Sunday, December 28, 2025

Sunday, December 28, 2025
First Sunday of Christmas
Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am
or online via YouTube at noon.

JOHN THE BAPTIST QUESTIONED

John 1:23
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ” as the prophet Isaiah said.

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
adapted from Psalm 97:1, 7-9
The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; the heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the peoples behold His glory.
All servants of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before Him.
Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments, O God.
For You, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. Amen. 

PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
Glory to the Father! Glory to the Son! Glory to the Holy Spirit! Christ the King is born! The baby Jesus born in Bethlehem has come to save us! Jesus of Nazareth, full of grace and truth has come to save us! Let the world rejoice! Amen.

SINGING OUR LOVE TO GOD
* “Angels We Have Heard on High”
hymnal #162

GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
Isaiah 40:3-8
read by Rod Kutz

A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

A voice says, “Cry out!”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass;
    their constancy is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers; the flower fades,
    when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
    surely the people are grass.
The grass withers; the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever.

SINGING OUR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM GOD
* “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”    
hymnal #169

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.

MESSAGE
John 1:19-34
Cousin John
Pastor Ryan

SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
* “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
hymnal #153

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
“Away in a Manger”
James R. Murray
led by Kara, Leah, Cynthia, and 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 COMMITMENT TO GOD
* “What Child Is This, Who, Laid to Rest”
hymnal #171

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

MUSIC ENDS OUR COMMUNAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD
“Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come”
G.F. Handel
led by Dana and Cynthia

GOD INVITES US TO GATHER AGAIN
We’ll be back here for worship next Sunday. We hope you can join us.
Information on ravenscov.org.

Schedule changes
Confirmation class is canceled for this coming week. Confirmation will next meet on January 8. There will be no Bible study this week as well due to the holiday.

Covenant Home Altar
Free copies of the winter issue of the Covenant Home Altar, the daily devotional guide of the Evangelical Covenant Church (our parent denomi-nation), are on the back table in the sanctuary.

Sunday School
Sunday School at Ravenswood Covenant meets every Sunday, starting at 10:00 am, except during the holiday season. 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 three weeks ago. For more information, go to https://covenantharbor.org/ and https://www.cpbc.com/ .

Ravenswood Winter Markets canceled
Please be advised that the Ravenswood Winter Markets have been canceled. The current plan is to begin the regular market season in mid-May, as has been the case the past two years.

Scripture for next Sunday
John 1:35-42
John 1:43-51

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.

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
* Sandra Gooden
* Art Hamilton
* Trevor Hanks
* Bud Hodgkinson
* Esther Laraya
* the Olsen family
* Maria Paulette
* Tatiana Randall
* Mary Smith
* Phillip Stenberg
* Dorinne Tamras
* Lauren Vilardo
* Eric Warren
* Lydia Warrens
* the family of John Weborg
* Natalia Westlind
* the Windmiller and Hodgkinson families

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.