Welcome
Thank you for joining us in gathered worship today!
At Covenant, we are a church that is bound to God and to each other by grace, growing and serving together in love, and living and sharing the hope that we have in Jesus.
We hope that you will be moved towards greater love for Jesus and one another as we pause to praise, pray, and ponder under God’s Word.
The emphasis throughout our Sunday service is that worship is all about God. In our service, we will: worship our Heavenly Father for his miraculous deeds, bear witness to Jesus Christ the Son and the hope he brings through his death and resurrection, be moved to engage with the mission of God through the power of the Holy Spirit as we wait for the return of Christ.
Our service is shaped by the Bible—God’s Word to us. Because of that, our worship follows a shared pattern each week. Christians sometimes call this pattern a “liturgy.”
“Liturgy” simply means “the work of the people.” It reminds us that worship isn’t a performance or a product—it’s something we participate in together. Throughout the service, you’ll have chances to join in with prayers and spoken responses, and you’re warmly invited to take part.
We hope your time with us serves to encourage and fill you with hope and joy.
Call to Worship
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:8-10
Songs of Invitation
Confession of Sin
Father, it is with a sense of shame that we confess our sins to you.
It grieves us that we continue to fall short of your glory.
We feel the burden of our guilt.
But if we are blind to sin in us, trouble our souls about it,
bring it out into the light, show us the true nature of our hearts,
and the deceitfulness that resides there.
Give us no rest until our sin has been dealt with by the cross,
until all sin has been forsaken, broken from, and put to death.
In Jesus’ name,
All: Amen!
Word of Assurance
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Congregational Prayer
Offering
Regular giving to support our ministry as a gospel partner can be made by direct deposit into our account.
Account Name: Covenant Presbyterian Church
BSB: 032 060
Account: 663 486
Holiday Kid’s Talk
Mark 12:13-17
Community News
Church Life Hub immediately right after service
A reminder that Church Life Hub is on this week. Please stay back after service as Josh will be speaking to us on the topic of “Every member, known and sent”.
Prayer and Praise moved to 15 May
There has been a change in calendar dates, please be aware that Prayer and Praise has now moved to 15 May. We hope to see you there!
Covenant Lunch at the Park next week
Goodbye summer and hello autumn! Bring your picnic mats and lunch next week as we lunch together at Woodstock Park after service.
Bible Reading
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon Outline
The Root of the problem – and the Heart of the Solution
Ezekiel 36:16-28
Simon Wong
Songs in Response
Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended to the dead;
On the third day he rose from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic [universal] Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen
Benediction
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21