Adult Sunday School convenes at 9:30 on zoom
Streaming Live
Facebook & YouTube
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
AxiomBrass
KIDS TIME
Music & a visit from some friends
PRELUDE
Mary & Cynthia
WELCOME & GREETING
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CALL TO WORSHIP from Psalm 147:1-3
Leader: Praise the Lord!
People: Praise the Lord!
L: How good it is to sing praises to our God;
P: for He is gracious and a song of praise is fitting
L: The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
P: He gathers the outcasts of Israel
L: He heals the brokenhearted
P: and binds up their wounds
L: Praise the Lord.
All: Praise the Lord!
HEAVENLY FATHER
Heav’nly Father, hallow’d is Your name.
May Your kingdom quickly come.
May it be on earth just as in heav’n,
Your perfect will be done.
Give today our daily bread.
Take away our sin.
May your kingdom’s pow’r be glorified
And with our lives begin.
Precious Jesus, how do we express
All the gratitude we owe
For the price You paid to offer us
Salvation for our souls?
When we’re faced with doubt and fear,
Draw us close again.
May Your kingdom’s pow’r be glorified
And with our lives begin.
Holy Spirit, fall afresh on us,
Let our weary souls rejoice.
In the loud, confusing life we lead,
Speak with Your still, small voice.
Be our comfort, couns’lor, and guide,
Search our hearts within.
May Your kingdom’s pow’r be glorified
And with our lives begin.
From the Covenant Hymnal, page 392
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Folks We Are Praying For:
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.
Church family who work in and around hospitals & nursing homes:
Alex A, Kyra A, Hannah A, Sam A, Linda C, Carl G, Katie G, Eric H, Rachel H, Chona I, Abby H, Dana J, Bryan J, Kari J, Neal J, Eric S, Don T.
(If we missed any people’s names above please let us know.)
We continue to pray for: The Hodgkinson family, Kathy Salzano, Ron Arden, Bob Auger, Nikolas Arden, Katie Collier, Art and Rosa Hamilton, Shirley Nicholas, Paul Mounts, Jane Auger, Joyce Andrews, Steve Hoden, Mary Spriggs, Alice Nilsson (Nancy Popovich’s sister), the Brandel-Tanis family, the Morales/Randall family.
Ministries & Mission
Colleen Nahnychuk, serving in Argentina; Carlos and Karen Feijoo, serving in Ecuador.
GIVING OF OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS
& PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@ravenscov.org
OFFERTORY
Clementi Sonatina, 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.
Amen.
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FROM THE FIRST TESTAMENT
Isaiah 40:21-31
21 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
23 He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
24 No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than He blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
25 “To whom will you compare Me?
Or who is My equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of His great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
GOSPEL LESSON
Mark 1:32-39
32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to Him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him.
37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is searching for You.” 38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39 And He went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Leader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
WAY MAKER
You are here moving in our midst
I worship You, I worship You
You are here working in this place
I worship You, I worship You
chorus
(You are) Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper
Light in the darkness, my God that is who You are
You are here touching ev’ry heart
I worship You, I worship You
You are here healing ev’ry heart
I worship You, I worship You
You are here turning lives around
I worship You, I worship You
You are here mending ev’ry heart
I worship You, yeah, I worship You Lord
tag
That is who You are
That is who You are
That is who You are
That is who You are
bridge
Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop, You never stop working
CCLI Song # 7115744 CCLI License # 349090
Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu © 2016 Integrity Music Europe
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Making A Way
Pastor Phil
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AS WE GATHER AT YOUR TABLE
As we gather at Your table,
As we listen to Your Word,
Help us know, O God, Your presence;
Let our hearts and minds be stirred.
Nourish us with sacred story
Till we claim it as our own;
Teach us through this holy banquet
How to make love’s vict’ry known.
Turn our worship into witness,
In the sacrament of life;
Send us forth to love and serve You,
Bringing peace where there is strife.
Give us, Christ, Your great compassion
To forgive as You forgave;
May we still behold Your image
In the world You died to save.
Grant us vision, gracious Spirit,
Seeking guests to share that feast
Where triumphant love will welcome
Those who had been last and least.
There no more will envy blind us
Nor will pride our peace destroy,
As we join with saints and angels
To repeat the sounding joy
From the Covenant Hymnal, page 551
CONFESSION OF SIN & PASSING OF PEACE
L: The proof of God’s amazing love is this: while we were sinners Christ died for us. Because we have faith in Christ, 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: 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.)
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.
Prayer of Consecration
Sharing in Communion
SPECIAL MUSIC
led by Cynthia
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O MASTER, LET ME WALK WITH THEE
O Master, let me walk with Thee
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me thy secret – help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me Thy patience: still with Thee
In closer, dearer, company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.
In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future’s broad’ning way,
In peace that only Thou canst give,
With Thee, O master, let me live.
Amen
From the Covenant Hymnal, page 612
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
A Might Fortress is Our God
led by Cynthia & Mary
INVITATION & FINAL SLIDES
We’ll be back here next Sunday.
We hope you can join us.
Information on ravenscov.org.
music as we go by maxeltoft
Faith Forum update
This week Faith Forum, Ravenswood Covenant’s adult Sunday School class, heard from Barb and Steve Swanson, who discussed their ministry to refugees and immigrants in the Swedish city of Malmö. Next Sunday, the guest speaker will be Prajakta David, the manager of church relations for Serve Globally, which is the missions arm of our parent denomination, the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Faith Forum meets via Zoom at the traditional meeting time of 9:30 am on Sunday. This is the Zoom link for Faith Forum. The link is also provided at the top of the bulletin every week.
Monday Night Bible Study
The Thursday night Bible study is moving to Monday nights for a spell, and at a new time, 7 pm. The group is studying 1 Corinthians, and will examine the fourth chapter of the book tomorrow. The Bible study will meet every Monday at 7 pm via Zoom until further notice , and if you are not conversant with Zoom, don’t let that stop you! We can teach you how to activate Zoom so that you can take part. If you’re interested, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at office@ravenscov.org or at 773-784-7091.
The Zoom link for the Thursday night Bible study is https://zoom.us/j/95052558015?pwd=N3d1eFpUUmUwenhCSzNJNUk3WEV2QT09
Meeting ID: 950 5255 8015
Passcode: 141628
Zoom book study
Pastor Denise will be reading Rethinking Incarceration by Rev. Dominique DuBois Gilliard this winter. You are invited to join in reading and learning about ways churches can be involved in advocating for justice in the prison system. Rev. Gilliard is the Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Evangelical Covenant Church, our parent denomination. Please email Pastor Denise if you’d like to join us or have questions, and she will get a reading schedule out to you. denise@ravenscov.org. The book can be ordered through InterVarsity Press. https://www.ivpress.com/rethinking-incarceration. It is also available on Audible.
2021 camp registration update from HarborPoint Ministries
There may be snow on the ground, and some houses may still have their Christmas lights up … but at Covenant Harbor and Covenant Point Bible camps, the staffs are already thinking about summer! For those who are wondering about camp options for summer 2021, please be aware that online registration for next summer’s camping season began Tuesday, January 5.
Day, overnight, and family camp options are posted at www.covenantharbor.org and www.cpbc.com.
Prayer meeting canceled indefinitely
The church’s biweekly prayer meeting that gathers every second and fourth Monday night each month has been canceled until further notice as part of the church’s response to Chicago’s heightened Covid-19 infection rate and the mayor’s “Stay-at-Home Advisory.”
Prayer requests
A group of women in our church are meeting every night at 7 pm via phone calls and texts in order to keep our various needs before God in prayer. They are asking the congregation to bring their needs to them to be lifted up in prayer as part of this evening prayer time. If you have any needs that you would like to have added to their prayer list, please contact the church office.
Free masks available
The church is offering free masks to anyone in the congregation who is in need of one. If you would like, you may make a donation to our benevolence fund when you come to the church building to pick yours up. Please contact the church office at office@ravenscov.org or 773-396-6175 for more information.
Our response to the current health crisis
As a community of faith we continue to pray for the health and welfare of our church and community as we resist the temptation to fall prey to fear. We do, however, want to continue to look out for the welfare of our friends and neighbors. We are doing our best to stay current with best practices for this unique time — please stay tuned as these may change. Our primary place for timely communication will be our website, ravenscov.org. We will also offer reminders and notes on our Facebook page and by email. We are livestreaming our Sunday morning worship on Facebook Live and YouTube so that you may continue to be a part of our worship. Do not, however, become isolated. If you need any help there are folks in our church who can do so. Call the office (773-784-7091) or email the office (office@ravenscov.org).
General fund giving:
January 24: $1,686
General fund giving:
January 31: $1,744
Scripture for next Sunday
2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6
Mark 9:2-9
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.