Sunday, August 23, 2026

Sunday, August 23, 2026
Fourteenth Sunday of Pentecost
Worship live on Sundays in person at 10:00 am
or online via YouTube at 11:00 am.

PHILIPPIANS

Philippians 3:3:14
 I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

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
Psalm 23:1-4
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil,
For You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
Guide us, Great Jehovah! Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life! May the Holy Spirit direct our paths! Father, Son, and Spirit, grant us the will and the stamina to go wherever You send us. Amen.

SINGING OUR LOVE TO GOD
“To God Be the Glory”
hymnal #72

GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
Jeremiah 29:4-14    
read by LeRoy Carlson

 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let the prophets and the diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to your dreams that you dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in My name; I did not send them, says the Lord.

For thus says the Lord: Only when Babylon’s seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you. When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart, I will let you find Me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

SINGING OUR LOVE TO GOD
* “Gratitude”
Benjamin Hastings / Brandon Lake / Dante Bowe

© 2019 Bethel Worship Publishing; Brandon Lake Music; Maverick City Publishing; Maverick City Publishing Worldwide; SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia; Bethel Music Publishing

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Children are invited to the front.

After the message, children may go to children may go to the gym. A parent from the church supervises.

MESSAGE
Philippians 3:12-4:1
Goal Oriented
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
“More Love to Thee, O Christ”
W. Howard Doane
led by Dana 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

SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
* “Run to the Father”
Matt Maher, Ran Jackson, Cody Carnes © 2019 I Am They Publishing / Be Essential Songs (BMI) (admin. at EssentialMusicPublishing.com); Songs From Richmond Park (BMI) (admin. at EssentialMusicPublishing.com); Writers Roof Publishing / Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (admin. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)

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

MUSIC ENDS OUR COMMUNAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
Ludwig van Beethoven  
led by Dana, Andrew, 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.

Year-Round 10:00 AM Sunday Worship
The Leadership Team of Ravenswood Covenant has decided to move the Sunday worship schedule permanently to
10:00 am on a year-round basis. This means that there will not be the usual change back to an 11:00 am worship schedule for the school year starting at Labor Day weekend. Instead, Sunday morning worship at Ravenswood Covenant will remain at the 10:00 am hour throughout the upcoming school year. Sunday School and Faith Forum will now begin at 9:00 am when they return in September.

Cooler Sunday
During the three summer months, on the fourth Sunday of the month, Ravenswood Covenant hosts what we call “Cooler Sunday” during coffee hour. Folks from the church will grill hamburgers and hot dogs outside, and the church will provide drinks as well, while the rest of the congregation is asked to bring sides and desserts to pass. Our third and final Cooler Sunday of 2026 takes place today We hope you’ll join us downstairs for Cooler Sunday!

Giving to date
Year to date income (tithe & outside groups): $107,818
Year to date expense: $148,170
Year to date deficit: ($40,352)

Actual average monthly tithe year-to-date: $10,915
Monthly tithe budgeted for 2026: $12,500
At current giving rates we are roughly $20,000 behind our 2026 tithe goal.

Prayer and blessing night for singles
Looking for a place to connect, be encouraged, and grow in faith? Join us for a special evening of worship, fellowship, and sharing God’s blessings together!

* We meet every 2nd & 4th Friday of the month
* Open to singles of all ages
* Enjoy worship, meaningful connection, and encouragement
* Light dinner will be served

Come as you are, and let’s grow together in faith and community!

Please RSVP by Thursday noon with the church office at 773-784-7091 or office@ravenswoodcov.org.

We can’t wait to see you there!




Farmers market help needed
We had the best weather day of the summer on Wednesday for the farmers market, and in response 749 adult visitors turned up in our parking lot to buy and browse. The neighborhood children once again had a fantastic time at the bounce house, the art tent, and the science table.

This season we are invited to participate in the newness of the movement of the Spirit! New relationships. New bounce house. New community art projects.

Join us in this mission and ministry by signing up to:

· Be a prayer partner
· Help facilitate an activity
· Show up and be present
· Set up or clean up

Bekah Carlson requests that you save your cardboard toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls and bring them to the church for a project she’s planning to provide for the children at the market at the end of September. A box will be available outside the church office to collect them.



RECC church directory
It has been quite some time since Ravenswood Covenant produced a church directory, and the church’s Leadership Team would like to create a new one to aid our attendees with getting to know each other and being able to contact each other. You can help us out by scanning the QR code above or by clicking on this Google Forms link: https://forms.gle/GD7ZeLUCamXxAjV76 . Thanks for participating!

Scripture for next Sunday
Jeremiah 31:1-6
Philippians 4:4-9

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.

Parking spaces available
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.

Thursday evening Bible study
Our Thursday night Bible study just began our look at the Acts of the Apostles. The Bible study meets in the upstairs lounge at 7:00 pm. For more information, contact Gregory Sager in the church office at (773) 784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org.

* Cynthia Arden
* Nikolas Arden
* Jolene Bergstrom-Carlson
* the Binag family
* Messian Burgos
* Shirley Deliberto
* Veronica Clarke
* Frank Coszach
* Vira Coszach
* Sandra Gooden
* Rosa Hamilton
* Trevor Hanks
* Ron Koehn
* Esther Laraya
* Mary McKirchy
* Maria Paulette
* Heidi Perioli
* Brianna Randall
* Mark Safstrom
* Kris Sahlberg
* Mary Smith
* Dorinne Tamras
* Lauren Vilardo
* Eric Warren
* 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.