Sunday, November 30, 2025

Sunday, November 30, 2025
First Sunday of Advent
Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am
or online via YouTube at noon.

PEOPLE GET READY!

Daniel 3:28

Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered his servants who trusted in Him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.”

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

GATHERING MUSIC
“Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers!”
led by Leslie and 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 42:1-2,5
As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for You, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise Him,
    my Savior and my God.

PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE
Abba Father, the world is so dark, but You said, “Let there be light!” Lord Jesus, the world is so dark, but You said, “I am the Light of the World!” Holy Spirit, the world is so dark, but You brighten it with the Light of Christ. Father, Son, and Spirit, give us the hope to carry Your Light into the darkness. Amen.

SINGING OUR LOVE TO GOD
* “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”    
hymnal #120
(verse one only)

ADVENT READING 1: HOPE
led by the Jackson family
First Reader: The prophet Isaiah calls to us from the past to imagine the future when God’s reign will be fully realized and recognized throughout creation. When that time comes, God “shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).
All: Today, we choose to live in hope, believing that the time of God’s reign has come and is coming among us.
Second Reader: We light this candle of hope as a sign of our promise to follow the Light as we answer God’s call to transform our hope into reality today and in the days to come.

the first candle of the Advent wreath is lit

HYMN
* “Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers!”
hymnal #136

GOD, WE’RE LISTENING
Daniel 3:1, 8-18
read by the Jackson family

 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue whose height was sixty cubits and whose width was six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

Accordingly, at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, shall fall down and worship the golden statue, and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men pay no heed to you, O king. They do not serve your gods, and they do not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in, so they brought those men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you should fall down and worship the statue that I have made. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”

SINGING OUR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM GOD
* “Trust in God”

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
Daniel 3:19-30
Get Ready for Hope  
Pastor Ryan

SINGING OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD
* “It Is Well with My Soul”
hymnal #451

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
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
led by the choir (verses two and three)

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
* “Even So Come”

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

MUSIC ENDS OUR COMMUNAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD
“It Is Well with My Soul”
Philip P. Bliss
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.

Hanging of the Greens
This year Ravenswood Covenant has moved the annual Hanging of the Greens to today following the worship service. This will give more people an opportunity to help decorate the church for the Advent and Christmas seasons, as well as make the work easier. Everyone, including children, can take part in the Hanging of the Greens!

Congregational business meeting
A congregational business meeting will be held downstairs after next Sunday’s service to approve the 2026 church. All members of the church are strongly encouraged to attend. Your input and your presence are valued!

RECC 2025 holiday schedule
The dates and times for Ravenswood Covenant’s 2025 holiday season activities and special services has been announced:

Sun., Nov. 30: Hanging of the Greens, after the service

Sun., Dec. 14: Sankta Lucia festival, during the service

Sun. Dec. 21: Christmas Carol Jeopardy! and Cookie Exchange, after the service

Wed., Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Lessons & Carols, 6:00 pm

Sunday School
Sunday School at Ravenswood Covenant 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. Plan to join us each Sunday as we learn and grow in our faith as a community of believers.

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 two weeks ago. For more information, go to https://covenantharbor.org/ and https://www.cpbc.com/ .

Scripture for next Sunday
John 4:13-14
Isaiah 55:1-13

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.

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.

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
* Art Hamilton
* Trevor Hanks
* Esther Laraya
* the Olsen family
* Maria Paulette
* Tatiana Randall
* Mary Smith
* Tom Spriggs
* Phillip Stenberg
* Dorinne Tamras
* Lauren Vilardo
* Eric Warren
* Lydia Warrens
* Natalia Westlind

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.