August 18, 2024
Worship live on Sundays in person at 10:00 am,
or on YouTube at noon.
PRELUDE
“Arise, Your Light is Come!”
William H. Walter
led by Cynthia
WELCOME, GREETING, AND COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 18:25, 27-28
Leader: To the faithful You show Yourself faithful.
People: To the blameless You show yourself blameless.
Leader: You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
People: You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
UNISON PRAYER
Almighty Father, we glorify Your Holy Name. Lord Jesus, we glorify Your Holy Name! Holy Spirit, we glorify Your Holy Name! Father, Son, and Spirit, just as You are One in perfect love, unite us in loving purpose to bless the world. Amen.
* ARISE, YOUR LIGHT IS COME!
Arise, your light is come!
The Spirit’s call obey;
Show forth the glory of your God
Which shines on you today.
Arise, your light is come!
Fling wide the prison door;
Proclaim the captive’s liberty,
Good tidings to the poor.
Arise, your light is come!
All you in sorrow born,
Bind up the brokenhearted ones
And comfort those who mourn.
Arise, your light is come!
The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing,
God’s pow’r will make us strong.
Covenant Hymnal, #194
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Paul Shaheen
Romans 11:22-32
Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you, if you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And even those of Israel, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.
25 I want you to understand this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not claim to be wiser than you are: a hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of the gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“Out of Zion will come the Deliverer;
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “And this is my covenant with them,
when I take away their sins.”
28 As regards the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their ancestors, 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so also they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
* 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
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Pastor Ryan
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
Matthew 25:1-13
Trimmed and Burning
Pastor Ryan
HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING?
My life flows on in endless song
Above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
refrain
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I’m clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing;
It sounds and echoes in my soul;
How can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble, sick with fear
And hear their death knells ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near,
How can I keep from singing?
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing.
All things are mine since I am His;
How can I keep from singing?
Covenant Hymnal, #469
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
Adrienne Low Satterberg & Ken Satterberg, serving in France
Barb & Steve Swanson, serving in Sweden
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
Allegro in F
J.S. Bach
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.
* WE ARE CALLED
Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
To live in the freedom of the city of God.
refrain
We are called to act with justice,
We are called to love tenderly;
We are called to serve one another,
Walk humbly with God.
Come! Open your heart! Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless,
So hatred and blindness will be no more.
Sing! Sing a new song! Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign, and we will walk with each other,
As sisters and brothers united in love.
* BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Minuet from Samson
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.
Sunday School Kick-off
Sunday School Kick-off Day is fast approaching! On Sunday, Sept. 8 we will begin our school-year schedule by returning to an 11:00 am worship hour. We will also recognize our 2024-25 Sunday School teachers in the worship service and pray for them as they prepare to teach our children about God this coming year. That Sunday will also be the first official day of Children’s Church. (Please note that Children’s Church is only for children of kindergarten age or younger; older children are expected to remain in the sanctuary.) Following the service, a light lunch will be served downstairs, and there will be children’s activities.
The first day of Sunday School will be the following Sunday, Sept.15.
Save your cardboard rolls!
Please save your empty paper towel and toilet paper cardboard rolls, as Bekah Carlson needs them for a kids project at the science table of our farmers market. For more information, talk to Bekah.
Cooler Sunday
Next Sunday, August 25, will be the third and final Cooler Sunday of this summer. Once again, freshly-grilled hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided; we ask that you bring a dish or dessert to pass. We hope that you join us for fun and fellowship as we say goodbye to summer!
Church parking
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.
Scripture reader sign-up
We’re now seeking people to read the scripture passages of the day in the worship service for the fall months. If you are willing to be a scripture reader in September, October, or November, please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the church office or in the narthex on Sundays, or contact Gregory Sager or Pastor Ryan. Feel free to sign up for more than one Sunday if you like.
Thanks for a job well done!
The church would like to extend its thanks to Ray and Axel Erickson for their work in gutting the women’s bathroom in the C.E. wing and then re-building it, including the installation of new sink fixtures, partitions, dispensers, flooring, and painting, and to Alice Westlind for decorating. It looks great!
Farmers market
We had another great farmers market on Wednesday, with 789 adults on hand at the market to shop and to hang out. 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.
Pastor Ryan’s office hours
Pastor Ryan’s office hours at church are typically Tuesday thru Friday from 10:00 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 25:14-30
Romans 12:1-8
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.