September 11, 2022
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
led by Erin
WELCOME & GREETING, COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Come with your questions, come with your awe!
People: For the God who broods over the chaos
meets us in this place.
Leader: Come with your energy, come with your weariness!
People: For the God who breathes new life into the dust
meets us in this place.
Leader: Come with your sadness, come with your joy!
People: For the God who dared to become human
meets us in this place.
Katherine Hawker
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
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
Matthew 8:24-27
24 A windstorm suddenly arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves, but He was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm. 27 They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON
Genesis 6:5-22; 8:6-12; 9:8-17
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of humans was great in the earth and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made humans on the earth, and it grieved him to His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out from the earth the humans I have created — people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air—for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.
9 These are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in His generation; Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw that the earth was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind shall come in to you, to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up, and it shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
6 At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made 7 and sent out the raven, and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out the dove from him to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground, 9 but the dove found no place to set its foot, and it returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark with him. 10 He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark, 11 and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days and sent out the dove, and it did not return to him any more.
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “As for Me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.[a]11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
CHILDREN’S MOMENT
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
The Strangest Children’s Story Ever
Pastor Denise
EVERY PROMISE OF YOUR WORD
From the breaking of the dawn
To the setting of the sun,
I will stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Words of power strong to save,
That will never pass away,
I will stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
And your covenant is sure
And on this I am secure,
I can stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
When I stumble and I sin,
Condemnation pressing in,
I will stand on ev’ry promise of your Word.
You are faithful to forgive
That in freedom I might live,
So I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Guilt to innocence restored,
You remember sins no more,
So I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Guilt to innocence restored,
You remember sins no more,
So I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
When I’m faced with anguished choice
I will listen for Your voice
And I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Through this dark and troubled land
You will guide me with your hand
As I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
And You’ve promised to complete
Ev’ry work begun in me,
So I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Hope that lifts me from despair,
Love that casts out ev’ry fear
As I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Not forsaken, not alone,
For the Comforter has come
And I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Grace sufficient, grace for me,
Grace for all who will believe
We will stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
CCLI Song # 4642105
Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
2005 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden, Messian Burgos, Vira Coszach, the family of Joan Erickson, Gloria Evenson, Pedro Gomez, the congregation of Grace Evangelical Covenant Church, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Mary McKirchy, Shirley Nicholas, our Pastoral Search Committee, Mary Smith, and Esther Stoel
Ministries & Mission
Jen & Minh Dao, serving in Thailand, Covenant Mountain Mission Bible Camp
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
Largo in C minor
Frédéric Chopin
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.
CONFESSION OF SIN
L: As we move towards the table let us remember the proof of God’s amazing love is this: while we were sinners Christ died for us. Because we have faith in Him, we dare to approach God with confidence. In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God:
L: The Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Let us confess our sins against God and neighbor.
All: O God of grace and truth: We confess it is all too easy for us to sacrifice convictions for convenience, standards for status, principles for promotion, absolutes for ambition. We are readily seduced by power and prestige, by pleasures and possessions. From what the world offers, we turn to You unfulfilled. Forgive our half-heartedness and our double-mindedness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Renew and refresh us through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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: 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
It is now our sacred privilege to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. All who humbly put their trust in Christ and desire His help that they may lead a holy life; all who are truly sorry for their sins and would be delivered from them; all who would walk in love with their neighbors and intend to live a new life, following the commandments of God and walking from now on in His holy ways, are invited to draw near with faith and to receive this holy sacrament.
A PRAYER FOR COMMUNION
Holy God, we praise You.
Let the heavens be joyful and the earth be glad.
We bless You for creating the whole world,
for Your promises to your people Israel,
and for Jesus Christ in whom Your fullness dwells.
Born of Mary, He shares our life.
Eating with sinners, He welcomes us.
Guiding his children, He leads us.
Visiting the sick, He heals us.
Dying on the cross, He saves us.
Risen from the dead, He gives new life.
Living with You, He prays for us.
The Lord Jesus, on the night when 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 remembering Me.”
In the same way He took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembering Me.”
With thanksgiving we take this bread and this cup and proclaim the death and resurrection of our Lord.
Receive our sacrifice of praise.
Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us
that this meal may be a communion in the body and blood or our Lord.
Make us one with Christ
and with all who share this feast.
Unite us in faith,
encourage us with hope,
inspire us to love that we may serve
As Your faithful disciples
Until we feast at Your table in glory.
We praise you, eternal God,
through Christ Your Word made flesh,
in the holy and life-giving Spirit now and forever. Amen.
SHARING IN COMMUNION
SPECIAL MUSIC
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Loving God, you graciously feed us, who have received these holy mysteries, with the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation. May we who have received this sacrament be strengthened in your service; we who have sung your praises tell of your glory and truth; we who have seen the greatness of your love see you face to face in your kingdom. For you have made us your own people by the death and resurrection of your Son our Lord and by the life-giving power of your Spirit. Amen.
A SENDING FROM COMMUNION
Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life abundantly.” Go in peace and may your abundant life in Christ overflow in deeds of love and service. Amen.
MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When darkness veils his lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
His oath, his covenant, his blood
Supports me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in his righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
Covenant Hymnal, #433
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Finlandia
Jean Sibelius
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
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.
Benevolence offering
Due to the sparse attendance typical of Labor Day weekend’s Sunday worship service, the monthly benevolence offering has been moved back to today. At Ravenswood Covenant we take a retiring offering every month to assist those in the congregation or the local community who are in need.
Sunday School 2022-23
Next Sunday, September 18, will be the first Sunday of Sunday School classes. Sunday School will begin at 9:30 am. Lorri and Eli will teach the early elementary kids and Bekah will teach the older elementary age. If you are interested in helping with preschool age kids either before worship in the gym or during Children’s Church please contact Pastor Denise.
Faith Forum
Faith Forum, our adult Sunday school class, will begin its fall schedule next Sunday, September 18 at 9:30 am. All teenagers and adults are welcome to join us each week in the upstairs lounge for great lectures, interactive study, and discussion. Our first guest speaker will be Paul Shaheen, who will be starting a six-week series on the sin of idolatry. Faith Forum is an important aspect of Ravenswood Covenant’s ministry of Christian formation, and we warmly encourage you to take part in it.
Lake County Symphony Orchestra concert
Cynthia Arden invites you to attend a Lake County Symphony Orchestra concert entitled, “Broadway and Hollywood Blockbusters” this evening, Sunday, September 11 at 7 pm, at Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, IL 60047. Tickets are $20 presale, $25 at the door, and children 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at www.lakecountysymphonyorchestra.com.
Community dinner returns!
Thursday Night Community Dinners, which are our main community gathering during the work week, will soon be starting again with the resumption of a new school year. Our first community dinner will be held on Thursday, September 15, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Chef Bobby’s menu will feature beef taco lasagna. The suggested donation for the Thursday night community dinner is $5 for individuals and $10 for families. Contact the church office for more details.
MOPS
The next gathering of MOPS, Ravenswood Covenant’s ministry for mothers with small children, will be Saturday, September 17 at 10:30 am. If weather permits, the meeting will take place in the church playground. If not, the meeting will be held in the upstairs lounge, and fathers or other caregivers will be invited to play with the children in the gym during the meeting.
Women’s luncheon
Women, please save this date: Saturday, September 24, for a special luncheon and fun in the fellowship hall. From 11 am to 1 pm there will be a time for food and fun! There will be gifts, food demonstrations, plenty of opportunities for fellowship and laughter, and a visiting dietician will be speaking. The cost is $5, which can be paid to Colleen Carlson or to Gregory Sager in the church office. Plan to attend and to bring a friend!
Farmers market
Our farmers market continues to be a success, as we’ve settled into a post-Covid average of about 400-500 adults per market, with a large and enthusiastic contingent of children for whom the market is a high point of every week.
The farmers market season will run until our annual fall festival on Wednesday, October 12. This year’s markets will run from 4 pm to 7 pm, and as always they will be held in the church parking lot.
We are still looking for market volunteers to help out with set-up, assisting with kids activities, and take-down on Wednesdays. If you can assist, even if it’s only for one Wednesday, please contact Bekah Carlson, Pastor Denise, or 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 adult Bible study
The weekly Bible study will resume next Thursday, September 15, at
7 pm. We will be continuing our study of 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.
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 September
September 4: Gregory Sager
September 11: Pastor Denise
September 18: Mark Safstrom
September 25: Pastor Mark
Scripture for next Sunday
Matthew 28:19-20
Genesis 12:1-9
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.