August 11, 2024
Worship live on Sundays in person at 10:00 am,
or on YouTube at noon.
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME, GREETING, AND COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
from Psalm 27
Leader: One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after;
People: To live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
Leader: To behold the beauty of the Lord,
People: And to inquire in His temple.
Leader: I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
People: Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage. Wait for the Lord!
UNISON PRAYER
Almighty Father, we worship You with gladness! Lord Jesus, we lean upon both Your saving grace and the example You set for us. Holy Spirit, we move and breathe and are faithful to Your call by Your very presence within us! Be with us here in worship today and throughout the week as we work for God’s glory and neighbor’s good. Amen.
* COME, THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love!
Here I raise to Thee an altar,
Hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand’ring from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my wand’ring heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
Covenant Hymnal, #68
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Pete Jackson
Romans 10:1-13
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not based on knowledge. 3 Not knowing the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say?
“The word is near you,
in your mouth and in your heart”
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim), 9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in Him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
* DEATH WAS ARRESTED
Alone in my sorrow and dead in my sin
Lost without hope with no place to begin
Your love made a way to let mercy come in
When death was arrested and my life began
Ash was redeemed, only beauty remains
My orphan heart was given a name
My mourning grew quiet, my feet rose to dance
When death was arrested and my life began
chorus
Oh, Your grace so free washes over me
You have made me new, now life begins with You
It’s Your endless love pouring down on us
You have made us new, now life begins with You
Released from my chains, I’m a pris’ner no more
My shame was a ransom He faithfully bore
He cancelled my debt and He called me His friend
When death was arrested and my life began
Our Savior displayed on a criminal’s cross
Darkness rejoiced as though Heaven had lost
But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand
That’s when death was arrested and my life began
bridge
Oh we’re free, free, forever we’re free
Come join the song of all the redeemed
Yes we’re free, free, forever, amen
When death was arrested and my life began
Kersh / Coker / Balltzglier / Smith © 2015 Seems Like Music; Adam Kersh Music; Bcoker Music; Centricity Songs; Paul Taylor Smith Publishing; Music At North Point
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Bekah Carlson
Children 6 and under are dismissed to Children’s Church in the upstairs lounge. Parents can pick up their children in the lounge after the service.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Luke 15:8-10
Couch Cushions
Gregory Sager
semedi
RECKLESS LOVE
Before I spoke a word You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
chorus
O the overwhelming, never-ending
Reckless love of God
O it chases me down. fights ’til I’m found
Leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it. I don’t deserve it
Still, You give Yourself away
O the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless
Love of God, yeah
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me
bridge
There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me
CCLI Song # 7089641 CCLI License # 349090
Caleb Culver | Cory Asbury | Ran Jackson © 2017 Cory Asbury Publishing
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden; Messian Burgos; Frank Coszach; Vira Coszach; Art & Rosa Hamilton; Trevor Hanks; Mary McKirchy; Sara Rosado; Mary Smith; Iris Velez; Lauren Vilardo; and Mark Westlind
Ministries & Mission
Josef & Rochelle Rasheed, serving in Africa
Renee Nicholas, serving as the national director for InterVarsity’s Graduate Healthcare Ministries
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
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@ravenscov.org
OFFERTORY
“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
John Wyeth
led by Leah, Dana, 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.
* BLESSED ASSURANCE, JESUS IS MINE!
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
refrain
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
Covenant Hymnal, #430
* BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
March from Scipio
G.F. Handel
led by Cynthia
INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.
Please wear a nametag
We’ve had a number of visitors and new attendees lately, and it’s very important that we not only welcome them warmly to our church but also allow them to attach a name to a face. We’re asking everyone to return to our old practice of wearing nametags on Sunday morning. Blank nametags and Sharpies will be available both in the narthex and in the sanctuary.
Lunch Bunch gathering
The Lunch Bunch will be meeting next Wednesday, August 14, at
11:30 a.m. at the Olive Garden Restaurant in Lincolnwood, which is located at 3303 West Touhy Ave. The phone number for the restaurant is 847-679-4408. All women are invited to attend!
Farmers market
We had another great farmers market yesterday, as there were 870 adults who took advantage of the beautiful early August day and attended the market. Plenty of kids were on hand to enjoy all of our children’s activities as well.
The farmers market continues to have openings for children’s art tent staff and bounce house monitors, as well as people who can help to set up and/or take down the market.
This is not necessarily a commitment to the full span of the market; whenever you can help out would be great! For more information, please contact Bekah Carlson or leave your name and contact info at the church office.
End Hunger Games
Join the Friendship Center today, August 11 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Guild Row (3130 N. Rockwell St., just south of the Belmont Avenue bridge between Western and California) for the inaugural End Hunger Games. You’ll get to engage in friendly competition, enjoy good food, bet on amazing raffle items, and help end hunger in our community. Tickets are $35 and are available to purchase online. Visit https://friendshipcenterchicago.org/ehg/ for more information and to secure your spot.
Pastor Ryan’s office hours
Pastor Ryan’s office hours at church are typically Tuesday thru Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you would like to meet with Pastor Ryan please call the church office in advance to schedule an appointment.
Coffee hour changes
There is now a coffee hour bulletin board downstairs in the fellowship hall! (It’s right next to the kids’ serving window.) Please look there for updated serving instructions as well as to find out what team you’re on. We’ve had some turnover, so we encourage you to sign up to join a serving team if you haven’t done so already. A self-sign-up will now be available on the board so that you can pick which Sundays work best for you. As always, thanks for serving!
Thursday evening Bible study
The weekly Bible study meets Thursdays at 7:00 pm. This week we began studying the book of Ecclesiastes. 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.
We have Zoom available for those who would like to take part in the Bible study but cannot be physically present. The Zoom link for the Bible study is:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83923376849?pwd=YUlYVXBmOVdwV0d5L20ySng3aHU3Zz09
Meeting ID: 839 2337 6849
Passcode: 318853
Scripture for next Sunday
Matthew 25:1-13
Romans 11:22-32
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.