SEPTEMBER 19, 2021
Adult Sunday School convenes at 9:30 on zoom
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
led by Cynthia
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME & GREETING
CALL TO WORSHIP
based on Psalm 13
Leader: We come trusting in the steadfast love of God;
People: Our hearts rejoice in God’s salvation.
L: Let us sing to the Lord
P: For God has dealt bountifully with us.
WHAT A FELLOWSHIP, WHAT A JOY DIVINE
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the the everlasting arms.
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the the everlasting arms.
What have we to dread, what have we to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
We have blessed peace with our Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the the everlasting arms.
Covenant Hymnal, #83
INVOCATION:
prayed together aloud: Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
HE’S EVER OVER ME
I will lift my eyes
To the hills and their Creator
Who made all heaven and earth.
For He watches me,
Will not sleep, no, never slumber,
He’s ever over me.
As I come and I go, I am safe for I know
That His care is sufficient for me.
Winter warmth and light,
And a shady place in summer,
He’s ever over me.
Covenant Hymnal, #428
Music & Words, Bob Stromberg, Copyright 1994
Stream Mountain Music CCLI#349090
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON
Genesis 21:1-3; 22:1-14
21:1 The Lord dealt with Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised. 2 Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him.
22:1 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God Himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.
9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 13 And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD NEVER CEASES
The Steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
His mercies never come to an end.
They are new ev’ry morning, new ev’ry morning,
Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord,
Great is thy faithfulness
Music & Words, Edith McNeill, Copyright 1986
Celebration Services Ltd. CCLI#349090
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
John 1:29-31
29 The next day [John] saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who ranks ahead of me because He was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know Him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that He might be revealed to Israel.”
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.
Children are dismissed to the gym at this time.
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.
Covenant Hymnal, #423
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
That’s Easy for You to Say
Pastor Phil
JESUS! WHAT A FRIEND FOR SINNERS!
verses 1, 2 & 5
Jesus! what a friend for sinners!
Jesus lover of my soul!
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Hallelujah, what a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Jesus! what a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my strength, my vict’ry wins.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Hallelujah, what a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find;
He has granted me forgiveness,
I am his, and He is mine.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Hallelujah, what a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Covenant Hymnal, #350
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
led by Pastor Denise
We continue to pray for: Katie Gieseke, Kari Hutson, Ernesto Galaviz, Kristine Brandel’s friend Terrie, Nikolas Arden, Katie Collier, Chuck & Shirley Nicholas, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Carol Koeller’s mother Barbara, Joyce Andrews, Paul Mounts, and Steve Hoden
Ministries & Mission
Carl & Karen Groot, 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 & OFFERINGS
& PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@ravenscov.org
OFFERTORY
“He’s Ever Over Me”
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.
COMMUNITY LIFE
.
NEVER WALK ALONE
You are my shepherd faithful forever
Your hand is strong where my faith is weak
Close as my heartbeat, You won’t forsake me
You are the love that will carry me
pre-chorus
And I won’t be afraid
I will trust Your heart and say
chorus
I will never, ever, ever walk alone
You are with us for us, always holding on
Though I wander, Your love goes further
You are my hope and future
I will never walk alone
Questions may haunt us, casting a shadow
Still You’re the hope and the fire in me
I will not tremble, I will not stumble
You are my courage, my bravery
bridge
Surely Your goodness and mercy
Will light up the way set before me
Surely Your grace will pursue me
All my days all my days
CCLI Song # 7047088 CCLI License # 349090
Rend Collective © Thankyou Music
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Hyfrydol
Rowland Pritchard
led by Erin and 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
Please join us on the sidewalk at the front steps for coffee and fellowship together.
Covid restrictions for in-person worship
Chicago is now requiring the use of masks for indoor public gatherings, so Ravenswood Covenant has reinstated safety protocols for Sunday morning worship. This means that within the building masks are required at all times, regardless of vaccination status; seating is socially distant; and handshakes and hugs are avoided.
We are still observing precautions regarding children, specifically with regard to the cry room. As was the case before, if you and your family would like to worship in the cry room, please reserve it in advance by contacting Gregory Sager at office@ravenscov.org or 773-784-7091. One family may choose to use the cry room upon arrival if it hasn’t already been reserved. 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.
There will still be no nursery.
Accessible to All? A Faithful Response to Disabilities (A virtual conference)
On Saturday, November 6, 2021, from 10 am to 3:30 pm, a virtual symposium will be held to discuss issues related to accessibility for the disabled in the church setting.
Join others to imagine how the well-being of everyone in the church would be strengthened and better reflect the kingdom of God by being fully welcoming of persons of all abilities. The keynote speaker is Benjamin Conner, Ph.D., Professor of Practical Theology and Director of the Center for Disability and Ministry at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI and author of Disabling Mission, Enabling Witness: Exploring Missiology through the Lens of Disability Studies (IVP Academic, 2018). Plenary sessions and workshops will provide the opportunity to explore how congregations and healthcare professionals can collaborate in responding faithfully to the challenge of disabilities, considering what can be done together that neither can do alone.
This fourth faith and health symposium is offered by North Park Theological Seminary and North Park University School of Nursing and Health Sciences, with the support of the Good Shepherd Initiative.
Registration is now open, with the early bird rate available through September 30, 2021. For more information go to: https://www.northpark.edu/event/accessible-to-all-a-faithful-response-to-disabilities/
Sunday School and Children’s Church are back in session!
Children’s Sunday School for the fall started today. Classes will meet every Sunday morning at 9:30 am. We hope to use all of the largest non-sanctuary spaces in the building (fellowship hall, gym, upstairs lounge, multi-purpose room) to hold all of our Sunday School classes, both children’s classes and Faith Forum (the adult Sunday School class). The teachers and students will all wear masks. All our teachers have been vaccinated, as has the church staff.
Children’s Church began today as well. Children ages 3 to 5 will be dismissed in mid-service and will meet downstairs in the fellowship hall. The lounge will continue to be used as a nursery space for families during the service, with the service livestreamed on the lounge’s television. The cry room is also available for one family at a time.
Faith Forum returns
Faith Forum, our adult Sunday School class, began again today. It will meet every week in the upstairs lounge at 9:30 am. It will operate in a hybrid format; you are invited to attend in person, but if you do so, please wear a mask. As was the case last year, 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.
Pastor Phil is taking us through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians for the first few weeks of Faith Forum. Join us next week!
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.”
Epilepsy Fall Fest
One of the hallmarks of our faith is loving neighbor and being loved by them. One of our members, Terri Olsen, has led us in part of that work by opening our parking lot to a clothes collection bin for the ministry of Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. Terri wants us to know all about their Fall Fest too, September 25 or October 9, 2021. Check out this link and get involved as you are able.
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.
General fund giving:
September 5: $8,257
General fund giving:
September 12: $903
Scripture for next Sunday
Genesis 27:1-4, 15-23; 28:10-17
John 1:50-51
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.