March 13, 2022
Adult Sunday School convenes at 9:30 am on Zoom and in-person, Children’s Sunday School is in-person at 9:30 am
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME, COMMUNITY LIFE & GREETING
COVENANT POINT BIBLE CAMP VIDEO
CALL TO WORSHIP read in unision
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open,
all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid;
Cleanse the thougths of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfecdtly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
MARVELOUS GRACE OF OUR LOVING LORD
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpour’d —
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Marvelous grace (Grace, grace), infinite grace (God’s grace),
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Marvelous grace (Grace, grace), infinite grace (God’s grace),
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater — yes, grace untold —
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Marvelous grace (Grace, grace), infinite grace (God’s grace),
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Marvelous grace (Grace, grace), infinite grace (God’s grace),
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide —
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide —
Whiter than snow you may be today.
Marvelous grace (Grace, grace), infinite grace (God’s grace),
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Marvelous grace (Grace, grace), infinite grace (God’s grace),
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Marvelous grace (Grace, grace), infinite grace (God’s grace),
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Marvelous grace (Grace, grace), infinite grace (God’s grace),
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Covenant Hymnal, #342
PSALM 51:6-12
You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that You have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
John 13:1-7
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray Him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off His outer robe, and tied a towel around Himself. 5 Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around Him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Leader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me. (2 times)
Cast me not away from Thy presence, O Lord,
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,
And renew a right spirit within me.
Children ages 3-5 are dismissed to the fellowship hall at this time for Children’s Church.
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
Servanthood
The Rev. Mark Westlind
I AM A SERVANT
I am a servant,
I am listening for my name.
I sit here waiting,
I’ve been looking at the game.
That I’ve been playing,
And I’ve been staying much the same.
When you are lonely,
You’re the only one to blame.
I am a servant,
I am waiting for the call.
I’ve been unfaithful,
So I sit here in the hall.
How can you use me
When I’ve never given all?
How can you choose me
When you know I’d quickly fall?
So you feed my soul
And you make me grow
And you let me know you love me.
And I’m worthless now,
But I’ve made a vow
I will humbly bow before thee.
O please use me, I am lonely.
I am a servant,
Getting ready for my part.
There’s been a change,
A rearrangement in my heart.
At last I’m learning,
There’s no returning once I start.
To live’s a privilege,
To love is such an art,
But I need your help to start.
O please purify my heart,
I am your servant.
Larry Norman © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Kristine Brandel’s family, Nikolas Arden, Ella Brask, Jon & Jamie Kratowicz and baby Sullivan, Pastor Phil & Kerry Staurseth, Shirley Nicholas, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Esther Stoel, the Koeller family, Mary Smith, Delores & Steve Staurseth, Jane Auger, Mary McKirchy
Ministries & Mission
Joel & Kim Delp, serving in Ecuador; 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
Sarabanda from Sonata No. 8, Opus 5
Arcangelo Corelli
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.
WE LABOR UNTO GLORY
My God my God where e’er I go glory
Where I reap and where I sow glory
When my hands they grip the thorn glory
In the still and in the storm glory
Glory
chorus
O we labor unto glory
Till heaven and earth are one
O we labor unto glory
Until God’s kingdom comes
The sun it shines and then goes down glory
Rain it pours and beats the ground glory
Dust it blows and ends my days glory
Hearts they burn beneath Your gaze glory
Glory
chorus
My heart my hands they’re kingdom bound glory
Where thorns no longer curse the ground glory
Trim the wick ignite the flame glory
My work it will not be in vain glory
Glory
CCLI Song # 7097869 Craig Harris | Isaac Wardell © Hymns From The Porter’s Gate (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 349090
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Grave’ in G major
J.S. Bach
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 axiom.brass
Covid restrictions for in-person worship
In accordance with the city’s guidelines, masks are now optional at church gatherings for both children and adults. We will make changes if the Chicago guidelines change again. We will require those working with children to continue to wear masks as young children are not yet able to be vaccinated. Thank you for your patience and consideration of your neighbor as we move forward.
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.
The cry room is now open on Sunday mornings, and no longer needs to be reserved. The lounge will continue to be available for families to watch the livestream. Children’s church will continue to meet in the fellowship hall during the worship service. There will still be no nursery for now.
Wedding shower for Erin Staurseth
There will be a wedding shower for Erin Staurseth on Saturday,
March 19 in the fellowship hall downstairs. The happy couple is registered at Target, Amazon, Crate & Barrel, and Williams Sonoma. RSVP to the church office or call Marlene Glowen at 773-275-9138.
Volunteer opportunity
We will be starting up our fellowship hour downstairs after the worship service as soon as we have volunteers! 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.
Thursday night community dinners
We are planning to start having community dinners again on an every-other-week schedule, beginning Thursday, March 31. Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the date. We will also need volunteers to help with preparation and clean-up. Please talk to Bobby Blase if you are available to help on Thursday afternoons or evenings.
Pastor Denise’s office hours
Pastor Denise will be working full-time until Ravenswood Covenant has an interim pastor. She will be at the church Tuesdays through Fridays 10 am to 4 pm unless she is out visiting someone. Please call the church office if you would like to make an appointment with her or email denise@ravenscov.org. Office Manager Gregory Sager’s church office hours are 8 am to 1 pm Mondays through Fridays.
Lenten devotional available
If you are looking for a Lenten devotional this season, download this one written by women. Our own Rev. Deb Auger is one of the contributors to this devotional. https://www.spiritualdirectionwithjulia.com/prayerful-reflections
Take Them a Meal plan for Sneha and Vivek
We have set up a Take Them a Meal plan for Sneha John and Vivek Thomas, who welcomed baby Adil into their family a week ago. Take Them a Meal is an opportunity for us to serve those in the church who are undergoing times of stress or transition, such as a serious illness or injury or the arrival of a new baby, by providing meals for them. If you are not on the church’s email list for the Take Them a Meal ministry and would like to take part, please contact the church office at 773-784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org.
Church Clean-Up Day
On Saturday, April 9, we will hold a Church Clean-Up Day from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Show up ready to work, as we will clean the church grounds as well as the interior of the building, in preparation for the Easter season. Coffee and donuts will be available at 8:30 am, and lunch will be served at the conclusion of the clean-up.
Mark Safstrom to speak at online Waldenström atonement sermon symposium
The year 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the Rev. Paul Peter Waldenström’s sermon on reconciliation (1872), which set in motion events that led to the formation of the Covenant Churches in Sweden (1878) and North America (1885) and left an indelible mark on Covenant preaching, mission, and ecclesiology. Join four scholars and church leaders, including RECC’s own Mark Safstrom for a symposium on Friday, April 8 that will be held as a virtual conference, as they share how this crucial aspect of Covenant history remains relevant today to the Church’s calling to restorative justice, racial righteousness, global mission, preaching, and congregational life. The conference will run from 10 am to 4 pm CDT, with a lunch break from 12:15-1:15 pm. The event is co-sponsored by the Commission on Covenant History and North Park Theological Seminary.
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.
Laura Lou Sandstrom (1928-2022)
Laura Lou Sandstrom, widow of former Ravenswood Covenant pastor Bill Sandstrom, died January 27. She was 93. Laura Lou Johnson was born October 27, 1928, in Belgrade, Minnesota. Her family moved to Wilmar where she grew up attending Wilmar Covenant Church. After high school, Laura Lou attended North Park College, where she met Bill. They were married on September 1, 1951.
They served Covenant churches in South Chicago; Sioux City, Iowa; Rockford, Illinois (First, as associate); Chicago (Ravenswood); and Minneapolis, Minnesota (Elim). Bill served as chaplain at Covenant Village in Plantation, Florida, and of Colonial Acres in Golden Valley, Minnesota. In retirement they lived at Covenant Village of Golden Valley.
Laura Lou loved being a special education aide for Dowling Elementary School in Minneapolis. She was a gracious hostess, and her first question to visitors in their home was, “How about some coffee?”
Bill preceded Laura Lou in death in 2017. She is survived by her children, Peter and Kari French, and granddaughter Brita. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Peace be to her memory.
Chicago Zomi Bethel Church shares our building
As per a vote taken at our last congregational business meeting, Chicago Zomi Bethel Church has been accepted as a renter of our space and a rental agreement has been signed. CZBC is a small congregation consisting of immigrants from the Asian nation of Myanmar. CZBC meets in the older (sanctuary) half of our building at 3 pm every Sunday.
Be sure to greet and welcome our Christian brothers and sisters from CZBC if you meet them!
Faith Forum
Faith Forum, our adult Sunday School class, meets every week in the upstairs lounge at 9:30 am. It operates in a hybrid format; you are invited to attend in person, but the class also has a Zoom component for those who wish to attend remotely. The Zoom link can be found at the top of the online bulletin every week. Gregory Sager is currently leading Faith Forum in a study of early-Church worship and practice using The Didache.
Thursday evening adult Bible study
Our weekly Bible study meets on Thursday evenings at 7 pm. We are currently studying the book of Philippians. 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.”
Scripture for next Sunday
Psalm 17:1-7
John 18:12-27
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.