Sunday, November 16, 2025

Sunday, November 16, 2025
Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am
or online via YouTube at noon.

CALLED BY GOD

Isaiah 9:2

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
    on them light has shined.

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

GATHERING MUSIC
“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
led by Leslie, Andrew, 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
based on James 1:17-18, John 1:5
This is a day of celebration to our God!
We celebrate every good gift given from God. Every perfect gift received from God, the Father of Lights.
This is a day of celebration to our God!
We remember that God is consistent. He won’t play tricks in the shadows. His light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.
This is a day of celebration to our God!
We give thanks that God has called us to life by His message of truth. Praise and glory, wisdom and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.

PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
Holy God, teach us to be holy as you are holy. Lord Jesus, teach us to be loving as you are loving. Holy Spirit, teach us to make a difference as you make a difference in the world. Help us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you. Amen.

SINGING OUR LOVE TO GOD
* “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”    
hymnal #10

GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
John 8:12-20                                                               
read by Eric Hillabrant

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on Your own behalf; Your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on My own behalf, My testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, My judgment is valid, for it is not I alone who judge but I and the Father who sent Me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on My own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on My behalf.” Then they said to him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor my Father. If you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” He spoke these words while He was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested Him, because His hour had not yet come.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Children are invited to the front.

Following the message, children are invited to children’s church in the back room. A parent from the church will teach.

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

MESSAGE
Isaiah 9:1-7
Isaiah: Called to Prophesy  
Pastor Ryan

SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
* “Drive Out the Darkness”

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
“I Will Give Thanks”
Craig Courtney
led by the choir

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
* “We’ve A Story to Tell to the Nations”
hymnal #688

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

MUSIC ENDS OUR COMMUNAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD
Tiento de Falsas del Sexto Tono
Sebastian Aguilera de Heredia
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.

Offerfest 2025
This year’s Offerfest takes place today. Offerfest is a generations-old tradition at Ravenswood Covenant in which one Sunday each fall is set aside to celebrate and give thanks for God’s providence in our lives, and on that Sunday all giving is devoted to specific projects chosen by the church’s Leadership Team. This year there are two projects, an external one and an internal one. Our external project will be to support the new Covenant Harbor Dining Commons and Welcome Center. Our internal project is to raise money for a new bounce house for the farmers market.

Offerfest is always marked by a sumptuous feast in the fellowship hall after the worship service, and this year our own Linda Carlson will be preparing the meal. Today’s Offerfest dinner menu features a Mexican theme, with family-style tacos, carnitas, and steak sofritas. Choice of toppings include cheese, Mexican sour cream, cilantro, onion, tomato, lettuce, lime, guacamole, green salsa (non-spicy), and red salsa (spicy). Sides include beans, rice, and tortillas, and for dessert there is cake and buñuelos (pending confirmation). All non-meat/dairy except dessert items listed are vegan, and all items are gluten-free except dessert items.

Sunday School
Sunday School at Ravenswood Covenant has begun! It meets every Sunday, 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, is now in session. Plan to join us each Sunday as we learn and grow in our faith as a community of believers.

Registering for 2026 summer camps
Registration for the 2026 summer camping season of both of the Central Conference’s Bible camps, Covenant Harbor and Covenant Point, began this past Tuesday. For more information, go to https://covenantharbor.org/ and https://www.cpbc.com/ .

Scripture for next Sunday
John 14:15-21
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14

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.

RECC weekly newsletter
Ravenswood Covenant has a weekly newsletter that keeps you informed of all of the church’s ongoing and upcoming events and programs, as well as the church’s prayer list, calendar, giving information, and updates about Covenant Harbor and Covenant Point. If you would like to be added to the email list for the newsletter, please speak to Gregory Sager or call the church office.

Coffee hour serving committees
With the start of a new school year we are seeking volunteers to serve during coffee hour. Volunteers are divided into committees that rotate coffee-hour responsibilities between the committees on a monthly basis, with members of each committee taking charge of one Sunday coffee hour during each month that her or his committee serves.

If you would like to sign up for a coffee hour serving committee, or if you just want more information before you decide whether or not to sign up, please email Kari Johnson at karinelson88@gmail.com or contact her at 847-772-5016.

2025 Fall/Winter choir season
The annual Fall/Winter choir season at Ravenswood Covenant, which will continue for ten weeks, has begun. The choir meets at 9:00 am on Sundays in the sanctuary to rehearse. All are welcome to join, regardless of experience or music-reading ability. For more information, please contact the church office or speak to our church’s organist, Cynthia Arden, who also serves as our choir director.

Renee Nicholas to speak on Nov. 23
Next Sunday, November 23, one of our supported missionaries, Renee Nicholas, will be speaking during the worship service. Renee is the national director for InterVarsity’s Graduate Healthcare Ministries and lives here in Chicago with her family.

RECC 2025 holiday schedule
The dates and times for Ravenswood Covenant’s 2025 holiday season activities and special services has been announced:

Wed., Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Eve Service: Gratitude and Pie, 6:00 pm

Sun., Nov. 30: Hanging of the Greens, after the service

Sun, Dec. 7: Axiom Brass Quintet concert, TBD

Sun., Dec. 14: Sankta Lucia festival, during the service

Sun. Dec. 21: Christmas Carol Jeopardy! and Cookie Exchange, after the service

Wed., Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Lessons & Carols, 6:00 pm

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.

* Cynthia Arden
* Nikolas Arden
* the Binag family
* Messian Burgos
* Shirley Deliberto
* Veronica Clarke
* Frank Coszach
* Vira Coszach
* Andrea Feijoo
* Fran Fostey
* Art Hamilton
* Trevor Hanks
* Esther Laraya
* the Olsen family
* Maria Paulette
* Tatiana Randall
* Mary Smith
* Tom Spriggs
* Phillip Stenberg
* Dorinne Tamras
* Lauren Vilardo
* Eric Warren
* Lydia Warrens
* Natalia Westlind

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.