February 4, 2024 | Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church

February 4, 2024

Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am,
or on YouTube at noon.

The Zoom link for today’s congregational meeting is
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84988853304?pwd=N013WVpMMHlXVkJSMWJVMVgrdWFMdz09

Meeting ID: 849 8885 3304
Passcode: 063748

PRELUDE
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
led by Leslie and Cynthia

WELCOME, GREETING, AND COMMUNITY LIFE

CALL TO WORSHIP
from Psalm 131

Singing: For You, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits;
Truly my hope is in You.
(repeat)

Leader: Lord, my heart is not proud;
     my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
  or things too wonderful for me.
People: But I have calmed and quieted myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
   like a weaned child I am content.

Singing: For You, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits;
Truly my hope is in You.
(repeat)

Leader: Israel, put your hope in the LORD
    both now and forevermore.

PRAYER
Almighty God, we sing Your praise! Lord Jesus, we glorify Your name! Holy Spirit, we welcome Your presence! May this worship service glorify God and send us out to do our neighbors some good. Amen.

* PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for He is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to His temple draw near,
Join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
Sheltering you under His wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
Sent by his gracious ordaining?

Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriends you.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again;
Gladly forever adore Him.

Covenant Hymnal, #61

GOSPEL LESSON: Nolan Baumgartner and Josie Strathman
Mark 5:21-34

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea. ²²Then one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet ²³and pleaded with him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” ²⁴So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. ²⁵Now there was a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. ²⁶She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all that she had, and she was no better but rather grew worse. ²⁷She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸for she said, “If I but touch his cloak, I will be made well.” ²⁹Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. ³⁰Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my cloak?” ³¹And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” ³²He looked all around to see who had done it. ³³But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. ³⁴He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

* O LORD, YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL / OPEN OUR EYES
refrain
O Lord, You’re beautiful;
Your face is all I seek.
For when Your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Open our eyes, Lord. We want to see Jesus.
To reach out and touch him, and say that we love him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.

CHILDREN’S MOMENT

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
Mark 5:35-43
Clean and Alive
Pastor Ryan

LIVING HOPE
How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation I turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness Your loving-kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished, the end is written
Jesus Christ my living hope

Who could imagine so great a mercy
What heart could fathom such boundless grace
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope

chorus
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope

Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Jesus, Yours is the victory

chorus

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden; Messian Burgos; Frank Coszach; Vira Coszach; Art & Rosa Hamilton; Trevor Hanks; Nancy Popovich’s family; Sara Rosado; Mary Smith; Phillip, son of Iris Velez; and Lauren Vilardo

Ministries & Mission
Colleen Nahnychuk, serving in Argentina; 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
Nimrod
Edward Elgar
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.

CALL TO COMMUNION
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.

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S SUPPER
Friends, this is the joyful feast of the people of God! Many will come from east and west and from north and south and sit at table in the kingdom of God. This is the Lord’s Table. Our Savior invites those who trust Him to share the feast He has prepared. According to Luke, when our risen Lord was at table with His disciples, He took the bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.

CONFESSION OF SIN
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.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS
We do not presume to come to this Your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in Your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Your table. But You are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the bread and drink the cup that we may evermore dwell in Him and He in us. Amen.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ as they are delivered by the apostle Paul: “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

SONG OF COMMUNION
TASTE AND SEE
refrain
Taste and see, taste and see
The goodness of the Lord.
Oh, taste and see, taste the see,
The goodness of the Lord, of the Lord.

* GIVE THANKS
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the holy One,
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the holy One,
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now, let the weak say, “I am strong,”
Let the poor say, “I am rich,”
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
And now, let the weak say, “I am strong,”
Let the poor say, “I am rich,”
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks!

Covenant Hymnal , #74

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

POSTLUDE
led by Leslie
please remain seated during the postlude

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

Thank you to Leslie Hodgkinson, Nolan Baumgartner, Josie Strathman, and Emil Gorgioski for helping to lead us in worship today!

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.

Congregational meeting
The meeting to approve the church budget for 2024, as well as to receive reports and handle other important matters, will be held today in the upstairs lounge following worship. While only members can vote, everyone is encouraged to attend the meeting. Zoom access will be provided for those who cannot attend in person.

Choir is back!
It’s still cold outside, but the spring season of our church choir is almost upon us! The choir began rehearsing today for the Lenten and Holy Week seasons. The choir rehearses every Sunday at 9:00 am during choir seasons, and choir membership remains open to anyone who loves to sing. Consider joining us this spring!

Easter lily sign-up
Easter comes early this year (March 28), so we need to begin planning our order for the florist. If you would like to purchase a lily that will adorn the front of the church on Easter that you can take home after the service, please fill out an order form, indicating if you would like a bulletin listing in honor of or in memory of a loved one, and return the form to Gregory Sager in the church office.

Ash Wednesday
Pastor Ryan will offer individuals the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, February 14, in the sanctuary between 11:30 am and
1:30 pm. No appointment is necessary.

Men’s Retreat at Covenant Point
Invite some friends out for a weekend of fun, fellowship, excellent food, meaningful conversations, and life-giving worship at Covenant Point Bible Camp in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Recreation opportunities include a broomball tournament, afternoon jam session (bring your own instrument), snowshoeing, cross country skiing on our groomed ski trails, sauna and polar bear dip, card games and conversations in the dining hall, and more! If there is sufficient interest, Ravenswood Covenant will organize rides for any men who would like to go. The CPBC men’s retreat is the weekend of February 23-25, 2024, and an Early Bird Discount applies to registration fees if registered or postmarked by February 9, 2024. See www.cpbc.com/mensretreat for more details, and/or speak to Pastor Ryan if you’re interested in going.

Lake County Symphony Orchestra presents “Timeless Masters”
The Lake County Symphony Orchestra, featuring our own Cynthia Arden, will present a concert entitled “Timeless Masters” that will feature Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. It will be held on February 3 at the James Lumbar Auditorium of the College of Lake County. Tickets and more information are available at www.lakecountysymphonyorchestra.com.

NPU Hymn Festival 2024
The North Park School of Music, Art, and Theatre extends an invitation to North Park University’s annual Hymn Festival. This year’s theme is “Belonging”. We raise our voices in community, exploring the power of restoring love through congregational hymns and songs. This free event will take place on Friday, February 16 at 7:30 pm at Anderson Chapel, 5159 N. Spaulding Avenue (located on the North Park University campus at the corner of Foster and Spaulding).

Camp Booster Fund
Interested in sending your children to overnight camp at Covenant Harbor or Covenant Point next summer? We have a camp booster fund that will give $200 towards the fee of any Ravenswood Covenant child (or that child’s friend) who wishes to attend one of our two Central Conference summer camps. We feel that every child from our congregation who wants to attend camp should have the opportunity to go!

Sunday School and Faith Forum
Sunday School and Faith Forum meets at 10:00 am every week, unless otherwise noted. Sunday School is currently in its annual three-week holiday hiatus; Faith Forum is continuing to meet. Come join us as we gather together to learn and grow in faith every Sunday morning.

Scripture reader sign-up
We are seeking people to read the scripture passages of the day as part of the worship services for the first quarter of 2024. If you are willing to be a scripture reader, please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the church office or contact Gregory Sager or Pastor Ryan.

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. We are studying the Gospel of Mark. 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 now have Zoom available again 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

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.”

Scripture for next Sunday
Mark 9:1-10
Mark 8:27-38
Psalm 27:1-4

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.