Order of Worship
GATHERING MUSIC Open Water
I am gonna make my way
to the source of all
where the open water flows
Wild heart take wing,
listen for the call
where the open water flows
And I will find my way…
WELCOME
* OPENING SONG I Am the Light of the World
Refrain:
“I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love
you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
To find the lost and lonely one,
To heal the broken soul with love,
To feed the hungry children with warmth and good food,
To feel the earth below,
The sky above!
Refrain
To free the prisoner from all chains,
To make the powerful care,
To rebuild the nations with strength of good will,
To see all God’s children everywhere!
Refrain
To bring hope to every task you do,
To dance at a baby’s new birth,
To make music in an old person’s heart,
And sing to the colors of the earth!
Refrain
OPENING PRAYER
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Peace be with you… ...and also with you
* SONG We are One in the Spirit
We are One in The Spirit, we are One in The Lord. (x2)
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our Love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side. (x2)
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each man's pride.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our Love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand. (x2)
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our Love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.
SCRIPTURE - John 14:1-6a, reader, Johnny Buranosky
READING - Manifesto: Mad Farmer Liberation Front by Wendell Berry (1934-2026)
Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want more
of everything ready-made. Be afraid
to know your neighbors and to die.
And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery
any more. Your mind will be punched in a card
and shut away in a little drawer.
When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.
So, friends, every day do something
that won't compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embrace
the flag. Hope to live in that free
republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what man
has not encountered he has not destroyed.
Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.
Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.
Listen to carrion — put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?
Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn't go.
Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.
SONG OF PREPARATION Give Me Jesus
In the morning when I rise,
in the morning when I rise,
in the morning when I rise,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus.
You may have all this world, give me Jesus.
Dark midnight was my cry,
dark midnight was cry,
dark midnight was my cry,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus.
You may have all this world, give me Jesus.
And when I’m alone,
And when I’m alone,
And when I’m alone,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus.
You may have all this world, give me Jesus.
Oh, when I come to die,
oh, when I come to die,
oh, when I come to die,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus.
You may have all this world, give me Jesus.
SERMON Rev. Vince Amlin
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION The Call by R. Vaughan Williams
Keanon Kyles, baritone
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/Parent, 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: Announcements
* CLOSING SONG Changed by Aaron Niequist
We have been blessed
Now we’re going to be a blessing
We have been loved
Now we’re going to bring love
We’ve been invited - gonna share the invitation
We have been changed - to bring change, to bring change (2x)
I’m gonna thank you for this new life,
Thank you for the invitation!
God, we want to live it
Loud enough to shake the nations, in your name!
We have been saved
Gonna shout the Savior
We have been found,
Gonna turn over every stone
We’ve been empowered
To love the world to Heaven
We have been changed - to bring change, to bring change (3x)
* BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Raise You Up from Kinky Boots
Keanon Kyles, baritone
* * *
Announcements
Back Bay Supply Drive
Bethany is returning to Back Bay in Biloxi, Mississippi in October and we need your help. Part of their mission is to help the homeless in their community. There are no overnight shelters in Biloxi. Please bring 1 or more items for hygiene kits that we will deliver to the mission.
Next Sunday, Back Bay executive director James Pennington will be preaching and you are invited to bring supplies to kick off our prep for this year’s trip. (Are we tempted to try and WOW James with a giant heap of these things? Yes. We. Are!)
hand towel (approximately 16" x 28")
wash cloth
wide tooth comb
toothbrush
toothpaste
bar of soap (bath size, in wrapper)
plastic soap container
deodorant (men or women)
razor (men or women)
comb or brush
menstrual products
Outer Belt - September 12th
Join us Saturday, September 12th as we continue our 210 mile pilgrimage looping our city in prayer!
Can’t make it this time? Consider joining for our next walks on:
Saturday, October 17
Saturday, November 14
Saturday, December 5
Sign up here if you plan on walking with us Sept. 12th!
Gathering Sunday - September 13th
We're excited to kick-off this program year and celebrate with a party on the front lawn. Join us to re-energize and rejuvenate for the fall!
Sunday September 13th will also be our first day returning to 10:30am worship time. It will also mark the return of Nursery Care! We’ll enjoy a potluck together on the lawn after worship (please plan to bring something yummy to share!) and a bounce house.
The following week in worship (9/20) will be the return of Sunday School! Mark your calendars!
We’re looking forward to celebrating with you!
Beach Clean Up - September 19th
Join Organizing for Plastics Alternatives to help clean up trash at Foster Beach from 10am-12pm! Register here if you plan on joining.
Sunday School Returns! - September 20th
Sunday school is back on September 20th! We are so excited to begin our year diving into the Fruits of the Spirit every week from now through May. We can’t wait to sing worship songs, explore Biblical stories, and engage activities together in k-2nd and 3rd-6th grade classes.
Improve Election Turn Out with Bethany - September 23rd
Did you know that, nationally, those who prioritize environmental issues tend to have low voting rates? That needs to change! Bethany is partnering with the Environmental Voter Project to get out the vote in Texas. We will be writing postcards to environmentally-minded voters to get them engaged in their upcoming election. You will be given a script, so no worries about what to write.
Contacting voters directly has a proven record of success – the more postcards, the more voters go to the polls. They've found their campaigns can boost turnout of environmental voters by as much as 1.3%. If you've ever wished you lived in a swing state where your vote mattered more, now's your chance. Many races these days are determined by narrower margins than that!
So join us for some snacks, brews, and political action on September 23rd from 6-8pm. We'll be completing 200 postcards and all supplies will be provided.
Volunteer at Urban Grower’s Collective - September 26th 1-4pm
Come pick vegetables and meet goats at a Black and women led farm in the South Chicago neighborhood working towards food sovereignty for Chicago’s South Side. Reach out to Xander if you want to carpool!
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.
Calling All Small Group Leaders!
Last year we had an incredible variety of amazing small groups led by Bethany members and friends, and we hope to do it again in the 26-27 program year! If you have an idea for a small group to offer anytime between September and next June, let us know.
Bethany small groups can be spiritual, educational, artistic, supportive, or social. They typically meet weekly for about a month, but can be longer or shorter. They meet at church, in homes, in public spaces, or online. If you have an idea for a group you'd like to offer this year, fill out the form here. Vince will be in touch in August to put together the full schedule of small groups for the coming year.
Summer Pastoral Calendar
As part of their part-time schedules, Rebecca and Vince each have 10 weeks off a year for pursuing their other work of storytelling and pilgrimage leading (or for whatever else they choose). While one of them is away for this leave, the other works full-time so that there is always full-time pastoral coverage. Here's a look at this summer's schedule:
August 17-30: Vince off, Rebecca working full-time, Sunday-Thursday
We also list current pastoral hours in the weekly email and bulletins.
Subscribe to Bethany’s Google Calendar (a work in progress!)
