Calendar

Order of Worship

Service for the Lord’s Day

Gathering around the word

Prelude                                                                                   Arietta, Thomas H. Kerr

A native of Baltimore, composer Thomas H. Kerr (1915-1988) dreamed of studying music at the Peabody Conservatory, but African Americans were not admitted at that time. Instead, he completed both a Bachelor of Music and Master’s degree in theory from Eastman in Rochester, NY.  Arietta is a beautifully embellished melody chorale with colorful harmonies and registrations based on the Christmas spiritual “Rise Up Shepherd and Follow.”

† Call to Worship

From water to wilderness:
God’s covenant continues; God’s kingdom has come near.

On stone and in hearts:
God’s covenant continues; God’s kingdom comes near.

From the ancestor of nations to the Son lifted up:
God’s covenant continues; God’s kingdom comes near.

We follow Jesus on the Lenten path, for where he is, we would be also.

Come, let us worship God!

† Hymn #415                                                       “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”

Invitation to Discipleship

After forty days and forty nights, Jesus came down from the mountain to invite disciples to follow him. We, too, hear the question, “Will you come and follow me?” Whether we have given up something dear to us or taken up something we yearn to do in this season, it is always the season for discipleship. Will you answer the call of Jesus?

We give thanks to God that our hearts and our hope are all we need to follow.

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

God of mercy, we begin this Lenten season in confession. We do not live according to your ways, but according to our own. We condone violence, participate in systems of injustice, and use power to our own advantage at the expense of others. Forgive us, we pray, when we are tempted to follow paths other than those you set before us.

Teach us your way; help us to turn from evil in its many guises and turn us toward your realm drawing near. In covenantal love, remember us we pray, and be for us, once more and always, an ark of safety and new life. In Christ’s name we pray.  

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of Pardon

As Noah and his family were brought safely through the flood onto dry ground, so in baptismal waters we are brought from death into new life in Christ.

In Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, forgives us and reconciles us and all things in heaven and on earth.

Thanks be to God for this good news!

† Response of praise: Hymn #582                                  “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me”

† Passing of the Peace

Life in Community

Upcoming events and recent announcements are available in the back of the bulletin and on our website at catonsvillepres.org.

Proclaiming the Word

Children’s Message

Prayer for Illumination

Speak to us, O God, with the voice of your Holy Spirit, that we may know the way of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture                                                                                                   Mark 1:9-15

Sermon                                                                                                     “In the Flow,” Ken Kovacs

Responding to the Word

† Hymn #482                                                                                     “Baptized in Water”

Call to Offering

Offering of Tithes and Gifts

Offertory                                                                      Who at My Door is Standing? (K. Lee Scott)

Who at my door is standing, there patiently drawing near,
who entrance is demanding? Whose is the voice I hear?
Sweetly the tones are falling: “Now open the door for me!
If thou wilt heed to my calling I will abide with thee.”

Within, the rooms are darkened, all filled with dust and sin;
how shameful, how unworthy for Christ to enter in.
Yet, the tones are falling: “Now open the door for me!
If thou wilt heed my calling, I will abide with thee.”

Door of my heart, I hasten! Thee will I open wide. Though he rebuke and chasten, He shall with me abide. Sweetly the tones are falling; “Now open the door for me! “Lord God, I hear thee calling, Come now, abide with me. Dear Lord, abide with me!

† Doxology #607                              “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

† Prayer of Dedication

God of steadfast love and faithfulness, we are humbled as we try to do what is right and walk in your ways. Receive, we ask, these offerings, and use them for your own good purposes in the church and in all creation. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the People & 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.

† Hymn #485                                                              “We Know That Christ Is Raised”

† Charge and Benediction

May the God of covenant faithfulness enfold you;
the beloved Son encourage you;
and the Holy Spirit descend upon you in blessing;
this day and forever.

Amen.

Postlude                                                                 In Christ There is No East or West, setting by Gilbert M. Martin

This tune is adapted from a spiritual by the famous African American composer and songwriter, Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949) and is the first instance of African American musical material in a mainline North American hymnal (see hymn #317). It has become over the years a great hymn of Christian unity for the church.

Sources

Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013).

Storytelling the Season: Covenant. Karen Ware Jackson. “When we learn in God’s story together, we grow in God’s story together.” —Heather Ruth Johnson.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-734388; CCLI Copyright License B 20481088 + Streaming License B 481071

Worship Participants

Dorothy Boulton
Associate Pastor

Keith and Kathy Glennan
A/V Production

Wendy Johnston
Organist and Assistant Director of Music

Greg Knauf
Director of Music

Ken Kovacs
Pastor

Vickie Lord
Social media support

Stephanie Stevens
Liturgist

Learning & Growing

CEA: Welcome Caitlin Kirby

Sunday, February 18 | Led by Caitlin Kirby | 9:00 a.m. in the Library

Join us in welcoming Caitlin Kirby, the new executive director of Catonsville Emergency Assistance (CEA). Caitlin has been a Catonsville resident for over 16 years. She was a Communications Consultant to local businesses and non-profits, specializing in social media marketing and events, and former Assistant to the executive director of the Catonsville Chamber of Commerce. CPC has been a long and faithful partner with CEA’s vital ministry to the community, serving greater Catonsville residents with emergency food, utility turn-off intervention, and eviction prevention. Come and hear how the work of CEA is having a positive impact in Catonsville.

Thursday Morning Bible Study: A Theology of Death

Beginning February 22 | Led by Ken Kovacs | 10:30 a.m. in the Library

Thursday Morning Bible Study resumes in Lent for a special series that explores the Bible’s understanding of death. The Bible does not speak with one voice on this subject. What we find in Judaism is a gradual unfolding of insights into the nature of death, God’s relationship to death (and the dying), and speculations about life after death. Many of these ideas are present in the Old Testament but take on new and deeper meanings after the accounts of Jesus’ resurrection. Each week we’ll study a different passage of scripture, supported by additional articles and reflection pieces to inform our discussions.  We plan to look at the following texts: Genesis 3, Psalm 23 and Ecclesiastes, Ezekiel 37, John 11, and 1 Corinthians 15.

Middle and High School Youth Group

February 25 | After worship in the Rising Star Youth Room

Middle and high school youth will next meet on Sunday, February 25 from noon to 2 p.m. We’ll enjoy pizza and snacks upstairs followed by games in the gymnasium. If possible, please contact the church office to RSVP.

The Practices of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Compassion

Sunday, March 3, 10, and 17| Led by Ken Kovacs | 9:00 a.m. in the Library

The season of Lent is a time for growth in faith—through prayer, spiritual discipline, and self-examination in preparation for the annual commemoration of Jesus’ death and resurrection. In ancient Christian practice, Lent was a time of preparation for the celebration of Baptism at Easter.  In our journey through these forty days (minus Sundays), we are invited to reflect deeply on how to live out the meaning of our baptism as disciples. For three Sundays, we’ll explore three key practices associated with Lent: prayer, fasting, and works of love or compassion. We’ll give special attention to how we can nurture our inner life and cultivate loving habits of the heart. And we’ll offer ways to make these essential practices more meaningful and relevant in our walk with Christ. Visit catonsvillepres.org/belonging for all the articles and resources in this series.

Announcements

Children’s Books

Parents of children ages 4-10 can pick up a free copy of ‘Twas the Season of Lent: Devotions and Stories for the Lenten Easter Seasons by Glenys Nellist in the Fellowship Hall today. Please connect with Dorothy Boulton to receive your copy.

Lent & Easter Messenger

Copies of the Lent & Easter Messenger are available in the front and rear of the sanctuary. It was also emailed out this past week and is available at catonsvillepres.org/messenger.

Envision Board Jump Start

We’re getting down to the wire for getting applications completed for the Envision deadline of March 1. You might have hit a snag in the last week so stop by the table in Fellowship Hall after worship and talk to a board member to get some guidance on how to move forward. We’re here to get you going again.

Lenten Calendar

Copies of Tread Lightly for Lent, a calendar with daily sustainable practices from the Presbyterian Hunger Program, is available in the rear and front of the sanctuary. An online version is available for download at tinyurl.com/tread-light.

Staff Schedules

Dorothy Boulton will be out of the office from February 19-28.