
July 21, 2024
Worship live on Sundays in person at 10:00 am,
or on YouTube at noon.
PRELUDE
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
Ludwig van Beethoven
led by Cynthia
WELCOME, GREETING, AND COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
People: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
UNISON PRAYER
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of water. Lord Jesus, thank You for joining us in the waters of baptism. Holy Spirit, thank You for being present in the sacrament of baptism. Father, Son, and Spirit remind us of baptism’s promise and power today. Amen.
* JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the happy chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Joining all within its span.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
Covenant Hymnal, #725
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Jim Stoel
Romans 8:9-17
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. 10 But if Christ is in you, then the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit that dwells in you.
12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are obligated, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — 13 for if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we in fact suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
BAPTISM OF BERTIE DELANGEL
* CHILDREN OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.
God His own doth tend and nourish,
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them,
In His mighty arms He bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.
Praise the Lord in joyful numbers,
Your Protector never slumbers;
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foeman must surrender.
Though He giveth or He taketh
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His, the loving purpose solely
To preserve them, pure and holy.
Covenant Hymnal, #87
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
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.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Finders Keepers
Matthew 13:44-46
Pastor Ryan
WASH, O GOD, OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS
Wash O God, our sons and daughters
Where Your cleansing waters flow.
Number them among Your people;
Bless as Christ blessed long ago.
Weave them garments bright and sparkling;
Compass them with love and light.
Fill, anoint them; send Your Spirit,
Holy dove and heart’s delight.
We who bring them long for nurture;
By Your milk may we be fed.
Let us join Your feast, partaking
Cup of blessing, living bread.
God, renew us, guide our footsteps;
Free from sin and all its snares,
One with Christ in living, dying,
By Your Spirit, children, heirs.
Oh, how deep Your holy wisdom!
Unimagined, all Your ways!
To Your name be glory, honor,
With our lives we worship, praise!
We Your people stand before You,
Water washed and Spirit-born.
By Your grace, our lives we offer,
Recreate us, God, transform.
Covenant Hymnal, #540
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden; Messian Burgos; Frank Coszach; Vira Coszach; Art & Rosa Hamilton; Trevor Hanks; Mary McKirchy; Sara Rosado; Mary Smith; Iris Velez; and Lauren Vilardo
Ministries & Mission
Christopher & Kristi Johnson, serving in Thailand
Barb & Steve Swanson, serving in Sweden
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
Prelude in C
J.S. Bach
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.

* O LET YOUR SOUL NOW BE FILLED WITH GLADNESS
O let your soul now be filled with gladness,
Your heart redeemed, rejoice indeed!
O may the thought banish all your sadness,
That in His blood you have been freed,
That God’s unfailing love is yours,
That you the only Son were given,
That by His death He has opened heaven,
That you are ransomed as you are.
If you seem empty of any feeling,
Rejoice — you are His ransomed bride!
If those you cherish seem not to love you,
And dark assails from ev’ry side;
Still yours the promise, come what may,
In loss and triumph, in laughter, crying;
In want and riches, in living dying,
That you are purchased as you are.
It is a good, every good transcending,
That Christ has died for you and me!
It is a gladness that has no ending
Therein God’s wondrous love to see!
Praise be to You, O spotless Lamb,
Who through the desert my soul are leading
To that fair city of joy exceeding,
For which You bought me as I am!
Covenant Hymnal, #494
* BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
March
G.F. Handel
led by Cynthia
INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.

Please wear a nametag
We’ve had a number of visitors and new attendees lately, and it’s very important that we not only welcome them warmly to our church but also allow them to attach a name to a face. We’re asking everyone to return to our old practice of wearing nametags on Sunday morning. Blank nametags and Sharpies will be available both in the narthex and in the sanctuary.
Post-baptism open house
Everyone is invited to an open house at Linda Carlson’s new home today honoring her daughter Bertie’s baptism in this morning’s service. The address is 2846 W. Summerdale Ave., #2W, and the open house will be from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Scam alert!
A note from Pastor Ryan:
Dear friends,
I just learned that someone is impersonating me and asking church members to purchase gift cards. THIS IS A SCAM! I did not send that request. I will never ask for you to purchase gift cards.
Unfortunately, this is a long running scam where strangers find publicly available information and use that information to steal from church people. We are unable to stop impersonators. Please notice that the email is slightly off. My true email is ryan@ravenscov.org. The scammer is using the email ryan.ravenscov@gmail.com.
Please do not give the scammer anything.
Thanks,
Pastor Ryan Eikenbary-Barber
Farmers market
We had another solid farmers market on Wednesday, with over 900 adults on hand to visit and buy from our vendors. As usual, there were also lots of children who enjoyed the bounce house, the art tent, the science table, and the water area.
The farmers market continues to have openings for children’s art tent staff and bounce house monitors, as well as people who can help to set up and/or take down the market.
This is not necessarily a commitment to the full span of the market; whenever you can help out would be great! For more information, please contact Bekah Carlson or leave your name and contact info at the church office.
Cooler Sundays in 2024
The fourth Sunday of each month of summer — June 23, July 28, and August 25 — will be a Cooler Sunday, which will again feature grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and a potluck meal. Please plan to join us after the service on July 28 for fun, food, and fellowship!
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.
Scripture reader sign-up
We still have a couple of Sundays in August for which we’re seeking people to read the scripture passages of the day in the worship service. If you are willing to be a scripture reader, please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the church office or in the narthex on Sundays, or contact Gregory Sager or Pastor Ryan.
Pastor Ryan’s office hours
Pastor Ryan’s office hours at church are typically Tuesday thru Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you would like to meet with Pastor Ryan please call the church office in advance to schedule an appointment.
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. We’ve had some turnover, so we encourage you to sign up to join a serving team if you haven’t done so already. 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!
Thursday evening Bible study
The weekly Bible study meets Thursdays at 7:00 pm. This week we began studying the book of Ecclesiastes. The Bible study meets in the upstairs lounge. For more information, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at (773) 784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org.
We have Zoom available for those who would like to take part in the Bible study but cannot be physically present. The Zoom link for the Bible study is:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83923376849?pwd=YUlYVXBmOVdwV0d5L20ySng3aHU3Zz09
Meeting ID: 839 2337 6849
Passcode: 318853

Scripture for next Sunday
Mark 4:26-34
Romans 8:31-39
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.