Worship live on Sundays in person,
or on Facebook & YouTube at 10:45 am.
Children’s Sunday School for ages K-7th grade at 9:30 am in-person.
Faith Forum (adult Sunday School) at 9:30 am in person and on Zoom.
October 30, 2022
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME & GREETING, COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
from Isaiah 52:7-10
Leader: How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who brings good news,
People: Who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim
salvation,
Leader: Who say to Zion,
All: “Your God reigns.”
People: When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own
eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted His people;
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
Leader: The Lord will lay bare His holy arm
in the sight of all nations,
All: And all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.
HE REIGNS
It’s the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It’s the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God’s holy fire
It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir
chorus
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns (He reigns)
Let it rise above the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this
And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they’ve just heard
‘Cause all the powers of darkness
Can’t drown out a single word
CCLI Song # 4026635 CCLI License # 349090
Peter Furler | Steve Taylor © 2003 Soylent Tunes
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
Matthew 28: 16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but they doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
BUILD YOUR KINGDOM HERE
Come set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again
Increase in us we pray
Unveil why we’re made
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls
Holy Spirit come invade us now
We are Your church
We need Your pow’r in us
We seek Your kingdom first
We hunger and we thirst
Refuse to waste our lives
For You’re our joy and prize
To see the captives’ hearts released
The hurt, the sick, the poor at peace
We lay down our lives for heaven’s cause
We are Your church
We pray, revive this earth
chorus
Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Bring your people back*
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here, we pray
Unleash Your kingdom’s pow’r
Reaching the near and far
No force of hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts
You made us for much more than this
Awake the kingdom seed in us
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ
We are Your church
We are the light* on earth
CCLI Song # 6186078 CCLI License # 349090
* substituted lyrics. Rend Collective © 2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON
Psalm 107:1-9
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
those He redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.[a]
4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to an inhabited town;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and He delivered them from their distress;
7 He led them by a straight way,
until they reached an inhabited town.
8 Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love,
for His wonderful works to humankind.
9 For He satisfies the thirsty,
and the hungry He fills with good things.
CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Pastor Denise
Children 6 and under are dismissed to Children’s Church in the upstairs lounge. Parents, please pick up your children from the lounge after the worship service.
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.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Witnessing to the Hope Within You
Steve Swanson
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
Vilken vän vi har i Jesus,
trofast, kärleksfull och god!
När vi frestas, när vi prövas,
vill han ge oss kraft och mod.
Ofta tyngs vi ner av oro,
glömmer att vi har en vän
som har lovat vara med oss,
hjälpa om och om igen.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged–
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness–
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge —
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take a shield you–
You will find a solace there.
Covenant Hymnal #399
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden, Messian Burgos, Vira Coszach, Gloria Evenson, Pedro Gomez, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Mary McKirchy, Shirley Nicholas, our Pastoral Search Committee, Mary Smith, Esther Stoel, and Alice Westlind
Ministries & Mission
ECC Serve Globally team, serving and supporting missions worldwide; Barb & Steve Swanson, serving in Sweden
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
Jesu, Meine Freude
Johann Crüger
led by 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.
WILL YOU LET ME BE YOUR SERVANT
Will you let me be your servant,
let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant, too.
We are pilgrims on a journey,
here together on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the nighttime of your fear,
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping,
when you laugh I’ll laugh with you,
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God and heaven,
We shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony.
Covenant Hymnal, #617
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Toccata in E minor
Johann Pachelbel
led by Cynthia
INVITATION
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
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 and Facebook, so Sunday morning worship will remain accessible to anyone who has Internet access.
KICY 100% Sunday
Today is KICY 100% Sunday. This is an annual Sunday in October on which KICY radio station in Nome, AK, a Covenant-owned enterprise that brings Christian radio to, and shares the Gospel with, people living in the remote lands of western Alaska and the Russian Far East, fundraises. KICY asks Covenant churches to give a dollar for each church member — in other words, 100% of the congregation — to further the ministry of the station.
This is an historically meaningful ministry for Ravenswood Covenant. One of the station’s co-founders, the late Art Zylstra, was an RECC member, and long-time RECC member Dave Oseland is a former KICY station manager. Our church typically gives $100 to KICY each 100% Sunday. If you would like to personally give to the station above and beyond that amount, you can do so during the offertory by putting your special offering in an offering envelope and writing “KICY” on it, or by giving it to Gregory Sager in the church office.
To learn more about KICY’s ministry, vist the station’s website at https://www.kicy.org/.
Offerfest 2022
Mark your calendars for next Sunday, November 6, when we will once again hold Offerfest Sunday. Offerfest, one of Ravenswood Covenant’s oldest traditions, is a Sunday in which the congregation takes particular note of God’s blessings by setting aside the morning offering to be directed towards specific ministries and projects decided upon by the church’s leadership. After the worship service, a special dinner is held in the fellowship hall, during which the amount raised for Offerfest is announced. This year’s Offerfest dinner will be prepared by Bobby and Hannah Blase, so it will no doubt be something wonderful!
This year’s Offerfest offering will be divided into thirds: one-third will go to Covenant Mountain Mission Bible Camp, one-third to the Lincoln Square Friendship Center, and one-third will be used to remodel and upgrade the women’s bathroom on the main floor of the C.E. wing.
Ravenswood Covenant report presentation
On Sunday, November 13, the Rev. Peter Sjoblom will present his report on Ravenswood Covenant in a special Faith Forum class at 9:30 am that will be held in the sanctuary. Everyone is encouraged to attend in order to hear the report and ask questions. Pastor Sjoblom has met with a wide cross-section of the congregation via the focus groups that gathered in July and August, and he has prepared this report in order to assist the pastoral search committee in creating a church profile for RECC that will be posted on the Covenant Connect website — which is where Covenant pastors can find out about churches with pastoral openings and make contact with them.
We hope to have printed copies of his report available in the narthex next Sunday for your perusal.
Indoor Playground
Indoor Playground is back! Our weekly cold-weather opportunity to let young children run around in our gym, play with toys, and use the bounce house. has begun again.. Indoor Playground will be open every Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
Thursday night community dinner
Our Thursday night community dinners have resumed on a periodic basis. They will continue on November 10 and November 17. The dinners are open to everyone. Suggested donation is $5 for individuals, $10 for families.
Neighborhood Yoga
Certified Yoga Instructor Deb Auger is teaching a four-week Adult Yoga class in our community room on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:15 pm. The first two sessions are free; the fee for the third and fourth sessions are $15 each. To register or for more information, contact Deb at auger.deb@gmail.com.
Choir begins
Choir rehearsal for the Christmas season began today. The choir will rehearse each Sunday at 8:30 am through Christmas. This is an opportunity for everyone, not just trained singers or choir veterans, to take part. For more information, please speak to Cynthia Arden or contact the church office.
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 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 are currently studying the book of Romans. 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.
Please note that the Thursday evening Bible study will not meet this coming Thursday, November 3.
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 November
November 6: Pastor Mark
November 13: Pastor Denise
November 20: TBA
November 27: TBA
Scripture for next Sunday
Matthew 8:2-3
2 Kings 5:1-15a
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.