Sunday, March 29, 2026
Sunday, March 29th
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Palm Sunday
Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am
or online via YouTube at noon.
GOSPEL OF JOHN: GOD’S OWN SON
John 19:16b-18
So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross by Himself He went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified Him and with Him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.
Leader: light print / People: bold print / * Please stand as you are able.
GATHERING MUSIC
“All Glory, Laud, and Honor”
led by Leslie and Cynthia
GOD WELCOMES US
We share Community Life & greet each other.
Kids worship bags are available in the back.
WE DIRECT OUR MINDS TO GOD
DECLARING OUR UNITY IN WORSHIP
based on Psalm 118
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever.
People (waving palm branches):
Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!
Leader: With the Lord on our side, what can we fear? What can humankind do?
People (waving palm branches):
Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!
Leader: The Lord is our strength and our might. The Lord has become our salvation!
People (waving palm branches):
Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!
CHOIR & CONGREGATION PRAISE
“Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord!”
Lloyd Larson
Congregation joins singing:
All glory laud and honor to Thee, Redeemer King,
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name comest, the King and blessed One!
PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRAISE
based on John 4 & 7
We praise and bless You, ever-living God, for the acts of love by which You redeem the world through Jesus Christ our Lord. This day He entered the holy city of Jerusalem and was proclaimed King by those who spread their garments and palm branches along His way. Let these branches be for us signs of His victory; and grant that we who bear them may always acclaim Jesus Messiah, by walking the way of His suffering and cross; that, dying and rising with Him, we may enter Your kingdom.
GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
John 12:12-19
read by Jo Zancanaro
The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord—
the King of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of Him and had been done to Him. So the crowd that had been with him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised Him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that He had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet Him. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”
SINGING OUR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM GOD
* “I’d Rather Have Jesus”
Rhea Miller / George Beverly Shea
© Word Music, Llc.,Curb Word Music
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Children are invited to the front.
Following the message, children are invited to children’s church in the back room. A parent from the church will teach.
MESSAGE
John 19:16b-22
The Last Laugh
Pastor Ryan
SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
“I Will Sing of My Redeemer”
hymnal #223
GOD HELP US
Prayer
WE CONCLUDE WITH 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.
THANKING GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS
We offer God a portion of our money as a way to say we love God, and desire to encourage the ministry & mission of the church.
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@ravenscov.org
FOR REFLECTION
“King of My Life I Crown Thee Now”
led by Cynthia and Leslie
* Psalm 31:9-16
read by Jim Anderson
SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
* “King of My Life I Crown Thee Now”
hymnal #371
THE LAST GOOD WORD
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MUSIC ENDS OUR COMMUNAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD
“The Lord’s Prayer”
J.S. Bach
led by Cynthia
GOD INVITES US TO GATHER AGAIN
We’ll be back here for worship next Sunday. We hope you can join us.
Information on ravenscov.org.
Good Friday service
On Friday, April 3 we will hold a Good Friday service at 7:00 pm with our Spanish-speaking sister church Grace Covenant. Please mark your calendars for this service, as we will gather to remember Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross.
Easter Sunday
Next Sunday is the best day of the year: Easter Sunday! We will gather together at 9:30 am in the fellowship hall for Easter breakfast, so be sure not only to come for that but to bring friends as well! At
10:30 am we will hold the children’s Easter Egg hunt in the playground next to the church. And at
11:00 am we will celebrate the Resurrection in the Easter Sunday worship service. He is risen indeed!
RECC church directory
It has been quite some time since Ravenswood Covenant produced a church directory, and the church’s Leadership Team would like to create a new one to aid our attendees with getting to know each other and being able to contact each other. You can help us out by scanning the QR code above or by clicking on this Google Forms link: https://forms.gle/GD7ZeLUCamXxAjV76 . Thanks for participating!
Spring choir season
The Ravenswood Covenant choir will sing through Easter Sunday. The choir meets at 9:00 am on Sundays in the sanctuary to rehearse. All are welcome to join, regardless of experience or music-reading ability. For more information, please contact the church office or speak to our church’s organist, Cynthia Arden, who also serves as our choir director.
Christian student seeks apartment
Sam Samana, a student who was worshipping at a Covenant church in the St. Louis area while attending college and has moved to Chicago to do an internship, is seeking an apartment on the North Side. If you know of any apartment availabilities, please contact Gregory in the church office.
Covenant Home Altar available
The spring issue of the Covenant Home Altar, our denomination’s daily devotional, is available at the back table. Pick up a free copy and let it be a blessing to your prayer life.
Sunday School
Sunday School at Ravenswood Covenant meets every Sunday, starting at 10:00 am, except during the holiday season. We encourage everyone to bring their children to Sunday School to learn about the Bible so that they can grow in faith and knowledge of God. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
(Proverbs 22:6)
Faith Forum
Faith Forum, the adult Christian education class that meets during the Sunday School hour (starting at 10:00 am) during the school year, is now in session. Plan to join us each Sunday as we learn and grow in our faith as a community of believers.
Confirmation
Confirmation Sunday for our three students will take place on Sunday, May 10.
Registering for 2026 summer camps
Registration for the 2026 summer camping season of both of the Central Conference’s Bible camps, Covenant Harbor and Covenant Point, is underway. For more information, go to https://covenantharbor.org/ and https://www.cpbc.com/ .
Scripture for next Sunday
John 20:1-10
John 20:11-18
If you enjoy reading scripture out loud, please sign up to read scripture in worship. The sign-up sheet is on the table in the back of the sanctuary, or you can talk with Pastor Ryan or Gregory Sager.
RECC weekly newsletter
Ravenswood Covenant has a weekly newsletter that keeps you informed of all of the church’s ongoing and upcoming events and programs, as well as the church’s prayer list, calendar, giving information, and updates about Covenant Harbor and Covenant Point. If you would like to be added to the email list for the newsletter, please speak to Gregory Sager or call the church office.
Parking spaces available
Do you know someone who needs a place to park in the Ravenswood neighborhood? Ravenswood Covenant Church is currently leasing space in its parking lot. Parking is $60 per space per month for non-members, and is available for day/evening, overnight, or both. For more information, please contact the church office at 773-784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org.
Thursday evening Bible study
The weekly Bible study meets Thursdays at 7:00 pm. We are currently studying the Gospel of Luke, to be followed by its sequel, the Acts of the Apostles. The Bible study meets in the upstairs lounge. For more information, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at (773) 784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org.
* Cynthia Arden
* Nikolas Arden
* the Binag family
* Messian Burgos
* Shirley Deliberto
* Veronica Clarke
* Frank Coszach
* Vira Coszach
* the Feijoo family
* Sandra Gooden
* Art Hamilton
* Trevor Hanks
* Esther Laraya
* Mary McKirchy
* Maria Paulette
* Tatiana Randall
* Kris Sahlberg
* Mary Smith
* Phillip Stenberg
* Dorinne Tamras
* Lauren Vilardo
* Eric Warren
* Lydia Warrens
* the Westlind family
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.