Sunday, January 18, 2026

Sunday, January 18, 2026
Second 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 2:18-19
The Jews then said to Him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

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 84:1-4
How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the Lord!
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God!
Even the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in Your house, ever singing Your praise! 

PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
O Lord God of hosts, hear our prayer. Give ear, O God of Jacob! We gather in this sanctuary to worship the True Temple: Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit unite us like bricks and mortar to become a holy temple to the Lord. Amen. 

SINGING OUR LOVE TO GOD
* “I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light”
hymnal #367

GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
1 John 2:7-11                         
read by Rod Kutz

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister abides in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates a brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.

SINGING OUR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM GOD
* “Living Hope”
Brian Johnson / Phil Wickham © 2017 Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs; Sing My Songs; Bethel Music Publishing

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 2:13-25
Temple Tantrum
Pastor Ryan

SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
* “Holy Forever”
Brian Johnson / Chris Tomlin / Jason Ingram / Jenn Johnson / Phil Wickham © 2022 Brian and Jenn Publishing; Capitol CMG Paragon; S. D. G. Publishing; Be Essential Songs; My Magnolia Music; Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs; Bethel Music Publishing

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
“In Christ Alone”
Getty / Townend
led by 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
* “Praise Him! Praise Him!”               
hymnal #319

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

MUSIC ENDS OUR COMMUNAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD
Gravé in E minor
J.S. Bach
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.

A Thank-You from Cynthia
Thank you, choir, once again, for your hard work and dedication to our singing and leading worship throughout the Fall season and Advent. It is a joy to work together and I look forward to starting up again March 1 as we enter the Lent season leading to Palm Sunday and Easter.

Blessings this Epiphany!

Cynthia Arden

Gospel of John copies available
In connection with his suggestion that the congregation read the Gospel of John this month, Pastor Ryan has made printed copies of John available. There are still a few left. If you would like one, please pick one up at the information table in the back of the sanctuary.

Ravenswood Covenant annual meeting
The church’s annual meeting will be held in the sanctuary next Sunday, January 25, after the morning worship service. The 2025 annual report will be distributed, and this will be an important moment for us to discuss the church’s ministry and look ahead to how we can best serve God and our neighbors in 2026.

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.

Volunteers needed for Bud Hodgkinson funeral service
We need three set-up and three take-down volunteers for Bud’s funeral service next Saturday,
January 24. If you are able to help, please contact 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 3:1-10
John 3:11-21

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.