Author: Simon Wong

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

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear.

Psalm 46:1-2

Songs of Invitation

Word of Assurance

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:17-18

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

Weekly Catecism

New City Catechism for Kids – Question 30

Q: What is faith in Jesus Christ?

A: Receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Community News

Congregational Meeting next Sunday, 3 May

Following our Annual Congregational Meeting in March, we will be holding a follow-up Congregational Meeting on 3 May, straight after service. The meeting will present the 2025 financial statements and consider the revised 2026 budget for approval. The elders will circulate the agenda and relevant documents via the church’s WhatsApp announcement channel.

All members are encouraged to attend. If you cannot attend but would like to ask a question, please submit it to Chong Shao (Session Clerk) ahead of the meeting.

Important Dates

May 3	Congregational Meeting After service @ Christ College
May 10	Church Life Hub After service @ Christ College
May 15	Prayer and Prayer Night 6.30pm BYO dinner, 7.30pm start @ Christ College

Bible Reading

Galatians 4:1-11

All: Thanks be to God.

Sermon Outline

No longer slaves: Adopted to live freely as His children with God our Father

Galatians 4:1-11

Simon Wong

1. The life of slavery is our past
2. Life as a child of God is our present
3. We can stop living like slaves and live freely as His children

Confession of Sin

Holy God,
we confess that we do not revere you as we should.
In our daily lives, we are prone to neglect you, we often disobey you,
and we fail to treasure you above all things. Though we stand guilty and condemned,
we praise you that Christ bore the penalty of our transgressions against you. Lead us to reject our wayward ways.

Work in us through your Holy Spirit, and let not the passions of the flesh
nor the lust of our mind bring our spirit into slavery. May we yearn once again to live as obedient children, loving you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
In His precious name, we pray,

All: Amen!

Lord’s Supper

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

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Revelation 1:5-6

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

Ezekiel 36:16 – 28

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