Sunday, September 7, 2025

Sunday, September 7th

Sunday, September 7, 2025
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Worship live on Sundays in person at 10:00 am
or online via YouTube at noon.

JESUS IN THE BEGINNING
 “The Light of God”

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people.The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.


Leader: light print / People: bold print / * Please stand as you are able.

GATHERING MUSIC
“Christ Is the World’s Light”
led by Leslie and Cynthia

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
Psalm 27:1, 13-14

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
Heavenly Father, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the World. Holy Spirit, You teach us to reflect the Light of Christ. Father, Son, and Spirit, open our eyes to Your truth and love. Amen.

GOD, WE LOVE YOU
* “Endless Light”   

GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
Genesis 1:1-5                                                             
read by LeRoy Carlson

When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

SINGING OUR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM GOD
* “Awesome God” 

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
John 1:1-5
The Light of God
Pastor Ryan

SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
“Christ Is the World’s Light”
hymnal #107           

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
“Thy Word”
Michael W. Smith
led by Leslie and Cynthia

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

You do not need to be a member of Ravenswood Covenant Church to participate in Holy Communion.
All that is required is personal faith in Jesus Christ.

SINGING OUR DESIRE FOR GOD’S REIGN
* “We Are a New Creation”
hymnal #590

THE LAST GOOD WORD   
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

MUSIC ENDS OUR COMMUNAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD
Gravé
J.S. Bach
led by Cynthia

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
Today we return to our school-year schedule of holding the Sunday worship service at 11:00 am. Next 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.

Benevolence offering
Ravenswood Covenant takes a retiring benevolence offering on the first Sunday of the month to give people a chance to aid those in our congregation and community who are experiencing immediate financial needs, such as rent, food, transportation, medical issues, etc. You are welcome to add your contribution to the monthly benevolence offering by placing it in the gray wooden box in the narthex as you leave the sanctuary.

Sunday School
Sunday School at Ravenswood Covenant begins next Sunday, September 14, starting at 10:00 am. We encourage everyone to bring their children to Sunday School to learn about the Bible so that they can grow in faith and knowledge of God. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Faith Forum
Faith Forum, the adult Christian education class that meets during the Sunday School hour (starting at 10:00 am) during the school year, will begin next Sunday, September 14. This month’s topic will be “Listen to the Prophets Today”. Plan to join us each Sunday as we learn and grow in our faith as a community of believers.

Children’s room dedication
This morning after the congregational breakfast and before the service we dedicated the newly-refurbished children’s room that is located on the west side of the building, behind the sanctuary. We trust that this will be a place of both learning and play for our church’s children for many years to come, and we thank those who designed and prepared this space with our children in mind.

Thank you
Thank you to Linda Carlson and to all who helped her make our congregational breakfast this morning a successful way to kick off the new school year!

Scripture for next Sunday
Genesis 22:1-14
John 1:29-34

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.