PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
led by Cynthia
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME & GREETING
A GATHERING HYMN:
OUT OF NEED AND OUT OF CUSTOM
Out of need and out of custom,
We have gathered here again;
To the gathering we are bringing
Love and laughter, grief and pain.
Some believing, some rejoicing,
Some afraid, and some in doubt,
Coming with our questions voicing,
We would search these matters out.
Coming now our masks displaying,
Fearing that we shall be known,
Foolish games forever playing,
Feeling meanwhile so alone.
Let pretension’s power be broken,
To be human let us dare;
Let the truth in love be spoken,
Let us now the questing share.
We have heard the glowing stories
Of the things which God has done,
Of His power and his glory,
Of His love in Christ his Son.
God of human transformation,
For Your presence now we pray,
Lead us ever on the journey
As we gather here today.
Covenant Hymnal, #501
CALL TO WORSHIP
based on Psalm 34:1-8
Leader: I will bless the Lord at all times;
People: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
L: My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
P: let the humble hear and be glad.
L: O magnify the Lord with me,
P: and let us exalt His name together.
L: I sought the Lord, and He answered me,
P: and delivered me from all my fears.
L: Look to Him, and be radiant;
P: so your faces shall never be ashamed.
L: This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
P: and was saved from every trouble.
L: The angel of the Lord encamps
P: around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
L: O taste and see that the Lord is good;
P: happy are those who take refuge in Him.
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not make room for the devil. 28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
Mark 12:18-27
18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21 and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.”
24 Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.”
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
Family Ties
Pastor Phil
DRY BONES
Through the eyes of man it seems
There’s so much we have lost
As we look down the road
Where all the prodigals have walked
And one by one the enemy
Has whispered lies and led them off as slaves
But we know that You are God
Yours is the victory
We know there is more to come
That we may not yet see
So with the faith You’ve given us
We step into the valley unafraid
chorus
We call out to dry bones come alive, come alive
We call out to dead hearts come alive, come alive
Up out of the ashes let us see an army rise
We call out to dry bones come alive
God of endless mercy, God of unrelenting love
Rescue ev’ry daughter
Bring us back the wayward sons
And by Your spirit breathe upon them
Show the world that You alone can save
You alone can save
(So) breathe O breath of God
Now breathe O breath of God
Breathe O breath of God, now breathe (yeah oh)
(REPEAT)
CCLI Song # 6573588 CCLI License # 349090
Lauren Daigle | Michael Farren © 2012 CentricSongs
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
led by Pastor Denise
We continue to pray for: Katie Gieseke, Kari Hutson, Ernesto Galaviz, Kristine Brandel’s friend Terrie, Nikolas Arden, Katie Collier, Shirley Nicholas.
Ministries & Mission
Evens & Karina Paul, serving in Haiti; Renee Nicholas, serving local graduate students and faculty with InterVarsity
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
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by J.S. Bach
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.
COMMUNITY LIFE
.
I STAND AMAZED IN THE PRESENCE
verses 1, 4, & 5 only
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful
Is my Savior’s love for me!
He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them his very own;
He bore the burden of Calv’ry,
And suffered and died alone.
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful
Is my Savior’s love for me!
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
‘Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful
Is my Savior’s love for me!
Covenant Hymnal, #485
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
“Christus, der ist mein Leben” by Johann Pachelbel
led by Cynthia
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
Today is Doughnut Sunday!
Today is our third periodic outdoor Doughnut Sunday. Right after worship we’ll join together outdoors and eat doughnuts. (If you are only worshiping online today, be sure to get your own doughnuts. 
)
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, the 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.”
Covid restrictions for in-person worship
Chicago and the state of Illinois have entered Phase 5, which means that there are no longer any restrictions upon the attendance at gatherings of anybody who has been vaccinated.
However, 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.
We will follow all of the current local and state safety protocols for Phase 5 of public health in the state of Illinois. This means that masks are still required at all times within the building for those adults who have not been vaccinated. Changes to communion and offering remain in place until further notice.
There will still be no nursery.
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.
Farmer’s market continues
This past Wednesday we had nearly 500 visitors to the farmers market. 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 continues
The Thursday evening Bible study will continue this coming Thursday. 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
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.
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:
July 25: $1,299
General fund giving:
August 1: $4,251
Scripture for next Sunday
TBA
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.