WELCOME TO GRACE COVENANT!

Thank you for joining us today! We are an historic Presbyterian

congregation offering traditional worship and multiple ministries
for persons of all ages. Please join us following worship for fellowship
in the Social Room. Thank you for turning off your cell phones,
pagers, cameras, and other electronic devices for the duration
of morning worship.

Preparation for Worship

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
~Jesus,
Acts 1:8 NIV

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in
Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints–the faith
and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in
heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of
truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this
gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing
among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s
grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear
fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
and who also told of your love in the Spirit.”

~Colossians 1:3-8 NIV

 A SERVICE FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD
November 15, 2009 11:00 a.m.

GATHER TO GLORIFY GOD

PRELUDE Fugue in E Flat (“St. Anne”) Johann Sebastian Bach
(1685-1750)

†CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 108:1-4

Pastor: Our hearts are ready, O Lord,

our hearts are ready!
People: We will sing and make melody!
We will awaken the dawn!
Pastor: We will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples,
we will sing praises to you among the nations.
People: For your steadfast love is great above the heavens,
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

†Please stand for these parts of the service.

†HYMN 467 (blue) How Great Thou Art O Store Gud

†PRAYER OF CONFESSION Chris Thomas

Holy and almighty God,

you have loved us with unfailing, self-giving mercy,
but we have not loved you.
You constantly call us, but we do not listen.
You ask us to love, but we walk away from neighbors in need,
wrapped in our own concerns.
We condone evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed.
God of grace, as you come to us in mercy,
we repent in spirit and in truth,
admit our sin, and gratefully receive your forgiveness
through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.

†ASSURANCE OF PARDON

†ALLELUIA A. Gregory Murray, 1963

(Repeat the Alleluia refrain after the soloist)

GIVE THANKS TO GOD

WELCOME Chris Thomas

Please print name and information on the Friendship Register and pass it to your neighbor.

OFFERING
ANTHEM How Lovely Are the Messengers (St. Paul) Felix Mendelssohn
Chancel Choir (1809-1847)

How lovely are the messengers that preach us the gospel of peace.
To all the nations is gone forth the sound of their words,
throughout all the lands their glad tidings.
– Romans 5:15-16

†DOXOLOGY 592 (blue) Old Hundredth

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him, above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

†PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Chris Thomas

MINUTE FOR STEWARDSHIP David Martin

Administration Committee

JUNIOR CHOIR Follow Me Julia Simon

Follow me, follow me. Come and follow. You will see,
I will make you fishers, fishers of men.
Jesus came to Galilee one day bringing good news,
“Come repent, be saved.” He called to Simon
and his brother Andrew and he called to James and John.
– Mark 1:14-20

HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

CHILDREN’S SERMON Steve Cobb

CAROL CHOIR Medley Traditional

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SERMON “Loving God and Our Neighbors in the Heart of the City” Steve Cobb

NEW TESTAMENT READING Colossians 1:3-4 NIV

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and of the love you have for all the saints.

†HYMN 437 (red) The Church’s One Foundation Aurelia

†AFFIRMATION OF FAITH “The Apostles’ Creed” Rachel Butler

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) Glory Be to the Father Greatorex

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.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND LORD’S 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.

GO FORTH IN GOD’S NAME

†HYMN 140 (red) Rejoice, the Lord is King Darwall’s 148th

†BENEDICTION Steve Cobb

†CHORAL RESPONSE Sevenfold Amen Peter Lutkin

†POSTLUDE Con moto maestoso (Organ Sonata No. 3) Felix Mendelssohn

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 brother, William Curtis, by Judy Curtis Waldron.
Alleluia, music by A. Gregory Murray © 1963 by Ladies of the Grail (England) and © 1990 Westminster/John Knox Press.
All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-715262.
SERMON NOTES
 THIS WEEK AT GRACE COVENANT
Sunday 8:30 a.m. Handbell Choir Room 312
November 15 9:10 a.m. Prayer Ministry Social Room
9:30 a.m. Sunday School Education Building
10:30 a.m. Chancel Choir Room 108
10:40 a.m. Session Meeting Chapel
11:00 a.m. Worship Service Sanctuary
12:00 p.m. Congregational Fellowship Social Room
4:00 p.m. Community Groups TBD
4:00 p.m. Grace Notes deadline for December edition Room 204
6:00 p.m. Youth Group Home of the Lunings

Monday 10:00 a.m. Child Development Center’s Worship Chapel

November 16 12:00 p.m. Presbyterian Men’s Lunch Room B-4
5:15 p.m. Serve Meals to the Hungry Conrad Center

Tuesday 10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting Room 213

November 17

Wednesday 4:00 p.m. CDC Choir Room 108

November 18 4:30 p.m. Carol Choir Room 108
5:00 p.m. CDC Board Meeting Room B-4
5:00 p.m. Junior Choir Room 108
6:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Supper Fellowship Hall
6:40 p.m. Wednesday Night Program: Operation Christmas Child Project
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Room 108

Thursday 9:30 a.m. Mothers Together Fellowship Hall

November 19 10:00 a.m. Mothers Together children’s choir Room 108
3:00 p.m. Westminster Canterbury Bible Study 1600 Westbrook Avenue
7:00 p.m. Session Meeting Room B-4

Sunday 8:30 a.m. Handbell Choir Sanctuary

November 22 9:10 a.m. Prayer Ministry Social Room
9:30 a.m. Sunday School Education Building
10:30 a.m. Chancel Choir Room 108
10:40 a.m. Session Meeting Chapel
11:00 a.m. Worship Service: Dedication Sunday Sanctuary
12:00 p.m. Congregational Fellowship Social Room
4:00 p.m. Prayer & Praise Gathering Social Room
6:00 p.m. Youth Group GCPC
 Events and News
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW PASTOR CALLED: We are very excited
that on Sunday, September 20, Grace
Covenant members voted unanimously to
call our new pastor! TODAY the Reverend
Steve Cobb is preaching here at Grace
Covenant for the first time! For more
information about our new minister, you
may pick up an information sheet in the
Glass Office.
SPECIAL RECEPTION! Please join the
Presbyterian Women for a special reception
in the Social Room following the Worship
Service to meet and welcome Steve and
Emily Cobb, and their two boys, Hollis and
Camden.
GRACE NOTES: Submission deadline to our
monthly newsletter is the 15th of the month;
that’s TODAY for December’s edition.
Volunteers, who are willing and able to
assist in the preparation for the bulk mailing
of November’s edition, will be needed on
Wednesday, November 24, from 9:00 a.m.
until 12 noon. Please come to the church’s
library, on the second floor of the Education
Building, to assist on that day.
BULLETIN DEADLINE: Submissions for
Sunday’s bulletin must be submitted by noon
on Wednesday, to our Administrative
Assistant, Janice Caldwell, in her box in the
Glass Office, Room 204, or via e-mail at
caldwell@grace-covenant.org.
STEWARDSHIP: Our Stewardship season
began last month and will conclude with
Dedication Sunday on November 22.
DISPLAY CASE: Noah’s Ark now occupies the
hall display case, thanks to Margaret
Cardwell and Lewis Rosebro.
MEMORIAL POINSETTIAS AND CHRISTMAS
GREENS FUNDS: If you would like to
purchase a poinsettia or Christmas greens in
memory, or in honor of someone, then
please pick up a green form from the
brochure racks in the Narthex, or the Glass
Office. The deadline to make purchases is
December 7; please put the form in the box
(with payment) in the Glass Office.
DEACONS FUND: Grace Covenant has a
Deacons Fund to assist members who are in
financial need. Please contact Steve Cobb,
our Pastor, or Chris Thomas, our Associate
Pastor, to make a request. All requests are
confidential.
COMMUNITY NEWS
AS YOU PRAY...please pray for Rodney
Mullins, Katie Vought (daughter-in-law of
Susan Farrell), Elizabeth Gee (missionary,
who spoke at our recent Missions
Conference). Please also pray for Steve
Satterfield, whose mother recently passed
away. Pray for Lindley and Louise Hill, as
they are both at Henrico Doctors. Also pray
for Marge McFall, who now resides at Our
Lady of Hope. In addition, remember Nela
Bostian, who is recovering at Emeritus on
Gaskins Road.
SESSION MEETING: This Thursday,
November 19, at 7:00 p.m. in Room B-4.
STATEMENTS (for the third quarter) are
available in the Narthex.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
CHURCH WORKERS FOR TODAY:
Opener–Jake Savage; Greeters–Kent
Cardwell, Everett Reveley, and Leslie
Hartman; Nursery Workers–Stephanie
Thomas, Ann Hubbard, Katie McCullough
(and Susan Boze); Worship Kits–Kaete
Unterzuber; Coffee Fellowship Time–Diane
and Ray Davis; Guest Register
Attendant–Everett Reveley.
CHURCH WORKER FOR WEDNESDAY
NIGHT SUPPER THIS WEEK (November 18):
Julia Poppell.
CHURCH WORKERS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
(November 22): Opener–Whit Whitley;
Greeters–Brian Baird, Kelly & David Lacy
and Stephanie Thomas; Nursery Workers–
Megan Rogers, Katherine Arthur, Julia
Poppell (and Nikki Hazlegrove); Worship
Kits–Kaete Unterzuber; Coffee Fellowship
Time–Cherry and Jack Corley; Guest
Register Attendant–Lisa and Cal Gray.
CHURCH WORKER FOR WEDNESDAY
NIGHT SUPPER NEXT WEEK (November 25):
Stephen Piepgrass.
SERVE MEALS TO THE HUNGRY: Volunteers
are needed to serve the evening meal
TOMORROW (Monday, November 16),
from 5:15 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Conrad
Center, 1400 Oliver Hill Way. If you are
interested in helping, contact Patrise Sears
at 338-6580.
FELLOWSHIP HOUR: If you’d like to
volunteer to make the coffee for the
Fellowship Hour one Sunday, then please
sign up on the Calendar, located on the
counter in the Glass Office.
WORSHIP
WE INVITE CHILDREN over the age of 5 to
participate in the entire service. Special
Worship Kits for children are available in the
Narthex. For children five years of age or
younger, we also have a crib nursery,
toddler room, and preschool care.
HEARING AIDS AND LARGE PRINT HYMNALS
are available from the ushers.
MUSIC NOTES: Today’s prelude stands at
the head of all of Johann Sebastian Bach’s
organ fugues. This five-voice fugue is
composed in three distinct sections, symbolic
of the Trinity (the key signature even contains
three flats). Each section is based on the first
seven notes of the hymn tune St. Anne (O
God, Our Help in Ages Past). The fugue
reaches its climax in the third section with a
rumble in the pedals quoting the hymn tune
one final time. Both our children’s choirs are
participating in worship this morning: the
Carol Choir sings a medley of familiar
worship songs; and the Junior Choir sings a
new anthem based on passages of
discipleship from the Gospel of Mark. This
calendar year marks the 200th birth year of
German Romantic composer Felix
Mendelssohn. The composer knew his Bible
extremely well and turned to it for inspiration
when considering a new choral piece. His
oratorio St. Paul was completed in 1836
and from this work comes one of
Mendelssohn’s best-loved choruses, “How
Lovely Are the Messengers”, the choral
anthem during today’s offering. The
postlude is one of Mendelssohn’s most
performed organ works. This eight-minute
postlude is orchestral in nature both in form
and feeling. Out of the triumphant opening
a fugato in a minor key develops two
themes. The tempo steadily gains in vivacity
and excitement as the volume increases,
leading to a heralding conclusion on full
organ.
THE SERVICE IS BROADCAST LIVE on WLES
590 AM.
THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE: On
Wednesday, November 25, at 6:00 p.m.,
there will be a Thanksgiving Dinner in the
Fellowship Hall, followed by a Worship
Service in the Chapel at 7:00 p.m.
DISCIPLESHIP
CHILDREN’S Infants–Nursery,
CLASSES:
main level; Toddlers–Room 102;
Preschoolers–Room 101; Grades 1-6
–Rooms 207-210.
ADULT CLASSES: Commit to growing in new
ways this year. We have four excellent adult
classes getting started; make a decision
today about which one will help you grow in
the faith the most!
GRACE BIBLE CLASS: What God Wants From
Me – 9:45 a.m. in Room 212
CONNECTIONS CLASS: The Person of Jesus
– 9:30 a.m. in Room 303.
VANGUARD BIBLE CLASS: A Study of Esther
and Job – 9:30 a.m. in Room B-4.
FORUM CLASS: Tom Miller will lead the class
in November.
RESOURCES TO GROW IN THE FAITH: Come
check out our new Resource Table in the
Narthex! We have a number of excellent
resources available for purchase for a great
price. If you have questions, please contact
Christian Education Committee members
Jean Appich, Laura Leigh Savage, or Chris
Thomas.
FELLOWSHIP
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPERS AND
PROGRAMS: This week, November 18, at
Wednesday Night Supper we will have
“Operation Christmas Child” project. Dinner
begins at 6:00 p.m. and the program starts
at 6:45 p.m. The cost of the meal is $5 per
adult, $2 per children and students, and
$12 maximum per family unit. This week’s
menu includes barbeque on buns, baked
beans, cole slaw and Eclair cake.
MOTHERS TOGETHER: meet every Thursday
at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. For
more information, contact Patricia Clarke by
phone, 342-7481, or be e-mail,
patriciaandsteve@comcast.net
COMMUNITY GROUPS: In Community
Groups we seek to live life together under
the gospel as we build relationships with
God, each other, and our neighbors. Join
us each Sunday at 4:00 p.m. as we gather
for fellowship, Bible study, and prayer,
followed by a meal. There is also a group
just for men that meets on the first, third,
and fifth Tuesdays at the home of Brian
Baird, 1704 Hanover Avenue. We usually from the tree to provide gifts to a less
listen to and talk about a sermon, catch up fortunate child.
on life, and pray for each other. This is an
MISSION EVANGELISM AWARENESS
open group. For more information call Matt
WEEKEND FEEDBACK: The Mission
Hartman at 212-1961.
Evangelism team is grateful for your
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN CIRCLES: meet next participation in our first ever Global Mission
on Tuesday, December 8. For a complete Awareness Weekend event! We are
listing of the times and places of the various delighted with every aspect of our time
meetings, pick up a copy of December’s together with you and our wonderful
Grace Notes. speakers, and would like to receive your
feedback as we look forward to planning
future events. Please take the time to answer
MI S S I O NS the following questions and put them in
either Susan Farrell’s or Joy Nevin’s box in
FIVE CENTS PER MEAL: On the first Sunday of the Glass Office, or you are welcome to
the month, we receive the sacrament of the phone Joy at 784-2046 or Susan at 314-
Lord’s Supper, and, in gratitude for what 1937.
God has given us, we have a hunger
1. What did you like best about the
offering, Five Cents Per Meal. To contribute,
conference?
use a pew envelope and mark it “Five Cents
Per Meal” (or simply drop in loose change),
and put it in the offering.
2. Is there any aspect of it that you would
SHARE THANKSGIVING DAY WITH AN change?
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT: International
students are eager to learn more about our
culture, to experience the warmth of a
3. Did you feel you time was well spent?
home, and to make American friends.
Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful opportunity
to reach out to students with hospitality and
friendship. If you would be interested in 4. Would you support another Mission
sharing this special American holiday with a Awareness Event?
VCU international student, please contact
Pam Haney at pohaney@vcu.edu or call
828-8309 no later than November 16. PRISON MINISTRY: Please gather your
Christmas cards to be donated to
THE SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt,
TREE will be put up this Wednesday,
Virginia. A collection box is located in the
November 18. Members of the PW Circles,
Presbyterian Women’s closet, which is in the
Sunday school classes, PEOPLE, Bread
Social Room. We will deliver the cards to the
Breakers, Mothers Together, and individuals
center the first week of December. Thank
are invited to choose one or more angels
you, in advance, for your caring and
generous help!
HONDURAS 2010: The next mission trip to
Honduras is scheduled for January 10-16,
2010. Those who may be interested in
participating in the 2010 mission trip may
check out our website, www.KHISH.org
(That’s Kurtz Humanitarian Initiative for
Southern Honduras, named for the founder
of this effort, which began in 2005). Susan
Pillsbury David (clwturtle@aol.com) or
Cherry Corley (ccorley@fpcrichmond.org)
can answer your questions about how you
many find your place on our team.
WILLIAM BYRD COMMUNITY HOUSE: Food
donations may be left in the basket in the
Glass Office (the office on the main floor of
the Education Building, near the rear doors).
Please consider giving, as the need is great.
 Pastor: Steve Cobb
Associate Pastor: Chris Thomas
Director of Music: Chris Martin

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, 8am-4pm

Radio: WLES 590 AM