January 19, 2025 | Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church

January 19, 2025
Second Sunday of Epiphany

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
adapted from Psalm 146:1, 6-10
Leader: Praise the Lord!
People: Praise the Lord, my soul!
Leader: He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.
People: He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.
Leader: The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.
People: The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked.
Leader: The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.
People: Praise the Lord!

UNISON PRAYER
God of Creation we praise You! Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, thank You for claiming our lives in baptism and naming us ‘beloved’. Holy Spirit, open the eyes of our imagination that we might discern Your activity in our world. As You beckon us in worship, we respond with praise for life that is found in You.

* O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread thro’ all the earth abroad
The honors of Your name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease,
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
‘Tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.

To God all glory, praise, and love
Be now and ever giv’n
By saints below and saints above,
The Church in earth and heav’n.

Covenant Hymnal, #299

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Rod Kutz
Isaiah 61:1-11

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me
    because the Lord has anointed me;
He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
    to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and release to the prisoners,
²to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
    to comfort all who mourn,
³to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, to display His glory.
⁴They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.

⁵Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks;
    foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines,
⁶but you shall be called priests of the Lord;
    you shall be named ministers of our God;
you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations,
    and in their riches you shall glory.
⁷Because their shame was double
    and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot,
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
    everlasting joy shall be theirs.

⁸For I, the Lord, love justice,
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
    and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹Their descendants shall be known among the nations
    and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
    that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.
¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my whole being shall exult in my God,
for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹For as the earth brings forth its shoots
    and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
    to spring up before all the nations.

* ENDLESS LIGHT
From the highest throne to the earth below
You laid down Your life for the likes of us
Great is the love of the Savior

From a wounded heart to a life made whole
Every human heart will declare as one
Great is the love of the Savior

Lord of endless light
Let Your glory shine forever
All the earth
All the earth sing Your praise

From the mountain heights to the valleys low
All created things given life to show
Jesus, we live for Your glory

From the rising sun to the still of night
Every waking moment for Your delight
Jesus, we live for Your glory

Lord of endless light
Let Your glory shine forever
All the earth
All the earth sing Your praise
Hope of every heart
Let Your Name be lifted higher
All our hearts
All our hearts sing Your praise

God be exalted
God be exalted in everything
We live for Your glory
Live for Your glory
(repeat)

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 4:14-30
Hometown Hero
Pastor Ryan

* ARISE, YOUR LIGHT IS COME!
Arise, your light is come!
The Spirit’s call obey;
Show forth the glory of your God
Which shines on you today.

Arise, your light is come!
Fling wide the prison door;
Proclaim the captive’s liberty,
Good tidings to the poor.

Arise, your light is come!
All you in sorrow born,
Bind up the brokenhearted ones
And comfort those who mourn.

Arise, your light is come!
The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing,
God’s pow’r will make us strong.

Covenant Hymnal, #194

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
Christopher & Kristi Johnson, serving in Thailand
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
“O Sing a Song of Bethlehem”
led by Leah, Cynthia, and Dana

* 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.

* DRIVE OUT THE DARKNESS
chorus
Come, O come be our light
Drive out the darkness
Come, Jesus, come

Ev’ry year under the thorn
Ev’ry wrong that we have known
Ev’ry valley will be raised
The ancient ruins will be remade

Ev’ry weapon made for war
Ev’ry gun and ev’ry sword
Will be melted in the flame
To be used for gardening

In the emptiness of grief
Through the night of suffering
Ev’ry loss and in the tears
God, our comfort, O be near

Come, O come be our light
Drive out the darkness
Come and end all the violence
Come and do not be silent
Come, we cling to Your promise
Come, You’ll break all injustice
Come, Jesus come

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

POSTLUDE
Christus, Der Ist Mein Leben
Johann Pachelbel
led by Cynthia

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

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. Please wear a nametag and let visitors know who you are! Blank nametags and Sharpies will be available both in the narthex and in the sanctuary.

Sunday School
Our Sunday School classes are back in session. Sunday School meets at 10:00 am every Sunday, and all parents are encouraged to bring their children here to learn more about God and the Christian faith.

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!

Ravenswood Community Winter Market
Come visit Ravenswood’s new off-season indoor market, called Ravenswood Community Winter Market. It’s held at All Saints Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1757 W. Wilson Ave., on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm! Our favorite farmer, John Patyk, will be there with fresh eggs, mushrooms, and meats! Nena’s Sweet Treats have macarons and fresh baked sourdough bread. Pride Coffee Roasters will he have fresh roasted coffee. Hilary’s Cookies will have cookies, English-style scones, cakes, and savory pies. The full vendor list includes: Monarch Beauty Farm, Lincoln Ice Cream Company (Hot Cocoa Bombs), DFG Designs & The Alchemy Kitchen, Cathie’s K9 Treats, EE Mercantile Co, Nonie’s Bees, Tamales Express, Gather Good Food, and a few more to come!

Live music by Bryan Harrell and a special kids table run by Ravenswood Covenant Church!

Congregational Annual Meeting, part two
The second part of Ravenswood Covenant’s annual meeting will be held next 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. Our teacher for January is Eric Hillabrant.

Treats and coffee are provided each week. Join us in the upstairs lounge every Sunday in Faith Forum!

Lake County Symphony Orchestra concert
The Lake County Symphony Orchestra, featuring our own Cynthia Arden, along with the Northern Illinois University Choirs and Cor Cantiamo, will present Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as part of the LCSO’s “Timeless Masters” series on Sunday, February 16 at 4:00 pm at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St. in Grayslake. For more information, go to https://www.lakecountysymphonyorchestra.com/ .

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 5:1-11
Psalm 90:14-17

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.