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PRE-SERVICE SINGING–As We Gather
RECC Worship Team leading

FOREVER (We Sing Hallelujah)

The moon and stars, they wept
The morning sun was dead
The Savior of the world was fallen
His body on the cross
His blood poured out for us
The weight of every curse upon Him

One final breath He gave
As heaven looked away
The Son of God was laid in darkness
A battle in the grave
The war on death was waged
The power of hell forever broken

The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death, where is your sting
Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated

Now forever He is glorified
Forever He is lifted high
And forever He is risen
He is alive and He is alive

We sing hallelujah, we sing hallelujah
We sing hallelujah, the Lamb has overcome

CCLI Song # 7001228 CCLI License # 349090
Brian Johnson | Christa Black Gifford | Gabriel Wilson | Jenn Johnson | Joel Taylor | Kari Jobe © 2013 Kari Jobe Carnes Music

WELCOME & GREETING

GOOD NEWS PROCLAIMED
Leader:  Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen!
People:  The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
L: We shall not die, but we shall live,
P: That we may recount the deeds of the Lord.
L:  Christ is risen!
P: He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

THINE IS THE GLORY
verse 1

Thine is the glory, risen conqu’ring Son
Endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave-clothes where Thy body lay.
Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                
Based on Psalm 118

Leader: O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
People: His steadfast love endures forever!
L: This is the day that the LORD has made;
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

His steadfast love endures forever!

THINE IS THE GLORY
verse 2

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom.
Let His church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
For her Lord now liveth: death hath lost its sting.
Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.

FROM ACTS
Acts 10:34-43

34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that He did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put Him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised Him on the third day and allowed Him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

THINE IS THE GLORY
verse 3

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life!
Life is nought without thee: aid us in our strife.
Make us more than conqu’rors, through Thy deathless love:
Bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above.
Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.

GOSPEL READING
Mark 16:1-8

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; He is not here. Look, there is the place they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.[a]

[[And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.[b]]]

L:  The Word of the Lord
P: Thanks be to God                                       

(sung)
Glory be to the Father, 
And to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.


SERMON
Looking for Jesus
Pastor Denise

GLORIOUS DAY
Worship Team leading

verse 1
I was buried beneath my shame
Who could carry that kind of weight
It was my tomb ’til I met You

verse 2
I was breathing but not alive
All my failures I tried to hide
It was my tomb ’til I met You

chorus
(‘Cause when) You called my name (and)
I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness into Your glorious day
You called my name (and) I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness into Your glorious day

verse 3
Now Your mercy has saved my soul
Now Your freedom is all that I know
The old made new Jesus when I met You

bridge
I needed rescue my sin was heavy
But chains break at the weight of Your glory
I needed shelter I was an orphan
Now You call me a citizen of Heaven
When I was broken You were my healing
Now Your love is the air that I’m breathing
I have a future my eyes are open

CCLI Song # 7081388 CCLI License # 349090
Jason Ingram | Jonathan Smith | Kristian Stanfill |

Sean Curran © 2017 Kristian Stanfill Publishing Designee

GIVING OF OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS
Led by Cynthia

DOXOLOGY
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.

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Church family who work in and around hospitals & nursing homes:
Alex A, Kyra A, Hannah A, Sam A, Linda C, Carl G, Katie G, Eric H, Rachel H, Chona I, Abby H, Dana J, Bryan J, Kari J, Neal J, Eric S, Don T.

(If we missed any people’s names above please let us know.)

We continue to pray for: The Hodgkinson family, Phyllis Levinson (Joyce Oseland’s sister), Kathy Salzano, Nikolas Arden, Katie Collier, Carol Koeller’s mother Barbara, Art and Rosa Hamilton, Shirley Nicholas, Paul Mounts, Joyce Andrews, Steve Hoden, Mary Spriggs, Alice Nilsson (Nancy Popovich’s sister), the Brandel-Tanis family, the Morales/Randall family.

Ministries & Mission
Robert McLeod, serving in Mexico; Carlos & Karen Feijoo, serving in Ecuador

All:  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.

CONFESSION OF SIN
L: As we move towards the table let us remember that proof of God’s amazing love is this:  while we were sinners Christ died for us.  Because we have faith in Him, we dare to approach God with confidence.  In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God:

L: The Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.

L:Let us confess our sins against God and neighbor.

All:  Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name.  Amen.

PASSING THE PEACE
L:  Since in Christ we are reconciled to God, so also we are reconciled to each other, the members of His body, the Church.  May God’s peace extend throughout this congregation.

L: Peace of Christ be with you
P: And also with you.
L:  Let us extend to each other signs of that peace.

(extend greetings to those you’re with, and
comments on Facebook and YouTube are welcome.)

L: Friends, let us proclaim our faith together
in the words of the Apostle’s Creed.

THE APOSTLE’S CREED
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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hades; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at 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 Spirit; the holy Christian church; the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.

INVITATION
It is now our sacred privilege to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.  All who humbly put their trust in Christ and desire His help that they may lead a holy life; all who are truly sorry for their sins and would be delivered from them; all who would walk in love with their neighbors and intend to live a new life, following the commandments of God and walking from now on in His holy ways, are invited to draw near with faith and to receive this holy sacrament.

BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND POURING OF THE CUP
Now hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ as they were delivered by the Apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 it is written:

“The Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said: ‘This is My body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’

In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying: ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’

For as often as you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

A PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
L: Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, blest forever!

Bless, O God, this bread which we together eat, and the cup which we together drink.  Let us through this blest bread and this blest cup become partakers of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Unite us with one another and with all Your saints in heaven and on earth.  Consecrate us, body and soul, to be a living, acceptable offering to You, so that in word and deed we may continually praise and glorify Your holy name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

moment of silence

The gifts of God for the people of God—receive them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on Him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

RECEIVING COMMUNION TOGETHER
music in worship by Cynthia

COMMUNITY LIFE
Including a Buddy Video

CHRIST THE LORD HAS RISEN TODAY
Cynthia playing

Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Al-le-lu-ia!
All creation joins to say: Al-le-lu-ia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Al-le-lu-ia!
Sin, O heav’ns, and earth reply: Al-le-lu-ia!

Lives again our glorious King, Al-le-lu-ia!
Where, O death, is now your sting? Al-le-lu-ia!
Dying once He all does save, Al-le-lu-ia!
Where your victory, O grave? Al-le-lu-ia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Al-le-lu-ia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Al-le-lu-ia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ has opened paradise, Al-le-lu-ia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Al-le-lu-ia!
Foll’wing our exalted Head, Al-le-lu-ia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Al-le-lu-ia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Al-le-lu-ia!

Covenant Hymnal, page 258

POSTLUDE
led by Cynthia

BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God

BAGPIPE PROCESSIONAL
Amazing Grace
Sam leading

Art Used in this Bulletin: Steve Erspamer, SM
Clip Art for Year A © 1992, Archdiocese of Chicago.


Easter flower memorials and honors

***

In loving memory of

Clarence & LaVerne Anderson

Glenn Belda

Alex & Flora Belda

from Jim & Mary Anderson

***

In loving memory of

Blanche Swedberg

from Richard Swedberg

***

In honor of

Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church staff

from anonymous

***

In loving memory of

Mark Harley, Bertha Sager, and Paul Sager

from Gregory Sager

***

In loving memory of

Agnes Dick

Audrey Hodgkinson

from the Hodgkinson family

***

In loving memory of

Clarence & Myra Erickson

from Janice, Ray & Carol Erickson

***

In loving memory of

Roy Brandel

from his wife Theo Brandel, daughter Kristine Brandel, and son-in-law Donald Tanis

***

In loving memory of

Edith Ewing

from her brother Donald Tanis and sister-in-law Kristine Brandel

***

In loving memory of

Lena & Clinton Tanis

from their son Donald Tanis and daughter-in-law Kristine Brandel

***

In loving memory of

Timothy Anderson

from Gretchen Anderson, Denise & Gus Anderson, Rowlie Anderson, and Harry Anderson

***

In loving memory of

Mike Staurseth

from Kerry & Phil Staurseth

***

Reopening the sanctuary for worship
We have reopened the sanctuary for a small group of people to join in person for worship. Reservations are required, so if you would like to be a part of this group, contact the church office by phone (773-784-7091) or email (office@ravenscov.org) each week that you would like to attend. Ravenswood Covenant will continue to livestream worship each week on YouTube and Facebook; this is now a permanent feature of our ministry, so Sunday morning worship will remain accessible to anyone who has Internet access.

We have increased the number of people in the sanctuary we will accommodate to 35. We will continue to follow all of the current local and state safety protocols, including: temperature checks when you arrive; masks required at all times; sitting socially distant; avoiding handshakes and hugs; changes to communion and offering; and discouraging singing.

There will be no nursery, and all Sunday School classes will remain virtual at this time.

Delegates sought for Annual Meetings
Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church is a member of two broader church communities, the Central Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Evangelical Covenant Church itself. As such, our church takes part in the governance of these two organizations by sending delegates to their respective governing bodies, which are their Annual Meetings. RECC is seeking interested members of the church to serve as delegates to this year’s two Annual Meetings. The Annual Meeting of the Central Conference will be held on Saturday, April 24, and the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church will be held June 24-26. Both meetings will be held virtually via Zoom, so there is no travel involved. If you do not have Zoom, or if you wish to have the church’s resources at hand, you may use the Zoom link and the big screen in the church’s Nelson Lounge as your venue from which to participate in either Annual Meeting.

If you are interested in being a delegate to the denominational Annual Meeting, please contact a member of the Leadership Team (listed at the bottom of this email), or contact the church office. If you are interested in being a delegate to the Central Conference Annual Meeting, you must notify the Leadership Team or the church office today (Easter Sunday).

Faith Forum update


Faith Forum will return next week.

Faith Forum meets via Zoom at the traditional meeting time of 9:30 am on Sunday. This is the Zoom link for Faith Forum. The link is also provided at the top of the bulletin every week.

Monday evening Zoom Bible study moving back to Thursdays


The resumption of the Monday night prayer group means that the adult Bible study will return back to Thursday nights. The Bible study, which is currently studying the book of 1 Corinthians, will resume on Thursday, April 8 at 7 pm. It will then take a two-week hiatus before returning for good on Thusday, April 29. The Bible study meets via Zoom until further notice , and if you are not conversant with Zoom, don’t let that stop you! We can teach you how to activate Zoom so that you can take part. If you’re interested, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at office@ravenscov.org or at 773-784-7091.

The Zoom link for the Bible study is https://zoom.us/j/95052558015?pwd=N3d1eFpUUmUwenhCSzNJNUk3WEV2QT09

Meeting ID: 950 5255 8015
Passcode: 141628

Worship bags for kids
Each week there will be worship bags for children ages 2 to 12 attending worship. The bag will have the child’s name on it and will only be used by that child. Parents are asked to inform the church office when registering for worship that they will be bringing a child or children between 2 or 12 with them, so that Pastor Denise can provide a bag for each child.

2021 camp registration update from HarborPoint Ministries
Spring may just have started … but at Covenant Harbor and Covenant Point Bible camps, the staffs are already thinking about summer! For those who are wondering about camp options for summer 2021, you may check out day, overnight, and family camp options at posted at www.covenantharbor.org and www.cpbc.com. Register now … spaces are filling up fast!

Prayer meeting to return after Easter


The church’s biweekly prayer meeting that gathers every second and fourth Monday night each month is coming back! After being shut down due to the city’s pandemic guidelines, the city’s reduced infection rate and the upswing in vaccinations has led the church’s leadership to once again allow the prayer meeting to convene. The first meeting will be at 7 pm on Monday, April 12. Masks and social distancing will still be required, as before.

Prayer requests
A group of women in our church are meeting every night at 7 pm via phone calls and texts in order to keep our various needs before God in prayer. They are asking the congregation to bring their needs to them to be lifted up in prayer as part of this evening prayer time. If you have any needs that you would like to have added to their prayer list, please contact the church office.

Free masks available
The church is offering free masks to anyone in the congregation who is in need of one. If you would like, you may make a donation to our benevolence fund when you come to the church building to pick yours up. Please contact the church office at office@ravenscov.org or 773-396-6175 for more information.

Our response to the current health crisis
As a community of faith we continue to pray for the health and welfare of our church and community as we resist the temptation to fall prey to fear. We do, however, want to continue to look out for the welfare of our friends and neighbors. We are doing our best to stay current with best practices for this unique time — please stay tuned as these may change. Our primary place for timely communication will be our website, ravenscov.org. We will also offer reminders and notes on our Facebook page and by email. We are livestreaming our Sunday morning worship on Facebook Live and YouTube so that you may continue to be a part of our worship. Do not, however, become isolated. If you need any help there are folks in our church who can do so. Call the office (773-784-7091) or email the office (office@ravenscov.org).

General fund giving:
March 21: $1,176

General fund giving:
March 28: $12,716

Scripture for next Sunday
Mark 8:27-9:1

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.

"With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." (Mark 4:30-32 NRS)