PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
When Morning Gilds the Skies
led by Cynthia
KIDS TIME
music & a visit from some friends
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME & GREETING
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: O Lord, open our eyes,
People: that we may see the beauty of goodness.
L: O Lord, open our ears,
P: that we may hear the truth.
L: O Lord, open our lips,
P: that we may show forth Your praise.
L: Christ is risen!
P: He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
GOD OF WONDERS
Lord of all creation
Of water, earth, and sky
The heavens are Your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on high
chorus 1
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth
verse 2
Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night
bridge
Hallelujah (to the Lord of heaven and earth)
Hallelujah (to the Lord of heaven and earth)
Hallelujah (to the Lord of heaven and earth)
You are holy
chorus 2
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
Precious Lord, reveal Your heart to me
Father holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy, holy, holy
chorus 3
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
Precious Lord reveal Your heart to me
Father holy, holy
Hallelujah (to the Lord of heaven and earth)
Hallelujah (to the Lord of heaven and earth)
Hallelujah (to the Lord of heaven and earth)
Hallelujah (to the Lord of heaven and earth)
CCLI Song # 3118757 CCLI License # 349090
Marc Byrd | Steve Hindalong © 2000 Never Say Never Songs
Malachi 3:1-4
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight–indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
1 John 5:1-6
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR
Beautiful Savior! King of creation!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’ll love thee, truly I’ll serve thee,
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
Fair are the meadows, fair are the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming flowers of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moon light,
Bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be thine!
Covenant Hymnal, #317
GOSPEL LESSON
Mark 7:5-13
5 So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.’
8 You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
9 Then He said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban’ (that is, an offering to God)— 12 then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this.”
Leader: The Word of the Lord
People: 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.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
l’chaim, To Life
Pastor Phil
JESUS BREAD OF LIFE
Jesus bread of life, manna from heaven
Broken for the world
Offered up for every man
The feast of angels
Becomes food for the weary
And hungry hearts are filled
When You open up Your hand
When You open up Your hand
chorus
Oh Lord come fill us with your love
This table laid for us
There is more than enough
Oh Jesus bread of life
Sister, take what you need ,anything I own
There is no famine here, Jesus’ love will multiply
Brother. what’s mine is yours, you are not alone
There is no shortage here, Jesus’ love will satisfy
Jesus’ love will satisfy
CCLI Song # 7138305 CCLI License # 349090
Audrey Assad | Fernando Ortega© 2019 Fortunate Fall Music
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
led by Pastor Phil
Folks We Are Praying For:
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.
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: Phyllis Levinson (Joyce Oseland’s sister), Ernesto Galaviz, the family of 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
Erika & Nils Clauson, serving in Mexico; Renee Nicholas, serving local graduate students and faculty with InterVarsity
GIVING OF OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS
& PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@ravenscov.org
OFFERTORY
For the Beauty of the Earth
led by Cynthia and Erin
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.
COMMUNITY LIFE
.
ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING
All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia!
O burning sun with golden beam,
And silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia !
O rushing wind so wild and strong,
O clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O praise Him, al-le-lu-ia!
O rising morn, in praise rejoice,
O lights of evening, find a voice,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia !
Cool flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for your Lord to hear,
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia!
Fierce fire so masterful and bright,
Providing us with warmth and light,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia !
And all of you with tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia!
All you who pain and sorrow bear,
Trust God and on Him cast your care:
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia !
Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him, al-le-lu-ia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One:
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia !
Amen.
Covenant Hymnal, #55
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Chaconne in D minor by Johan Pachelbel (1653-1706)
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 maxeltoft
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.
Sunday School picnic upcoming
We are planning to have the Sunday School picnic on May 23 after the worship service out in the parking lot and playground. Everyone is invited! Please bring your own lawn chairs and food for yourself and your family. Drinks will be provided. If the weather is rainy we will cancel or postpone the event.
Sunday School updates
This Sunday there is Sunday School for kids, for preschoolers at noon and the 3rd to 6th grade class at 1:00. The 1st-2nd graders have the week off. Next Sunday will be the last Sunday for all Sunday School Zoom classes. Confirmation has ended for the year.
Let’s honor our graduates!
Are you, or a member of your family, graduating this spring? The church office would love to have the details (name, grade or degree, school) of your graduate to share with the congregation. This will be a comprehensive list that goes from preschool graduates all the way up to those receiving doctorates. Please let us share the joy of your, or your loved one’s, accomplishment!
Delegates sought for Annual Meeting
Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church is a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church. As such, our church takes part in the governance of the denomination by sending delegates to its governing body, the Annual Meeting. RECC is seeking interested members of the church to serve as delegates to this year’s Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church, which will be held June 24-26. All business sessions of the Annual Meeting 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 the Annual Meeting.
If you are interested in being a delegate to the Annual Meeting, please contact a member of the Leadership Team (listed at the bottom of this email), or contact the church office.
Book study
On Monday, May 24 at 7 pm we will begin discussing Race and Place: How Urban Geography Shapes the Journey to Reconciliation. The author, David Leong, is a professor of missiology at Seattle Pacific Seminary.
“Race and Place reveals the profound ways in which these geographic forces and structures sustain the divisions among us. Urban missiologist David Leong, who resides in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country, unpacks the systemic challenges that are rarely addressed in the conversation about racial justice.
“The evening news may deliver story after story that causes us to despair. But Leong envisions a future of belonging and hope in our streets, towns, cities, and churches. A discussion about race needs to go hand in hand with a discussion about place. This book is a welcome addition to a conversation that needs to include both.”
The book can be purchased through InterVarsity as paperback or ebook. https://www.ivpress.com/race-and-place
Contact Pastor Denise for more information. denise@ravenscov.org.
Thursday evening Zoom Bible study continues
The Thursday evening Bible study will resume this coming Thursday. The Bible study meets each Thursday at 7 pm and is currently studying the book of 1 Corinthians.
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
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 has returned
The church’s biweekly prayer meeting that gathers every second and fourth Monday night each month has resumed! 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 next meeting will be tomorrow night, Monday, May 10, at 7 pm. Masks and social distancing will still be required, as before.
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:
April 25: $2,124
General fund giving:
May 2: $2,294
Scripture for next Sunday
Mark 7:14-16
Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13
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.