PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
led by Cynthia
PRELUDE
Holy, Holy, Holy
led by Cynthia & Erin
WELCOME & GREETING
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: This is the day that You have made, Lord.
People: Help us to rejoice in it, and be glad!
L: Remind us of the privileges as Your people:
P: to come to You in these moments,
to confess our sins,
to receive forgiveness and give it,
to pray and sing and listen,
to renew our fainting spirits,
to rest in all Your promises.
L: Open our eyes to see You, Lord.
P: Open our ears to hear Your Word.
L: Visit us through Your Holy Spirit
P: And help us to celebrate our faith.
Amen.
SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, move among us all;
Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:
Humble, caring selfless, sharing.
Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love.
Covenant Hymnal, #276
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON
Psalm 69:1-16
1 Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.
4 More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
many are those who would destroy me,
my enemies who accuse me falsely.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
5 O God, You know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from You.
6 Do not let those who hope in You be put to shame because of me,
O Lord God of hosts;
do not let those who seek You be dishonored because of me,
O God of Israel.
7 It is for Your sake that I have borne reproach,
that shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my kindred,
an alien to my mother’s children.
9 It is zeal for Your house that has consumed me;
the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.
10 When I humbled my soul with fasting,
they insulted me for doing so.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
12 I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.
13 But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of Your steadfast love, answer me.
With Your faithful help 14 rescue me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
15 Do not let the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the Pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, O Lord, for Your steadfast love is good;
according to Your abundant mercy, turn to me.
STAND BY ME
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me;
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me.
When the world is tossing me,
Like a ship upon the sea,
Thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me.
In the midst of tribulation, stand by me;
In the midst of tribulation, stand by me.
When the host of hell assail,
And my strength begins to fail,
Thou who never lost a battle, stand by me.
In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me;
In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me.
When I’ve done the best I can,
And my friends misunderstand,
Thou who knowest all about me, stand by me.
In the midst of persecution, stand by me;
In the midst of persecution, stand by me.
When my foes in war array
Undertake to stop my way,
Thou who saved Paul and Silas, stand by me.
When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me;
When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me.
When my life becomes a burden,
And I’m nearing chilly Jordan,
O thou Lily of the Valley, stand by me.
Covenant Hymnal, #447
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Leader: The Word of the Lord
People: 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.
Children are dismissed to the gym at this time.
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.
Covenant Hymnal, #423
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Psalms for Life:
orientation
Psalm 113
disorientation
Psalm 69
reorientation
Psalm 40
When Oceans Rise
Pastor Denise
OCEANS
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep my faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sov’reign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine
CCLI Song # 6428767 CCLI License # 349090
Joel Houston | Matt Crocker |
Salomon Ligthelm © 2012 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
led by Pastor Phil
We continue to pray for: Katie Gieseke, Kari Hutson, Ernesto Galaviz, Kristine Brandel’s friend Terrie, Nikolas Arden, Katie Collier, Shirley Nicholas.
Ministries & Mission
Janet & Ronald Ziegelbaur, serving in Cameroon; 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
& PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@ravenscov.org
OFFERTORY
Prelude in C minor by F. Chopin
led by 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.
COMMUNITY LIFE
.
DAY BY DAY AND WITH EACH PASSING MOMENT
Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what he deems best
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Ev’ry day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself he laid:
“As your days, your strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in ev’ry tribulation
So to trust Your promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Your holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
Covenant Hymnal, # 435
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
led by Cynthia & Erin
INVITATION & FINAL SLIDES
We’ll be back here next Sunday.
We hope you can join us.
Information on ravenscov.org.
music as we go, by maxeltoft
Covid restrictions for in-person worship
Chicago is now requiring the use of masks for indoor public gatherings, so Ravenswood Covenant has reinstated safety protocols for Sunday morning worship. This means that within the building masks are required at all times, regardless of vaccination status; seating is socially distant; and handshakes and hugs are avoided.
We are still observing precautions regarding children, specifically with regard to the cry room. As was the case before, if you and your family would like to worship in the cry room, please reserve it in advance by contacting Gregory Sager at office@ravenscov.org or 773-784-7091. One family may choose to use the cry room upon arrival if it hasn’t already been reserved. 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.
There will still be no nursery.
Worship bags for kids
Each week there are 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.
Summer worship hours in effect
Ravenswood Covenant is in its summer schedule. Worship will begin at 9:30 am, and there will be no Sunday School.
Children will be dismissed to play outside in the playground at the offertory time. We are looking for adults and teens to supervise outside. If you’d like to sign up for one of two Sundays this summer, contact Pastor Denise. Worship bags for children and worship in the lounge area will continue to be available each week.
Nelson Lounge open for remote worship
The Nelson Lounge, which is upstairs in the church’s C.E. wing, is open for families with young children during Sunday worship. The television will have the church service livestreamed so parents can watch as they supervise their own children. There will be some toys and a kids’ table in there for coloring. Children are always welcome in the main sanctuary as well.
Sunday School update
The current plan is to start children’s Sunday School and Confirmation on Sunday, September 19. Fall Kick-Off Sunday (Rally Sunday) is September 12. We hope to have the children use the largest spaces available for their classes: Fellowship Hall, Lounge, Gym, etc. The teachers and students will all wear masks. All our teachers have been vaccinated, as have the church staff. Children’s Church will meet in the fellowship hall downstairs and the lounge will continue to be used for nursery during the worship service for families that want to watch the live stream and monitor their children. The church Leadership Team and staff continue to monitor the COVID-19 numbers in our area and will make adjustments as needed. Pastor Denise will also post a YouTube type video each week geared for young kids so that they can watch the lesson at a time that works best for them, if you are not ready to bring them to the building.
Farmer’s market continues
Our farmers market had another successful session this past Wednesday. While it is still a smaller and more restricted market due to the public health situation, the market continues to be a blessing to the neighborhood.
The farmers market will again run through the middle of October each Wednesday from 4-7 pm. Many of our vendors from last year will be returning, and we will have some new ones as well. As usual, our main produce and flower vendor will be Patyk Farms.
Many of you are curious as to how the market will operate this year, as we pass from pandemic conditions back to normal life. As was the case last year, we will operate with a close eye as to state and local public-health guidelines, and we will adapt to looser restrictions as conditions allow.
If you are interested in volunteering to help staff this year’s market crew on whatever Wednesdays you are available, please contact the church office at 773-784-7091 or at office@ravenscov.org.
Thursday evening Zoom Bible study resumes this week
The Thursday evening Bible study will resume this coming Thursday, September 2. The Bible study meets each Thursday at 7 pm. We are currently studying the book of 2 Corinthians.
The Zoom link for the Bible study has a new meeting ID and passcode:
Meeting ID: 972 871 4458
Passcode: 1qa3CD
Join Zoom meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95052558015?pwd=N3d1eFpUUmUwenhCSzNJNUk3WEV2QT09
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.”
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.
General fund giving:
August 15: $5,812
General fund giving:
August 22: $2,010
Scripture for next Sunday
Luke 17:11-19
Psalm 40:1-10
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.