Order of Worship
GATHERING MUSIC - We Shall Not Be Moved
WELCOME
* OPENING SONG - God of Grace and God of Glory
God of grace and God of glory,
on your people pour your pow'r;
crown your ancient church's story,
bring its bud to glorious flow'r.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.
From the evils that surround us
and assail the Saviors ways,
From the fears that long have bound us,
free our hearts for faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.
Cure your children’s warring madness;
Bend our pride to Savior’s waysfrom the fears that long have bound us
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Make our broken spirits whole
Make our broken spirits whole
Set our feet on lofty places;
gird our lives, that they may be
armored with all Christ-like graces
in the fight to set us free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
In the quest for liberty
In the quest for liberty
Save us from weak resignation
To the evils we deplore
Let the search for your salvation
Be our glory evermore
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving you whom we adore
Serving you whom we adore
OPENING PRAYER
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Peace be with you… ...and also with you
* SONG - This Joy I Have
This joy I have, the world didn't give it to me.
This joy I have, the world didn't give it to me.
This joy I have, the world didn't give it to me.
The world didn't give it. The world can't take it away
This love…
This peace…
SCRIPTURE - Numbers 22:21-31
READING - “Look Out” by Wendell Berry
read by Gina Henrickson
SONG OF PREPARATION - It’s Okay to Change your Mind by Annie Schlaefer
Ohh, it's okay to change your mind.
Show us your courage,
leave this behind.
Ohh it's okay to change your mind,
and you can join us,
join us here anytime.
SERMON
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Read All About It by Emeli Sandé
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
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.
* CLOSING SONG - Hold On by Heidi Wilson
* BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray
Keanon Kyles, baritone
* * *
Announcements
Order Flowers For Easter - Deadline
Bethany is once again offering orders for Easter flowers! We have tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils available to order for $15 each. The flowers will be displayed on Easter and ready for you to take home after service. We will need orders no later than March 29th!
Fill out this google form to indicate what flowers you'd like, how many, and how you plan to donate. Donations can be made via Paypal or Vanco.
Kids Sunday School is In Session
Sunday school resumes for Bethany kids on March 1st! During worship, kids 4 & up are invited to go to Sunday school after we pass the peace. Our teachers are professional educators and parents, creating an inclusive experiential learning environment. On non-Sunday School weeks, there’s (often) Children’s Time and a kids’ bulletin — plus regular nursery care every week.
Our remaining Sunday School sessions for this school year will be:
Unit 5 with Kezia and Tristan (March 1st, 8th and 15th)
Unit 6 with Erin and Charlie (April 12th and 19th)
Unit 7 with Jen and Rachelle (May 3rd , May 10th and our year-end celebration on May 17th)
Indivisible Sings Protest Songs at Bethany - March 2nd
Join Indivisible Chicago (organizers of No Kings march) for a fun evening of resistance singing right here in Bethany’s sanctuary! They are trying out some songs that we might sing at upcoming events and they want our feedback. Everyone is welcome, especially folks who don't sing regularly, as they want their songs to be as inclusive as possible. Doors open at 6:30 and singing is at 7 pm. There is limited capacity, so please sign up if you plan on attending!
Pathways to Creativity Small Group - March 3rd
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!
Book Group Reads The Pole - March 4th
Join us for our next Book Group on March 4th. We’ll be reading “The Pole” by J.M. Coetzee:
This concise, meditative novel details the unlikely and awkward relationship between Beatriz, a pragmatic, Catalan woman in her late 40s, and Witold Walczykiewicz, a 70-yearold Polish pianist. After they meet in Barcelona, Witold becomes infatuated, pursuing her across Europe, leading to a profound, often one-sided, exploration of love, aging, and emotional restraint.
Sign up here if you plan on reading with us!
Back Bay Info Session - March 8th
We’re headed back to Biloxi, MS, for a service trip, Oct 3 - 9. Travel with us to “strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives.” We drive south by way of Memphis and the National Civil Rights Museum and fly back at week’s end. You can participate in a supplies drive in the fall or (maybe 🤞) a summer shrimp boil fundraiser! Interested in traveling with us? Wanna know more? Join us on March 8th to hear all about it and get your questions answered from others who’ve gone.
Monday Morning Prayer - March 9th- 30th
Pray with silence, candles, and the morning liturgy from the daily office. Join Rebecca in the sanctuary on the way to work (or on your school or coffee run before working from home). We’ll remember prayers raised in worship the day before and the ones we bring to one another. Gather in quiet starting at 7:15am and begin the liturgy around 7:35am. Arrive when you can, on the weeks that work for you. No sign up needed.
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. Sign up here to make a chili, bake a dessert or help with the event!
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
**Please be advised this performance will include some scenes of staged violence.
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!)
