January 16, 2022
Adult Sunday School convenes at 9:30 on Zoom and in-person
Children’s Sunday School for ages 1st grade-7th grade meets at 9:30 am on Zoom only temporarily.
Today’s congregational business meeting following worship meets on Zoom and in person in the sanctuary.
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME & GREETING
CALL TO WORSHIP
from Habakkuk 2:20
Leader: The Lord is in His holy temple
People: Let all the earth keep silence before Him
HOLY SPIRIT
There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
Nothing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
CCLI Song # 6087919 CCLI License # 349090
Bryan Torwalt | Katie Torwalt © 2011 Capitol CMG Genesis
FIRST TESTAMENT LESSON
Psalm 127:1-2
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for He gives sleep to his beloved.
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
John 2:13-25
13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple He found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, He drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign can You show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
23 When He was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in His name because they saw the signs that He was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part would not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people 25 and needed no one to testify about anyone; for He himself knew what was in everyone.
Leader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
(sung)
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
Children ages 3-5 are dismissed to the fellowship hall at this time for Children’s Church.
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.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Flannel Church
Pastor Phil
HANDS TO THE HEAVENS
We are Your church
We are Your sons and daughters
We’ve gathered here to meet with You
We lift our eyes
We lay our hearts before You
Expectant here for You to move
chorus:
With our hands to the Heavens
Alive in Your presence
Oh God, when You come
So pour out Your Spirit
We love to be near You
Oh God, when You come
You are the way
The truth and life we live for
Oh how we long to know You more
bridge:
Come like a rushing wind
Come light the fire again
Come like a burning flame
Have Your way
Have Your way
CCLI Song # 6460471 CCLI License # 349090
Bryan Brown | Jason Ingram | Kari Jobe | Tofer Brown© 2013 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Razor and Tie Music Publishing
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Ernesto Galaviz, Kristine Brandel’s friend Terrie, Nikolas Arden, the family of Katie Collier, Shirley Nicholas, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Esther Stoel, the Koeller family, Joyce Andrews, Brianna Randall, Mary Smith, Steve Hoden, Devencie Ervin and his family, Delores Staurseth, Tom Kelly, the family of Brian Alnes, Jane Auger, Mary McKirchy, Jolie Fisher, and Brian Finnegan.
Ministries & Mission
Donald & Lillian Dwight, serving in Taiwan; 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@ravenscov.org
OFFERTORY
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.
COMMUNITY LIFE
WE ARE GOD’S PEOPLE
We are God’s people,
The chosen of the Lord,
Born of His Spirit,
Established by His Word.
Our cornerstone is Christ alone,
And strong in Him we stand.
Oh, let us live transparently,
And walk heart to heart and hand in hand.
We are God’s loved ones,
The bride of Christ our Lord,
For we have known it,
The love of Christ outpoured.
Now let us learn how to return
The gift of love once giv’n.
Oh, let us share each joy and care,
And live with a zeal that pleases heav’n.
We are the body
Of which the Lord is head,
Called to obey Him,
Now risen from the dead.
He wills us be a family
Diverse yet truly one.
Oh, let us give our gifts to God,
And so shall His work on earth be done.
We are a temple,
The Spirit’s dwelling place,
Formed in great weakness,
A cup to hold God’s grace.
We die alone, for on its own
Each ember loses fire;
Yet joined in one the flame burns on
To give warmth and light and to inspire.
Covenant Hymnal, #600
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
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 axiom.brass
Covid restrictions for in-person worship
Chicago is now requiring the use of masks for indoor public gatherings, so Ravenswood Covenant has reinstated safety protocols for Sunday morning worship. This means that within the building masks are required at all times, regardless of vaccination status; seating is socially distant; and handshakes and hugs are avoided.
We are still observing precautions regarding children, specifically with regard to the cry room. As was the case before, if you and your family would like to worship in the cry room, please reserve it in advance by contacting Gregory Sager at office@ravenscov.org or 773-784-7091. One family may choose to use the cry room upon arrival if it hasn’t already been reserved. Children of all ages are always welcome to be in the sanctuary with their parents for the worship service!
Ravenswood Covenant will continue to livestream worship each week on YouTube and Facebook; this is now a permanent feature of our ministry, so Sunday morning worship will remain accessible to anyone who has Internet access.
Congregational business meeting
Ravenswood Covenant will hold a congregational meeting today following worship. The meeting will be accessible via Zoom for those who can’t be present. The Zoom link can be found at the top of this online bulletin. One of the items for discussion will be the possibility of renting our church space to another congregation for Sunday afternoons or evenings. Please make plans to attend this meeting if you are a member of RECC.
Remote Children’s Sunday School, Jan. 9 & 16
We hope that more children will be able to participate if we go back to Zoom for a couple Sundays. Zoom links will be sent out on Friday for our two elementary-age classes. They will Zoom during the normal Sunday School hour before church at 9:30 am. Confirmation meets via Zoom at 6 pm Sunday evening. The preschool class lesson will be posted on Sunday afternoon as a short video to watch with your kids. If you would like to bring your kids to church on Sunday, the gym will be open to use. Elementary kids can log on to the wifi or use a parent’s phone to join their Zoom class if they are at church during the Sunday School Zoom time.
Faith Forum
Faith Forum, our adult Sunday School class, meets every week in the upstairs lounge at 9:30 am. It operates in a hybrid format; you are invited to attend in person, but if you do so, please wear a mask. As was the case last year, the class will also have a Zoom component for those who wish to attend remotely. The Zoom link can be found at the top of the online bulletin every week.
Thursday evening adult Bible study
Our weekly Bible study meets on Thursday evenings at 7 pm. We are currently studying the book of Colossians. We welcome anybody to the upstairs lounge on Thursday evenings who wants to take part in the Bible study. Please wear a mask. If you would prefer to participate remotely, or if you are out of town, the Bible study will continue to provide Zoom access as well for online participants.
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.”
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 773-784-7091 for more information.
Scripture for next Sunday
Psalm 139:13-18
John 3:1-21
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.