Introduction

As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), we are committed to be faithful in the proclamation of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, true to the Reformed faith as set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, and obedient to the Great Commission to go and make disciples.

As a church we are a body of believers that exists to Glorify God in Worship, to Love One Another in Community, and to Serve the World in Missions.

Scripture

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the infallible and inerrant Word of God; we believe that God spoke through the Prophets and Apostles such that what Scripture says, God himself says; and we believe that these Scriptures are the only infallible standard for our faith and practice.

God

We believe that there is only one true and living God, who has eternally and unchangeably existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; we believe that the three persons of the Trinity are equal in power and glory, and are each fully and truly God; we believe the character and nature of this one, true God is put on display in the natural realm and clearly revealed in the pages of Holy Scripture.

Creation & Providence

We believe that God made all things from nothing by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good; we believe that God continues to govern and direct all that he has made according to his most perfect, holy, and just plan, such that nothing and no one can frustrate his will; we believe that while this providence extends to all things generally, it extends to the salvation of sinners in a special and particular way.

Man & Sin

We believe that man was created in the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness; we believe that man was given an intellect and a will such that he could discern truth and make right choices; we believe that in Adam all sinned and are now thoroughly corrupt in all their thoughts, choices, emotions, and actions and are therefore spiritually dead apart from the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit; we believe that sin is any failure to conform perfectly to God's own moral character, which is revealed both by the works of the law written upon the heart of every person and most clearly and perfectly in Scripture.

Jesus

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, being the eternal Son of God, became man by adding to himself a human nature, so that he was and continues to be both God and man in two distinct natures, and one person; we believe that Jesus was sent forth by the Father to accomplish salvation through his perfect obedience to the law of God and his atoning death upon the cross; we believe that by his death our sins are forgiven, and by his resurrection we are raised to newness of life in him.

Salvation

We believe that salvation is found in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone; we believe that all those who have been saved are called by God through the proclamation of the gospel, receive the life-giving regeneration of the Holy Spirit, and are justified and sanctified, and will be glorified; we believe that all those who are saved by grace through faith will walk in the good works which God has prepared for them from eternity; we believe these good works are the necessary fruit of salvation, but are never the basis for their salvation.

Justification

We believe that through the finished work of Christ, all our sins have been fully forgiven and we are accounted as fully righteous in the sight of God; we believe that though believers are chosen unto salvation by God from before the foundation of the world (i.e., elect), the actual benefits of salvation in Christ Jesus are applied only when a person believes; we believe that although all those in Christ will be publicly declared righteous in the day of judgment, those who are united to Christ by faith are even now declared to be righteous by God.

Sanctification

We believe that all those who are justified by grace through faith in Christ Jesus are also being sanctified; we believe that this sanctification is the work of God whereby we are transformed and renewed in our whole person after the image of God; we believe that this transforming and renewing power enables believers to put that sin which remains in them to death and live in accordance with God's law; we believe that this sanctification is never completed or perfect in this life, and yet we are called to more and more die to sin and live unto righteousness.

The Church

We believe that the church is the body of Christ and is made up of all those who profess faith in Christ, together with their children; we believe that God has given gifts to his church, including pastors, elders, and deacons for the proclamation of his Word, the government and discipline of the church, and the organization of and service to his people; we believe that the marks of the church are the faithful preaching of God's Word, the right administration of the sacraments, and the practice of biblical discipline.

The Sacraments

We believe that the sacraments of the church are baptism and the Lord's Supper; we believe that these sacraments are instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and are signs and seals of the benefits of redemption to all who believe; we believe that baptism is a sign of our union with Christ, our forgiveness by the shedding of his blood, and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon us; we believe that, as the benefits of this sacrament are not tied to the moment of its administration, the sign is to be administered to the children of believers, just as the covenant sign of circumcision was administered to covenant children in the Old Testament; we do not believe that anyone is saved merely by receiving the outward sign to which baptism points, but all are saved by receiving the Holy Spirit in regeneration, which is the inward sign to which the sacrament points; we believe that the Lord's Supper is a covenant meal by which believers are strengthened in their hope, faith, and love as they receive Christ in the elements by faith; we believe that all who partake of the Lord's Supper are to be sincere believers in Christ, be able to discern the body as it is set before them in the elements, and be members in good standing in an evangelical church (not necessarily a PCA church, but one that proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ).

Last Things

We believe that there is coming a day of judgment in which all people who have ever lived will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for their every deed, thought, and word; we believe in a bodily resurrection of both believers and unbelievers; we believe that all those who trusted in Christ Jesus alone for salvation will be with him in glory in the New Heavens and the New Earth, and all those who did not trust in him will go to the eternal punishment of Hell.

Worship at Covenant

At Covenant, we are committed to worshipping God as he desires - according to his invitation and direction in his Word. As such, every part of our worship is chosen and planned in light of God's Word. Scripture provides what we term the "elements" of worship: Prayer; Congregational Singing; the Reading, Preaching, and Conscionable Hearing of God's Word; Confessions of Sin and Faith; the Giving of Tithes and Offerings; the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; and, when appropriate, Vows. In each of these elements, the whole church worships together - therefore, "worship" is not limited to a time of music and singing, but is a term that embraces the whole service.

Our typical service includes the elements in the following Order of Worship:

• Call to Worship
• Hymn of Praise
• Invocation
• Confession of Faith
• Reading of God's Word
• Hymn of Confession
• Confession of Sin
• Pastoral Prayer
• Assurance of Pardon and of God's Grace
• Offertory Hymn
• Prayer of Illumination
• Reading of God's Word
• Preaching of God's Word
• The Lord's Supper (on the Second Sunday of each month, in the morning)
• Hymn of Response
• Benediction

Click here for our Statement on Marriage.