Sunday, October 26, 2025

Sunday, October 26, 2025
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am
or online via YouTube at noon.

CALLED BY GOD

1 Kings 8:12-13

And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that He would dwell in thick darkness. I have built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.”

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

GATHERING MUSIC
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
Martin Luther
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
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 
For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them.

PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
Martin Luther
Lord, keep us steadfast in your word;
curb those who by deceit or sword
would wrest the kingdom from your Son
and bring to naught all he has done.

Lord Jesus Christ, Your power make known,
for You are Lord of lords alone;
defend Your holy church,
that we may sing Your praise eternally.

O Comforter of priceless worth,
send peace and unity on earth;
support us in our final strife and lead us out of death to life. Amen.

HYMN
* “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
hymnal #464

GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
1 Kings 5:1-5
read by Jim Anderson

Now King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always been a friend to David. Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying, “You know that my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until he put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. So I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to my father David, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for My name.’

SINGING OUR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM GOD
* “Behold the Lamb of God”
hymnal #216
led by Glenn Kaiser

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 supervise.

MESSAGE
1 Kings 8:1-13
Solomon: Called to Build
Pastor Ryan

SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
* “The Church’s One Foundation”
hymnal #579

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
“For the Beauty of the Earth”
hymnal #56
led by the choir (congregation joins on verse 5)

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
* “Come, We That Love the Lord”
hymnal #577

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

MUSIC ENDS OUR COMMUNAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD
Toccata in E minor
Johann Pachelbel
led by Cynthia

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

Sunday School
Sunday School at Ravenswood Covenant has begun! It meets every Sunday, starting at 10:00 am. 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. This month’s topic is “Listen to the Prophets Today”. 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. Students, please pick up your copy of the New Testament workbook from the church office.

Scripture for next Sunday
1 Kings 19:1-9
1 Kings 19:11-16

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.

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.

2025 Fall/Winter choir season
The annual Fall/Winter choir season at Ravenswood Covenant, which will continue for ten weeks, has begun. The choir meets at 9:00 am on Sundays in the sanctuary to rehearse. All are welcome to join, regardless of experience or music-reading ability. For more information, please contact the church office or speak to our church’s organist, Cynthia Arden, who also serves as our choir director.

Glenn Kaiser concert at Ravenswood Covenant
Glenn Kaiser will play a Gospel and Blues concert after church today in the sanctuary. Burgers and hot dogs will be served. We hope you’ll stick around and join us!

Offerfest 2025
This year’s Offerfest will take place on Sunday, November 16. More details to come. Offerfest is a generations-old tradition at Ravenswood Covenant in which one Sunday each fall is set aside to celebrate and give thanks for God’s providence in our lives, and on that Sunday all giving is devoted to specific projects chosen by the church’s Leadership Team. This year there are two projects, an external one and an internal one. Our external project will be to support the new Covenant Harbor Dining Commons and Welcome Center. Our internal project is to raise money for a new bounce house for the farmers market.

Covenant Home Altar
Free copies of the fall quarter issue of the Covenant Home Altar, the denominational daily-devotional magazine of the Evangelical Covenant Church, are available in the narthex. Please help yourself to this resource for your prayer life.

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
* Art Hamilton
* Trevor Hanks
* the Olsen family
* Maria Paulette
* Tatiana Randall
* Mary Smith
* Dorinne Tamras
* Lauren Vilardo
* Eric Warren
* 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.