PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

Sunday, March 9, 2014

The needs of the world are too great, the suffering and pain too extensive, the lures of the world too seductive for us to begin to change the world unless we are changed, unless conversion of life and morals becomes our pattern. The status quo is too alluring. It is the air we breathe, the food we eat, the six-thirty news, our institutions, theologies, and politics. The only way we shall break its hold on us is to be transferred to another dominion, to be cut loose from our old certainties, to be thrust under the flood and then pulled forth fresh and newborn. Baptism takes us there. - William H. Willimon The work of spiritual transformation, by which we come to live in God in the midst of our neighborhood, is the most difficult process in the universe. - Mark Labberton Then the prophet Miriam, Aarons sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them: Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea." - Exodus 15:20-21 (NRSV) Vision Statement
As one body of Christ, composed of diverse individuals bound together by the Holy Spirit, we will worship God in a way that not only proclaims Gods glory and identifies His presence in our lives, but also calls us to repent of our sins and kindles due thanks and awe for our creator, sustainer, and redeemer. - from our 2012 Vision Statement Hearing Aids and Large-Print Hymnals are available from the ushers. Our worship service is broadcast live on WLES 590 AM and streamed live on its web-site, http://wles590.com/. For podcasts, go to www.grace-covenant.org, click on We Gather, then on Sermons. Both the sermon and the entire worship service are uploaded every Sunday afternoon. Welcome to Grace Covenant! We are grateful to have you join in worship with us this morning. We are an historic Presbyterian church with a singular mission: to train grateful disciples of Jesus Christ who are doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God. May you be blessed through worship and fellowship this morning.

WORSHIP NOTES
Carl Muellers (1892-1982) training as a composer began at the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. Mueller was organist/choir director at the Central Presbyterian Church, Montclair, New Jersey (1927-53) and First Presbyterian Church, Red Bank, New Jersey (1953-62). He composed over 500 works, and his Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God sold nearly two million copies. William Byrd (1543-1623) was an English organist and composer of the Shakespearean age who is best known for his development of the English madrigal. His short anthem Lord, Make Me to Know Thy Ways, is based on Psalm 25, a psalm full of devout affection for God. David Conte (b. 1955) has been Professor of Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory since 1985. Conte has received commissions from many of the nations leading performing ensembles, including Chanticleer and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. His Soliloquy, like its literary namesake, employs the different voices of the organ to represent a series of unspoken reflections. A plaintive melody with a dotted rhythm is heard on various registrations over a pulsing chordal accompaniment, gradually building in intensity, and then subsiding in a quiet ending. Louis Couperin (1626-1661) was a French Baroque composer and performer. Couperin worked as organist of the Church of St. Gervais in Paris and as musician at the court. He quickly became one of the most prominent Parisian musicians, establishing himself as a harpsichordist, organist, and violist, but his career was cut short by his early death at the age of thirty-five.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today is the first Sunday in Lent. The practice of Lent began in the 3rd and 4th centuries. During the 40 days of Lent, we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In particular, this season invites us to examine our hearts, confess our sins, and be especially mindful of Christs death and its meaning for us and the world. Praying Through the Psalms: Join us for a six-week sermon series through the Psalms. During that time, the entire congregation is invited to read, pray, and reflect on a different Psalm each day. You can pickup your Psalm Reading Plan Booklet in the Narthex or church office. Interested in becoming a member of Grace Covenant? Contact Rev. Bobby Hulme-Lippert at bobby@grace-covenant.org

Deacons Fund - Grace Covenant has this fund to assist members who are in financial need. Please contact Bobby Hulme-Lippert to make a request. All requests are confidential. Community Group - Meet every Friday night at the Hartmans house for a potluck dinner and Bible study. During Lent, the group will focus on the Psalms. This is a great way to do your Psalm-a-Day in fellowship with others! For more information contact Matt Hartman - mchartman@vcu.edu.
The 10K is coming! On Saturday, March 29, Grace Covenant will be opening its doors and hosting a hospitality station for the Monument Avenue 10K, alongside our ministry partners Boaz & Ruth! We will have coffee, snacks, and water for spectators and runners alike. We will also be cheering on GCPC members of Team Boaz & Ruth, who are running to support this organization which focuses on faith-based urban renewal in Richmond. Interested in bringing food and drink items for the station? Contact Virginia Hudson at vhudson81@gmail.com or 385-4698. Items we will particularly need are bottled water, half and half for coffee, and healthy snacks like granola, fruit, and nuts. Please also talk with Virginia if you'd like to lend a hand with the Hospitality Station before or after the event. The station will be up by 8:00 a.m., and we will be finished packing up by about 12 noon. Interested in running for Boaz & Ruth? You can still register at boazandruth.com or by emailing Jessica Reveley at 908-433-1532 or jabreveley@gmail.com. Also, if you'd like to cheer on fellow Boaz & Ruth team members in an official 10K B&R Team Tshirt, please contact Jessica by March 14.

MID-WEEK FELLOWSHIP
Each Wednesday evening we gather at 6:00 p.m. for table fellowship, followed by a program from 6:30-7:15 p.m. All are welcome! Childcare is available. For more information contact Vanessa Strait in the church office at 359-2463, or info@gracecovenant.org. Program: The Fruit of the Spirit: Love will be given by Revered Nelson Reveley in the Chapel. Menu: No-peek beef with rice, mixed vegetables, salad, rolls, and apple crisp.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND DISCIPLESHIP

Sunday School is held every Sunday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. The nursery crib room and Sunday School are available for children age 2 and up.

Connections Sunday School Class (March 9 - April 13): Confessing Our Faith, Living Our Faith During the first few centuries of the Church, the time leading up to Easter was often used to reflect on what Christians believed and how faith impacted daily life. Drawing on this heritage, our 6-week class will introduce some of the central confessions of the Reformed Tradition. In conversation with these texts, we will consider: What are we made for? Who is Jesus Christ? What is Scripture? And how are we to live in response to Gods grace, beauty, truth, and justice? Teacher: Joshua Ralston (Instructor, Union Presbyterian Seminary). The class will meet in the Fellowship Hall.
CLASS Rm # 212 Grace Bible Class Vanguard Fellowship Hall TEACHER Jack Corley Matt Johnson Joshua Ralston TOPIC Philipians Study on the Book of John Confessing Our Faith, Living Our Faith

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Please pray for: Jean Appich; John Nevin; Ainura Satterfields father, Sharshen, in Kyrgyzstan; Hannah Siboles mother, Melanie; Ben Gordon; Loretta and Peter Albertis; Bob Brooks; Ann Pais daughter-in-law, Jane Pais, with cancer; Susan Farrells grandmother Mary Lou (Uh-Oh), and her father, Jim, facing health issues; Rosie and George Turner; Brenda Harris, Dr. Carl and Mrs. Jo McMillin; Steve Cobb and his family; Stuart Chapman, David Russell, and Chris Pais, serving in our nations Armed Forces. To Members and Friends of Grace Covenant: I wish to offer my sincere gratitude for your prayers, expressions of sympathy, and cards of condolence during the recent passing of my father. While he is greatly missed, I rest in the assurance that Dad is now at home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom he loved and served. Your care and concern has been very much appreciated during this time of bereavement. Now rejoice with me that Dad has become a member of the Church Triumphant! Blessings to all of you, Tom Miller