Pentecost Sunday
May 28, 2023
Worship live on Sundays in person,
or on YouTube at 10:00 am.
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
led by Erin and Cynthia
WELCOME, GREETING, AND COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
from Psalm 67
Leader: May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make His face to shine upon us.
People: That Your way may be known upon earth,
Your saving power among all nations.
Leader: Let the peoples praise You, O God;
let all the peoples praise You.
People: Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for You judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Leader: Let the peoples praise You, O God;
let all the peoples praise You.
People: The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
ALL: May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere Him.
PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to His temple draw near,
Join me in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
Sheltering you under His wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
Sent by His gracious ordaining?
Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriends you.
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again;
Gladly forever adore him. Amen.
Covenant Hymnal, #61
* GOSPEL LESSON
John 16:31-33
Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with Me. 33 I have said this to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”
Reader: The word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God!
THERE IS A REDEEMER
There is a redeemer
Jesus, God’s own Son
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
Holy One
refrain
Thank you, O my Father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit ’til
The work on Earth is done
Jesus, my Redeemer
Name above all names
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
O for sinners slain
When I stand in glory
I will see His face
And there I’ll serve my King forever
In that holy place
Covenant Hymnal, #75
CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Erin Stoel
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)
Children 6 and under are dismissed to Children’s Church in the upstairs lounge. Parents can pick up their children in the lounge after the service.
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
Romans 8:14-39
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we in fact suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, how will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ who died, or rather, who was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Pastor Mark
AND CAN IT BE THAT I SHOULD GAIN
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
refrain
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race!
’tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread:
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Covenant Hymnal, #306
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden, Messian Burgos, Frank Coszach, Vira Coszach, James Egan, Pedro Gomez, Art & Rosa Hamilton, the Michael family, Kathy Sager, Mary Smith, Steve Staurseth, and Phillip, son of Iris Velez
Ministries & Mission
Paul Carlson Partnership, serving the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo; 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 & OFFERINGS
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@ravenscov.org
OFFERTORY
“Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”
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.
FOR YOUR GIFT OF GOD THE SPIRIT
(verses 1, 4, and 5 only)
For Your gift of God the Spirit
Power to make our lives anew,
Pledge of life and hope of glory,
Savior, we would worship You.
Crowning gift of resurrection
Sent from Your ascended throne;
Fullness of the very Godhead
Come to make Your life our own.
He, the mighty God, indwells us;
His to strengthen, help, empower;
His to overcome the tempter —
Ours to call in danger’s hour.
In His strength we dare to battle
All the raging hosts of sin,
And by Him alone we conquer
Foes without and foes within.
Father, grant Your Holy Spirit
In our hearts may rule today,
Grieved not, quenched not, but unhindered
Work in us His sov’reign way.
Fill us with Your holy fullness,
God the Father, Spirit, Son;
In us, through us, then forever
Shall Your perfect will be done
Covenant Hymnal, #279
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Gravé in G
J.S. Bach
led by Cynthia
INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.
Worship update
The Leadership Team of Ravenswood Covenant Church recommends mask use during services, but this is not mandatory.
Ravenswood Covenant livestreams worship each week on YouTube, so Sunday morning worship is accessible to anyone who has Internet access.
Worship schedule change
Just a reminder that, as part of the annual rhythm of our church life, the Sunday worship hour moves to 10 am starting today. Worship will return to the 10:45 am hour, and Sunday School and Faith Forum will re-commence, on Sunday, September 10.
Please note that the 10 am starting time is a half-hour later than the church’s traditional summer worship hour starting time of 9:30 am.
Upcoming congregational meeting
A congregational business meeting will be held next Sunday, June 4, following the worship service. New members of the Leadership Team and the nominating committee will be voted upon at this meeting. Please make plans to attend if you are a member of the church.
Nona Michael
Our sister in Christ, long-time Ravenswood Covenant member Nona Michael, went home to the Lord this past Thursday morning while resting peacefully at the house of her son Eric in the far northwest suburbs. While we mourn with her sons Eric and Loren and their families, we rejoice that her earthly decline is at an end and that she now enters into the presence of the Savior she served so well for so long.
There will be a visitation on Thursday, June 1 at Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway Palatine, IL, from 3 pm to 8 pm. On the morning of Friday June 2, there will be a private burial for family only. That will be followed by an 11:30 am memorial service at Covenant Living of Northbrook, 2625 Techny Rd., Northbrook, IL in the Town Center Chapel. The memorial service will be followed by a light luncheon.
The Michael family has extended an invitation to the memorial service and the luncheon to everyone at Ravenswood Covenant. The family would like to get at least an approximate headcount, so if you plan to attend and/or need a ride, please contact the church office. Thank you.
Church garden plots available
Are you a gardener, or would you like to become one? Ravenswood Covenant has free garden plots available along the north boundary of the church parking lot. if you would like to claim a plot, please contact the church office at 773-784-7091 or at office@ravenscov.org.
Coffee hour changes
There is now a coffee hour bulletin board downstairs in the fellowship hall! (It’s right next to the kids’ serving window.) Please look there for updated serving instructions as well as to find out what team you’re on. A self-sign-up will now be available on the board so that you can pick which Sundays work best for you. As always, thanks for serving!
Aid for Ukrainian refugees
Jeremy and Amanda Foster, who have attended our church in the past, 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.
Here is the latest message from Don Foster:
Hello friends,
Below is a message from the Ukrainians living here in Hazebrouck.
God bless,
Don and Béa
Hello everybody
I want to say my huge thanks to all of you. You are all incredible people. You do so many things for me and my family.
We have been living in a new apartment for almost three weeks and we like it very much. This would not be possible without all of you
When I understand how you helped us and how much people do for this apartment I feel grateful for everything you do.
I’m very glad to have met Don, Beatrice, their family and all of you.
I hope one day I can see all of you and say thank you in real life.
Kate
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
Thursday evening Bible study
The weekly Bible study meets Thursdays at 7 pm. We have just begun studying the Gospel of Mark. The Bible study meets in the lounge, and is also accessible by Zoom. For more information, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at (773) 784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org
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 4: Mary Spriggs
June 11: Pastor Mark
June 18: TBA
June 25: Pastor Mark
Scripture for next Sunday
Luke 5:8-10
Isaiah 6:1-8
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.