
December 22, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am,
or on YouTube at noon.
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME AND COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 96:11-13
Leader: Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
Let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
People: Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Leader: Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for He comes,
He comes to judge the earth.
People: He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.
UNISON PRAYER
Almighty God, thank You for the miracle of life, especially the birth of Jesus Christ. Son of God, thank You for making Yourself a servant, born in a manger, and yet full of grace and truth. Holy Spirit, thank You for warming our hearts this Christmas season with generosity, mercy, and love. Father, Son, and Spirit, warm our hearts with worship and praise throughout the Christmas season. Amen.
* ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
chorus
Glory to God in the highest
Our Savior has come for the world
Glory to God in the highest
The honor and glory are Yours
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
chorus
bridge
Saints and angels singing
All creation shouts
Hallelujahs ringing
Can you hear the sound
Danny Gokey / Hank Bentley © 2019 Better Than I Found It; Capitol CMG Paragon; Songs By That Dog Will Hunt. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 349090
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
Kari and Neal Johnson and their children
Reader: This is the final Sunday of Advent. All of our waiting and watching is coming to an end. All our expectations are about to be realized as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus on Christmas Eve. The Christ Child brings with Him the precious gifts of hope, peace, and joy. There is one more incredible present that Jesus offers us on His birthday: the gift of love. The child of grace brings us the undeserved mercy of God. Hallelujah! God has sent us a Savior! Come, let us adore Him!
Consider these words from Isaiah 55:3-5:
Give ear and come to Me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
My faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for He has endowed you with splendor.”
SINGING
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Kari and Neal Johnson
Psalm 113
Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord;
praise the name of the Lord.
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time on and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations
and His glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of His people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
* NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Kari and Neal Johnson
Luke 1:5-16
In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.
8 Once when he was serving as priest before God during his section’s turn of duty, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to offer incense. 10 Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified, and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
* O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary;
And, gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to all on earth.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in;
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels,
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
Covenant Hymnal, #154
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
Luke 1:26-35, 38
The Greatest Christmas Gift
Pastor Ryan
* IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all,
From heav’n’s most gracious King!”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurl’d,
And still their heav’nly music floats
O’er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hov’ring wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
All you beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow:
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hast’ning on,
By prophets long foretold,
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold:
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Covenant Hymnal, #153
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden; the Binag family; Messian Burgos; Cathy Cassidy; Frank Coszach; Vira Coszach; Art & Rosa Hamilton; Trevor Hanks; Mary McKirchy; Maria Paulette; Brianna Randall; Sara Rosado; Mary Smith; Lauren Vilardo; Lydia Warrens; and the Westlind family
Ministries & Mission
James Tang, serving in South Sudan and Ethiopia
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
Calypso Noel
Gordon Krunnfusz
led by the choir
* 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.

* AWAY IN A MANGER
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle ’til morning is nigh
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there
chorus
We sing hallelujah to the Prince of Peace
We sing hallelujah to the Lord
We sing with the angels to the newborn King
The Christ, He’s the Savior of the world
Tommee Profitt © 2020 Capitol CMG Genesis; Tommee Profitt Songs. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 349090
* BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Von Himmel Hoch
Martin Luther
led by Cynthia
INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.

Cookie Exchange and Christmas Carol Jeopardy!
We will hold a cookie exchange today at coffee hour after the service. Enjoy some cookies while we play Christmas Carol Jeopardy! — an annual Ravenswood Christmas tradition led by Jim Anderson. Please join us as we continue in the joy of the Christmas season!
Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols service
A service of lessons and carols will be held this Tuesday evening, Christmas Eve, at 7:00 pm. We invite one and all to join us in this time of singing, contemplation, and joy, as we again welcome the coming of our Savior and Lord into the world.
Furniture needed
Carla, a former attender of Ravenswood Covenant and participant as both a helper and a vendor in the farmers market, is emerging from a time spent in shelter care as a victim of domestic violence. She is now enrolled in school, and she and her daughter have moved into a new apartment in our neighborhood. They are interested in reconnecting to our church. They do, however, have some material needs in terms of a lack of furniture. If you or someone you know has spare items that you or they can donate, please contact Gregory in the church office, or you can call Carla directly at 773-618-6836. She and her daughter need:
* mattress and full-size bed frame for Carla
* mattress and twin-size bed frame for her daughter
* small kitchen table
* small couch
* desk for her daughter to do her homework
* desk lamp
Thanks!
Advent/Christmas season calendar
Hanging of the Greens — November 25 & 27
First Sunday of Advent — December 1
Second Sunday of Advent — December 8
Third Sunday of Advent — December 15
Sankta Lucia festival — December 15
Axiom Christmas Concert — December 15
Fourth Sunday of Advent — December 22
Christmas Carol Jeopardy! / Cookie Exchange — December 22
Christmas Eve service — December 24
New Members class
A New Members class led by Pastor Ryan will be held on Saturday, January 18, in the upstairs lounge from 9 am to 1 pm. Lunch will be served. Anyone who is interested in becoming a member of Ravenswood Covenant, or who would simply like to learn more about our church, is welcome to attend. For more information, please speak to Pastor Ryan.
Congregational Annual Meeting, part two
The second part of Ravenswood Covenant’s annual meeting will be held on Sunday, January 26, downstairs after the service. The 2025 church budget will be voted upon at that time. Copies of the Leadership Team’s proposed 2025 budget are currently available from the church office.
Please plan to attend this important meeting if you are a member of the church.
Faith Forum
Faith Forum, Ravenswood Covenant’s adult Christian education class, meets at the Sunday School hour (10:00 am) during the school year. This year’s edition of Faith Forum will feature a series of teachers who will each explore a topic over a one-month period.
Treats and coffee are provided each week. Join us in the upstairs lounge every Sunday in Faith Forum!
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 seeking people to read the scripture passages of the day in the worship service for the winter months. If you are willing to be a scripture reader this winter, 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.
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. We have just begun 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.
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
Luke 2:21-38
Psalm 131
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.