Sunday, January 11, 2026
Sunday, January 11th
Sunday, January 11, 2026
First Sunday of Epiphany
Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am
or online via YouTube at noon.
GOSPEL OF JOHN: GOD’S OWN SON
John 2:11
Jesus did this, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
Leader: light print / People: bold print / * Please stand as you are able.
GATHERING MUSIC
“As with Gladness Men of Old”
led by 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
Psalm 104:1-2, 14-15, 35
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment.
You cause the grass to grow for the cattle and plants for people to cultivate, to bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the human heart.
Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!
PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let heaven and nature sing! Let fields, floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the resounding joy! Lord Jesus, prepare our hearts for the coming Kingdom where You rule the world with truth and grace and sins and sorrows no longer grow. Amen.
SINGING OUR LOVE TO GOD
* “As With Gladness Men of Old”
hymnal #192
GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
1 John 1:1-10
read by Gregory Sager
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — what we have seen and heard we also declare to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
SINGING OUR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM GOD
* “Sing of God Made Manifest”
hymnal #206
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 2:1-11
Saving the Best for Last
Pastor Ryan
SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
* “Arise, Your Light Is Come!”
hymnal #194
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
Jesu, meine Freude
Johann Crüger
led by 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
* “Shine, Jesus, Shine”
hymnal #195
THE LAST GOOD WORD
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MUSIC ENDS OUR COMMUNAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD
Von Himmel Hoch
arr. Evan Becker
led by 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.
Taking Down of the Greens
Most of the Christmas decorations have been taken down and stored, but there are still some items left. If you have the time and opportunity, your help would be appreciated after the service to complete the task of taking down the Christmas decorations.
Lunch Bunch gathering
The Lunch Bunch will be meeting downstairs on Wednesday, January 14, at 11:30 am to share lunch and fellowship. All of the women of the church are invited. Bring a friend or two! For more information, please speak to Nancy Popovich or contact the church office.
Gospel of John copies available
In connection with his suggestion that the congregation read the Gospel of John this month, Pastor Ryan has 25 printed copies of John available. If you would like one, please speak to the pastor or contact the church office.
An evening with Prof. Rebekah Eklund
Theology Professor Rebekah Eklund from Loyola (MD) University, a graduate of North Park University and North Park Theological Seminary, will present two teaching sessions, “Reading the Beatitudes in the company of saints” and “Meekness and peacekeeping”, on Saturday, January 17 at Northwest Covenant Church in Mount Prospect, with dinner served between the sessions. For more information, please contact Northwest Covenant at www.nwcov.com or 847-255-4671.
Bud Hodgkinson funeral
The funeral for Ravenswood Covenant’s oldest member, Walter G. “Bud” Hodgkinson, will be held here on Saturday, January 24 and will be open to the public. There will be a viewing at 11:00 am, followed by the funeral service at 12:00 pm and a reception afterwards in the fellowship hall.
We thank God for the life of Bud Hodgkinson and for bringing him and his family into our midst. For nearly a century Bud was a part of this congregation and served it well in many capacities both formal and informal, including four terms as our church chair. His warmth, his humor, his caring, and his witness as a follower of Jesus Christ were evident to all who met him in this place. Peace to his memory.
May the blessing of the earth be on you,
soft under your feet as you pass along the roads,
soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day;
and may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it.
May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly; up and off and on its way to God.
And now may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly. Amen.
— the Scottish Blessing
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
Psalm 127:1-2
John 2:13-25
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
* Esther Laraya
* 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.