Order of Worship

 

GATHERING MUSIC - Thank You for this Day, God

Thank you for this day, God; thank you for this day. (Repeat.)
This healing, this healing, this healing day. (Repeat.)

Thank you for these friends, God; thank you for these friends. (Repeat.)
These healing, these healing, these healing friends. (Repeat.)

Thank you for this work, God; thank you for this work . (Repeat.)
This healing, this healing, this healing work. (Repeat.)


WELCOME    

* OPENING SONG  - For Everyone Born

For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead,

Refrain:
And God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!

For young and for old, a place at the table,
a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
for young and for old, the right to belong, (Refrain)

For everyone born, a place at the table,
to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free, (Refrain)


OPENING PRAYER


PASSING OF THE PEACE    

Peace be with you… ...and also with you


* SONG Down to the River to Pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown?
Good Lord, show me the way

O, sisters, let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
O, sisters, let's go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol' way
And who shall wear the robe and crown?
Good Lord, show me the way

O, brothers, let's go down….

O, children, let's go down….

SCRIPTURE - I Timothy 6:11-13b, 16-19


READING - “Sabbath XIII, 2005” by Wendell Berry

SONG OF PREPARATION O God, Our Help in Ages Past

O God our help in ages past
Our hope for years to come
Our shelter from the stormy blast
And our eternal home 

Before the hills in order stood
Or Earth received her frame,
From everlasting you are God,
To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in your sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home.

SERMON Rev. Vince Amlin

 

MUSIC FOR REFLECTION We Have All the Time in the World 

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

* 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. 

* CLOSING SONG Eternal Flame by The Bangles

Close your eyes, give me your hand, darlin'
Do you feel my heart beating
Do you understand
Do you feel the same
Am I only dreaming
Is this burning an eternal flame

I believe it's meant to be, darlin'
I watch you when you are sleeping
You belong with me
Do you feel the same
Am I only dreaming
Or is this burning an eternal flame

Say my name
Sun shines through the rain
A whole life so lonely
And then come and ease the pain
I don't want to lose this feeling, oh

Say my name
Sun shines through the rain
A whole life so lonely
And then come and ease the pain
I don't want to lose this feeling, oh

Close your eyes, give me your hand
Do you feel my heart beating
Do you understand
Do you feel the same
Am I only dreaming
Or is this burning an eternal flame 


* BENEDICTION
 

POSTLUDE Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield


*     *     *    

Announcements

AC Units Needed for Refugee Family

RefugeeOne is in need for window A/ C units for several of its families. If you have one in good working condition that you no longer need, please let Judy Beaupre (Jhbeaupre@yahoo.com) know and we’ll figure out how to get them to the families.

Outer Belt - July 11th

After a brief hiatus, we are back for another Outer Belt journey! Join us on Saturday, July 11th as we continue our 210 mile pilgrimage looping our city in prayer!

If you can’t make it this time, consider joining for our next walk on Saturday, August 15th

Sign up here if you plan on walking with us!

Short ‘n’ Sweet Congregational Mtng - July 19th

Bethany is excited to have Xander King on staff as our new Minister of Children & Families. Because it’s a pastoral role Xander will be ordained into, the language around his employment is that of a “call.” (Congregational churches like ours “hire” staff and “call” pastors.) Because it’s a call, we’ll vote together to affirm it. File under: dotting i’s and crossing t’s.

Plan to attend worship Sunday, July 19th, when we will have a brief congregational meeting to affirm Xander’s call. It’ll be so soon after worship, and so quick, you might be forgiven for thinking it’s just part of the benediction.

Theater Outing To See OCTET - July 23rd

If you're a music lover and/or a theater lover and you haven't yet seen the Raven Theatre's production of OCTET (hailed by the Tribune "one of the highlights of the theater season"), here's a chance for some of us to enjoy it together. After weeks of sold-out performances, OCTET is moving to the Goodman in July, to give this talented ensemble the opportunity to perform on a larger stage for a larger audience. We've set aside Thursday, July 23 (7:30 performance) for any of us who would like to see it together--and at a discounted price. Grab tickets here; put in the code "RAVEN" for a 20% discount. And please let us know if you'll be joining us!

Salt and Light Coalition - August 12th

Salt and Light Coalition empowers survivors of human trafficking to thrive through a trauma-informed approach, including life skills and workplace readiness training. Join Johnny Buranosky and longtime Salt & Light volunteer Gina Henrickson in Bucktown the morning of Wednesday, August 12 from 9 am to Noon.

We are looking for 6 people to volunteer at this time.

Please contact gina.l.henrickson@gmail.com or johnny.buranosky@gmail.com with ANY questions about this opportunity.

How can we help?

This 3 part session

  • Understanding and Supporting Your Own Brand - Facilitated by Johnny

  • Facilitating mock interviews

  • Resume writing help

Volunteers will be needed for each part of the session. Interviewers, resume checks, participating in scripted conversations.

Important- Those that volunteer will need to provide or complete a background check and short training prior to volunteering. If you have had a background check recently that would be used and sufficient. Information on this process will be provided.

Between 16,000 - 25,000 women and girls are trafficked in Chicago annually, with one third of them being trafficked by the age of 15, and 62% by the age of 18 - please join us in making a difference in our community.

Please use this link to sign-up - we will contact those interested with more detailed info for this volunteer opportunity.

I will be around till Wed morning gone for a couple of weeks but Gina will be around to answer questions as well.

Very excited.
Johnny and Gina

Shrimp Boil - August 29th
an August Fundraiser & Party

Bethany’s going back to Biloxi this October to work with Back Bay Mission. We’ll staff the free choice food pantry, clean showers for unhoused guests, repair houses to keep people in their homes, and bring as many supplies as we can afford and carry.

In August, BBM’s Executive Director James Pennington is planning to be with us, to preach on Sunday, August 30th. And it's official: we have enough energy & people to host a shrimp boil fundraiser on Sat, Aug 29th!!

So first of all: save the date and invite a friend or three.

Secondly: gather on Zoom on Tues, July 7th from 6:30 - 7:30 to dream, plan, and organize into teams.

Thirdly: whether you can make that Zoom meeting or not, we'll need more than the dozen folks (including staff) who've signed on to make it happen. Can you help?

Take a short (1 - 2 minute) survey to help us plan!

If you’ve got questions or want to book a conversation with Rebecca to start planning (before July 13!), reach out to her at rebecca@bethanychicago.com

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.

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:

June 29-July 8: Both on, working part-time

July 9-July 26: Rebecca off, Vince working full time

July 27-Aug 1: Rebecca off, Vince working part-time

Aug 2-Aug 16: Both on, working part-time

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!)