July 24, 2022
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
“When Morning Gilds the Skies”
led by Cynthia
WELCOME & GREETING, COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
from Matthew 5:3-12
Leader: This is a call to all those who are poor in spirit,
People: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Leader: This is a call to all those who mourn,
People: for they will be comforted.
Leader: This is a call to all those who are meek,
People: for they will inherit the earth.
Leader: This is a call to all those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
People: for they will be filled.
Leader: This is a call to all those who are the merciful,
People: for they will be shown mercy.
Leader: This is a call to all those who are the pure in heart,
People: for they will see God.
Leader: This is a call to all those who are the peacemakers,
People: for they will be called sons and daughters of God.
Leader: This is a call to all those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
People: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
ALL: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me (Jesus).:
THE BEATITUDES
God blesses those who search and thirst
God blesses those who mourn
God blesses those who work for peace
God blesses those who wait
chorus
I want to see God
I want to know Your heart
I want to see Your kingdom come
I want to see God
I want to know Your heart
I want to see Your will be done
God blesses those who show their need
God blesses those who pray
God blesses those whose spirit’s low
God blesses those who weep
bridge
In all my ways
In all my days
My life to serve Your name
Your love so free
Calls out to me
Brings me to life again
ending
I want to see Your will be done
I want to see Your kingdom come
I want to see Your will be done
CCLI Song # 7098227 Chase Wagner | Tyler Howell© Common Hymnal Digital (Admin. by Integrity Music) Common Hymnal Publishing (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Race Street Market (Admin. by Integrity Music)
RACESTREET (Admin. by Integrity Music)
INFANT BLESSING & DEDICATION
Adil John Thomas
son of Sneha & Vivek
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
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
Matthew 5:3-10
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
1 Peter 3:13-22
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you, 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect. Maintain a good conscience so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also He went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight lives, were saved through water. 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you — not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Pastor Mark
Children 6 and under are dismissed to the gym
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.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
The Long Game
Pastor Denise
MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
chorus
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When darkness veils His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Supports me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne
Covenant Hymnal, #433
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: The Andrews family, Nikolas Arden, Michael Bucci, the family of Barb Cannon, Vira Coszach, Carlos Feijoo, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Mary McKirchy, Shirley Nicholas, Mary Smith, the Staurseth family, Esther Stoel, and Dick Swedberg
Ministries & Mission
Jamie & Meejeen Kim, serving in South Korea, 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 & OFFERING
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@administrator
OFFERTORY
Prelude No. 6
Frederic 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.
HE IS AMONG US
You’ll find Me with the broken and the weak
In the spaces in between
You’ll hear My voice cry out with those who weep
Only if you’re listening
chorus
Whatever you do for the least of these
You do it unto Me
You’ll find Me with the ones without a voice
The forgotten and ignored
My blessing is on those who love the poor
‘Til you open up the door
chorus
Whatever you do for the least of these
You do it unto Me
Whatever you do for the least of these
You do it unto Me
bridge
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He is among us, He is among us
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He is among us, He is among us
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He is among us, He is among us
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He is among us, He is among us
bridge
By this the world will know the Father’s love
We will know the Father’s love
A Song by Porter’s Gate
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Moderato du Deuxieme Ton
Jean-Adam Guilain
led by Cynthia
INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.
music as we go, by axiom.brass
Worship update
Due to an uptick in Covid-19 cases in Chicago, the Leadership Team of Ravenswood Covenant Church recommends mask use during services, but this is not mandatory.
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.
Cooler Sunday
Our second Cooler Sunday of summer 2022 will be today after worship. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks will be provided, plus there will be sides, desserts, and chips to pass. Join us after worship today for food and fellowship!
Pastoral search focus groups
Every congregation faces times of transition, and it’s currently our turn here at Ravenswood Covenant. We are grateful for the input we received from the recent survey. It is also important that we have the opportunity to discuss the findings with each other. With that in mind, we have asked the Rev. Peter Sjoblom to facilitate conversations which will assist our pastoral search committee to discern what we are hoping for of our new pastor. We have four remaining dates and times to meet. We hope you will sign up and be part of this important input. Please list in order of preference by numbers 1, 2, and 3 the three times you might be available.
Each of the focus group sessions will meet both in person in the upstairs lounge and by Zoom for your convenience.
Please sign up by emailing the church office at office@ravenscov.org, or by calling the church office at 773-784-7091. Please leave your preferences on the answering machine if your call is not picked up.
FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS
Tuesday, August 9, 7 pm
Saturday, August 13, 10 am
Monday, August 15, 7 pm
Thursday, August 25, 7 pm
Farmers market
Wednesday’s farmers market reached a new post-pandemic high of 551 adult attendees! Slowly but surely, the local community is again starting to regather on Wednesday afternoons in our parking lot.
The farmers market season will run until our annual fall festival on Wednesday, October 12. This year’s markets will run from 4 pm to 7 pm, and as always they will be held in the church parking lot.
We are still looking for market volunteers to help out with set-up, assisting with kids activities, and take-down on Wednesdays. If you can assist, even if it’s only for one Wednesday, please contact Sneha John, Bekah Carlson, Pastor Denise, or the church office.
Welcome, Pastor Mark!
We welcome Pastor Mark Westlind back to Ravenswood Covenant, as this week he began serving as our interim pastor. He is a long-time member of Ravenswood Covenant who recently retired after a career of service as a Covenant missionary alongside his wife, Alice, in South America, followed by serving as an interim pastor at various Covenant churches in the Chicago area. Alice also recently retired after serving as RC4’s office manager for several years.
His office hours will be Wednesdays and Sundays, and by appointment as needed.
We pray for God’s blessing upon Pastor Mark and his ministry here during our pastoral search process.
Aid for Ukrainian refugees
Jeremy and Amanda Foster, who attend our church, 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.
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
Wanted: Church directory coordinator
Ravenswood Covenant is in the process of updating its online church directory, with the intention of eventually making paper copies of the directory available. We are seeking a volunteer who is willing to take on this project, which means gathering information and photographs and inputting them onto the church’s WordPress-based website. If you are interested in coordinating the directory update, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at 773-784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org.
Thursday evening adult Bible study
Our weekly Bible study meets on Thursday evenings at 7 pm. We are currently studying the book of Romans. We welcome anybody to the upstairs lounge on Thursday evenings who wants to take part in the Bible study. If you would prefer to participate remotely, or if you are out of town, the Bible study will continue to provide Zoom access as well for online participants.
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 July
July 3: Gregory Sager
July 10: Mary Spriggs
July 17: Pastor Deb Auger
July 24: Pastor Denise Anderson
July 31: Chaplain Jim Stoel
Scripture for next Sunday
Matthew 5:43-48
1 Peter 4:1-9
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.