March 20, 2022
Adult Sunday School convenes at 9:30 on Zoom and in-person, Children’s Sunday School is in-person at 9:30am
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
“When Morning Gilds the Skies”
led by Erin and Cynthia
WELCOME, COMMUNITY LIFE & GREETING
BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL (10,000 REASONS)
chorus
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
tag
Worship Your holy name
Lord, I’ll worship Your holy name
ending
Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name
CCLI Song # 6016351 CCLI License # 349090
Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman © 2011 Atlas Mountain Songs
RESPONSIVE READING
from Psalm 17:1-7
Leader: Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
People: From you let my vindication come;
let your eyes see the right.
L: If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
my mouth does not transgress.
P: As for what others do, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
L: I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me, hear my words.
P: Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
GIVE EAR TO MY WORDS
Give ear to my words O Lord
Consider my meditation
Hearken unto the voice of my cry
My King and my God
For unto Thee will I pray
My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning
O Lord in the morning
Will I direct my prayer
Unto Thee and will look up
CCLI Song # 30938 Bill Sprouse Jr.
© 1975 CCCM Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
John 18:12-27
12 So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.
15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. 17 The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.
19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20 Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.
Leader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
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
Jesus Knows Me, This I Love
the Rev. Deb Auger
HAVE MERCY ON ME
chorus
Let Your mercy flow through us
Your mercy Your mercy
Let Your mercy flow through us
Your mercy Your mercy
verse
The beauty of the Lord is the suff’ring of the Lord
Is Christ upon a tree stripped of dignity
The glory of the Lord is the mercy of the Lord
Gives life for us to see a new humanity
bridge
When they see us
May they see Your mercy Your mercy
When they know us
May they know Your mercy Your mercy
bridge
Bless the hands and feet of those who serve in need
Of the broken and ashamed
Bless the weary soul the Lord will make us whole
God speak peace to those afraid
May the words we speak build a bridge for peace
Your loving-kindness shows the way
Open up our doors
Giving refuge for all the weary and afraid
CCLI Song # 7097864 CCLI License # 349090
David Gungor | Latifah Alattas © Porter’s Gate Publications
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Jane Tuma, Kristine Brandel’s family, Nikolas Arden, Ella Brask, Pastor Phil and Kerry Staurseth, Shirley Nicholas, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Esther Stoel, the Koeller family, Mary Smith, Delores and Steve Staurseth, Jane Auger, Mary McKirchy, and Barb Cannon.
Ministries & Mission
Jochy & Tammi Hernandez, serving in the Dominican Republic; Renee Nicholas, serving as the national director for InterVarsity’s Graduate Healthcare Ministries.
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
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
GO, MY CHILDREN
Go, My children, with My blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are My own.
In My love’s baptismal river,
I have made you Mine forever.
Go, My children, with My blessing, you are My own.
Go, My children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.
Here you heard My dear Son’s story,
Here you touched Him, saw His glory.
Go, My children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
Go, My children, fed and nourished, closer to Me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here My Spirit’s power filled you,
Here, His tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.
I, the Lord, will bless and keep you, and give you peace.
I, the Lord, will smile upon you, and give you peace.
I, the Lord, will be your Father,
Savior, Comforter, and Brother.
Go, my children, I will keep you, and give you peace.
Covenant Hymnal, #676
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Grave’ in E minor
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
City ordinance update
The city ordinance regarding masks and social distancing has been lifted, and mask use is now optional at Ravenswood Covenant. RECC 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.
Easter flower orders
This is the time of year to think about ordering flowers to decorate the front of the church on Easter Sunday while also honoring or memorializing loved ones. Due to supply-chain difficulties, our window for ordering Easter lilies is unusually short this year. If you would like to order lilies, you must get in your order to the church office (773-784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org) no later than this coming Tuesday, March 22 at 5 pm. The cost of a potted lily plant is $25. If you would like your flower to be in honor of someone living or in memory of someone deceased, please indicate so when ordering the plant by phone or email from the church office, as well as the names of those who are doing the honoring or memorializing. These names, and the names of those they honor or memorialize, will be included in the Easter Sunday bulletin.
There will be additional flowers of other species that will be purchased by the church and displayed on Easter Sunday, and if you like you can also honor or memorialize someone by giving a donation to the church to help offset the cost of these flowers.
There are order forms available in the narthex today. Orders do not need to be prepaid. You may take your lily home — or choose another plant to take home if you are donating to offset the cost of the other flowers — after the service on Easter Sunday.
Fellowship hour returns this Sunday
Fellowship hour is back! This Sunday and next Sunday we will again have a chance to meet and greet each other over coffee and treats in the fellowship hall downstairs after the service. The servers will be our fellowship-hour leaders, Kari Johnson and Beth Anderson. After next Sunday, 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.
Choir begins Easter season rehearsals
Our choir is back! This aspect of our collective worship has been sorely missed during the Covid pandemic, but the plan is for RECC to once again have a choir to take part in our Easter Sunday service. Choir rehearsal is Sundays at 8:30 am. If you have never sung in the choir before but are interested, we encourage you to contact Cynthia Arden or the church office.
Volunteer opportunity
We will be starting up our fellowship hour downstairs after the worship service on an every-week 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.
COVID-19 pandemic anniversary: A service of lament & remembrance
A virtual worship service that will meet via Zoom will be held on Tuesday, March 22 at 7:30 pm to mark the second anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. This online service, co-led by Edgebrook Covenant Church and North Park Covenant Church, will provide an opportunity for participants to reflect, share, lament, and pray upon the life- and world-changing events of the past two years.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86251601537?pwd=Ni9mdXBKd2lUcTMzbk5hbUlQd044UT09
Meeting ID: 862 5160 1537
Passcode: 382627
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,86251601537#,,,,*382627# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 862 5160 1537
Passcode: 382627
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.
Congregational business meeting on April 10
There will be a congregational business meeting for the purpose of creating a pastoral search committee on Palm Sunday, April 10, after the service. Please put this date on your calendar and plan to take part in this important meeting, either in person or via Zoom.
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.
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.
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.”
Free masks available
The church is offering free masks to anyone in the congregation who is in need of one. If you would like, you may make a donation to our benevolence fund when you come to the church building to pick yours up. Please contact the church office at office@ravenscov.org or 773-784-7091 for more information.
Scripture for next Sunday
Psalm 145:10-13
John 18:28-40
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.