Sunday, August 17, 2025

Sunday, August 17, 2025
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Worship live on Sundays in person at 10:00 am
or online via YouTube at noon.

SUMMER IN THE PSALMS:
 “How to Talk with God”

Psalm of Ascents

Psalm 121

I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

New Living Translation

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 125:1-2
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
    which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the Lord surrounds His people
    both now and forevermore. Amen.

PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
Holy God, lead us into praise and worship this morning. Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Holy Spirit, You are the fresh wind that moves us towards new life. Triune God, guide our footsteps towards Your salvation. Amen.

GOD, WE LOVE YOU
* “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
hymnal #78     

GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
Exodus 19:3-6
read by Eric Hillabrant

Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now, therefore, if you obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is Mine, but you shall be for Me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”

Matthew 17:1-9
read by Eric Hillabrant

Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became bright as light. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” ⁸ And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

SINGING OUR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM GOD
* “Declaring Glory (The Earth Sings Its Refrain)”
Guerra / Bluett / Parden / Chambers / Zach

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Children are invited to the front. Following the message, children are invited to play in the gym. A parent from the church will supervise.

MESSAGE
Which Way Is Up?
Mary Spriggs

SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
hymnal #422      

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
led by 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 DESIRE FOR GOD’S REIGN
* “Praise”           

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 Dana

GOD INVITES US TO GATHER AGAIN
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us.
Information on ravenscov.org.

Summer worship schedule
We are now in our summer worship schedule, which means a 10:00 am worship hour. Sunday School and Faith Forum are now on summer hiatus. Sunday worship will return to the 11:00 am hour the Sunday after Labor Day.

Hand fans available
We now have hand fans available for your use to help make Sunday mornings more comfortable during these hot summer months. They are on the table in the back of the sanctuary. Please do not throw away the fans or take them home, as they are meant to be cleaned and re-used. Please put them in the yellow accordion folder as you exit the sanctuary.

Summer Book Club
You are invited to take part in the Summer Book Club, led by Pastor Ryan, which has been meeting two Thursday evenings in each of the three summer months, at 7:00 pm in the upstairs lounge. The book is The Great De-churching by Jim Davis and Michael Graham. The remaining session of the Summer Book Club is August 21. Participants are asked to please read pages 199-239 before the August 21 session.

Cooler Sundays
The fourth Sunday of each month of summer — June 22, July 27, and August 24 — is a Cooler Sunday, which features grilled hot dogs and hamburgers during the fellowship hour downstairs. The burgers, hot dogs, and drinks are provided, and feel free to bring a side dish or dessert to pass. Please plan to join us next week for Cooler Sunday, as we enjoy food and fellowship after the service!

Scripture for next Sunday
Psalm 113
Job 1:20-22
2 Corinthians 1:3-7

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.

Farmers market
Another great summer day on Wednesday, and another great Ravenswood Community Farmers Market in our parking lot! There were 731 adult visitors checking out the market’s vendors, and many children were there as well, enjoying the bounce house, the science table, the art table, and the water play area.

The market runs every Wednesday from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the church parking lot until the middle of October. The church not only hosts the market, it also operates the children’s activities that are a part of the market — and this year we are also going to reinstate our greeting tent on select Wednesdays, so that our neighbors visiting the market can get to know the church that hosts it a little better

How you can contribute:
* Pray for the community, the vendors and those from the church who volunteer.
* Purchase the following needs:
– Baby Wipes
– Blue Dawn Dish Soap
– Corn Starch
– Baking Soda
– White Vinegar (1/2 to 1 gallon size)

* Help with set-up and tear-down
* Help facilitate activities for the kids

See Bekah Carlson or the church staff if you’d like to join us to help on Wednesdays.

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.

The Bible study will not meet this summer on the Thursday evenings in which the Summer Book Club meets.

We have Zoom available for those who would like to take part in the Bible study but cannot be physically present. The Zoom link is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83923376849?pwd=YUlYVXBmOVdwV0d5L20ySng3aHU3Zz09 .

Meeting ID: 839 2337 6849
Passcode: 318853

* Cynthia Arden
* Nikolas Arden
* the Binag family
* Messian Burgos
* Shirley Deliberto
* Veronica Clarke
* Frank Coszach
* Vira Coszach
* Art Hamilton
* Trevor Hanks
* Lidija Jagustin
* the Olsen family
* Maria Paulette
* Brianna Randall
* Mary Smith
* Mary Spriggs
* Dorinne Tamras
* Lauren Vilardo
* 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.