacons, the Chancel Choir, the Food Committee, and other church members who have volunteered to serve dinner to our guests, provide laundry services, and remain overnight as hosts. Thanks also to Kent Cardwell for coordinating this ministry. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me inasmuch as you did it unto one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it unto me (Matthew 25) Reminder DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME begins next Sunday, March 11. Dont forget to turn your clocks forward one hour.

CONNECTIONS: with Brian Baird and/or Christof Meyer. Next weeks topic, March 11 will be on Corporate Prayer (thanksgiving, illumination, etc.) Connection Class meets on the third floor in Room 303 FORUM CLASS: Tom Miller has begun a series on Did Christ Really Have to Die? Room B-7 GRACE BIBLE CLASS: Reformed Tradition with John Nevin. Room 212 VANGUARD CLASS: Gospel of Matthew with Matt Johnson. Room B-4
Infants, 0-16 months old Toddlers, 17 months2 years old Preschoolers, 3 and 4 year olds Kindergarten2nd grade Grades 3rd6th Nursery Main Level Room 102 Room 101 Rooms 207-210 Rooms 207-210

DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY: This year GCPC began offering DISCIPLE, 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. Each Sunday the bulletin lists the topic and assignments for the coming week to give the congregation an idea about what the course covers. If the curriculum looks appealing, then youre invited to consider signing up for the next class. Week 7: Leadership The People Without a King Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Joshua 1-3 (entering the land, Rahab and the spies) Joshua 4-6 (memorial stones, fall of Jericho); 7 (Achans sin); 8 (battle of Ai); 24 (covenant at Shechem, death of Joshua) Judges 1-2 (incomplete conquest, apostasy); 4-5 (Deborah) Judges 6-8 (Gideon); 10:6-12:7 (Jephthah) Judges 13-16 (Samson) (readings in textbook)

*NOTE There will be no WNL this week, Wednesday, March 7, due to CARITAS

Why are we here? Where are we going? "In the beginning..." began the Christian journey. WNL adopts the journey as "Christianity Explored." We will delve into sin, specialness of Jesus, life's purpose, the afterlife and much more. Each table will become interactive. This is not for the weakhearted but for the believer, skeptic, and non-believer. Invite your friends and neighbors as we explore the Christian life.

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 welcomerunners, 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.

Loaves and Fishes Fund Update: The Loaves and Fishes Fund is a new opportunity to give to local families in need and international missions work. Pledges of up to $1000 per month will be matched by an anonymous donor. For those who intend to pledge but have not yet done so, please turn in your pledge cards by Sunday March 4th. We are also seeking input about families known to our congregation that we might be able to help with this fund. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Hartman (212-1961, mchartman@vcu.edu).

THIS WEEK AT GRACE COVENANT

Sunday, March 4 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. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. CARITAS Handbell Choir Rehearsal Mission Study Team Prayer Sunday School Worship Service Fellowship Hour Lunch for Disciple & Community Group Disciple Bible Study Community Group Discussion CARITAS Mens Luncheon CARITAS Staff Meeting Care Team Meeting Deacons Meeting Worship Committee Meeting CARITAS Carol Choir (ages 3K) rehearsal Junior Choir (grades 1-6) rehearsal Nominating Committee CARITAS Chancel Choir rehearsal CARITAS ENDS Bread Breakers Handbell Room Vanguard Room Social Room Various Rooms Sanctuary Social Room Fellowship Hall Room 303 Fellowship Hall Vanguard Room

Monday, March 5 12:00 noon Tuesday, March 6 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 7 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 8 7:15 p.m. Saturday, March 10 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 11 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.

Room 213 Room 200 Vanguard Room Library Choir Room Choir Room Room 213

Choir Room 211 Queen Charlotte Road Social Room Various Rooms Sanctuary Social Room Fellowship Hall Room 303 Fellowship Hall

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS Prayer Sunday School Worship Service Fellowship Hour Lunch for Disciple & Community Group Disciple Bible Study Community Group Discussion

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 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 MISSION STUDY TEAM: John Nevin (M) Matt Johnson (Co-M) Brian Baird Matt Hartman Christof Meyer Everett Reveley Brint Keyes (ex officio) (M=Moderator)

YOU C

N HELP!

Grace Covenant has been giving nonperishable foods items to the William Byrd Community House for several years to assist in filling their food pantry. The William Byrd Community House maintains a food closet that serves Richmond City and the adjacent counties. When available, their food pantry also provides individuals with the basic household items and toiletries to maintain themselves and their families. These are everyday items that Food Stamp dollars will not cover and may be very costly to a low-income family. We have partnered with this ministry by giving non-perishable food items. In the past Grace Covenant has collected food one Sunday a month, but this is a collection we can support every week. Items can be placed in the grocery cart outside of the Social Room. YOU CAN HELP!

SERMON NOTES
The Righteousness of Faith B. BRINTON P. KEYES