Welcome to Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church!
We’re glad you’re here. You’re welcome to comment on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/ravenscov/) . Feel free to greet your friends from wherever you are. If you’d like to connect with anyone at church or have any questions about our congregation, please email one of our pastors (phil@ravenscov.org; denise@ravenscov.org) or email or call the church office (office@ravenscov.org; 773-784-7091).
| We like to remind folks that children are always welcome to remain with the congregation during worship—even more so now. When we meet in person, childcare is available as well. |
KIDS’ SINGING TIME
COVENANT HARBOR VIDEO
We love our Bible camps: Covenant Harbor and Covenant Point. Check out their websites to see how they’re doing in this time. Today we’ll see Covenant Point’s summer promotional video.
WELCOME , COMMUNITY LIFE & GREETING
RESPONSIVE READING
(based on Palm 118:1-4, 24-26)
L: O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
P: His steadfast love endures forever!
L: Let Israel say,
P: His steadfast love endures forever.
L: Let the house of Aaron say,
P: His steadfast love endures forever.
L: Let those who fear the Lord say,
P: His steadfast love endures forever.
L: This is the day that the Lord has made;
P: let us rejoice and be glad in it.
L: Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord.
P: We bless you from the house of the Lord.
PRELUDE
All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Cynthia Arden playing
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Maren Reading
Zechariah 9:9-10
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war-horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall command peace to the nations;
his dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
GOSPEL LESSON: Rodney Reading
Matthew: 21:1-17
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed
were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
12 Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written,
‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’;
but you are making it a den of robbers.”
14 The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry 16 and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,
‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise for yourself’?”
17 He left them, went out of the city to Bethany,
and spent the night there.
L: The Word of the Lord,
P: Thanks be to God.
HOSANNA
Bob & Deb leading
Hosanna, hosanna,
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna,
Hosanna in the highest
chorus
Lord we lift up Your name
With hearts full of praise
Be exalted oh Lord my God
(1st) Hosanna in the highest
(2nd) Glory to the King of kings
Glory, glory,
Glory to the King of kings
Glory, glory,
Glory to the King of kings
CCLI Song # 21545 CCLI License # 349090
Carl Tuttle © 1985 Shadow Spring Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
SERMON
“Palm Readings”
Pastor Denise
TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee
Take my will and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine
Take my heart it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne
Take my love my Lord I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be
Ever only all for Thee
CCLI Song # 1390 CCLI License # 349090
Frances Ridley Havergal | Henri Abraham Cesar Malan © Words: Public Domain
A COMMUNAL PRAYER
L: Let us pray to God,
who alone makes us dwell in safety:
For all who are affected by coronavirus,
through illness or isolation or anxiety,
that they may find relief and recovery:
Gracious Lord,
P: Hear our prayer.
L: For those who are guiding our nation at this time,
and shaping national policies,
that they may make wise decisions:
Gracious Lord,
P: Hear our prayer.
L: For doctors, nurses and medical researchers,
That through their skill and insights
Many will be restored to health:
Gracious Lord,
P: Hear our prayer.
L: For our neighbors big and small, near and far,
For our local businesses and their employees,
That they may be safe, wise, and cared for:
Gracious Lord,
P: Hear our prayer.
L: For the vulnerable and the fearful,
For the gravely ill and the dying,
That they may know your comfort and peace:
Gracious Lord,
P: Hear our prayer.
We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray,
to the mercy and protection and care of God.
Merciful God:
P: Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH CONTINUED
& THE LORD’S PRAYER (From Matthew’s Gospel)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
GIVING OUR TITHES AND OFFERING
OFFERTORY
“Come to the Table”
Composed by Trevor Nicholas. Joining their music: Piano – Trevor Nicholas – A human; Violin – Sarah Cave – Human’s closest friend; Violin – Taryn Rosenquist – A close friend; Cello – Cynthia Cheshire – A wise person (Likely a grandparent); Bass – Steve Bengtson – The voice of God.
The piece is a story and each instrument is a character. The central character (a human) is enjoying life when they lose their way and become alone. Their best friend finds them and sits with them in the darkness. Slowly the other characters join and point toward light and healing (The Table). The piano resists (rhythmically), but then gives in.
DOXOLOGY (Cynthia Playing)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Invitation
Breaking the Bread & Pouring the Cup
Sharing the Bread & Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving
SENDING HYMN
Max leading
From maxeltoft’s hymnal set
BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR
Beautiful Savior! King of creation!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’ll love thee, truly I’ll serve thee,
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
Fair are the meadows, fair are the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming flow’rs of Spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
He makes our sorrow’ng spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moon light,
bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be thine!
BENEDICTION
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you
May the Lord make his countenance shine upon you
and give you peace.
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Cynthia Arden Playing
INVITATION
On Good Friday we will share in a brief online service at 6 pm.
The service will be broadcast on FacebookLive.
Art Used in this Bulletin: Steve Erspamer, SM
Clip Art for Year A © 1992, Archdiocese of Chicago.