April 30, 2023
Worship live on Sundays in person,
or on YouTube at 10:45 am.
The Zoom link for the congregational meeting
following the service can be found here.
Meeting ID: 849 8885 3304
Passcode: 063748
One tap mobile
+13092053325,,84988853304#,,,,063748# US +13126266799,,84988853304#,,,,063748# US (Chicago)
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kbvtIx6qoh
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Children’s Sunday School for ages K-7th grade at 9:30 am in-person.
Faith Forum (adult Sunday School) at 9:30 am in person and on Zoom.
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME, GREETING, AND COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
LET US BE KNOWN BY OUR LOVE
Que la alegría sea nuestro motor
En cada hogar y corazón canta al Señor.
Que de nuestras vidas; bondad y esperanza.
Que la alegría sea nuestro motor!
Por la gloria del Padre,
Por la gloria de Jesus,
Por la gloria del Espiritu,
Que la alegría sea nuestro amor!
Let us be known by our love:
Let ev’ry word and ev’ry deed honor the Son.
Let our light shine in ev’ry eye.
Let us be known by our love!
For the glory of the Father,
For the glory of the Son,
For the glory of the Spirit,
Let us be known by our love!
© 2015 Curb Wordspring Music/SESAC (adm by W.B.M. Music Corp.), Bethel Worship Publishing/Mouth Of The River Music/ BMI (adm by Bethel Music Publishing), Common Hymnal Publishing/10000 Fathers/ ASCAP, Common Hymnal Digital/Ryan Flanigan Music/BMI (adm by Capitol CMG Publishing) Songbook design/transcriptions by Owen Stroud (owen@owenstroudmusic.com). CCLI# 7055575
* GOSPEL LESSON
Matthew 10:40-42
“Whoever welcomes you welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
Reader: The word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God!
CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Erin Stoel
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart and soul and mind
And love your neighbor as yourself
Let us be known let us be known
By the way we love
Love love love the greatest commandment is
Love love love the greatest commandment is
Love love love the greatest commandment is (love)
CCLI Song # 7133722 Paul Zach © Integrity’s Alleluia! Music (Admin. by Integrity Music) Paul Zach Publishing (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Children 6 and under are dismissed to Children’s Church in the upstairs lounge. Parents can pick up their children in the lounge after the service.
TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Don’t lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will direct your paths.
Al-le-lu-ia, Al-le-lu-ia, and
He will direct your paths.
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
Acts 14:8-19
In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been lame from birth. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man sprang up and began to walk. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. 14 When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15 “People, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all peoples to follow their own ways, 17 yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
19 But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Created in the Image of God
Pastor Ryan Eikenbary-Barber
I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS
Called to serve, unreserved,
I want to be like Jesus.
Living water flowing free,
Quenching thirst, washing feet;
I want to be like Jesus.
May God’s will be fulfilled.
I want to be like Jesus.
Choosing life in Christ alone,
Not my will, but His own.
I want to be like Jesus.
Yielded heart set apart,
I want to be like Jesus.
Seeking God’s priorities,
So the world clearly sees,
I want to be like Jesus.
Working toward heav’n’s reward,
I want to be like Jesus.
Service done in Jesus’ name,
For the lost, to reclaim.
I want to be like Jesus.
Covenant Hymnal, #630
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden, Messian Burgos, Frank Coszach, Vira Coszach, James Egan, Pedro Gomez, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Nona Michael and the Michael family, Kathy Sager, Mary Smith, and Steve Staurseth
Ministries & Mission
Serve Globally Team, serving Covenant overseas ministry personnel from here in the United States; Carlos & Karen Feijoo, serving in Ecuador
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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
GIVING OF OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@ravenscov.org
OFFERTORY
“Jesus, Lover of My Soul”
arr. Ken Medema
led by Erin and Cynthia
DOXOLOGY & PRAYER
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.
ACT JUSTLY, LOVE MERCY, WALK HUMBLY
It all comes down to this
What you require of me
Love my neighbor as myself
And You above all things
chorus
Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly
With You, God
In all things, in all ways, walk humbly
With You, God
It all comes down to this
To be Your hands and feet
Good news to all the world
The truth will set us free
chorus
bridge
It’s beauty for ashes
It’s mourning to dancing
It’s closer and closer
The Kingdom of heaven
(repeat)
Years from now we’ll see
The fruit our hands have sown
Faith just like a seed
The only way it grows
chorus
CCLI Song # 7168697 Chris Tomlin | Jason Ingram | Pat Barrett
© 2021 Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 349090
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Largo
Gilles Jullien
led by Cynthia
INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.
Worship update
The Leadership Team of Ravenswood Covenant Church recommends mask use during services, but this is not mandatory.
Ravenswood Covenant livestreams worship each week on YouTube, so Sunday morning worship is accessible to anyone who has Internet access.
Pastoral candidate weekend
Our pastoral candidate weekend will conclude after the service with a congregational meeting in which a motion to call Ryan Eikenbary-Barber to be our pastor will be voted upon. We enourage you to stay and to be a part of this meeting. And we pray for both a good spirit amongst us and for the Lord’s guidance as we seek to discern God’s will for our community of faith.
Church garden plots available
Are you a gardener, or would you like to become one? Ravenswood Covenant has free garden plots available along the north boundary of the church parking lot. if you would like to claim a plot, please contact the church office at 773-784-7091 or at office@ravenscov.org.
Coffee hour changes
There is now a coffee hour bulletin board downstairs in the fellowship hall! (It’s right next to the kids’ serving window.) Please look there for updated serving instructions as well as to find out what team you’re on. A self-sign-up will now be available on the board so that you can pick which Sundays work best for you. As always, thanks for serving!
Aid for Ukrainian refugees
Jeremy and Amanda Foster, who have attended our church in the past, have a direct connection to a mission that is serving refugees who have fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion. Jeremy’s parents Don and Beatrice Foster are in Hazebrouck, France as tentmaker missionaries and have prepared rooms in their home for refugees coming from Ukraine.
Here is the latest message from Don Foster:
Dear praying friends,
It has been so long since I was able to give an update on the apartments that you have so generously helped to fund. Finally I can say that two of the families have moved into their apartments. Hopefully next weekend the third family will move in. We have a fourth family (a couple with their 12-year-old son) coming in June to occupy two of the BnB rooms.
The construction company has basically kept none of their promises regarding dates and the workmanship is not very good, but the families have their apartments. We are more and more stretched financially with incredible inflation and “a bigger extended family” but as long as we have room, and your partnership, we are opening our doors. Unfortunately, as news shifts focus on new issues, it seems that people can forget that this terrible war continues to drag on, and will probably do so for quite some time. We are very much aware of this war and how it is shattering families. We think we are financially stretched, but these people have lost so much. The new family lost everything…their apartment was destroyed. They are originally from Mariupol.
If you would like to contribute to the furninishing of the apartments, for example, a light fixture costs $30 (We need 5 of them). A bathroom light fixture costs $35 (we need three of them. We have bought two couches for $400 apiece (a clic-clac was given to us). And we have additional expenses for heating, electricity, water and food. God is our great provider and you are wonderful partners.
We are hoping for a work team to come from our sending church. We have spoken with the chair of the Missions Committee who is discussing our request with the church board. This would be to provide the work to complete a meeting room.
I (Don) will be driving a woman with her 2-year-old daughter to Ukraine on June 29 and will come back on July 8. This little girl came with her mother last year when she was 1. In July she will not have seen her father for 1 1/2 years. I’m sure it will be very difficult to leave him again, but at least they will have a short reunion.
Thank you so much for your help!
God bless,
Don and Béatrice Foster
If you would like to donate to help the Fosters pay for extra food and supplies, please give a donation to Ravenswood Covenant that is specially designated for Ukrainian refugees. If you would like to give directly online, the website for the Fosters is https://ukraine.la-ferme-de-la-papote.com/ .
The Covenant denomination is also raising funds for Ukraine through Covenant World Relief. Here is the link if you would like to donate through the Covenant’s program. https://giving.covchurch.org/priorities-detail/ukraine-response
Thursday evening Bible study
The weekly Bible study meets Thursdays at 7 pm. We have just begun studying the Gospel of Mark. The Bible study meets in the lounge, and is also accessible by Zoom. For more information, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at (773) 784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95052558015?pwd=N3d1eFpUUmUwenhCSzNJNUk3WEV2QT09
The Zoom meeting ID for the Bible study: 972 871 4458
The Zoom passcode for the Bible study: 1qa3CD
Join Us in Sponsoring a Student in the NPTS SRA Program
North Park’s School of Restorative Arts offers a MA in Christian Ministry and Restorative Arts, allowing free and incarcerated students to study together. This unique degree program is designed to prepare individuals for ministries of restoration in contexts susceptible to violence and includes courses in trauma, race relations, nonviolent communication, conflict transformation, restorative practices, and transformative justice, in addition to Bible, theology, and history. In partnership with the Illinois Department of Corrections, this four-year degree is currently offered at Stateville Correctional Center with 80 incarcerated men and a first cohort of 20 women at Logan Correctional Center.
We, Ravenswood Covenant Church, have partnered with North Park Theological Seminary by committing to sponsor a student in this program. To help us support an SRA student please send a check to church or give online and in the memo line write: “SRA Sponsorship.”
RECC preaching schedule for May
May 7: Chaplain Jim Stoel
May 14: Pastor Mark
May 21: TBA
May 28: Pastor Mark
Scripture for next Sunday
Romans 1:1-17
Matthew 9:10-13
Art Used in this Bulletin: Steve Erspamer, SM
Clip Art for Year A © 1992, Archdiocese of Chicago.
Our church exists to love and worship God, and love and care for others. By God’s grace, we commit to help people find and follow Jesus Christ through the guidance of His Spirit and His word.