Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
Cynthia
KIDS TIME
Music & a visit from some friends
PRELUDE
The Palms
Led by Erin & Dana
WELCOME , COMMUNITY LIFE & GREETING
RESPONSIVE READING
(based on Palm 118:1-4, 24-26)
L: O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
P: His steadfast love endures forever!
L: Let Israel say,
P: His steadfast love endures forever.
L: Let the house of Aaron say,
P: His steadfast love endures forever.
L: Let those who fear the Lord say,
P: His steadfast love endures forever.
L: This is the day that the Lord has made;
P: let us rejoice and be glad in it.
L: Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord.
P: We bless you from the house of the Lord.
PROCESSION OF THE PALMS
ALL GLORY, LAUD, AND HONOR
All glory, laud, and honor to you Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the king of Israel, and David’s royal Son,
Now in the Lord’s name coming, our King and blessed one!
The company of angels are praising You on high,
Creation and all mortals in chorus make reply:
The people of the Hebrews with palms before You went,
Our praise and prayer and anthems before You we present.
To You, before your passion, they sang their hymns of praise.
To You, now high exalted, our melody we raise;
As You received their praises, accept the praise we bring,
For You delight in goodness, O good and gracious King!
Amen.
Covenant Hymnal, page 227
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
& THE LORD’S PRAYER
Church family who work in and around hospitals & nursing homes:
Alex A, Kyra A, Hannah A, Sam A, Linda C, Carl G, Katie G, Eric H, Rachel H, Chona I, Abby H, Dana J, Bryan J, Kari J, Neal J, Eric S, Don T.
(If we missed any people’s names above please let us know.)
We continue to pray for: The Hodgkinson family, Phyllis Levinson (Joyce Oseland’s sister), Kathy Salzano, Nikolas Arden, Katie Collier, Art and Rosa Hamilton, Shirley Nicholas, Paul Mounts, Joyce Andrews, Steve Hoden, Mary Spriggs, Alice Nilsson (Nancy Popovich’s sister), the Brandel-Tanis family, the Morales/Randall family.
Ministries & Mission
The Paul Carlson Partnership, serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Covenant Mountain Mission Bible Camp
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 OUR TITHES AND OFFERING
GOD THE MAKER
We bring our time we bring our treasure
We lay them down before Your throne
You will make them something greater
More than we could ever know
We bring our gifts we bring our power
Place them in Your sov’reign hand
You will take what we have given
You will use it for Your plan
chorus
Glory be to God the Maker
Glory be to God Creator
Take our time use our treasure
Turn them into something greater
Glory be to God the Maker
Though our hearts are weak from failure
Broken dreams and failed attempts
Show us that in ev’ry season
You will fill our emptiness
CCLI Song # 7097863 CCLI License # 349090
David Gungor | Isaac Wardell | Paul Zach © Hymns From The Porter’s Gate
DOXOLOGY
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.
FIRST TESTAMENT LESSON:
Zechariah 9:9-10
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war-horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall command peace to the nations;
his dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL
verse 1&4 only
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid now our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
GOSPEL LESSON
Mark 11:1-10
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and He sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
L: The Word of the Lord,
P: Thanks be to God.
(sung)
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
REFLECTION ON THE WORD
Jesus’ 2×2’s
Pastor Phil
WOOD & NAILS
verse 1
O humble carpenter down on Your hands and knees
Look on Your handiwork and build a house
So you may dwell in Me
So you may dwell in Me
chorus 1
The work was done with nothing but wood and nails
In Your scar-borne hands
O show me how to work and praise
Trusting that I am Your instrument
verse 2
O loving laborer with the sweat upon Your face
O build a table that I too may join you
In the father’s place
O, in the Father’s place
chorus 2
The kingdom’s come and built upon
Wood and nails gripped with joyfulness
So send me out within Your ways
Knowing that the task is finished
chorus 3
The dead will rise and give You praise
Wood and nails will not hold them down
These wooden tombs we’ll break them soon
And fashion them into flower beds
chorus 4
The curse is done, the battle won
Swords bent down into plowshares
Your scar-borne hands we’ll join with them
Serving at the table You’ve prepared
O humble carpenter
CCLI Song # 7097870 CCLI License # 349090
Isaac Wardell | Keith Watts | Madison Cunningham © Hymns From The Porter’s Gate
CONFESSION OF SIN & PASSING OF PEACE
L: The proof of God’s amazing love is this: while we were sinners Christ died for us. Because we have faith in Christ, we dare to approach God with confidence. In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God.
L: The Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Let us confess our sins against God and neighbor.
All: Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Amen.
PASSING THE PEACE
L: Since in Christ we are reconciled to God, so also we are reconciled to each other, the members of His body, the Church. May God’s peace extend throughout this congregation.
L: Peace of Christ be with you
P: And also with you.
L: Let us extend to each other signs of that peace.
(extend greetings to those you’re with ,
comments online are welcome.)
GOSPEL LESSON FOR COMMUNION
“The texts of Maundy Thursday”
Mark 14:12-16
12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, His disciples said to him, “Where do You want us to go and make the preparations for You to eat the Passover?” 13 So He sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is My guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
A PRAYER FOR COMMUNION
Holy God, we praise You.
Let the heavens be joyful and the earth be glad.
We bless You for creating the whole world,
for Your promises to your people Israel,
and for Jesus Christ in whom Your fullness dwells.
Born of Mary, He shares our life.
Eating with sinners, He welcomes us.
Guiding his children, He leads us.
Visiting the sick, He heals us.
Dying on the cross, He saves us.
Risen from the dead, He gives new life.
Living with You, He prays for us.
The Lord Jesus, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembering Me.”
In the same way He took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembering Me.”
With thanksgiving we take this bread and this cup and proclaim the death and resurrection of our Lord.
Receive our sacrifice of praise.
Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us
that this meal may be a communion in the body and blood or our Lord.
Make us one with Christ
and with all who share this feast.
Unite us in faith,
encourage us with hope,
inspire us to love that we may serve
As Your faithful disciples
Until we feast at Your table in glory.
We praise you, eternal God,
through Christ Your Word made flesh,
in the holy and life-giving Spirit now and forever. Amen.
Sharing in Communion
SPECIAL MUSIC
led by Cynthia & Erin
Jesus, Lover of my Soul
HOSANNA, LOUD HOSANNA
Hosanna, loud hosanna the little children sang;
Through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang:
To Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to His breast,
The children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.
From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud;
The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state,
Nor scorned that little children should on His bidding wait.
“Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heav’n our King.
O may we ever praise Him with heart and life and voice,
And in His blissful presence eternally rejoice!
Covenant Hymnal, page 228
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Cynthia Arden Playing
INVITATION
On Good Friday we will share in a brief online service of word and table at 7 pm. The service will be in-person though limited to 35 people with sign-up through the church office. As always, the service will be broadcast on FacebookLive and YouTube as well.
Art Used in this Bulletin: Steve Erspamer, SM
Clip Art for Year A © 1992, Archdiocese of Chicago.
Reopening the sanctuary for worship
We have reopened the sanctuary for a small group of people to join in person for worship. Reservations are required, so if you would like to be a part of this group, contact the church office by phone (773-784-7091) or email (office@ravenscov.org) each week that you would like to attend. 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.
We have increased the number of people in the sanctuary we will accommodate to 35. We will continue to follow all of the current local and state safety protocols, including: temperature checks when you arrive; masks required at all times; sitting socially distant; avoiding handshakes and hugs; changes to communion and offering; and discouraging singing.
There will be no nursery, and all Sunday School classes will remain virtual at this time.
Easter egg hunts (note the plural!)
Easter egg hunts in the church playground this year will be held on Saturday, April 3 at 10 am, 11 am and 12 noon, and on Easter Sunday after church. Parents will get an email tomorrow with more information. The egg hunts are open to church members and friends and the MOPS group. There are no Sunday School or Confirmation classes for children on Easter Sunday.
Easter flowers
In past years we have used the purchase of flowers for the sanctuary on Easter Sunday as an opportunity for people in the congregation to honor or memorialize loved ones. We will do that again this year, but in a manner that will make it easier to expedite the process both for you and for the church staff, given that the number of people in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday will be limited due to the pandemic.
Rather than requesting specific flowers and listing the person/people whom you wish to honor/memorialize through an order form on paper, simply email your honor/memorial entry (naming the person or people whom you wish to honor if still alive, or memorialize if deceased, as well as the person or people offering the honor or memorial) to the church office at office@ravenscov.org. You may also call the office at 773-784-7091 and leave the honor or memorial that way. Of course, you can always do it the old-fashioned way as well by mailing in your honor/memorial request or by leaving it in the church’s mailbox at the glass-door entrance.
On Easter Sunday (April 4, which is next Sunday) the list of honors and memorials will be included in the bulletin for that service. If you are not physically present in church on Easter Sunday, you may come to the church and pick up a flower after the service between noon and 1:30 pm, as they will be brought out to the front steps to make it easy for you to pick one up. If the flowers are not all claimed by then, you can stop by the church during business hours the next day and pick one up. Please note that the flowers will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, and we’re not reserving specific types of flowers for people. Those flowers that are not picked up will be planted on the church grounds instead.
In lieu of payment, you may choose to make a specific donation to the church towards the cost of this year’s Easter flowers.
We hope that you have a blessed Easter season, and that you’re able to join us (either in-person or via the livestream) on April 4 as we celebrate the miracle of our Savior’s Resurrection!
Delegates sought for Annual Meetings
Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church is a member of two broader church communities, the Central Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Evangelical Covenant Church itself. As such, our church takes part in the governance of these two organizations by sending delegates to their respective governing bodies, which are their Annual Meetings. RECC is seeking interested members of the church to serve as delegates to this year’s two Annual Meetings. The Annual Meeting of the Central Conference will be held on Saturday, April 24, and the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church will be held June 24-26. Both meetings will be held virtually via Zoom, so there is no travel involved. If you do not have Zoom, or if you wish to have the church’s resources at hand, you may use the Zoom link and the big screen in the church’s Nelson Lounge as your venue from which to participate in either Annual Meeting.
If you are interested in being a delegate to either Annual Meeting, please contact a member of the Leadership Team (listed at the bottom of this email), or contact the church office.
Faith Forum update
Faith Forum will not meet next week, Easter Sunday.
Faith Forum meets via Zoom at the traditional meeting time of 9:30 am on Sunday. This is the Zoom link for Faith Forum. The link is also provided at the top of the bulletin every week.
Monday evening Zoom Bible study moving back to Thursdays
The resumption of the Monday night prayer group means that the adult Bible study will return back to Thursday nights. The Bible study will take Holy Week off, and then resume on Thursday, April 8 at 7 pm. It will then take a two-week hiatus before returning for good on Thusday, April 29. The Bible study meets via Zoom until further notice , and if you are not conversant with Zoom, don’t let that stop you! We can teach you how to activate Zoom so that you can take part. If you’re interested, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at office@ravenscov.org or at 773-784-7091.
The Zoom link for the Bible study is https://zoom.us/j/95052558015?pwd=N3d1eFpUUmUwenhCSzNJNUk3WEV2QT09
Meeting ID: 950 5255 8015
Passcode: 141628
Worship bags for kids
Each week there will be worship bags for children ages 2 to 12 attending worship. The bag will have the child’s name on it and will only be used by that child. Parents are asked to inform the church office when registering for worship that they will be bringing a child or children between 2 or 12 with them, so that Pastor Denise can provide a bag for each child.
2021 camp registration update from HarborPoint Ministries
Spring may just have started … but at Covenant Harbor and Covenant Point Bible camps, the staffs are already thinking about summer! For those who are wondering about camp options for summer 2021, you may check out day, overnight, and family camp options at posted at www.covenantharbor.org and www.cpbc.com. Register now … spaces are filling up fast!
Prayer meeting to return after Easter
The church’s biweekly prayer meeting that gathers every second and fourth Monday night each month is coming back! After being shut down due to the city’s pandemic guidelines, the city’s reduced infection rate and the upswing in vaccinations has led the church’s leadership to once again allow the prayer meeting to convene. The first meeting will be at
7 pm on Monday, April 12, the day after Easter. Masks and social distancing will still be required, as before.
Prayer requests
A group of women in our church are meeting every night at 7 pm via phone calls and texts in order to keep our various needs before God in prayer. They are asking the congregation to bring their needs to them to be lifted up in prayer as part of this evening prayer time. If you have any needs that you would like to have added to their prayer list, please contact the church office.
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 773-396-6175 for more information.
Our response to the current health crisis
As a community of faith we continue to pray for the health and welfare of our church and community as we resist the temptation to fall prey to fear. We do, however, want to continue to look out for the welfare of our friends and neighbors. We are doing our best to stay current with best practices for this unique time — please stay tuned as these may change. Our primary place for timely communication will be our website, ravenscov.org. We will also offer reminders and notes on our Facebook page and by email. We are livestreaming our Sunday morning worship on Facebook Live and YouTube so that you may continue to be a part of our worship. Do not, however, become isolated. If you need any help there are folks in our church who can do so. Call the office (773-784-7091) or email the office (office@ravenscov.org).
General fund giving:
March 14: $3,345
General fund giving:
March 21: $1,176
Scripture for next Sunday
Mark 16:1-8
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.