September 22, 2024
Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am,
or on YouTube at noon.
PRELUDE
“A Thousand Hallelujahs”
led by Leslie and Cynthia
WELCOME, GREETING, AND COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
based on Psalm 111
Leader: As God’s gathered community, we worship with
thankful hearts.
People: Praise the Lord!
Leader: God’s deeds are amazing! Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty.
People: Praise the Lord!
Leader: His righteousness never fails.
How gracious and merciful is our God!
People: Praise the Lord!
UNISON PRAYER
God of life and transformation, You have broken
into the world – even our own lives – and restored
Your song of life and triumph. By the power of
Your Spirit, inspire us to shout Your praise and joy,
and to tell of the wonderful things You have done
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
* A THOUSAND HALLELUJAHS
Who else would rocks cry out to worship?
Whose glory taught the stars to shine?
Perhaps creation longs to have the words to sing
But this joy is mine
chorus
With a thousand hallelujahs
We magnify Your name
You alone deserve the glory
The honor and the praise
Lord Jesus
This song is forever Yours
A thousand hallelujahs
And a thousand more
Who else would die for our redemption?
Whose resurrection means I’ll rise?
There isn’t time enough to sing of all You’ve done
But I have eternity to try
chorus
Praise to the Lord
To the Lamb
To the King of heaven
Praise for He rose
Now He reigns
We will sing forever
Praise to the Lord
To the Lamb
To the King of heaven
Praise for He rose
Now He reigns
We will sing forever
chorus
Praise to the Lord
To the Lamb
To the King of heaven
Praise for He rose
Now He reigns
We will sing forever
chorus
Brooke Ligertwood / Phil Wickham / Scott Ligertwood © Capitol CMG Publishing, Essential Music Publishing
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Jo Zancanaro
Genesis 35:1-15
God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your clothes; 3 then come, let us go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there to the God who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had and the rings that were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak that was near Shechem.
5 As they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities all around them, so that no one pursued them. 6 Jacob came to Luz, that is, Bethel, which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, 7 and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because it was there that God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother. 8 And Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So it was called Allon-bacuth.
9 God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him. 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall you be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he was called Israel. 11 God said to him, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall spring from you. 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.” 13 Then God went up from him at the place where He had spoken with him. 14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.
GOSPEL LESSON: Jo Zacanaro
Luke 6:32-36
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
*GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS (BEGINNING TO END)
Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love
chorus
Beginning to end, my life in Your hands
Great, great is Your faithfulness
You never let go, this one thing I know
Great, great is Your faithfulness
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside
chorus
ending
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand has provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
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
Genesis 37:1-11
Living the Dream
Pastor Ryan
BE THOU MY VISION
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, Thy child I shall be,
Thou in me dwelling and I one with Thee.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Covenant Hymnal, #412
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden; Messian Burgos; Frank Coszach; Vira Coszach; Art & Rosa Hamilton; Trevor Hanks; Mary McKirchy; Sara Rosado; Mary Smith; Iris Velez; Lauren Vilardo; Mark Westlind; and Christian Wright
Ministries & Mission
Anna & Peter Kim, serving in Taiwan
Covenant Mountain Mission Bible Camp
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
“Give Thanks”
Henry Smith
led by Leslie and 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.
* LET THIS HEART NOT WANDER
Let my eyes see nothing
Let my eyes see nothing but Your glory, my Lord
Let my eyes see nothing
Let my eyes see nothing but Your glory, my Lord
Let this heart not wander
Let this heart not wander from Your mercy, my Lord
Let this heart not wander
Let this heart not wander from Your mercy, my Lord
May I always linger
May I always linger in Your presence, my Lord
May I always linger
May I always linger in Your presence, my Lord
I will ever praise You
I will ever praise You You are worthy, my Lord
I will ever praise You
I will ever praise You You are worthy, my Lord
Eric J. Marshall
© 2014 Young Oceans
* BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Finlandia
Jean Sibelius
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.
KICY salmon dinner and Offerfest
We are handling Offerfest a little differently this fall. Offerfest is our church’s oldest tradition, a Sunday set aside every fall to specifically thank God for His provision in our life together by dedicating the entire morning offering that day to special projects, with the total amount announced at a sumptuous meal that follows that Sunday’s worship service. Typically, Offerfest is a stand-alone event held on the first Sunday of November, but this year it will instead be held on Sunday, October 6 in conjunction with a KICY fundraiser salmon dinner. KICY is a Covenant-owned radio station located in Nome, Alaska that serves native villages in the Alaskan bush as well as the city of Nome, and which also provides on-air evangelism outreach that broadcasts for thousands of miles into the remote Russian Far East.
This event will require a lot of work to make it run smoothly, so stay tuned for announcements as to how you can help out!
KICY/Offerfest RSVP
Due to the expense involved in shipping fresh Alaskan salmon to the Lower 48, as well as the amount of time required to prepare and cook the meal, the folks at KICY would like an approximate head count of how many people to expect for our Offerfest meal on October 6, which also functions as a KICY fundraising event. Therefore, we are asking everyone to please RSVP for the dinner within the next couple of days. You can do so online here: https://forms.gle/xgRbozy4Y7sKDmwo9 . You can also RSVP via the sign-up sheet in the narthex, or by contacting the church office at office@ravenscov.org.
Choir begins soon
On Sunday, October 20, our church choir under the direction of Cynthia Arden will once again begin rehearsing and performing. The fall/winter choir season lasts from October 20 until Christmas. Membership in the choir is open to all, regardless of experience level. Please consider joining us in choir this fall, and invite others to join as well!
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. The first teacher is LeRoy Carlson, who is leading a series in September on the theology of worship, focusing upon the Covenant Book of Worship, the worship handbook used by the Covenant’s pastors, chaplains, and worship leaders.
Treats and coffee are provided each week. Join us in the upstairs lounge every Sunday in Faith Forum!
Dog walker wanted
Joanna Bao, a friend of Ravenswood Covenant, has a daughter named Joy who lives near the church. Joy is currently in her residency as a physician and thus has only a limited amount of time available to walk and care for her dog, Gallagher. If you would like to volunteer to help with her dog-walking responsibilities, please contact the church office.
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 now seeking people to read the scripture passages of the day in the worship service for the fall months. If you are willing to be a scripture reader in September, October, or November, 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. Next week (Thursday, September 26) we will begin studying the Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs. 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
Exodus 13:1-8
Exodus 12:1-13
Luke 22:14-20
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.