Welcome
Thank you for joining us in gathered worship today! At Covenant, we believe that true hope, joy, meaning, and redemption is found in Jesus Christ. Therefore, 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. We gather to worship Him. Our gathered worship is that it is foundationally and fundamentally 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. All of these activities of worshipping, witnessing, and waiting will be shaped and formed by God’s divine revelation as it is given to us in Holy Scripture.
Our understanding of Scripture, God’s divine action, and theology will shape the flow of our service. Therefore, our worship service is “liturgical” and what you hold before you is our weekly liturgical document. Originating from Greek, this word means, “work of the people”. This means our service is both corporate and communal in nature. We are not individual consumers of a product, but join others in community to participate together in engaging with God. At different points in the service, there will be opportunities to join the liturgy, and we encourage you to enthusiastically participate in these corporate moments of response.
We hope your time with us serves to encourage and fill you with hope and joy.
Call to Worship
Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.
Isaiah 12:6
Songs of Invitation
Confession of Sin
God of mercy, we confess that we sinned against your majesty in thought, word, and deed, by the things we have done, and by the things we have left undone. We have not loved you with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves. We are truly sorry and humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name,
All: Amen!
Word of Assurance
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10
Congregational Prayer
Offering
Weekly Catechism
New City Catechism for Kids – Question 17
Q: What is idolatry?
A: Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator.
Community News
Covenant Preliminary Vision and Values now available
Session is pleased to release a document setting out the preliminary vision and values that we have been working on for the last two months. Thank you for your patience and prayers. To access the document, click the link below:
https://covenantchurch.com.au/aka/vision
Save the Date for our Big Day In!
Block out your calendars for the following: Saturday 25 October 4pm to late; Sunday 26 October 8am to 3pm. Planning for our Big Day In is underway!
Sunday school and Extreme teachers/helpers
Every parent wants the children and youth of Covenant to come to a saving relationship in Christ and to know God in his word. We need more members of the Covenant family to teach and help at Sunday school and Extreme. Please see Robyn, Gloria, Jayden, Caroline or Dan for more details.
Zachary Lam’s baptism and lunch
Zachary Lam will be getting baptised on Sunday, 28 September during the Sunday service. Danny and Jess will be opening up their home after the service for lunch. Everyone is warmly invited to the baptism as we formally welcome Zachary into our covenant family, as well as to the lunch afterwards. More details to come.
Important Dates
| September 7 | Covenant prayer corner 8.30am @ Christ College |
| September 14 | Vision and Values Q&A After service @ Christ College |
| September 19 | Praise & Prayer evening 7:30pm @ La Lune Market, North Strathfield |
| September 28 | Zachary Lam’s baptism During service @ Christ College |
| October 25 | Big Day In (Day 1) 4pm @ Christ College |
| October 26 | Big Day In (Day 2) 8am to 3pm @ Christ College |
Bible Reading
- Ezra 6:19-22 NIV
- Revelation 7:9-11 NIV
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon Outline
Celebration
Ezra 6:19-22; Revelation 7:9-11
Mike Yoon
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
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:16-17