GRACE COVENANT

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Awakening a Love for Christ in the Heart of Richmond
March 24, 2013 Palm Sunday 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 March Upon Handels Lift Up Your Heads CALL TO WORSHIP One: Many: One: Many: One: Many: All:

Alexandre Guilmant, 1837-1911 (from Psalm 118)

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! For He is good, and His steadfast love endures forever!

HYMN 88 (Blue Hymnal) All Glory, Laud, and Honor

Valet will ich dir Geben

PRAYER OF CONFESSION O Lord, our King, To You before Your Passion we sing our hymns of praise. Yet how quickly we turn away and recoil from Your call when we behold the cost of perfect love. We seek to crown You but in our image; We rejoice in Your death-destroying power, but refuse to accept the humble sacrifice from which it springs. We look to You for the attainment of our selfish ends, while rejecting Your call to deny ourselves, and to follow You in surrender to the Cross. Lord, have mercy upon us, and forgive us our sins, we pray. Cast us not away from Your presence, And take not Your Holy Spirit from us. Deliver us from delusions of worldly security, And lead us to place all trust in You, That we may follow You with confidence, Resisting the urge to turn aside, and submitting to the sacred power of Your love; for You alone are our hope and our salvation, the Holy One through Whom alone we make our prayer. Amen. KYRIE
(All sing the Kyrie after the organ introduction.)

John Merbecke

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD

PRESENTATION OF TITHES, OFFERINGS, AND GIFTS

ANTHEM Sing Hosanna, Sing!

Chancel, Junior, and Handbell Choirs

Joel Raney, b. 1956

Sing hosanna, sing hosanna, lift your voices, let them ring! Sing hosanna, sing hosanna to the King of kings! Open wide, the gates of Jerusalem, lift his banner high forever more. Sing as he rides through the streets in majesty. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

DOXOLOGY 592 (Blue Hymnal) PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Old Hundredth Christopher Tweel

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION OLD TESTAMENT READING 1 Samuel 8:1-21 Christopher Tweel Holy Bible, p. 246 OT

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. CHILDRENS SERMON GOSPEL READING Luke 19:28-40 Brian Baird Holy Bible, p. 80 NT

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. SERMON King of the Jews Brint Pratt Keyes

WE RESPOND TO GODS WORD

HYMN 344 (Red Hymnal) If Thou but Suffer God to Guide Thee Wer nur den lieben Gott

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Ellery Jane Hartman, daughter of Leslie & Matt Hartman AFFIRMATION OF FAITH GLORIA PATRI 579 (Blue Hymnal) PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORDS PRAYER The Apostles Creed Red Hymnal, p. 12 Greatorex Red Hymnal, p. 12

WE GO FORTH TO LOVE AND SERVE

HYMN 76 (Blue Hymnal) My Song Is Love Unknown BENEDICTION AND CHORAL RESPONSE Jesus, Remember Me POSTLUDE Toccata (Suite Gothique) Love Unknown Taiz Lon Bollmann, 1862-1897

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 Harmon B. Ramsey, Ellen T. Apperson, Thomas W. Apperson, and Sara A. Apperson, by Elizabeth Ramsey.

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