June 12, 2022
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME & GREETING, COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice!
People: Today we choose to rejoice. Today we choose to worship and give thanks.
Leader: Seek the peace of God that will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
People: Today we choose God’s peace; today we place our trust in God.
Leader: Turn your hearts away from the distractions and disappointments of life that will always flow in and
flow out like the tide. Set your affections on things above and worship the Lord who loves you and cares for you.
People: We come to worship God who alone is excellent and worthy of praise!
LORD, WHEN WE PRAISE YOU
Lord, when we praise You with glorious music;
Lord, when our hearts mean the things that we say;
Lord, when we love You with all of our being;
Lord, when in faith we believingly pray;
Then we are seeing, then we are sensing
All that our destiny calls us to be.
And in our hearts we’re expecting the moment
When in Your presence your glory we’ll see.
Lord, when we praise You with glorious music;
Using our giftedness solely for You;
When we return to You songs that exalt You;
When they inspire all the things that we do;
Life has a fullness, life has excitement,
For we are learning the glory is Yours.
And in our hearts we are looking for heaven,
Where we shall give You unceasing applause.
Lord, when we praise You with glorious music;
Lord, when we give You the best we can bring;
You as Creator enjoy our creating;
You as our Father take joy when we sing;
Here we’re beginnning, here we’re rehearsing
Themes that in heaven we’ll fully explore.
Praising You then with a perfect devotion,
Bowing before You to love and adore.
Covenant Hymnal, #12
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
Matthew 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
* 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)
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON
Exodus 19:1-6, 20:1-2
On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now, therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”
Then God spoke all these words,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Pastor Denise
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
More Rules?
Pastor Denise
POWER TO REDEEM
You take what is and You make it beautiful
When love floods in we’re restored forevermore
chorus
With breath that brings the dead to life
With words that pierce the dark with light
Only by the blood are we set free
With mercy strong to carry shame
And nail it to a tree
You alone hold the power to redeem
No guilt competes with innocence crucified
No grave can hold what Your grace has justified
bridge
(So) Rejoice O child of God
(Oh) Lift your eyes to see
With ev’ry morning light
(Oh) Again we are redeemed
ending
Oh You alone hold the power to redeem
Oh You alone hold the power to redeem
CCLI Song # 7023313 CCLI License # 349090
Justin Ebach | Lauren Ashley Daigle | Paul Mabury © 2014 CentricSongs
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden, Michael Bucci, Barb Cannon, Art & Rosa Hamilton, the Koeller family, Mary McKirchy, Shirley Nicholas, Mary Smith, Delores and Steve Staurseth, Pastor Phil and Kerry Staurseth, Esther Stoel, and the family of Joyce Andrews
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 & OFFERING
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@administrator
OFFERTORY
“Change My Heart, O God”
Eddie Espinosa
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.
* LORD OF ALL HOPEFULNESS
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord, of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, Your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
Covenant Hymnal, #89
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Adagio du Septieme Ton
Jacques Boyvin
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.
Thank you, RECC gardeners!
We would like to thank Marlene Glowen and Marlene Henry for all of the gardening work that they’ve done around the building over the past couple of weeks. The church grounds look vastly improved!
Cubs honor Bud Hodgkinson
On Tuesday, June 28, the Chicago Cubs and the USO are honoring Ravenswood Covenant’s oldest member, World War II veteran Bud Hodgkinson, during the second inning of the game at Wrigley Field between the Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds. He will be announced and his brief bio given while he will be on camera and on the big board as the crowd will stand and clap for his service to his country. The game starts at 7:05 pm, and there are discount tickets available if you are interested in going. Contact Don Hodgkinson or the church office by June 15 if you would like to buy a ticket or tickets.
Fellowship hour returns
Fellowship hour is back! The aim is to hold fellowship hour every other week until there is a full roster of volunteers for each of the fellowship hour serving teams, at which point it will again be a weekly aspect of our community life. We are in need of people who are willing to make coffee and set out food downstairs as well as clean up afterwards. If you would like to bake or bring treats to donate, you can also volunteer in that way. Please connect with Kari Johnson or Beth Anderson if you are willing to help out. We will teach you what you need to know for making coffee and finding what you need in the kitchen. We will pair people up so that no one has to do it all themselves. Contact Kari by email at Karinelson88@gmail.com.
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.
Farmers market season begins Wednesday
Farmers market season is almost upon us! The first farmers market of the year will be held this Wednesday, June 15, and the 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.
As always, we are 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, Pastor Denise, or the church office.
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 June
June 5: Pastor Kevin Swanson
June 12: Pastor Denise
June 19: Rev. LeRoy Carlson
June 26: Chaplain Eric Hillabrant
Scripture for next Sunday
Matthew 22:34-40
Exodus 20:3-11
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.