Sunday, August 31, 2025
Sunday, August 31st
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Worship live on Sundays in person at 10:00 am
or online via YouTube at noon.
SUMMER IN THE PSALMS:
“How to Talk with God”
Trust
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
He leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
New Living Translation
Leader: light print / People: bold print / * Please stand as you are able.
GATHERING MUSIC
led by Dana
GOD WELCOMES US
We share Community Life & greet each other.
Kids worship bags are available in the back.
WE DIRECT OUR MINDS TO GOD
DECLARING OUR UNITY IN WORSHIP
from Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always!
I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
Almighty Father, You lead your flock to safe water and green pastures. Lord Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd who calls us by name. Holy Spirit, You inspire stray sheep back into the Shepherd’s fold. Father, Son, and Spirit, You are faithful and trustworthy. Amen.
GOD, WE LOVE YOU
* “King of Love”
The King of Love my Shepherd is
Whose goodness faileth never
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever
And He is mine forever
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth
And where the verdant pastures grow
With food celestial feedeth
chorus
Never failing Ruler of my heart
Everlasting Lover of my soul
On the mountain high or in the valley low
The King of Love my Shepherd is
The King of Love my Shepherd is
Lost and foolish, off I strayed
But yet in love He sought me
And on His shoulder gently laid
And home rejoicing brought me
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee dear Lord beside me
Thy rod and staff my comfort still
Thy cross before to guide me
Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah
Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never
Good Shepherd, may I sing Your praise
Within Your house forever
Within Your house forever
Adam Palmer | Jonathan Smith | Matthew Hein | Stephanie Kulla | Stuart Garrard © 2013 All Essential Music; Be Essential Songs; I Am “They” Publishing; Jingram Music Publishing; So Essential Tunes; Stugio Music Publishing. CCLI Song # 6529824
GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
Ezekiel 34:11-16
read by Gregory Sager
For thus says the Lord God: I Myself will search for My sheep and will sort them out. As shepherds sort out their flocks when they are among scattered sheep, so I will sort out My sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them into their own land, and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of My sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strays, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.
John 10:11-18
read by Gregory Sager
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own, and My own know me, just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.”
SINGING OUR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM GOD
* “Trust in You”
Letting go of every single dream
I lay each one down at Your feet
Every moment of my wondering
Never changes what You see
I’ve tried to win this war, I confess
My hands are weary, I need Your rest
Mighty warrior, King of the fight
No matter what I face You’re by my side
chorus
When You don’t move the mountains
I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust
I will trust in You
Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen
So in all things be my life and breath
I want what You want, Lord, and nothing less
You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There’s not a place where I’ll go
You’ve not already stood
Lauren Daigle | Michael Farren | Paul Mabury © 2014 CentricSongs; See You At The Pub; Oceans Away Music; So Essential Tunes; Farren Love And War Publishing; Integrity’s Alleluia! Music. CCLI Song # 7025522
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Children are invited to the front. Following the message, children are invited to play in the gym. A parent from the church will supervise.
MESSAGE
Psalm 23
Trust in the Lord
Pastor Ryan
SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
“Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us”
hymnal #407
GOD HELP US
Prayer
WE CONCLUDE WITH 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.
THANKING GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS
We offer God a portion of our money as a way to say we love God, and desire to encourage the ministry & mission of the church.
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@ravenscov.org
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION
led by Dana
SINGING OUR THANKSGIVING & ADORATION
* 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.
hymnal #48
SINGING OUR DESIRE FOR GOD’S REIGN
* “Joy of the Lord”
Though the tears may fall my song will rise
My song will rise to You
Though my heart may fail my song will rise
My song will rise to You
While there’s breath in my lungs
I will praise You, Lord
In the dead of night I’ll lift my eyes
I’ll lift my eyes to You
When the waters rise I’ll lift my eyes
I’ll lift my eyes to You
While there’s hope in this heart
I will praise You, Lord
chorus
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance
In the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength
When I cannot see You with my eyes
Let faith arise to You
When I cannot feel Your hand in mine
Let faith arise to You
God of mercy and love, I will praise You, Lord
Oh, You shine with glory, Lord of light
I feel alive with You
In Your presence now I come alive
I am alive with You
There is strength when I say
I will praise You, Lord
When sorrow comes my way
You are the shield around me
Always You remain
My courage in the fight
I hear You call my name, Jesus, I am coming
Walking on the waves, reaching for Your light
Chris Llewellyn | Ed Cash | Gareth Gilkeson © 2015 Capitol CMG Paragon; Thankyou Music Ltd. CCLI Song # 7047091
THE LAST GOOD WORD
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MUSIC ENDS OUR COMMUNAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD
led by Dana
GOD INVITES US TO GATHER AGAIN
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us.
Information on ravenscov.org.
Worship service time change
Next Sunday, September 7, we will return to our school-year schedule of holding the Sunday worship service at 11:00 am. The following Sunday, September 14, we will begin the Sunday School and Faith Forum school year. Sunday School and Faith Forum (our adult Christian education class) will meet at
10:00 am.
Scripture for next Sunday
Genesis 1:1-6
John 1:1-5
If you enjoy reading scripture out loud, please sign up to read scripture in worship. The sign-up sheet is on the table in the back of the sanctuary, or you can talk with Pastor Ryan or Gregory Sager.
Farmers market
Our successful Ravenswood Community Farmers Market season continues! As you are probably aware, the particular role that RECC runs within the market, aside from hosting it in our parking lot, is to provide a space for our community’s children to play and thrive while the adult population shops at the vendor’s tents, dines at tables, or chats while supervising their children. We provide an immense bounce house that is a centerpiece of our identity in the eyes of local children, a science table, an art tent, and a water play area.
The market runs every Wednesday from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the church parking lot until the middle of October. If you would like to help staff our activities — you are free to volunteer for as little or as much of the farmers market calendar as you see fit — please speak to Bekah Carlson or the church staff.
How you can contribute:
* Pray for the community, the vendors and those from the church who volunteer.
* Purchase the following needs:
– Baby Wipes
– Blue Dawn Dish Soap
– Corn Starch
– Baking Soda
– White Vinegar (1/2 to 1 gallon size)
* Help with set-up and tear-down
* Help facilitate activities for the kids
See Bekah Carlson or the church staff if you’d like to join us to help on Wednesdays.
Thursday evening Bible study
The weekly Bible study meets Thursdays at 7:00 pm. We are currently 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 is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83923376849?pwd=YUlYVXBmOVdwV0d5L20ySng3aHU3Zz09 .
Meeting ID: 839 2337 6849
Passcode: 318853
* Cynthia Arden
* Nikolas Arden
* the Binag family
* Messian Burgos
* Shirley Deliberto
* Veronica Clarke
* Frank Coszach
* Vira Coszach
* Art Hamilton
* Trevor Hanks
* the Olsen family
* Maria Paulette
* Brianna Randall
* Mary Smith
* Dorinne Tamras
* Lauren Vilardo
* Lydia Warrens
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.