May 1, 2022 | Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church

May 1, 2022
Children’s Sunday School for ages K-7th grade at 9:30 am in-person
Adult Sunday School at 9:30 am in-person and on Zoom.

PRE-SERVICE MUSIC

PRELUDE
“Christ is Alive!”
led by Erin and Cynthia

WELCOME & GREETING, COMMUNITY LIFE

CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Welcome, friends, to this holy day.
People: We come to offer thanks; we come to sing and pray.
L: Welcome, friends, to this time set apart,
P: A time to remember those we love, and time to remember the holy promises of God.
L: Welcome, friends, to this table of remembrance and joy,
P: The table where we are fed, the feast we share with many.
L: Welcome, friends, and let us worship God.

by Beth Merrill Neel
‘Hold Fast to What Is Good’. Used with permission.

CHRIST IS ALIVE!
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing,
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring,
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

Christ is alive! No longer bound
To distant years in Palestine,
But saving, healing here and now,
And touching ev’ry place and time.

In ev’ry insult, rift, and war,
When color, scorn, or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
And lives, where even hope has died.

Women and men, in age and youth,
Can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
And find the way, the life, the truth,
Revealed in Jesus, freed for all.

Christ is alive and comes to bring
Good news to this and ev’ry age;
Till earth and sky and ocean ring
With joy, with justice, love, and praise.

Covenant Hymnal #259

GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
Matthew 6:19-24

¹⁹“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; ²³but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!²⁴“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Leader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

Children ages 3-5 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.

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
Acts 9:1-19a

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ²and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” ⁵He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ⁶But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” ⁷The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. ⁸Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, ¹²and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; ¹⁴and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” ¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; ¹⁶I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” ¹⁷So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, ¹⁹and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

REFLECTING ON THE WORD
A Transformed Life into Christ-like Living
Pastor Nengsuanthang Phaipi

OPEN MY EYES, THAT I MAY SEE
Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth You have for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unlock and set me free.

Silently now, on bended knee,
Ready I wait Your will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth You send so clear;
And while the message sounds in my ear,
Ev’rything false will disappear.

Silently now, on bended knee,
Ready I wait Your will to see;
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear
Gladly the warm truth ev’rywhere;
Open my heart, and let me prepare
Love with Your children thus to share.

Silently now, on bended knee,
Ready I wait Your will to see;
Open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Covenant Hymnal #368

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Kristine Brandel’s family, Nikolas Arden, Pastor Phil and Kerry Staurseth, Jon and Jamie Kratowicz and baby Sullivan, Shirley Nicholas, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Esther Stoel, the Koeller family, Mary Smith, Delores and Steve Staurseth, Jane Auger, Mary McKirchy, Michael Bucci, Gina Glowen, and Barb Cannon.

Ministries & Mission
Darlene & Jeff Anderson, serving in the Middle East and North Africa; 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
“Open My Eyes, That I May See”
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.

CONFESSION OF SIN
All: God of Forgiveness,
hear now the confession of our sins.
Our greed and our lust for power
create enemies where we should find friends.
We fail to offer comfort and aid
to those who are afraid and beat down
by the burdens of life.
We are as blind and willful as Saul
to the pain and the destruction
of our wrongdoings
and our well-meaning crusades.
Forgive us, merciful One.
Give us sight to see with your eyes,
that we may bring hope and peace to our world.
Amen.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Pastor: God’s anger lasts but a moment,
but God’s favor lasts a lifetime.
The Lord forgives our shortcomings
and sends deliverance through Christ,
just as the Lord forgave Saul
and used him to spread the gospel.
All: Thanks be to God!

Confession written by Sandra Miller, Ministry Matters

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: The 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.)

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
This is the Lord’s Table. Our Savior invites those who trust Him to share the feast that He has prepared.

WORDS OF INSTITUION
The Lord Jesus, on the night 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 remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying. “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, blest forever! To You be praise and honor for giving Yourself, shedding Your blood, and letting Your body be broken in death for our sake, so that we might have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Bless, O God, this bread which we together eat, and the cup which we together drink. Let us through this blest bread and this blest cup become partakers of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP
Take and eat, this is the body of Christ, which is broken for you.
This cup is the new covenant in the blood of Christ. Drink of it.

SPECIAL MUSIC
“Jesus, Bread of Life”
led by worship team

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Father of all, we give You thanks and praise, that when we were still far off You met us in Your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, He declared Your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live His risen life; we who drink His cup bring life to others; we who the Spirit lights give light to the world, through Christ our Lord.

SENDING
Go in peace. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen.

WAY MAKER
You are here moving in our midst
I worship You, I worship You
You are here working in this place
I worship You, I worship You

chorus
(You are) Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper
Light in the darkness, my God, that is who You are

You are here touching ev’ry heart
I worship You, I worship You
You are here healing ev’ry heart
I worship You, I worship You

You are here turning lives around
I worship You, I worship You
You are here mending ev’ry heart
I worship You, yeah, I worship You, Lord

tag
That is who You are
That is who You are
That is who You are
That is who You are

bridge
Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop, You never stop working

BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God

POSTLUDE
Allegretto in G minor
Johann Ernst Rembt
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

The rose at the front of the sanctuary celebrates the birth of Griffin David Vetter, born April 22 to Kelly and Sam. Griffin joins big brothers Jack and Max in the family. We rejoice in God’s blessing to Kelly and Sam and to our church family!

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.

Today’s guest preacher
The Reverend Dr. Nengsuanthang Phaipi (aka Pastor Tang) will bring us the Word today. He is the pastor of Chicago Zomi Bethel Church, the congregation that in March began using our space on Sunday afternoons for worship and fellowship.

Mother’s Day market
Ravenswood Covenant will hold a Mother’s Day market next Saturday, May 7 from 10 am to 1 pm outside by the front of the church. Vendors will include Patyk Farms (potted flowers), Hilary’s Cookies, and Tamales Express. Stop by to purchase a Mother’s Day gift and to welcome back some of our long-time vendors as farmer’s market season approaches!

2022 RECC church picnic
This year’s church picnic will be held on Sunday, May 22, on the church grounds after the worship service. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided by the church; those whose last names begin with A through J are encouraged to bring a dessert to pass, while those whose last names begin with K through Z are encouraged to bring a salad or side to pass. There will be activities for the children, including the bounce house!

Graduation recognition
Please let Gregory in the office know if you have a student in your family who is graduating from elementary school, high school, college, or graduate school. Please let us know so we can celebrate with you on Sunday June 5th!

Please fill out the survey!
Please remember to fill out and submit the congregational survey by today. This will be a very important tool to both aid the church’s Leadership Team through the pastoral interim period and to guide the pastoral search committee in its assigned task.

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 them 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, please connect with Jeremy Foster for information to donate to Youth with a Mission (Beatrice Foster account).

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.

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 will also have 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 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 May
May 1: Pastor Nengsuanthang Phaipi
May 8: Pastor Denise
May 15: Pastor Jill Lind
May 22: Chaplain Jim Stoel
May 29: Gregory Sager

Scripture for next Sunday
Luke 6:18-19, 22-23
Acts 16:16-34

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.