Sunday, February 23, 2025

Sunday, February 23rd

Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am,
or on YouTube at noon.

PRELUDE
Prelude du Septieme Ton
Jacques Boyvin
led by Cynthia

WELCOME, GREETING, AND COMMUNITY LIFE

CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 103:3-6
Leader: Let all that I am praise the Lord; and never forget the good things He does for me.
People:He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.He fills my life with good things.
Leader: The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
People: Let all that I am praise the Lord!

PRAYER
Creator of all, You formed us in Your image and filled us with life-giving breath. Redeemer of all, You have ransomed and healed us, restored and forgiven us. Sustainer of all, tune the very fiber of our being to resonate with the songs of all creation, praising You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.

* 10,000 REASONS (BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Worship Your holy name
Lord, I’ll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name

* WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NAME
You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ

What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

You didn’t want heaven without us
So, Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now

What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

Death could not hold You
The veil tore before You
You silence the boast of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring
The praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again

You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever God You reign
Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names

What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Rod Kutz
Galatians 2:11-21

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood self-condemned, for until certain people came from James, he used to eat with the gentiles. But after they came, he drew back and kept himself separate for fear of the circumcision faction. And the other Jews joined him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the gentiles to live like Jews?”

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not gentile sinners, yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Pastor Ryan

Children 6 and under are dismissed to Children’s Church in the upstairs lounge. Parents can pick up their children in the lounge after the service.

REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Luke 7:36-50
Calculating Debt
Pastor Ryan

* TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as You choose.

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it’s all for Thee. (repeat)

Take my will and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord I pour
At Your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it’s all for Thee. (repeat)

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Arranged & Augmented by: Chris Tomlin. ARR. UBP. CCLI#349090. Original Words by Frances Ridley Havergal; music by H.A. Cesar

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: the Anderson family; Nikolas Arden; the Binag family; Messian Burgos; Cathy Cassidy; Frank Coszach; Vira Coszach; Pastor Ryan; Art & Rosa Hamilton; Trevor Hanks; Mary McKirchy; Maria Paulette; Mary Smith; Dorinne Tamras; Lauren Vilardo; Lydia Warrens; and the Westlind family

Ministries & Mission
Becci Swearingen, serving in Kenya; Barb & Steve Swanson, serving in Sweden

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.

GIVING OF OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle^® to: giving@ravenscov.org

OFFERTORY
“Give Thanks”
led by Leslie and Cynthia

* DOXOLOGY & PRAYER
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.

* I THEN SHALL LIVE
hymnal #625

BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God

POSTLUDE
Finlandia
Jean Sibelius
led by Cynthia
please remain seated during the postlude

INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.

Congregational meeting
This is a reminder that today we will hold a congregational meeting in the sanctuary after the worship service. Since we are forced to hold this meeting to approve the 2025 budget because we were unable to reach the minimum number of members required by our church’s constitution to create a quorum at our scheduled January meeting, we strongly urge that you make every effort to attend today’s meeting if you are a member so that we can do this important work of the church.

Please wear a nametag
We’ve had a number of visitors and new attendees lately, and it’s very important that we not only welcome them warmly to our church but also allow them to attach a name to a face. Please wear a nametag and let visitors know who you are! Blank nametags and Sharpies will be available both in the narthex and in the sanctuary.

Pastor Ryan’s office hours
Pastor Ryan is back at work, but since he is still dealing with mobility issues he is mostly working at home for the time being. If you would like to meet with him, please contact him to schedule a meeting by appointment.

Grant writing for RECC organ repair
Our church’s organ is in need of repair, and how much repair and upgrading we are able to have done on this complex and expensive instrument depends upon the funds we have available for it. With that in mind, the Leadership Team is planning to seek out funding opportunities from organizations that provide grants for the preservation of organs.

If you are someone who has done grant writing or know of someone who has, or if you are interested in researching and writing grant proposals that would supplement this work on the organ, please contact Pastor Ryan, Alice Westlind, or Eric Hillabrant from the leadership team or contact the church office.

Thursday evening Bible study
The weekly Bible study meets every Thursday at 7:00 pm. We have recently begun studying the Gospel of Luke, to be followed by its sequel, the Acts of the Apostles. The Bible study meets in the upstairs lounge and via Zoom. For more information, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at (773) 784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org.

2024 annual report
Copies of the church’s 2024 annual report are available in the narthex. Please take one!

Scripture reader sign-up
We’re seeking people to read the scripture passages of the day in the worship service for the winter months. If you are willing to be a scripture reader this winter, please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the church office or in the narthex on Sundays, or contact Gregory Sager or Pastor Ryan. Feel free to sign up for more than one Sunday if you so desire.

Sunday School
Sunday School meets at 10:00 am every Sunday, and all parents are encouraged to bring their children here to learn more about God and the Christian faith.

Faith Forum
Faith Forum, Ravenswood Covenant’s adult Christian education class, meets at the Sunday School hour (10:00 am) during the school year. This year’s edition of Faith Forum will feature a series of teachers who will each explore a topic over a one-month period.

Treats and coffee are provided each week. Join us in the upstairs lounge every Sunday in Faith Forum!

Ravenswood Community Winter Market
Come visit Ravenswood’s new off-season indoor market, called Ravenswood Community Winter Market. It’s held at All Saints Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1757 W. Wilson Ave., on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm! Our favorite farmer, John Patyk, will be there with fresh eggs, mushrooms, and meats! Nena’s Sweet Treats have macarons and fresh baked sourdough bread. Pride Coffee Roasters will he have fresh roasted coffee. Hilary’s Cookies will have cookies, English-style scones, cakes, and savory pies. The full vendor list includes: Monarch Beauty Farm, Lincoln Ice Cream Company (Hot Cocoa Bombs), DFG Designs & The Alchemy Kitchen, Cathie’s K9 Treats, EE Mercantile Co, Nonie’s Bees, Tamales Express, Gather Good Food, and a few more to come! Live music by Bryan Harrell and a special kids table run by Ravenswood Covenant Church!

Coffee hour changes
There is now a coffee hour bulletin board downstairs in the fellowship hall! (It’s right next to the kids’ serving window.) Please look there for updated serving instructions as well as to find out what team you’re on. We’ve had some turnover, so we encourage you to sign up to join a serving team if you haven’t done so already. A self-sign-up will now be available on the board so that you can pick which Sundays work best for you. As always, thanks for serving!

Join Us in Sponsoring a Student in the NPTS SRA Program
North Park’s School of Restorative Arts offers a MA in Christian Ministry and Restorative Arts, allowing free and incarcerated students to study together. This unique degree program is designed to prepare individuals for ministries of restoration in contexts susceptible to violence and includes courses in trauma, race relations, nonviolent communication, conflict transformation, restorative practices, and transformative justice, in addition to Bible, theology, and history. In partnership with the Illinois Department of Corrections, this four-year degree is currently offered at Stateville Correctional Center with 80 incarcerated men and a first cohort of 20 women at Logan Correctional Center.

We, Ravenswood Covenant Church, have partnered with North Park Theological Seminary by committing to sponsor a student in this program. To help us support an SRA student please send a check to church or give online and in the memo line write: “SRA Sponsorship.”

Scripture for next Sunday
Psalm 36:5-10
Luke 9:28-45

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.