GRACE COVENANT

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Loving God & Our Neighbors in the Heart of the City

April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday
 WELCOME
TO GRACE COVENANT!
We are an historic Presbyterian congregation offering traditional worship and multiple
ministries for persons of all ages.
Please join us after worship for fellowship in the Social Room.
Thank you for turning off your cell phones, pagers, cameras, and other electronic
devices during worship, and for leaving food and beverages outside the sanctuary.

Temporary Supply Pastor: Brint Keyes

Director of Music: Christopher Martin
Christian Educator: Kelley Lane
Administrative Assistant: Vanessa Strait
Bookkeeper: Martha Rubin
Sexton: Willie Alford
Child Development Center Director: Brenda Van Pelt

1627 Monument Avenue Office Hours:

Richmond, VA 23220 Monday-Friday
Phone: 804.359.2463 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Fax: 804.278.6298 Radio: WLES 590 AM
www.grace-covenant.org www.wlesradio.com
info@grace-covenant.org

Hearing Aids, Large Print Hymnals, and Bulletins

are available each week from the ushers.
 PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
…[Y]ou have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves
with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its
creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircum-
cised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

-Colossians 3:9b-11

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into
the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been
lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are
you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know
where they have laid him.”

-John 20:11-13

It is not at all a question of being better than you were before. The new life means
that forces for life can now be seen within you, that something of God and of
heaven, something holy, can grow in you. It means we can actually see that it is no
longer the sinful desires that have power, but that there is something of Christ’s resur-
rection, something of his life that has power through the Spirit and that leads you to-
ward wholeness…
Again and again Christ arises anew. In what we know of the risen Christ, God wants
to renew all things. His will is for the earth as much as it is for the heavens. Other-
wise we would never know his reality. We could never conceive of anything becom-
ing different. We would think that his resurrected life was some spiritual thing that we
human beings could not understand. That’s not what it is. No. The power of his
resurrection is something that is within our reach.

-Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt

 A SERVICE OF WORSHIP
CELEBRATING THE RESURRECTION
April 24, 2011 Easter Sunday 11:00 a.m.

WE GATHER TO GLORIFY GOD

PRELUDE Carillon de Westminster Louis Vierne
(1870-1937)

CHORAL INTROIT Choral Fanfare for Christ the King H. Hamilton Smith
Chancel Choir (b. 1929)

He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.
All kings shall pay him homage. All nations shall serve him. Alleluia, alleluia!
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away.
And his kingdom shall not be destroyed. Alleluia, alleluia!

- Psalm 72:8, 11; Daniel 7:14

†Please stand for these parts of the service.

†CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 118)

Leader: O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

His steadfast love endures forever!
People: Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Leader: Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
People: the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
Leader: The LORD is my strength and my might; He has become my salvation.
People: I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
Leader: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
People: This is the LORD‟s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
All: O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever!

†HYMN 204 (Red Hymnal) Jesus Christ Is Risen Today Easter Hymn
†PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty God,
in raising Jesus from the grave,
you shattered the power of sin and death,
breaking its hold on us.
But we confess that we have allowed it to remain.
We prefer familiar sins and failures
to the challenge of new life.
We place our hope in our own “improvement,”
And avoid your call to be changed.
We shrink from the brilliance of Your light;
and hide in the shadows of self-righteousness.

Lord, have mercy upon us, and forgive us our sins.

In the glory of Your resurrection,

Tear away our veils of self-deception.
Flood our hearts with the light of Your love,
and lead us down paths of compassion,
That we may live in You, and You in us,
That Your Holy Spirit may guide our every step,
And that we may shed abroad the light of Your love,
Made known to us and to all the world in your Son,
Christ Jesus, our Risen Lord,
in whose glorious and triumphant name we pray. Amen.

†ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Alleluia, music O FILLII ET FILIAE,

Airs sur les hymnes sacrez, odes et noëls, 1623,
© 1990, The Presbyterian Hymnal, Westminster/John Knox Press.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-715262.
 WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD
WELCOME Everett Reveley

Please fill out the communication card and place it in the offering plate.

OFFERING

ANTHEM The Day of Resurrection Thomas Matthews

Chancel Choir (1915-1999)

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;

The Passover of gladness; The Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, From earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over With hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, That we may see aright

The Lord in rays eternal Of resurrection light;
And, listening to His accents, May hear so calm and plain
His own “All hail” and hearing, May raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful, Let earth her song begin,
The round world keep high triumph, And all that is therein;
Let all things seen and unseen Their notes together blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen, Our joy that hath no end. Alleluia!

- words by St. John of Damascus, 8th century

†DOXOLOGY 592 (Blue Hymnal) Old Hundredth

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

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

†PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Everett Reveley

 WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Everett Reveley

EPISTLE READING Colossians 3:1-11 Holy Bible, p. 191 NT

CHILDREN’S SERMON Kelley Lane

HANDBELL CHOIR Thine Is the Glory arr. Cynthia Dobrinski

GOSPEL READING John 20:1-18 Holy Bible, p. 110 NT

SERMON “New Life” B. Brinton P. Keyes

†HYMN 108 (Blue Hymnal) Christ Is Alive! Truro

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS

†AFFIRMATION OF FAITH “The Apostles’ Creed”

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 Hymnal) Greatorex

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE 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.

WE GO FORTH IN GOD’S NAME

†HYMN That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright Puer Nobis Nascitur

The Chancel Choir will move to the steps on the first stanza of the hymn.
You are invited to come forward on the final stanza
to join the choir in the singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
Copies of the music are available up front.

That Easter day with joy was bright, The sun shone out with fairer light,
When, to their longing eyes restored, The apostles saw their risen Lord.

O Jesus, King of gentleness, Do all our inmost hearts possess,

And we to You will ever raise The tribute of our grateful praise.

From every weapon death can wield, Your own redeemed forever shield;
O Lord of all, with us abide In this our joyful Eastertide.

†BENEDICTION

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah) George Frederick Handel

†POSTLUDE Toccata in F Major (Organ Sonata No. 5) Charles-Marie Widor

(1844-1937)

Please join us in the Social Room following worship for refreshments and fellowship.

The Easter Lilies are given to the glory of God by members of the congregation.
 We welcome :

Whitney Glass
John Alexander
Gaynelle Worley
Sudie Wood

Louis Vierne was organist at the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris for thirty-seven years and was one of
the greatest musical improvisers of his generation. As the title indicates, Carillon de Westminster is a fanta-
sia on the Westminster chimes, played from the Clock Tower, Palace of Westminster, since 1858. Vierne's
friend Henry Willis hummed the tune for the composer upon Vierne's request; apparently, either Willis
hummed the tune incorrectly or Vierne misheard his friend upon transcription. Vierne misquoted the
second quarter of the chimes. Throughout Europe bells peal from cathedrals on Easter Sunday, and so,
our service today begins with Vierne’s festive carillon on the familiar four-note Westminster theme.

Today’s Introit is a choral fanfare which is a dialogue between choir and organ. The choral anthem is by
Dr. Thomas Matthews who was longtime organist-choirmaster at Trinity Episcopal Church in Tulsa.
Matthews composed thirty anthems over his long career. The anthem text is from a hymn that originates
from the Eastern Church. It was translated by John Mason Neale and appeared in his Hymns of the East-
ern Church (1862). The Handbell Choir rings an arrangement of George Frederick Handel’s hymn tune
Judas Maccabeus, an oratorio of the same name by Handel. This arrangement features a brief theme of
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.

Charles-Marie Widor was the organist at St. Sulpice in Paris where he remained for nearly sixty-four
years. The worship service concludes with Widor’s famous Toccata in F Major from his fifth organ sym-
phony. It is a superbly virtuosic and rhythmic work with a strong tonal development. As such, it has
every reason to be regarded as the head of all French organ toccatas ever composed.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE! Dinner begins at 6:00
p.m. This week’s program is a concert presented by Grace
Covenant’s Handbell Choir. “Family Style” for dinner
with roast pork, scalloped potatoes, green peas, rolls, and
romaine fruit salad with peach cobbler for dessert.

WORSHIP SUPPORT FOR TODAY: Opener-Wayne Casey; Greeters-Brian Baird,

Carrie Rose; Nursery Worker-Julia Poppell; Worship Kits-Judy Waldron; Fellowship
Hour-The McCulloughs
WORSHIP SUPPORT FOR NEXT SUNDAY (May 1): Opener-Cal Gray; Greeters-
Bob Copeland, Everett Reveley, Leslie Hartman; Nursery Worker-Julia Poppell; Worship
Kits-Judy Waldron; Fellowship Hour-TBD

Give thanks to God for Tracy Coltrain’s successful surgery; Dave Martin’s recovery; and for
the fellowship and commitment of our new members joining today: John Alexander, Whitney
Glass, Sudie Wood, & Gaynelle Worley.
Lift up to God Bill Stuart, recovering from knee replacement surgery; Beverly Proffitt, recover-
ing from hand and wrist surgery; Ray Inscoe, recovering from heart surgery; Mary Chenoweth,
recovering at home; Betty Berry, moved to Manor Care…
Tom Miller’s father, Joe; Peter and Loretta Albertis; Vanessa Strait; Jim Woolfolk’s mother and
stepfather, Dan & Linda; Ashby Price, John Lootens, Jennifer Schooley, Wayne Casey, Jessie
Griffin, Erika Tabor and Matt Hartman, all facing vocational challenges; Leslie Hartman’s com-
munity garden ministry…
Stuart Chapman and William Bridenstine, serving in our nation’s Armed Forces; the people of
Japan; the people of North African and Middle Eastern nations seeking democracy; and
prayers for the Spirit of the Resurrection in Metropolitan Richmond - for a spirit of hope, of
possibility, of eternal life, and of commitment to the redeeming power of God who brings new
life out of death to people and communities.
"Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiv-
ing let your requests be made known to God." - Phil 4:6
Sermons are online every week!
Access Sunday service podcasts at grace-covenant.org;
click on WE GATHER, then on SERMONS. You
have a choice of Children‟s Sermon, Sunday Sermon
or Full Service by clicking on the MP3 icon of your
choice.

CHILDREN & WORSHIP: All children are encouraged to at-

tend worship with their parents. Following the children’s sermon,
children who are not yet in Kindergarten may choose to go to the
nursery for a snack and play time.
The infant and toddler nurseries are available throughout the wor-
ship service for those children who are not ready to attend worship at this point.
CHILDREN‟S SUNDAY MORNING CLASSES:
Infants, 0-16 months old Nursery main level
Toddlers, 17 months - 2 years old Room 102
Preschoolers, 3 and 4 year olds Room 101
Grades Kindergarten - 2nd grade Rooms 207-210
Grades 3rd-6th Rooms 207-210

Japan Disaster Relief: THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Thanks to the
generosity of the members of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church the Kids Club and
Youth Palm Sunday Craft Sale generated $277, all of which will be donated to the Japanese
Relief Fund of the PCUSA. The children and youth are grateful for your support in their
efforts to spread God’s love to the world.
 GCPC has updated its Facebook page! This is a great way to connect with
GCPC members and visitors, and to stay current on church events and announce-
ments. Visit http://www.facebook.com/GraceCovenantPC and be sure to "Like" us!

BREAD BREAKERS: The next Bread Breakers Fellowship Time is Satur-

day, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Prices‟ home, located at 8514 Academy
Road, 23229. BBQ, slaw and rolls will be provided. Please bring a side dish
or dessert to share. Our hosts this month are Ashby & Carson Price and
Vickie & Johnny Overstreet. It is important to RSVP, please do so by emailing chefcar-
son@alacarson.com about your attendance.

Sunday morning classes are a great way to deepen your faith and also to fellowship with others.
There are several Sunday School Classes to choose from. All Sunday School Classes begin at
9:30 a.m.
Connections Class “Westminster Confession of Faith” Room 303
Vanguard Class “The Book of Romans” Room B-4
Grace Class “Bible Study” Room 212
Forum Class “Revelation” with Tom Miller Room B-7

May 1 is Older Adult Sunday. Each year the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sets
aside the first Sunday in May to acknowledge older adults as one of the gifts
with which God has blessed us. Older adults represent the gifts of wisdom
gained through living a life in faith, hope through hard times lived with perse-
verance, and generosity in loving and stewardship.
Grace Covenant is blessed to have a thriving Older Adult Ministry with
our own Rev. Charles Sutton as its champion. The Older Adults serve in
all areas of the church, as officers, musicians, worship leaders & assistants,
teachers, and as volunteers with the WNL Food committee, children's nurseries, our Radio
Ministry, church cleaning days, and so much more! We love each and every one of our
Older Adult members for all they bring and for making us feel more like a family of mem-
bers at Grace Covenant, and rejoice in this special opportunity to recognize how deeply
God has blessed us through their talent, wisdom, loyalty, service, and faith.
 THIS WEEK AT GRACE COVENANT
Sunday, April 24 EASTER SUNDAY
8:30 a.m. Handbell Choir Sanctuary
10:30 a.m. Chancel Choir Choir Room
11:00 a.m. Worship Service Sanctuary

Monday, April 25 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

Tuesday, April 26
10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting Room 213
2:00 p.m. Care Team Meeting Room 213
7:00 p.m. Handbell Rehearsal Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, April 27
4:30 p.m. Carol Choir (ages 3-K) Choir Room
5:00 p.m. Junior Choir (grades 1-6) Choir Room
6:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Live & Program Fellowship Hall
7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Choir Room

Thursday, April 28
9:30 a.m. Mothers Together
10:00 a.m. MT Children’s Choir Choir Room
10:30 a.m. Children’s Chapel Chapel

Friday, April 29 GRACE NOTES MAILING

5:45 p.m. Community Group 2107 Maplewood Avenue

Saturday, April 30
6:00 p.m. PEOPLE Group Event Joy and John Nevins
205 Kinloch Road

Sunday, May 1 OLDER ADULT SUNDAY

10:30 a.m. Chancel Choir Choir Room
11:00 a.m. Worship Service Sanctuary
12:30 p.m. Deacons’ Meeting Vanguard Room
12:30 p.m. Member’s Class Connection Classroom
 2011 Officers
Our Elders serve the church as leaders.
Our Deacons lead the church in service.
Please feel free to approach them with any
questions or feedback
about GCPC's ministries.

CLERK OF SESSION: Everett Reveley

ELDERS:
Jean Appich („11) - Christian Education
Brian Baird („11) - Evangelism (M)
Maurice Bell („13) - Finance/Stewardship
Kent Cardwell („12) - Missions (M)
Cal Gray („11) - Property (M)
Matt Hartman („13) - Worship; Evangelism
Cheryl Jacobs („12) - Worship (M); Administration
Catherine Kerns („13) - Christian Education; Evangelism
Caroline Leith („11) - Worship
David Martin („13) - Administration (Co-M); Property
Katie McCullough („13) - Administration (Co-M); Mission
Dana McKnight („11) - Finance/Stewardship (M)
Tom Miller („12) - Christian Education (M)
Everett Reveley („12) - Finance/Stewardship

DEACONS:
Pat Aldridge („11) - Cards and Prayer Ministry
Betty Appich („11) - Deacon Support
Pat Ball („12) - Flower Deliveries
Cherry Corley („12) - (Moderator)
Susan Farrell („12) - Visitation, Transportation
Nikki Hazlegrove („13) - Meal Deliveries
Jim McCullough („13) - Deacons’ Fund
Julia Poppell („11) - (Secretary) Visitation
Carrie Rose („13) - Visitation and Card Ministry
Dawson Watkins („11) - (Vice-Moderator) Visitor follow-up
Carol Wood („13) - Visitation and Prayer Ministry
Sid Yates („12) - Ushers
 MEMORIAL LILIES
We wish to thank the members and friends of the congregation
who have provided Easter lilies for the Sanctuary.
In Memory of: Given by:
James Christian Adams Marjorie and Ed Adams
Elizabeth B. Lucas Loretta and Peter Albertis
Phyllis and Edward Albertis
Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Aldridge and Patricia Baker Aldridge and
Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Baker Elisabeth Aldridge Spivey
Family and loved ones Jean Appich
Donald L. Appich The family
Margaret Marshall The Baird family
Sheryl Webb Lister Brenda Barrett
Audrey Webb Payne
Taylor Dickenson Nellie Dickenson
Vicky Giblin, Ann Van Steenburgh, Lisa and Cal Gray
James B. Roberts, Ethel Gray
Mary McBride, Sam McBride, Jessie and Jason Griffin
Merlin Griffin
My family, Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Kessel, Jan Kessel
and brother, Don Kessel
All my loved ones, past and present Dottie-Ray Koch
My mother, Anne Amonette Leys Sallie Leys
Mr. and Mrs. Paul K. McKnight Dana E. McKnight
George S. Kemp, Jr. Will Kemp Madden
John B. Madden
Anna Martin Christopher Martin
Sharon Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Lynford Londrey Gay and Langdon Moss
Dr. and Mrs. J. Langdon Moss
Our beloved parents Joy and John Nevin
C. B. Pearson, Jr. Ann Pais
All those we hold in our hearts The Rubin Family
Mom, Elizabeth Satterfield Steve Satterfield
Dan Turner Evelyn Turner
Rob Turner
My grandparents, Judith C. Waldron
Mr. and Mrs. Maurice T. Curtis
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Lewis
Dr. D. E. Watkins Dawson Watkins
Our parents Mary and Whit Whitley
Bill Koch Kathy, Katey, and Christopher Winston
Evelyn R. Yates Sidney E. Yates

In Honor of: Given by:

Henry W. Leith Caroline H. Leith

New life Mr. and Mrs. John G. Overstreet
Anthony and Richard Pais Ann Pais
Brown Pearson
Evelyn Withers Dawson Watkins
SERMON NOTES
“New Life”
B. BRINTON P. KEYES