Worship live on Sundays in person,
or on Facebook & YouTube at 10:45 am.

There will be a congregational business meeting after the service. The Zoom link for the meeting is here. The meeting ID is 849 8885 3304 and the passcode is 063748.

Children’s Sunday School for ages K-7th grade at 9:30 am in-person.
Faith Forum (adult Sunday School) at 9:30 am in person and on Zoom.

December 4, 2022

PRE-SERVICE MUSIC

PRELUDE
“Prophets of Old”
led by Erin and Cynthia

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE

COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Covenant Hymnal, #135

WELCOME & GREETING, COMMUNITY LIFE

CALL TO WORSHIP
from Philippians 4:4-5

People: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL
(first verse only)
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Covenant Hymnal, #120

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON
Esther 4:1-17

When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes and went through the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry; he went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. In every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

When Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed; she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what was happening and why. Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate, and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and to entreat him for her people.

Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that, if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law: to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.” 12 When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, 13 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” 15 Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Pastor Denise

Children 6 and under are dismissed to Children’s Church in the upstairs lounge. Parents, please pick up your children from the lounge after the worship service.

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Don’t lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will direct your paths.
Al-le-lu-ia, Al-le-lu-ia, and
He will direct your paths. 

GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Salt and Snow
Gregory Sager

HERE IN THE BUSY CITY
Here in the busy city
Now let the Church be seen
Where lesser gods are worshiped
In money and machine;
Where news is but sensation,
The Good News hardly heard —
Now let the Church take action
In living and the Word!

In policies and planning
The Church be there to speak
To moderate the powerful,
To argue for the weak:
Where law must sit in judgment
And love is little known,
There at the crisis center
The Christ concern be shown.

Where litter chokes the gutter
And people go to waste,
Where joblessness is bitter
And living lost its taste —
To underleavened people
Be proof of rising yeast,
In lives devoid of flavor
Be saltiness released!

Here in the busy city
God walks on every street
In generous or greedy,
The honest or the cheat,
And daily we must offer
The good that goes unpriced
With vigor and with vision —
The lifestyle of the Christ.

Covenant Hymnal, #697

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden, Messian Burgos, Frank Coszach, Vira Coszach, Gloria Evenson, Pedro Gomez, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Mary McKirchy, Shirley Nicholas, our Pastoral Search Committee, Gloria Rankin, Priscilla Ruppe, Mary Smith, and Alice Westlind

Ministries & Mission
Colleen Nahnychuk, serving in Argentina; Carlos & Karen Feijoo, serving in Ecuador

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 & OFFERING
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving
@administrator

OFFERTORY CHOIR ANTHEM
“Who But the Lord”
Chris Courtney

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.

CONFESSION OF SIN
L: As we move towards the table let us remember the proof of God’s amazing love is this:  while we were sinners Christ died for us.  Because we have faith in Him, we dare to approach God with confidence.  In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God:

L: The Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.

L: Let us confess our sins against God and neighbor.

All:  Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name.  Amen.

PASSING THE PEACE
L:  Since in Christ we are reconciled to God, so also we are reconciled to each other, the members of His body, the Church.  May God’s peace extend throughout this congregation.

L: The peace of Christ be with you
P: And also with you.
L:  Let us extend to each other signs of that peace.

(Extend greetings to those you’re with; comments online are welcome.)

INVITATION
It is now our sacred privilege to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.  All who humbly put their trust in Christ and desire His help that they may lead a holy life; all who are truly sorry for their sins and would be delivered from them; all who would walk in love with their neighbors and intend to live a new life, following the commandments of God and walking from now on in His holy ways, are invited to draw near with faith and to receive this holy sacrament.

A PRAYER FOR COMMUNION
Holy God, we praise You.
Let the heavens be joyful and the earth be glad.

We bless You for creating the whole world,
for Your promises to your people Israel,
and for Jesus Christ in whom Your fullness dwells.

Born of Mary, He shares our life.
Eating with sinners, He welcomes us.
Guiding his children, He leads us.
Visiting the sick, He heals us.
Dying on the cross, He saves us.
Risen from the dead, He gives new life.
Living with You, He prays for us.

The Lord Jesus, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembering Me.”

In the same way He took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembering Me.”

With thanksgiving we take this bread and this cup and proclaim the death and resurrection of our Lord.

Receive our sacrifice of praise.
Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us
that this meal may be a communion in the body and blood or our Lord.

Make us one with Christ
and with all who share this feast.

Unite us in faith,
encourage us with hope,
inspire us to love that we may serve

As Your faithful disciples
Until we feast at Your table in glory.

We praise you, eternal God,
through Christ Your Word made flesh,
in the holy and life-giving Spirit now and forever.  Amen.

SHARING IN COMMUNION

SPECIAL MUSIC

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Eternal God, heavenly father, You have graciously accepted us as living members of Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and You have fed us with spiritual food in the sacrament of His body and blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A SENDING FROM COMMUNION
What we have been about here is not separate from life. Rather these acts have been a reminder that we belong to Christ always and everywhere. We carry Christ’s Spirit into our homes, our daily activities, all our relationships. We are Christ’s people. By God’s grace let it be so. Amen.

O COME, LET US ADORE HIM
O come ,all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come, ye, o come, ye
To Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels

O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

O come, all ye faithful
Come let us adore Him
O come, all ye faithful
Come let us adore Him

Sing, choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens
Of heaven above
Glory to God
Glory in the highest

O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

O come all ye faithful
Come, let us adore him
O come all ye faithful
Come, let us adore him

O sing hallelujah
Come, let us adore Him
O sing hallelujah
Come, let us adore Him

Yes, Lord, we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing

O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

O come, all ye faithful
Come, let us adore him
O come, all ye faithful
Come, let us adore Him

O sing hallelujah
He alone is worthy
O sing hallelujah
He alone is worthy

O come, all ye faithful
Come, let us adore him
O come, all ye faithful
Come, let us adore Him

O sing hallelujah
He alone is worthy
O sing hallelujah
He alone is worthy

CCLI Song # 6089319 Autumn Hardman | C. Frederick Oakeley | John Francis Wade | Matt Crocker | Ryan Taubert © 2011 Hillsong MP Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God

POSTLUDE
Hyfrydol
Rowland Pritchard
led by Cynthia

INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.

music as we go, by axiom.brass

Worship update
The Leadership Team of Ravenswood Covenant Church recommends mask use during services, but this is not mandatory.

Ravenswood Covenant livestreams worship each week on YouTube and Facebook, so Sunday morning worship will remain accessible to anyone who has Internet access.

Benevolence Sunday
The first Sunday of the month at Ravenswood Covenant is always Benevolence Sunday. There is a box in the narthex in which you can leave a benevolence offering that will be used to help meet the needs of those in the congregation and the larger community who are currently having difficulty paying for rent, food, medicine, transportation, etc.

Congregational business meeting
Our annual December congregational business meeting will be held today after the worship service. At this meeting we will discuss and approve the 2023 church budget. Please make plans to attend this important meeting, either in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link, meeting ID, and passcode can be found at the top of this online bulletin.

Parenting ProGRESS Giving Tree and annual Christmas party
The Parenting ProGRESS Giving Tree is now up in the C.E. wing lobby. Every year, Parenting ProGRESS puts a tag on the Giving Tree for each of our sponsored children in the program that indicate a gift that the child would like for Christmas. You are invited to take a tag and then buy and wrap the gift for the child. The gifts will then be presented to the children at the Parenting ProGRESS Christmas party, which will take place this coming Wednesday, December 7, from 5 pm to 7:30 pm. Everyone is invited to attend!

Indoor Playground
Indoor Playground is back! Our weekly cold-weather opportunity to let young children run around in our gym, play with toys, and use the bounce house. has begun again.. Indoor Playground will be open every Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.

Christmas season choir
Choir rehearsal for the Christmas season is now underway. The choir will rehearse each Sunday at 8:30 am through Christmas. This is an opportunity for everyone, not just trained singers or choir veterans, to take part. For more information, please speak to Cynthia Arden or contact the church office.

Holiday calendar
Parenting ProGRESS Christmas party – Dec. 7
Sankta Lucia festival – Dec. 11
Children’s Christmas program – Dec. 18
Christmas Carol Jeopardy! – Dec. 18
Community dinner – Dec. 19
Axiom Brass concert – Dec. 19
Christmas Eve service – Dec. 24
Christmas Day worship service – Dec. 25

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services
We will celebrate the birth of Christ with a Christmas Eve service that begins at 6:30 pm, and the celebration will continue with Sunday worship at 10:45 am on Christmas Day. Both services will be “Lessons & Carols” services, centered around singing Christmas hymns and reading the Nativity accounts from the gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Aid for Ukrainian refugees
Jeremy and Amanda Foster, who attend our church, have a direct connection to a mission that is serving refugees who have fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion. Jeremy’s parents Don and Beatrice Foster are in Hazebrouck, France as tentmaker missionaries and have prepared rooms in their home for refugees coming from Ukraine.

If you would like to donate to help the Fosters pay for extra food and supplies, please give a donation to Ravenswood Covenant that is specially designated for Ukrainian refugees. If you would like to give directly online, the website for the Fosters is https://ukraine.la-ferme-de-la-papote.com/ .

The Covenant denomination is also raising funds for Ukraine through Covenant World Relief. Here is the link if you would like to donate through the Covenant’s program. https://giving.covchurch.org/priorities-detail/ukraine-response

Thursday evening Bible study
The weekly Bible study meets Thursdays at 7 pm. We are currently studying the book of Romans. The Bible study meets in the lounge, and is also accessible by Zoom. For more information, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at (773) 784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95052558015?pwd=N3d1eFpUUmUwenhCSzNJNUk3WEV2QT09

The Zoom meeting ID for the Bible study:  972 871 4458
The Zoom passcode for the Bible study: 1qa3CD

Join Us in Sponsoring a Student in the NPTS SRA Program
North Park’s School of Restorative Arts offers a MA in Christian Ministry and Restorative Arts, allowing free and incarcerated students to study together. This unique degree program is designed to prepare individuals for ministries of restoration in contexts susceptible to violence and includes courses in trauma, race relations, nonviolent communication, conflict transformation, restorative practices, and transformative justice, in addition to Bible, theology, and history.  In partnership with the Illinois Department of Corrections, this four-year degree is currently offered at Stateville Correctional Center with 80 incarcerated men and a first cohort of 20 women at Logan Correctional Center.

We, Ravenswood Covenant Church, have partnered with North Park Theological Seminary by committing to sponsor a student in this program. To help us support an SRA student please send a check to church or give online and in the memo line write: “SRA Sponsorship.”

RECC preaching schedule for December
December 4: Gregory Sager
December 11: Pastor Denise
December 18: Children’s Christmas program
December 25: A service of lessons & carols

Scripture for next Sunday
Matthew 12:15-21
Isaiah 42:1-9

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.

"With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." (Mark 4:30-32 NRS)