Sunday, February 22, 2026

Sunday, February 22, 2026
First Sunday of Lent
Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am
or online via YouTube at noon.

GOSPEL OF JOHN: GOD’S OWN SON

John 11:43-44
When he had said this, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

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

GATHERING MUSIC
led by Erin

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 16:7-11
I bless the Lord, who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
I keep the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
For You do not give me up to Sheol or let Your faithful one see the Pit.
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
Almighty God, you created all life. Lord Jesus, you conquered the grave so that we might know eternal life. Holy Spirit, you fill us with vitality today as we await the Resurrection and the Life. Father, Son, and Spirit, redeem us so that we might sing your praises for all eternity. Amen. 

SINGING OUR LOVE TO GOD
* “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
hymnal #299                   

GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
John 11:1-16                      
read by Erin Stoel

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom You love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it, He said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather, it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.

Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone You, and are You going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble because the light is not in them.” After saying this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that He was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

SINGING OUR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM GOD
* “Drive Out the Darkness”
Marotta / Wardell / Swinton / Zach © 2020 Integrity Worship Music; Integrity’s Alleluia! Music; Paul Zach Publishing; PG Songs And Hymns

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 11:38-44
Death Has Lost Its Stink
Pastor Ryan

SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
* “He Is Lord”
hymnal #310

GOD HELP US
Prayer
Most holy and merciful God, we confess to You and to one another, and before the whole company of heaven, that we have sinned by our fault, by our own fault, by our own most grievous fault, in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, O God.
We have shut our ears to Your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved Your Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our past unfaithfulness, the pride, envy, hypocrisy, and apathy that have infected our lives, we confess to You.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people, we confess to You.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to share the faith that is in us, we confess to You.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our neglect of human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty, we confess to You.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our false judgments, our uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us, we confess to You.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our waste and pollution of Your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us, we confess to You.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Restore us, O God, and let Your anger depart from us.
Hear us, O God, for Your mercy is great.

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 Erin

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
* “King of Kings”               
Brooke Ligertwood / Jason Ingram / Scott Ligertwood © 2019 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia; Fellow Ships Music; So Essential Tunes Essential Music Publishing LLC, Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing

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 Erin

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.

Easter lilies
As we draw closer to Easter Sunday, which will be April 5 this year, it’s time once again to order Easter lilies! If you are interested in ordering a lily or lilies in memory or in dedication to someone, an order form including prices will be available today and the next two coming Sundays, or you can email your order to the church office at office@ravenscov.org. The lilies will be displayed at the front of the sanctuary on Easter Sunday. You will then be responsible for picking up your lily or lilies after the service and taking them home.

Christian student seeks apartment
Sam Samana, a student who was worshipping at a Covenant church in the St. Louis area while attending college and has now moved to Chicago to do an internship, is seeking an apartment on the North Side. If you know of any apartment availabilities, please contact Gregory in the church office.

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.

Confirmation
Confirmation is a two-year course of study for students around 7th-9th grade. We studied the Old Testament last year. This year we are studying the New Testament. Confirmation classes take place at 7:30 pm on Thursday evenings.

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/ .

Scripture for next Sunday
John 13:1-11
John 13:12-17

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
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
* Sandra Gooden
* Art Hamilton
* Trevor Hanks
* Esther Laraya
* Tatiana Randall
* Mary Smith
* Phillip Stenberg
* Dorinne Tamras
* Lauren Vilardo
* Eric Warren
* Lydia Warrens
* the Westlind family

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.