June 11, 2023
Worship live on Sundays in person,
or on YouTube at 10:00 am.
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME, GREETING, AND COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
from Psalm 86:11-17
Leader: Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
People: I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Leader: O God, the insolent rise up against me;
a band of ruffians seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
People: But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Leader: Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant;
save the child of your maidservant.
ALL: Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
* IN CHRIST ALONE
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The love of God was magnified*
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
CCLI Song # 3350395 CCLI License # 349090
Keith Getty Stuart Townend © 2001 Thankyou Music
* words substituted
* GOSPEL LESSON
Mark 10:32-34
They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to Him, 33 saying, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death; then they will hand Him over to the gentiles; 34 they will mock Him and spit upon Him and flog Him and kill Him, and after three days He will rise again.”
Reader: The word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God!
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON
Isaiah 44:6-8
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
I am the first, and I am the last;
besides Me there is no god.
7 Who is like Me? Let them proclaim it;
let them declare and set it forth before Me.
Who has announced from of old the things to come?
Let them tell us what is yet to be.
8 Do not fear or be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
You are My witnesses!
Is there any god besides Me?
There is no other rock; I know not one.
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.
refrain
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.
refrain
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
refrain
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found:
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
refrain
Covenant Hymnal, #433
CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Pastor Mark
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart and soul and mind
And love your neighbor as yourself
Let us be known let us be known
By the way we love
Love love love the greatest commandment is
Love love love the greatest commandment is
Love love love the greatest commandment is (love)
CCLI Song # 7133722 Paul Zach © Integrity’s Alleluia! Music (Admin. by Integrity Music) Paul Zach Publishing (Admin. by Integrity Music)
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.
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
Romans 8:12-25
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.
18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Suffering: Where is the Hope in That?
Pastor Mark
ALL THINGS NEW
Your love’s making all things new
You’re working in all for good
For the things of this world
There is hope renewed
In the life that is found in You
chorus
You make all things new
You make all things new
Yesterday and forever
Your love never changing
This hope never fading
Hallelujah
My faith is in things unseen
Bringing life where it has not been
Speaking things that are not
As if they were
I am alive in You
bridge
The heavens have been opened
I know that I am chosen
I am alive in You
I am alive in You
God You are restoring
All things for Your glory
I am alive in You
I am alive in You
CCLI Song # 7019975 Ben Fielding | Dean Ussher © 2013 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden, Messian Burgos, Frank Coszach, Vira Coszach, James Egan, Pedro Gomez, Art & Rosa Hamilton, the Michael family, Kathy Sager, Mary Smith, Steve Staurseth, and Phillip, son of Iris Velez
Ministries & Mission
Lisandro & Patricia Restrepo, serving in Mexico; 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
“Seek Ye First”
led by Leah, Cynthia, Erin, and Dana
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.
* PRAISE THE FATHER, PRAISE THE SON
O sov’reign God, O matchless King
The saints adore, the angels sing
And fall before the throne of grace
To You belongs the highest praise
These sufferings, this passing tide
Under Your wings I will abide
And ev’ry enemy shall flee
You are my hope and victory
(O) praise the Father, praise the Son
(And) praise the Spirit, Three in One
Clothed in power and in grace
The name above all other names
To the valley for my soul
Thy great descent has made me whole
Your word my heart has welcomed home
Now peace like water ever flows
bridge
Yours is the kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever
Yours is the kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever
Praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, Three in One
Clothed in power and in grace
The name above all other names
The name above all other names
CCLI Song # 5203251 CCLI License # 349090
Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash© 2008 Sixsteps Music
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Moderato in G minor
J.S. Bach
led by Cynthia
INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.
Worship update
The Leadership Team of Ravenswood Covenant Church recommends mask use during services, but this is not mandatory.
Ravenswood Covenant livestreams worship each week on YouTube, so Sunday morning worship is accessible to anyone who has Internet access.
Benevolence offering
Due to the fact that a special offering was taken last Sunday, the monthly benevolence offering was moved back to this week. The benevolence offering allows us the opportunity to give for specific needs within the church community, such as for rent, medical needs, transportation, etc.
Lunch Bunch outing
The Lunch Bunch ladies are having their monthly luncheon next Wednesday, June 14 at 11:30 am. They’ll meet at Sander’s Family Restaurant & Pancake House, 5320 Touhy Ave. in Skokie.
http://www.sandersrestaurant.com
There’s parking available. Everyone is welcome!
Farmers market is coming!
The 2023 season of the Ravenswood Farmers Market is fast approaching! We will hold the first session of the farmers market next Wednesday, June 14. It will run until mid-October every Wednesday (except for Fourth of July week) from 4:00 pm to
7:00 pm in our parking lot. This year the Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce is getting more involved in helping us locate and contact possible vendors, so we anticipate a busier and more crowded market than has been true since Covid hit.
If you are interested in the farmers market and would like to be a part of this way for us as a church to interact with our surrounding community and provide a valuable service to them as well as a place to meet and greet neighbors every Wednesday during the warm-weather months, please contact the church office or our market director, Bekah Carlson.
MOPS meeting
The monthly MOPS meeting will be held next Saturday, June 17, at
10:30 am in the upstairs lounge. The MOPS group is open to all women of young children. Fathers or grandparents are encouraged to come along and watch the children in the gym (or in the church playground, weather permitting) while the meeting takes place.
A patriotic party!
Join the Lake County Symphony Orchestra, which features RECC’s own Cynthia Arden as concertmaster, at Buffalo Creek Brewing (360 Historical Lane in north suburban Long Grove) at 7:00 pm on July 4 for their annual musical Fourth of July musical celebration! They can’t wait to spend our country’s big day with you and your family! The evening features a diverse program with some of our country’s biggest musical forces including Bernstein, Sousa, Gershwin, and Copland! Also, it just wouldn’t be a musical Fourth without Tchaikovsky’s iconic “1812 Overture” which they will of course play for you!
| The raindate is July 9 at 5:00 pm. For tickets, use the link below. Tickets |
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.
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. 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!
Aid for Ukrainian refugees
Jeremy and Amanda Foster, who have attended our church in the past, 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.
Here is the latest message from Don Foster:
Hello friends,
Below is a message from the Ukrainians living here in Hazebrouck.
God bless,
Don and Béa
Hello everybody
I want to say my huge thanks to all of you. You are all incredible people. You do so many things for me and my family.
We have been living in a new apartment for almost three weeks and we like it very much. This would not be possible without all of you
When I understand how you helped us and how much people do for this apartment I feel grateful for everything you do.
I’m very glad to have met Don, Beatrice, their family and all of you.
I hope one day I can see all of you and say thank you in real life.
Kate
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
Thursday evening Bible study
The weekly Bible study meets Thursdays at 7 pm. We have just begun studying the Gospel of Mark. The Bible study meets in the lounge, and is also accessible by Zoom. For more information, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at (773) 784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org.
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 June
June 4: Mary Spriggs
June 11: Pastor Mark
June 18: TBA
June 25: Pastor Mark
Scripture for next Sunday
John 4:13-14
Isaiah 55:1-13
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.