May 8, 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
Gavotte
J. Becker
led by Leah and Cynthia
WELCOME & GREETING, COMMUNITY LIFE
UPDATE FROM BEATRICE FOSTER ON UKRAINIAN REFUGEES
CALL TO WORSHIP
led by Zoe Brask
Confirmand: Who enables us to come to this time and place?
People: It is God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit– who is working in us, both to will and to do God’s good pleasure, now and always.
C: What does God want most of us here?
P: That we remember what God has done, acknowledge God’s presence with us, and witness to God’s steadfast love and mercy.
C: This is the Lord’s doing.
P: And it is marvelous in our eyes!
C: Alleluia!
P: Amen!
YOU SERVANTS OF GOD, YOUR MASTER PROCLAIM
You servants of God, your Master proclaim,
And publish abroad His wonderful name;
The name, all victorious, of Jesus extol
His kingdom is glorious and rules over all.
God rules in the heights, almighty to save,
Though hid from our sight, His presence we have;
The great congregation His triumph shall sing,
Ascribing salvation to Jesus, our King.
“Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!”
Let all cry aloud and honor the Son;
The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,
Fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.
Then let us adore and give Him his right —
All glory and pow’r, all wisdom and might,
All honor and blessing, with angels above,
And thanks never ceasing for infinite love.
Covenant Hymnal, #322
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
Luke 6:18-19, 22-23
read by Leah Jackson
18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
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 16:16-34
read by Freja Brask
16 One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17 While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” 18 She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20 When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, “These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
The Path to Freedom in Christ
Pastor Denise
* RESCUER (Good News)
chorus
He’s our rescuer
He’s our rescuer
We are free from sin forevermore
Oh, how sweet the sound
Oh, how grace abounds
We will praise the Lord, our rescuer
There is good news for the captive
Good news for the shamed
There is good news for the one who walked away
There is good news for the doubter
The one religion failed
For the good Lord has come to seek and save
chorus
He is beauty for the blind man
Riches for the poor
He is friendship for the one the world ignores
He is pasture for the weary
Rest for those who strive
Yes, the good Lord is the way, the truth, the life
So come and be chainless
Come and be fearless
Come to the foot of Calvary
There is redemption
For every affliction
Here at the foot of Calvary
Benjamin Hastings, Bryan Fowler, Rend Collective CCLI#349090
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, and Barb Cannon.
Ministries & Mission
Cheryll Anderson Clark & Moises Clark, serving in Ecuador, 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
“Every Mother, Every Father”
led by worship team
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.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
led by Aliyah Redick
RITE OF CONFIRMATION
TESTIMONIES OF FAITH AND THANKSGIVING
Leah Jackson, Zoe Brask, Freja Brask, Aliyah Redick
LETTER TO THE CONFIRMANDS FROM PASTOR PHIL
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Pastor: Brothers and sisters in Christ: just as nature has its times and seasons, each of which is important, so in the providence of God does human nature. There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to harvest, a time for the early and the latter rain. This is most certainly true. Thanks be to God!
Today we rejoice because Aliyah, Leah, Zoe, and Freja are on the same gracious pilgrimage in the faith as we are, having been drawn by God’s word, by holy example, by the sacraments, and by prayer. We know that their journey has only begun; yet we are confident that God, who began a good work in him, will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.
We give thanks to God who awakens faith in
these confirmands and in us.
Let us join in affirming our faith in the responsive reading of the apostles’ creed printed in the bulletin.
APOSTLES’ CREED
Pastor: Do you believe in God?
All: I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
LT member: Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
All: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hades; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
Pastor: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
All: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
CONFESSION OF PERSONAL FAITH
Pastor: As your pastors and teacher, it is our prayer that these expressions of faith may provide the basis for the commitment of your life to Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.
Answering only for yourself, and in perfect freedom to be silent if you cannot yet answer, we now call upon you to respond to the following questions:
Do you confess personal faith in Jesus Christ and desire, with God’s help, to be His disciple? If so answer, “I do.”
I do.
LT member: Do you believe with the Church of Jesus Christ that the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, is the word of God, telling the story of God and God’s people in the past and guiding them today? If so, answer, “I do.”
I do.
Pastor: As you continue in your life, do you intend to keep worshiping in Christ’s church, listening to His word, and responding to His call, according to your faith? If so, answer, “I do.”
I do.
So be it, according to your faith.
SYMBOLS OF FAITH
Pastor: We would like to offer you symbols of our faith.
First, your confirmation stole — a symbol and reminder that by faith in Jesus Christ, in the power of God the Holy Spirit, you have been yoked to Christ and the Church, a priesthood of believers. Thanks be to God.
We offer you a pinch of salt for the tongue, a reminder that people of faith are to be salt of the earth. Read Matt. 5:13
We offer you a candle, a reminder that in Christ we are the light of the world. Read Matt 5:14-16
PRAYERS OF BLESSING
The confirmands will kneel at the front of the church. You are invited to place a hand on their head or shoulder. Please wear a mask for this time of prayer. You may also stay in your seat and pray with a hand lifted facing the confirmands.
PRAYER
Zoe, Aliyah, Freja, Leah, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen.
PRESENTATION OF GIFT FROM THE CHURCH
Pastor: Friends, in the pages of this Bible, our scriptures, is the good news of Jesus Christ. God is our light in dark places; God has called us to be children of light. We never walk alone and we know that surely God’s goodness and mercy will light the way before us. Thanks be to God!
Let’s respond in song together.
* JESUS, FIRM FOUNDATION
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word
What more can He say than to you He has said
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled
Fear not, He is with us, O be not dismayed
For He is our God, our sustainer and strength
He’ll be our defender and cause us to stand
Upheld by His merciful, almighty hand
How firm, our foundation
How sure, our salvation
And we will not be shaken
Jesus, firm foundation
The soul that is trusting in Jesus as Lord
Will press on enduring the darkest of storm
And though even hell should endeavor to shake
He’ll never, no, never, no, no, never forsake
He’ll never, no, never, no, no, never forsake
How firm, our foundation
How sure, our salvation
And we will not be shaken
Jesus, firm foundation
Age to age He stands
Faithful to the end
All may fade away
But He will remain
He will remain!
How firm, our foundation
How sure, our salvation
And we will not be shaken
Jesus, firm foundation.
W&M Bryan Brown / Jason Ingram / Tony WoodJesus, Firm Foundation lyrics ©Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Essential Music Publishing, Capitol Christian Music Group CCLI#349090
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
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.
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 5!
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.
Today we will hear from Beatrice Foster during the worship service about their ministry to Ukrainian refugees. 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 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
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!
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
John 1:16-18
Acts 17:16-31
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.