t | a o r h s g n i l s a throne unshaken february 21, 2021
TRANSCRIPT
A Throne Unshaken February 21, 2021 Covenant Presbyterian Church of
Chicago 1st Sunday of Lent
Spear & Slingsh
from Psalm 34
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Leader:
All:
Psalm 34
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I sought the e ter- nal- God and he has freed my long ing- heart from blame.
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Psalm 34
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I sought the e ter- nal- God and he has freed my long ing- heart from blame.
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Psalm 34, Words: , Isaac Watts, 1720, based on a Sacred Harp tune
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All:
All:
Ocean of Mercy
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Prayer of Congregational Blessing:
Ever-living God, in your mercy you promised to be not only our God but also the God of our children. We thank you for receiving Philip by baptism. Keep him always in your love. Guide him as he grows in faith. Protect him in all the dangers and temptations of life. May he be a faithful disciple of your son Jesus Christ to his life’s end. In Christ’s name, Amen.
All:
O Splendor of the Father’s Light, Words: St. Ambrose (340-397). Music: mode 1, Antiphoner, 1400’s
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ness fi
that to bring
The love to- of the Christ, shore,
in the which rock
stand.
O sing hal le- lu- jah!- Our hope springs e ter- nal;- O sing hal le-
lu jah!- Now and e ver- we con fess- Christ our hope in life and death.
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Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Christ Covenant Church, Atlanta, GA, 2020
Silent time to pray and confess
Lenten Confession of Sin from Psalm 39
O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!
And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Leader:
All:
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3. Un to- the grave, what shall we sing? “Christ, He lives; Christ, He
lives! ” And what re ward- will hea ven- bring? E ver- las- ting- life with
Him. There we will rise to meet the Lord, Then sin and death will be des-
troyed, And we will feast in end less- joy, When Christ is ours for e- ver- more.-
O sing hal le- lu- jah!- Our hope springs e ter- nal;- O sing hal le-
lu jah!- Now and e ver- we con fess- Christ our hope in life and death.
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Song of Assurance
Assurance of Pardon 1 Thessalonians 5:8–10
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, So that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.
Leader:
All:
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Gospel Lesson - Luke 4.16-21 New Testament Lesson - 2 Corinthians 1.8-11
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Reader: All:
The Word
Pastor Aaron Baker Escape, 1 Samuel 21.1; 21.10-22.2
Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?”
And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,
‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.
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Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
We remember as we begin our journey through Lent that you brought all things into being and called them good. From the dust of the earth you formed us into your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away from you our love failed, but your love remained steadfast.
For forty days and forty nights rain fell upon the earth, and you saved Noah and his family on the ark and made covenant with every living creature on earth.
For forty days and forty nights you spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, and gave us your commandments and made us your covenant people.
For forty days and forty nights your prophet Elijah fled in fear to Mount Horeb, for we killed your prophets and forsook your covenant but still you remained faithful to us.
For forty days and forty nights your Son Jesus Christ fasted and was tempted in the wilderness, and by his sufering, death and resurrection you delievered us from slavery to sin and death and made with us the new covenant by water and the Spirit.
For forty days and forty nights we remember Christ’s sacrifice. Lead us to repentance for sin and the cleansing of our hearts, and with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, may we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All:
Leader:
Leader:
Leader:
All:
All:
Celebrate the Table: The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
All: Leader:
All: Leader:
All: Leader:
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Ho ly- im -mor tal- one, Have mer cy,- have mer cy- on us.
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Receiving Communion Communion (also called The Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist) is the family meal of baptized Christians. We invite all to partake of this sacrament who trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, and seek strength to live more faithfully for him.
Distribute the Bread & Cup Please note that we serve both red wine and white grape juice. All wafers are gluten free and available in a single serve cup
Remembering your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we take from your creation this bread and this wine and joyfully celebrate his dying and rising, as we await the day of his coming. With thanksgiving we offer our very selves to you to be a living and holy sacrifice dedicated to your service.
Great is this mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Respond to the Table
Leader:
All:
O sing hal le- lu- jah!- Our hope springs e ter- nal;- O sing hal le- -
lu jah!- Now and e ver- we con fess- Christ our hope in life and death.
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Silent prayers for reflection
Prayer for those taking communion Lord Jesus, your perfect life, your death and resurrection are the source of all blessing in this life and the life to come. As I eat this bread and drink this cup, renew me in the joy and glory of knowing and serving you. I come to this table on the basis of your merit only and not my own. As you have completely and fully offered yourself for me, I now completely and fully offer myself to you as a living sacrifice. Amen.
Prayer for those searching for truth Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing, and that leads to the life that you promise. Amen.
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News & Announcements Announcements in our community
Let Us Pray for You. Covenant’s staff meets remotely to pray for the congregation throughout the week. We would be honored to pray for you. Please send your prayer requests to Pastor Dan ([email protected]) who will share them with the staff.
Midday Prayer: Every Wednesday at noon, a group from Covenant meets on Zoom to pray for and with one another. You can find more details on our website: https://covenantchicago.org/events/wednesday-midday-prayer/
Lenten Prayer Guide: Lent began on Ash Wednesday, February 17, and continues through the Saturday before Easter, Holy Saturday. This year, we invite you to join us in praying through the Daily Prayer Project’s Lenten Guide, which includes a liturgy for morning and evening prayer. You can view it or download it on our website (https://covenantchicago.org/lent). We’ll have copies available in the back of the sanctuary as well.
Jesus Through Her Eyes: Join Larissa Bossemeyer and Olivia Stewart Lester (professor of New Testament at Loyola University) as they have conversations about Jesus’ interactions with women in the Gospels. Recorded conversations are released on Wednesdays with bi-weekly discussions on Sundays at 12:30 pm. Look for more details on our event page: https://covenantchicago.org/events/jesus-through-her-eyes/. The first week on the Woman at the Well is available now.
Women’s Lenten Series: The Women’s Events Team invites you to join us for a three-part series during Lent: “Encounters with Jesus”. As we journey toward Easter, we will reflect on how we currently encounter Jesus and in what ways he is asking us to follow him. We will meet virtually on Thursdays 2/25, 3/11, & 3/25 from 7:30-9:00PM. The first two sessions will feature a full-length testimony and small group discussion, and the third is an Easter social where we will share our memories/items/traditions for Holy Week and Easter. An invitation with the zoom link was sent out on Saturday. Email [email protected] if you did not receive the email and want to be added to the mailing list.
Do you need help? The pandemic has impacted people in many different ways. If you are experiencing any kind of hardship and would like some help, please contact our deacons ([email protected]). Your email will go directly to the deacons, and they’ll treat it with confidence. If you’re able, now is a great time to contribute to the Deacons Fund to meet the needs of others in our congregation.
Church Registration: Covenant now opens three weeks at a time for registration. Registration is now open through March 7. We will open the next 3 weeks on March 10 at 8:30 am. You can register online: https://covenantchicago.churchcenter.com/registrations/events
Children’s Ministry Transition: We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sherri Bredenberg who has served our families as the Director of Children’s Ministry for the last four years. Starting in March, Nicole Podkulski will serve as Interim Director of Children’s Ministry. Nicole has worked at Covenant for many years and knows our children and families well. You can reach her at [email protected]. If you have any questions about the transition, please contact Pastor David Salsedo ([email protected]).
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BenedictionLeader:
Romans 15:5–7 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Go With Joy, from Psalm 91
All:
Leader: As we enter this Lenten season, journey with us, O holy God, on our way to the Cross. Sharpen our focus, that our attention may center on you and your sacrifice. Lead us through the shadows of darkness and spiritual emptiness of the wilderness and prepare our hearts for the sorrow of your crucifixion and the joy of your resurrection. May we rest in the shadow of your might and sing with the Psalmist:
You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
Psalm 91, Music: Paul van der Bijl, Lent 2014
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Jeff Schneider Church Planting Pastor, [email protected]
Support Staff
Sherri Bredenberg Director of Children’s Ministries: [email protected]
Michele Dillon Director of Care and Counseling Ministry (CCM): [email protected]
Your email inquiry will be promptly answered.
Gene Pierson Director of Finance & Property: [email protected]
Ian Troll Director of Youth Ministries: [email protected]
Paul van der Bijl Director of Worship and Music: [email protected]
Session
Aaron Baker (Moderator), Dan Adamson, David Dillon, Kevin Jones, Brad Lewis, Steve Lehmann, David Salsedo, Ryan Von Drehle. Please direct correspondence for the Session to [email protected].
Diaconate
Rich Lane, Andrew Dykstra, Jonathan Ellison, Phil Koerner, Paul Leo, Joel Miller, Shane Rector, Jenny Smith, Deb Van Der Molen, Matt Ver Steeg Treasurer: Ben Meyer
If you’re in need or wish to speak with a deacon, you can email us at [email protected].
We encourage everyone to get connected to the life of the church in these three ways:
Worship Together. We believe that humans are worshiping beings, made for communion with the Triune God, and that ordering our common worship around the Gospel on Sunday has a profound, formative effect on every part of our lives. The rhythm of Sunday worship is the rhythm of the whole Christian life and it stands counter to lots of other rhythms that clamor for our attention and allegiance in this world. Ordering ourselves together around it strengthens our appetites, imaginations and abilities to live as followers of Jesus wherever we find ourselves. Come to church on Sunday!
Grow and Learn Together. We believe that learning about our faith and growing together in it are necessary for flourishing in the Christian life. The goal of Christian learning is to form us into human beings who are fully swept up into the work God is doing in his world. Learning is more than simply knowing; it is the internalization of truth that leads to mature thinking and acting.
We’d like for everyone to take two core classes while you’re here: the Covenant Life Class, an introduction to Christianity and to our church, and The Story of Scripture, which traces themes through Scripture and applies them to our everyday lives. After those classes, consider joining a more intimate Discipleship Cohort that meets with a mentor. For information about these opportunities, contact Pastor David Salsedo (dsalsedo@ covenantchicago.org).
We’d like for everyone to consider joining a small group which meets together regularly to build meaningful relationships and live out the Christian life together. They’re one of the most important ways of getting care and being connected at Covenant. To find out more about small groups, or to join the small group that meets at church on Wednesdays at 6.30pm, contact Pastor Dan Adamson ([email protected]).
Serve Together. We believe the natural outcome of receiving and experiencing grace is to be propelled outward into mission and service. Every one of us has been given gifts to use for the good of our common life and for the good of the broken world around us. We’re called to give of ourselves because we’re part of the story of God’s reconciliation of all things. Every week there are numerous opportunities to serve at Covenant and elsewhere listed in the order of worship. We encourage everyone to regularly use their gifts in service. To learn more about opportunities to serve, contact Pastor Dan Adamson ([email protected]).
Covenant LifeCovenant Life worship | worship | grow and learn | grow and learn | serveserve
Spear & Slingsh
from Psalm 34
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Leader:
All:
Psalm 34
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I sought the e ter- nal- God and he has freed my long ing- heart from blame.
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Psalm 34
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I sought the e ter- nal- God and he has freed my long ing- heart from blame.
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Psalm 34, Words: , Isaac Watts, 1720, based on a Sacred Harp tune
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All:
All:
Ocean of Mercy
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Prayer of Congregational Blessing:
Ever-living God, in your mercy you promised to be not only our God but also the God of our children. We thank you for receiving Philip by baptism. Keep him always in your love. Guide him as he grows in faith. Protect him in all the dangers and temptations of life. May he be a faithful disciple of your son Jesus Christ to his life’s end. In Christ’s name, Amen.
All:
O Splendor of the Father’s Light, Words: St. Ambrose (340-397). Music: mode 1, Antiphoner, 1400’s
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ness fi
that to bring
The love to- of the Christ, shore,
in the which rock
stand.
O sing hal le- lu- jah!- Our hope springs e ter- nal;- O sing hal le-
lu jah!- Now and e ver- we con fess- Christ our hope in life and death.
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Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Christ Covenant Church, Atlanta, GA, 2020
Silent time to pray and confess
Lenten Confession of Sin from Psalm 39
O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!
And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Leader:
All:
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3. Un to- the grave, what shall we sing? “Christ, He lives; Christ, He
lives! ” And what re ward- will hea ven- bring? E ver- las- ting- life with
Him. There we will rise to meet the Lord, Then sin and death will be des-
troyed, And we will feast in end less- joy, When Christ is ours for e- ver- more.-
O sing hal le- lu- jah!- Our hope springs e ter- nal;- O sing hal le-
lu jah!- Now and e ver- we con fess- Christ our hope in life and death.
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Song of Assurance
Assurance of Pardon 1 Thessalonians 5:8–10
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, So that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.
Leader:
All:
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Gospel Lesson - Luke 4.16-21 New Testament Lesson - 2 Corinthians 1.8-11
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Reader: All:
The Word
Pastor Aaron Baker Escape, 1 Samuel 21.1; 21.10-22.2
Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?”
And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,
‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.
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Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
We remember as we begin our journey through Lent that you brought all things into being and called them good. From the dust of the earth you formed us into your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away from you our love failed, but your love remained steadfast.
For forty days and forty nights rain fell upon the earth, and you saved Noah and his family on the ark and made covenant with every living creature on earth.
For forty days and forty nights you spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, and gave us your commandments and made us your covenant people.
For forty days and forty nights your prophet Elijah fled in fear to Mount Horeb, for we killed your prophets and forsook your covenant but still you remained faithful to us.
For forty days and forty nights your Son Jesus Christ fasted and was tempted in the wilderness, and by his sufering, death and resurrection you delievered us from slavery to sin and death and made with us the new covenant by water and the Spirit.
For forty days and forty nights we remember Christ’s sacrifice. Lead us to repentance for sin and the cleansing of our hearts, and with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, may we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All:
Leader:
Leader:
Leader:
All:
All:
Celebrate the Table: The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
All: Leader:
All: Leader:
All: Leader:
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Ho ly- im -mor tal- one, Have mer cy,- have mer cy- on us.
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Receiving Communion Communion (also called The Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist) is the family meal of baptized Christians. We invite all to partake of this sacrament who trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, and seek strength to live more faithfully for him.
Distribute the Bread & Cup Please note that we serve both red wine and white grape juice. All wafers are gluten free and available in a single serve cup
Remembering your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we take from your creation this bread and this wine and joyfully celebrate his dying and rising, as we await the day of his coming. With thanksgiving we offer our very selves to you to be a living and holy sacrifice dedicated to your service.
Great is this mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Respond to the Table
Leader:
All:
O sing hal le- lu- jah!- Our hope springs e ter- nal;- O sing hal le- -
lu jah!- Now and e ver- we con fess- Christ our hope in life and death.
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Silent prayers for reflection
Prayer for those taking communion Lord Jesus, your perfect life, your death and resurrection are the source of all blessing in this life and the life to come. As I eat this bread and drink this cup, renew me in the joy and glory of knowing and serving you. I come to this table on the basis of your merit only and not my own. As you have completely and fully offered yourself for me, I now completely and fully offer myself to you as a living sacrifice. Amen.
Prayer for those searching for truth Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing, and that leads to the life that you promise. Amen.
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News & Announcements Announcements in our community
Let Us Pray for You. Covenant’s staff meets remotely to pray for the congregation throughout the week. We would be honored to pray for you. Please send your prayer requests to Pastor Dan ([email protected]) who will share them with the staff.
Midday Prayer: Every Wednesday at noon, a group from Covenant meets on Zoom to pray for and with one another. You can find more details on our website: https://covenantchicago.org/events/wednesday-midday-prayer/
Lenten Prayer Guide: Lent began on Ash Wednesday, February 17, and continues through the Saturday before Easter, Holy Saturday. This year, we invite you to join us in praying through the Daily Prayer Project’s Lenten Guide, which includes a liturgy for morning and evening prayer. You can view it or download it on our website (https://covenantchicago.org/lent). We’ll have copies available in the back of the sanctuary as well.
Jesus Through Her Eyes: Join Larissa Bossemeyer and Olivia Stewart Lester (professor of New Testament at Loyola University) as they have conversations about Jesus’ interactions with women in the Gospels. Recorded conversations are released on Wednesdays with bi-weekly discussions on Sundays at 12:30 pm. Look for more details on our event page: https://covenantchicago.org/events/jesus-through-her-eyes/. The first week on the Woman at the Well is available now.
Women’s Lenten Series: The Women’s Events Team invites you to join us for a three-part series during Lent: “Encounters with Jesus”. As we journey toward Easter, we will reflect on how we currently encounter Jesus and in what ways he is asking us to follow him. We will meet virtually on Thursdays 2/25, 3/11, & 3/25 from 7:30-9:00PM. The first two sessions will feature a full-length testimony and small group discussion, and the third is an Easter social where we will share our memories/items/traditions for Holy Week and Easter. An invitation with the zoom link was sent out on Saturday. Email [email protected] if you did not receive the email and want to be added to the mailing list.
Do you need help? The pandemic has impacted people in many different ways. If you are experiencing any kind of hardship and would like some help, please contact our deacons ([email protected]). Your email will go directly to the deacons, and they’ll treat it with confidence. If you’re able, now is a great time to contribute to the Deacons Fund to meet the needs of others in our congregation.
Church Registration: Covenant now opens three weeks at a time for registration. Registration is now open through March 7. We will open the next 3 weeks on March 10 at 8:30 am. You can register online: https://covenantchicago.churchcenter.com/registrations/events
Children’s Ministry Transition: We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sherri Bredenberg who has served our families as the Director of Children’s Ministry for the last four years. Starting in March, Nicole Podkulski will serve as Interim Director of Children’s Ministry. Nicole has worked at Covenant for many years and knows our children and families well. You can reach her at [email protected]. If you have any questions about the transition, please contact Pastor David Salsedo ([email protected]).
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BenedictionLeader:
Romans 15:5–7 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Go With Joy, from Psalm 91
All:
Leader: As we enter this Lenten season, journey with us, O holy God, on our way to the Cross. Sharpen our focus, that our attention may center on you and your sacrifice. Lead us through the shadows of darkness and spiritual emptiness of the wilderness and prepare our hearts for the sorrow of your crucifixion and the joy of your resurrection. May we rest in the shadow of your might and sing with the Psalmist:
You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
Psalm 91, Music: Paul van der Bijl, Lent 2014
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re fuge,- my for tress,- my God in whom I trust, my I trust.
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Jeff Schneider Church Planting Pastor, [email protected]
Support Staff
Sherri Bredenberg Director of Children’s Ministries: [email protected]
Michele Dillon Director of Care and Counseling Ministry (CCM): [email protected]
Your email inquiry will be promptly answered.
Gene Pierson Director of Finance & Property: [email protected]
Ian Troll Director of Youth Ministries: [email protected]
Paul van der Bijl Director of Worship and Music: [email protected]
Session
Aaron Baker (Moderator), Dan Adamson, David Dillon, Kevin Jones, Brad Lewis, Steve Lehmann, David Salsedo, Ryan Von Drehle. Please direct correspondence for the Session to [email protected].
Diaconate
Rich Lane, Andrew Dykstra, Jonathan Ellison, Phil Koerner, Paul Leo, Joel Miller, Shane Rector, Jenny Smith, Deb Van Der Molen, Matt Ver Steeg Treasurer: Ben Meyer
If you’re in need or wish to speak with a deacon, you can email us at [email protected].
We encourage everyone to get connected to the life of the church in these three ways:
Worship Together. We believe that humans are worshiping beings, made for communion with the Triune God, and that ordering our common worship around the Gospel on Sunday has a profound, formative effect on every part of our lives. The rhythm of Sunday worship is the rhythm of the whole Christian life and it stands counter to lots of other rhythms that clamor for our attention and allegiance in this world. Ordering ourselves together around it strengthens our appetites, imaginations and abilities to live as followers of Jesus wherever we find ourselves. Come to church on Sunday!
Grow and Learn Together. We believe that learning about our faith and growing together in it are necessary for flourishing in the Christian life. The goal of Christian learning is to form us into human beings who are fully swept up into the work God is doing in his world. Learning is more than simply knowing; it is the internalization of truth that leads to mature thinking and acting.
We’d like for everyone to take two core classes while you’re here: the Covenant Life Class, an introduction to Christianity and to our church, and The Story of Scripture, which traces themes through Scripture and applies them to our everyday lives. After those classes, consider joining a more intimate Discipleship Cohort that meets with a mentor. For information about these opportunities, contact Pastor David Salsedo (dsalsedo@ covenantchicago.org).
We’d like for everyone to consider joining a small group which meets together regularly to build meaningful relationships and live out the Christian life together. They’re one of the most important ways of getting care and being connected at Covenant. To find out more about small groups, or to join the small group that meets at church on Wednesdays at 6.30pm, contact Pastor Dan Adamson ([email protected]).
Serve Together. We believe the natural outcome of receiving and experiencing grace is to be propelled outward into mission and service. Every one of us has been given gifts to use for the good of our common life and for the good of the broken world around us. We’re called to give of ourselves because we’re part of the story of God’s reconciliation of all things. Every week there are numerous opportunities to serve at Covenant and elsewhere listed in the order of worship. We encourage everyone to regularly use their gifts in service. To learn more about opportunities to serve, contact Pastor Dan Adamson ([email protected]).
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