Good morning and welcome. This is Sunday, September 13, 2026. You are tuned to the live broadcast of a service for the worship of God, which is coming to you from the sanctuary of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia. A live audio stream is available at the Grace Covenant website, which can be found at grace-covenant.org. Just select the radio button, then listen live.
The End Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Amen.
Amen. Amen. Oh ORGAN PLAYS Thank you. Thank you. This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Good morning and welcome to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. This Lord's Day, we welcome all who come to worship, whether in person, whether watching the live stream, or listening on the radio. We greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I'd like to welcome back our choir.
It's so good to have you here, and I can tell that Chris is super excited because that was a super exciting introduction. Thank you so much, and we're happy to have you here with us again. I want to turn your attention to the announcements this morning. You may follow along as I highlight a few. Wednesday night supper returns this Wednesday, September 16th, in the fellowship hall.
Join us for dinner at 6 p.m. and stay for the program at 6 30 when we will hear from Phyllis Baker and Becca Wynn from Strategies to Elevate People, also known as STEP. We hope to see you on Wednesday. The safety and security team will host a training session on Saturday, September 26th from 9 a.m. to 1030 a.m.
to instruct volunteer ushers on the core responsibilities of the lead and backdoor ushers. The session will equip attendees with the essential leadership skills and safety knowledge required to confidently direct the team, manage the flow, and coordinate emergency responses. And if you, when you attend, there will be a light breakfast that will be served. This will all happen in the fellowship hall. And please RSVP to the church at info at gcpcrva.org by Thursday, September 24th.
Our final gathering at Shalom Farms will be Saturday, September 17th, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Northside Farm. This is a family-friendly volunteer opportunity to help ensure everyone in our region has access to God's gift of nutritious produce. Please contact Nelson Revely for more details at rively at gcpcrba.org. Listen up, children, calling all children, ages 4 through 11.
Fall Junior Choir begins Sunday, September 20th, and runs through October 25th. A junior choir is a great opportunity for children to sing God's glory. The choir will meet during Sunday school between 9 45 and 10 30 a.m. on Sundays in the fellowship hall our very own Chris Martin will lead the sessions and Nelson Reeve will round it out with lessons with the bible stories crafts and prayer please contact Nelson Reeveley at reeveley at gcpcrba.org for more information Kids, remind your parents. Finally, let us remember to pray for one another, especially those on our congregational prayer list, because we know prayer changes things.
If you have a prayer request, please fill out the card that is inserted in your bulletin, and you may place that on the offering plate during offering, or you may place it in the box, the prayer box in the North X. Again, prayer changes things.
Now, let us prepare our hearts and minds to worship the Lord. Please stand for the call to worship. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. For his death has loved and endured his forever. Give thanks to the God of gods.
For his death has loved and endured his forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. For it is never God's love and the Lord is forever. Once again, welcome to the live broadcast of A Service for the Worship of God, which is coming to you from the sanctuary of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church at 1627 Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. This is the 103rd year of radio ministry at Grace Covenant, and today's broadcast is number 5262.
This morning's sermon, entitled Service Grounded in Love, will be delivered by the Rev. Calvin H. Sidnor IV, co-pastor. Assisting in the service today are Chris Martin, our Director of Music and Organist, the Chancel Choir, the Reverend Joanna W. Sidnor, co-pastor, and Clara Rubis, our liturgist.
Our opening hymn is Praise Ye the Lord the Almighty, which is number 482 in the Presbyterian hymnal. Chant with the Savior As long as we Our high deeds are heavenly And to the Lord be your days Amen. Let me pray, so come and say, Lord, I am. Let me pray, Lord, I am. Seeing that we have a great high priest who has entered the inmost heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us therefore approach the throne of grace with fullness, with the fullest confidence that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help us in the hour of need.
In the strength of this assurance, let us confess our sins to God using the prayer of confession printed in the bulletin. God of everlasting love, we confess that we have been unfaithful to our covenant with you and with one another. We have washed up other gods, money, power, greed, and convenience. we have served our own self-interest instead of serving only you and your people we have not loved our neighbor as you has commanded nor have we rightly loved ourselves forgive us gracious God and bring us back into the fullness of our covenant with you and one another through In Jesus Christ our Lord, amen. You are the Lord, we love our mercy.
You are the Christ, we love our mercy. You are the Lord, you are the Lord. You are the Lord, you are the Lord. Hear the good news. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.
That proves God's love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. glory to God Alleluia! Alleluia!
You may be seated. At this time, children ages 3 through 6 are invited forward for Children's Chapel. They will be at the back of the Fellowship Hall for pickup after worship. Youth ages 7 through 12 are also invited forward for Youth Chapel and they will return following the sermon In children child care is provided for babies up to age 3 in room 101 Let us pray. Lord God, help us turn our hearts to you and hear what you will speak.
For you speak peace to your people through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Today's Old Testament reading is from the scripture Micah, chapter 6, verses 6 through 8. With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O mortal, what is good and what does the Lord require of you. But you do justice to love and kindness and to walk humbly with your God. This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Good morning. It is wonderful to be here on this Discipleship Sunday. Let me just say that Joanna and I are so grateful for the choir being back. It was so empty back here throughout the summer, and to hear these angelic voices just projecting forward is a blessing.
Our New Testament scripture comes from 1 Peter chapter 4 verses 8 through 11. Listen again for the word of the Lord. speaking in the very words of God. Whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever.
Amen. Let us pray. Oh Lord, open our hearts and minds to the power of your Holy Spirit, that as your word is proclaimed, we may hear what you are saying to us today.
Now let the words of your servant's mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight. O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Through Christ, amen. The sermon titled this morning is Service Grounded in Love. Peter writes to a mixed cultural context across five regions in Asia Minor.
he addresses established Gentile Christians. They are socially marginalized and discriminated against on socioeconomic grounds in their own communities, and their faith is the reason for their suffering. Given all they were facing, their love could have run dry, and their service could have become conditioned by convenience. They could have stopped giving. They could have stopped showing up.
They could have withdrawn from one another precisely when community is needed most. It would have been easy for them to say, I have enough of my own worries. I'll take care of myself first. They quietly call the land of their oppression Babylon. Yet in that reality, Peter calls them to service and faithful stewardship.
before he addresses anything else. He leads them to the deep well of their journey to let God's love shape them. This is where Peter's words meet us. Our circumstances differ, yet our hearts wrestle with the same temptation. When we are pressed internally and externally, we often pull back out of discomfort.
Peter reminds the believers that service should not be a burden or something we try to avoid but rather an act of faithfulness to Christ fueled by his love for us and our love for one another Peter gives us here as a code of conduct on how they should show up for one another today's passage emphasizes that love is the foundation of all christian service peter encourages believers to love one another deeply practice hospitality and to use their spiritual gifts to build up the church and to demonstrate god's grace in the world and that brings us to the heart of today's message genuine Christian service flows from a heart full of love believers must recognize their gifts and use them actively to promote unity, growth, and witness within the community love must first take root in the heart above all, maintain constant love for one another before Peter says anything else he tells the believers to let love, agape love, the love of putting others before themselves, take root first. Agape love shows up in attitude and in actions. It is the foundation of Christian living, and it is only possible because God first loved us. His love gives us the strength to remain faithful and rooted in Christ no matter what comes. This kind of love isn't something that we take down from the Christian shelf when it's convenient, nor is it the kind of love that we give back when we feel it is no longer needed.
It's the kind of love we claim as our own every day in every situation. the kind of love that reminds believers that Christ holds and carries us in constant love even when times are hard. Peter knows the believers are under tremendous stress and he knows the weight of persecution and how that could shake their confidence and even pull them away from their call to love and serve one another. But Peter, he refuses to let the church drift out of order. Instead, he calls them to the foundation that matters most, love.
Love is the foundation of selfless service. Peter knows that love must be constant, but he also conveys that love must stretch. for love covers a multitude of sins. Love can't be so rigid that it becomes inflexible. Like a healthy tree, it must be deeply rooted, yet able to bend in the wind.
A love that refuses to bend often ends up breaking relationships. Genuine love stretches to the limits to help one another, and it refuses to let small irritations or even real failures become permanent barriers between brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead, love fosters harmony and mutual care within the church community. If we look back at Peter's words, love covering a multitude of sins, it tells us everything that we need to know, that even now, everything that's said and done in the church is not perfect.
Sometimes people say or do things that hurt us and it stings. But Christian love means accepting others' faults and even enduring unkindness. No, this is not being a doormat. It is not about ignoring sin or pretending that sin or shortcomings don't matter. it means that love desires the best for others.
And when we love, forgiveness and patience come more easily. Peter seems to draw from Proverbs chapter 10, verse 12. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. Equally powerful is that constant love, this constant stretching love, can help believers transform even the hardest hearts. Love is a powerful thing.
This constant sin-covering love is not conditional. It is not reciprocal, meaning that we don't extend love only when we receive it. And it is not about a perfect situation. it is a love that says don't let the circumstances get the best of you our love is anchored in jesus christ who is the foundation of true love think of mary anointing jesus at bethany she took expensive perfume and poured it out for jesus wiping his feet with her hair people criticized her. But Jesus said, wherever the gospel is proclaimed, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.
Mary's love didn't back away, even when it was misunderstood. Her love served anyway. Or think of Harriet Tubman. We remember her courage, but underneath that was a deep trust in God who loved her. After escaping slavery, she could have made the safe choice and stayed.
Instead, she went back again and again to rescue others. Before each journey, she prayed, Lord, tell me what to do. Love compelled her to serve even when the cost was high. when love takes root in our hearts our lives become bold witnesses to Christ's love and an offering to the Lord and so as we lead with love hospitality is one of the first ways love becomes visible in the church love makes room through hospitality Peter tells them be hospitable to one another without complaining The word hospitable itself comes from two Greek words, meaning love and stranger. It means caring for those we don't know and welcoming those who might otherwise be left out.
Peter isn't simply calling for politeness toward guests. He is calling believers who are themselves strangers in a foreign land to extend radical welcome to their fellow pilgrims. But Peter also knows that opening one's home, sharing one's resources, and caring for others can be demanding, sometimes exhausting, sometimes irritating. And when we are tired, we can resent those in need. Peter understands that we may find more joy on some days than others yet he wants them to know that grumbling is not the posture of Christian love in Peter's day good hospitality was essential many believers didn't have what they needed they relied on fellow Christians for care missionaries and evangelists needed places to stay as they traveled and shared the gospel.
There were no church buildings. Worship happened in homes, and without hospitality that churches worship, fellowship and ministry would have suffered. We see Christians being hospitable in Scripture when Peter stayed with Simon the Tanner and when Paul was welcomed by Mason of Cyprus on his journey to Jerusalem. The early church was sustained because believers welcomed others out of love. But grumbling, grumbling turns hospitality into a burden.
It's serving with hidden resentment. It's doing the right thing outwardly while resisting inwardly. And if we are honest, we all struggle to be hospitable without complaining at times. grumbling pushes love aside I love how the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 13 and 2 reveals the spiritual significance of welcome saying do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it Hospitality is where our faith meets real life. It exposes the gap between what we say we value and what we actually do.
And when we do it, we ought to do it with authentic joy. Let me share a personal example. A few weeks ago, I needed to be in Virginia Beach for several days, and I planned to stay with my parents in Hampton. I let my cousin in Virginia Beach know that I would be staying nearby, and she and her husband insisted that I stay with them. They said, say less.
You're staying with us. It'll save you a trip back and forth through the tunnel. I was grateful, to say the least. But here's what moved me the most. Just nine months earlier, they had a refrigerator leak that not only ruined the floor, but it exposed asbestos in the adjacent wall, forcing them to live in a hotel.
They had just moved back into their home about a week before I arrived. They asked if I minded sleeping in a room full of boxes. I said, no, it's fine. But when I got there, everything was in order. And their hospitality made me feel like a king.
now let's contrast that with Martha in Luke chapter 10 Martha welcomed Jesus into her home she meant well but as she busied herself with preparations frustration took over she complained to Jesus about Mary who was sitting at Jesus feet listening Martha was hospitable but her service was shadowed by grumbling. As believers, we must not be so busy that we fail to authentically make room for others. In a culture of busyness and productivity, we must intentionally create space in our lives to welcome others' care for their needs and build meaningful and real relationships. Hospitality creates room for fellowship and encouragement And it is one of the ways we experience God grace together as a faith community For those who are at the discipleship breakfast, we experience that today. and when we look and when we love rather when our love makes room for hospitality when our hearts open up to show the love of Christ it does not stop there it naturally moves us to use our God given gifts to serve others let love get us to work through our stewardship.
Peter concludes our passage by saying like good stewards of the manifold grace of God serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God. Whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies so that God might be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. In Scripture, stewards were often leaders, preachers, elders, and deacons. But Peter, he broadens the call.
Good stewardship is not just for a few, it is for every believer. stewardship is a vital role even if the steward was enslaved during that time the master's property was in his hands in the same way God's gift given to us is for our use but it has been entrusted to us it is not ours, it does not belong to us, it's been entrusted to us to build up the church through love so what does that look like whether you're preaching teaching arts and crafts visiting others healing speaking in tongues singing ushering and so on god calls you to use it every act of service strengthens unity and deepens our love for one another the healing truth is that the gifts given to us do not belong to us they are not our possessions they are not a trophy as the apostle paul writes in romans chapter 12 verse 6 we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us grace is given to us so that through our service God might be glorified glorifying God is not the byproduct of our service it is brothers and sisters the goal and because we are a family of faith who falls short in our humanity sometimes afraid, sometimes worn out we are reminded to serve not in our own strength, but with the strength of God, the creator of the heavens and earth. In doing so, pride does not take root, and humility marks our service. We see love at work in the world every day. For athletes, nothing compares to sharing their gift with others on the field or court.
For readers, nothing is better than sharing a good story or book recommendations. And for teachers, few things are more meaningful than watching understanding dawn on a student's face. But as Christians, we have an even greater calling. that is to use our gifts to serve the church inspired by the selfless love Jesus showed for us on the cross and shows us daily in the power of the Holy Spirit when we serve we steward divine resources and demonstrate love in action on this discipleship Sunday let us not hold our gifts so tightly that the church can't see them. Let us not serve as a means to get to heaven.
Let us serve because by God's grace we have been equipped to glorify God through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And in our faithfulness, we bear the responsibility to communicate God's truth, not our opinions or preferences, but God's truth.
However we might use our gifts that have been given to us, we are to do it to glorify God. Here's the beautiful thing. Your words don't have to be eloquent or persuasive. Your service doesn't have to be impressive, but they must be faithful to God's message. as Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 31 so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do do everything for the glory of God brothers and sisters when Christ's love truly shapes us it does more than reveal our gifts it ignites us to use them boldly and generously again on our own we do fall short but by his grace we become faithful stewards of all he entrusts to us.
So today, open your hearts wide to God's leaning. Say yes to serving him out of joy. Commit yourselves to the life of the church. Step forward in faith and let God's glory be magnified through faithful stewardship. As our love deepens and our service grows stronger, the world will see a living testimony, a church transformed by the power of his grace.
To him belongs the glory and power forever and ever. Amen. Please stand as we sing hymn 391 in the blue hymnal Take My Life. You are listening to the live broadcast of a worship service at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. You have just heard this morning's sermon entitled Service Grounded in Love, which was delivered by the Reverend Calvin H.
Sidnor IV. The congregation will now join in singing, Take My Life, which is number 391 in the Presbyterian hymnal. Take my hand and the throne And the impulse of our love Take my feet and the throne of me Save the fruit and all for me Save the fruit and all for me Take my voice and let me sing O eternal glory, O my King Take my lips, I am not ready Give me the message from me Give me the message from me Take my soul, my blood, my Lord, Thou divine to thy name, Lord. Take thy interlaced and dearest, Every God as thou shalt choose, Every God as thou shalt choose. Take my fill and lay in line, it shall be all the good.
Take my heart and be the Lord, it shall be the royal throne. It shall be the royal throne. Amen. Brothers and sisters in Christ, you have heard the word and responded in song. Let us now respond by stating what we believe using the Apostles' Creed as printed in the bulletin.
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 arose 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 life everlasting Amen Amen. Amen.
Amen. Please be seated. Let us pray. Gracious and loving God, creator of heaven and earth, maker of all that is seen and unseen, we come before you with grateful hearts on this Lord's day. We praise you for your infinite love, for your steadfast love that you would send your only son, Jesus Christ, to rescue and redeem us.
We thank you for Christ's obedience, his suffering on the cross, the mercy poured out through his sacrifice and the victory of his resurrection, which gives us new life, new hope. We give thanks. Lord we thank you that you have not only saved us by your grace but also that you call us into service you've entrusted each of us with gifts to use for your glory and to build up your people as your word teaches may we be faithful stewards of the grace we have received serving one another so that that in all things you may be glorified through Jesus Christ today on this discipleship Sunday oh God we offer special thanks for the ways your people have rallied in joyful service we thank you for this congregation and its many ministries we thank you for those who have answered the call to teach and lead encourage and care for others Lord we do thank you for our choir today the handbell choir and the gift of their voices and talents through their songs oh God you stir our hearts to worship and proclaim your goodness we thank you oh God for the many ministries resuming among us for children youth and adults bless each teacher leader volunteer and servant that they give themselves a way to you for your kingdom strengthen them in your grace and sustain them with joy. We thank you for the movement of your Holy Spirit among us, O God. Continue to awaken faith, deepen our discipleship, nurture love, and strengthen our witness in this community and beyond.
Merciful God, Lord, we do lift before you those who do not yet know the depth of your love revealed in Jesus Christ. Draw them to yourselves through the witness of your people and the power of the Holy Spirit. Help us to be joyful tools of the Lord. We pray for those whose lives have been scarred this day by violence and tragedy. Bring healing where there are wounds, O God.
Comfort where there is grief. and bring us hope, O God, when there is despair. Lord Jesus, we pray for all who continue to feel the lingering sting of war, whether far away or close to home. Grant peace to troubled nations. Protect the vulnerable.
And wisdom to those entrusted with leadership. Lord this day we remember those who died on 9-11 we continue to pray for their families Lord that they might feel your presence that they might know your peace we pray for the church especially our church oh God the family of faith where we are nurtured in the love of Christ where we learn to serve one another and where hospitality is practiced. Help us to extend forgiveness in a radical way, oh God. Help our love to stretch and grow to cover sin, those places that we feel uncomfortable, Lord, in the body of Christ that we might unite and be strengthened by your grace and truth. We pray for our children and young children.
O God, this day, the sound of joy coming from their mouths, surround them with your protection and care. Help them grow in faith, wisdom, and love. Raise up faithful disciples, O God, as you do in every faithful generation. We remember before you this day all who mourn. Draw near to them in their sorrow.
comfort them with the promise that neither death nor life can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord Give them strength for each day and the assurance of your abiding presence Oh God, pour out your Holy Spirit on us. Transform our hearts this day and use us again as instruments of your grace. Help us to serve with the gifts you have given to us, not reluctantly, but with gladness and thanksgiving. O Lord, receive these prayers along with the unspoken concerns of our hearts in the mighty name of Jesus as we pray the prayer you taught your disciples how to pray. 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. Let us give thanks to the Lord God with all of our being. In the company of the upright, let us honor God for the blessings and goodness we have received. with joy we offer our gifts to God as a sign of our deep devotion and covenant faithfulness. As the ushers pass the plates, please place your attendance cards, any prayer requests, and offering on the plate.
For those worshiping at home, we encourage you to continue your financial ministry by mailing your offering, sending it through your bank or online at www.grace-covenant.org forward slash give hyphen online. Please give as the Spirit leads you. The End Alleluia, alleluia, Touch me now, my God, and say. As the man revenues to gather In the name of Christ who saw And with thanks to God the Father Break the bread and bless the God Alleluia, alleluia, solita, poor friends, you know. All our hills and all our living, they can stand the bands of me.
And by heavy helping me in here We make true disciples be Alleluia, alleluia We will serve thee thankfully. We will serve thee thankfully. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Oh, Jesus, Lord, praise Him, O God, He ever been lost. Praise the Lord, Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. Almighty God, you have done great things for us, and holy is your name. Bless all we offer you, ourselves, our time, and our possessions, that through us your grace and favor may be made known to all the world, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
Amen. As we continue to stand, let us sing hymn 415 in the blue hymnal, Come Labor On. Amen. The love around us Ways our only way And to each shepherd Does our answer stay No more to pay Amen. The Lord is the Son of God.
No one's to be found made to circumcise No faithful angels may be on the field The Lord's Prayer Amen. Amen. Amen. We invite you to join us in the social room immediately following the worship service for fellowship and refreshments. Beloved, as you leave this place, let love guide your service in all you do, pointing beyond yourself to Jesus Christ so that God may be glorified in every word, every act of kindness, every sacrifice, and every shared gift.
now hear these words of blessing now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now Amen Amen. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Amen.
Thank you. Amen. For the past hour, you have been listening to the worship service at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia. Please join us again next Sunday through our radio ministry or in our sanctuary at 1627 Monument Avenue. Your announcers today have been Rusty Stadler and Eason Reveley, and the audio technician was Steve Kemp.
This service streams live and can be accessed through the Grace Covenant website, which is grace-covenant.org. We now return you to The Truth Network on WLES 590 AM and 97.7 FM.
