Order of Worship
GATHERING MUSIC - Let Your Voice Be Heard by Sarina Patridge
Hmmmm... let your voice be heard
Hmmmm... every sacred word
Hmmmm... let your song be sung
Hmmmm... truth is on your tongue
On your tongue
WELCOME
OPENING SONG How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation for you has been laid,
by God in the Word, in the sacrifice paid!
What more can God say than to you has been said,
to you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
"Fear not, I am with you, oh, be not dismayed,
for I am your God, and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand
upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand."
"When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of woe shall not over you flow;
For I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
delivering you from your deepest distress."
"When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace all-sufficient shall be your supply;
the flame shall not hurt you; for I have designed
your soul to make pure just as gold is refined."
"The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
OPENING PRAYER
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Peace be with you… ...and also with you
* SONG - I Will Trust in the Lord
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord till I die. (repeat)
I'm going to watch, fight, and pray…
I’m going to treat everybody right…
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS
When in the past week did you see God at work?
What concerns would you like to turn over to God’s care?
PASTORAL PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father (Creator), 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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen
GIVE, SERVE, SHARE: Offering and Announcements
OFFERTORY
DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below.
Praise God above ye heavenly host,
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
SCRIPTURE - Psalm 8
READING - “I stand at the seashore, alone, and start to think” by Richard Feynman
SONG OF PREPARATION We Live By Faith and Not by Sight
We live by faith and not by sight;
no gracious words we hear
From Christ who spoke as none e'er spoke,
who still we know is near.
We may not touch Christ's hands and side,
nor follow where Christ trod;
but in confessing we rejoice:
our Savior and our God!
Help then, O Christ, our unbelief;
and may our faith abound
To call on you when you are near
and seek where you are found:
That, when our life of faith is done,
in realms of clearer light
We may behold you as you are,
with full and endless sight.
SERMON Rev. Vince Amlin
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION The Story by Brandi Carlile
Katy Lindhart, soprano
COMMUNION
Everyone is welcome to receive communion at Bethany.
We have both wine and grape juice.
God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
COMMUNION SONG A Chloris by Reynaldo Hahn
Katy Lindhart, soprano
CLOSING SONG The Living Years by Mike + the Mechanics
Every generation
Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations
Come beating on your door
I know that I'm a prisoner to all my father held so dear
I know that I'm a hostage, to all his hopes and fears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years
More crumpled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations
I'm afraid that's all we've got
You say you just don't see it
He says it's perfect sense
You just can't get agreement
In this present tense
We all talk a different language
Talking in defence
[Chorus]
So we open up a quarrel
Between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future
It's the bitterness that lasts
So don't yield to the fortunes
You sometimes see as fate
It may have a new perspective
On a different day
And if you don't give up, and don't give in
You may just be okay
[Chorus]
I wasn't there that morning
When my father passed away
I didn't get to tell him
All the things I had to say
I think I caught his spirit
Later that same year
I'm sure I heard his echo
In my baby's new born tears
I just wish I could have told him
In the living years
[Chorus]
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE True Colors by Cyndi Lauper
Katy Lindhart, soprano
* * *
Announcements
Shrove Sunday Pancake Breakfast - Feb 15th
Nobody actually calls the Sunday before Ash Wednesday “Shrove Sunday” but here at Bethany, we celebrate this obscure church holiday each year with a Pancake Breakfast (where we eat waffles, not pancakes).
Join us Sunday February 15th after service for our annual Lenten breakfast celebration! We’ll have coffee, waffles, and syrup but we need you to bring everything else. Sign up here if you're able to help with cooking, decorations or clean-up.
Pathways to Creativity Small Group - Feb. 17th
If you were lucky enough to hear Rebecca’s Christmas reflection then you know that God is the ultimate creator. And if we’re all created in God’s image, we were all born to be creators. For the early part of our lives, if you were anything like me (hello – this is Ron), you probably did all sorts of creative things like finger paint, or play with puppets, or make friendship bracelets. Unfortunately, as we grow older, many of us stop being creators, convincing ourselves that creativity is the realm for other people, and certainly not for me.
If you’ve always wanted to be creative (painter, writer, poet, singer) but unsure how to proceed, I invite you to discover and recover your creative self. Over 6 weeks we’ll go through Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. We’ll explore why you may have stopped being creative and through weekly discussions and exercises I hope to re-ignite your creative self. We’ll do this primarily through process-oriented art, emphasizing materials exploration (all materials included) and mark-making (no technical skills needed - I can’t draw to save my life). For the last three weeks we’ll try our hand at making palimpsests as a way to explore our very many layered selves. Don’t know what a palimpsest is? Take a listen to Vince’s sermon from 07/25/2023 and how God gives us all the second chances we need!
Join me for one, any, or all sessions:
Tuesday, Feb. 17th
Tuesday, Feb. 24th
Tuesday, March 3rd
Tuesday, March 10th
Thursday, March 19th
Tuesday, March 24th
Sign up here if you plan on joining!
Ash Wednesday: Admitting Defeat - Feb. 18th
This Ash Wednesday, we're waving the white flag. Before we give up anything for Lent, we're just giving up. Surrendering. Our theme for Lent is "Come Away With Me." We're practicing retreat in every sense. And on Ash Wednesday we're retreating from the battles, the struggles, the campaigns we cannot win. We're admitting defeat. Come away to this quiet, contemplative service to sing, and pray, and be reminded that you are dust and to dust you shall return. Find the blessing that comes at the end of the fight. Wednesday, February 18th at 7pm.
Next Outer Belt Trip - Feb. 21st
Join us for the next leg of our Outer Belt Pilgrimage! We’ll be walking together on Saturday Feb. 21 . If you can’t make it this time, consider joining us for our next journey on March 21st. Sign up here if you plan on joining! For more info, reach out Vince at vince@bethanychicago.com and/or go to outerbelt.org.
Chili Cook-Off - March 14th
It’s chili cookoff time again! This is how we raise money to support refugees and immigrants in our area. So dust off your crockpots, fine tune your best chili recipe and get ready for some good belly- filling competition. Our annual cookoff and bake-off (yummy desserts of all kinds) is scheduled for Saturday, March 14. More information to come, or check in with Bud or Judy.
Jesus Christ Super Star - March 20th
We invite you to come Rock Out with us to the songs of Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE on March 20th at 7:30pm Bethany United Church of Christ.
ONE NIGHT ONLY
Come see local performers and Bethany members stage a FREE LIVE CONCERT featuring the music of the famous rock opera and 1970 concept album written by Andrew Loyd Webber and Tim Rice, right here in Bethany’s sanctuary.
Address: 4250 N Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60613
The event will be BYOB
Bethany will provide soft drinks, but please feel free to bring whatever beverage you would like to sip on as you listen and rock out!
Doors Open at 7:00pm
Show Starts at 7:30pm
Help Make Worship Happen
For the next couple months, our pastors will be flying solo, which means we could use your help now more than ever! Please sign up here if you’re able to help.
Give and Get Help
Throughout the holiday season, we will continue to collect canned goods and other non-perishable food items to be delivered to Nourishing Hope. Contact us anytime at bethany.ucc.assistance@gmail.com if you, your family or those close to you have needs that are not being met. We will try to help, or at least point you in the direction of help.
Subscribe to Bethany’s Google Calendar (a work in progress!)
