Order of Worship
Thanks always and especially today to the musicians leading us in worship:
Yasuko Oura, music director, piano, organ
Keanon Kyles, bass-baritone
Dan O’Connell, french horn
PRELUDE Serenade by Craig Phillip
GATHERING MUSIC Come, Light of Lights
Come light of lights into my heart.
Come wisdom of spirit into my heart.
WELCOME
* OPENING SONG Comfort, Comfort O My People #101
"Comfort, comfort O my people,
tell of peace," thus says our God;
Comfort those whose hearts are shrouded,
mourning under sorrow’s load.
Speak unto Jerusalem
of the peace that waits for them;
Tell them that their sins I cover,
and their warfare now is over.
For the herald’s voice is calling
in the desert far and near,
Bidding us to make repentance
since the realm of God is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise in meeting
and the hills bow down in greeting.
Straight shall be what long was crooked,
and the rougher places plain!
Let your hearts be true and humble,
for Messiah's holy reign.
For God's glory evermore
shall be known o'er all the world;
OPENING PRAYER
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Peace be with you… ...and also with you
* SONG He Came Down
He came down that we may have peace,
He came down that we may have peace,
He came down that we may have peace…
Hallelujah, forevermore!
He came down that we may have hope…
He came down that we may have joy…
SCRIPTURE Deuteronomy 22: 1 - 4; reader, Kezia Zakem
READING “Every Riven Thing” by Christian Wiman
SONG OF PREPARATION Help! by the Beatles
Help! I need somebody,
Help! Not just anybody,
Help! You know I need someone,
Help!
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way,
But now these days are gone and I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind, I've opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down,
And I do appreciate you being 'round,
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
My independence seems to vanish in the haze,
But ev'ry now and then I feel so insecure,
I know that I just need you like I've never done before.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down,
And I do appreciate you being 'round,
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way,
But now these days are gone and I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind, I've opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down,
And I do appreciate you being 'round,
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?
Help me, help me Ooh.
SERMON Rev. Rebecca Anderson
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION For Good from Wicked
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 Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd Weber
* 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 MEDLEY
Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bobtails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight, oh!
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
Deck the Halls
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la!
'Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la la la la!
Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la la la la la la!
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa la la la la la la la!
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th'angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
Good Christian friends, rejoice,
With heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! News!
Jesus Christ was born today!
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now;
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let ev’ry heart prepare him room
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the Earth!
The Savior reignsLet all their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
God rules the world with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove
the glories of God’s righteousness
and wonders of God’s love,
and wonders of God’s love,
and wonders, wonders of God’s love.
* BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Ding Dong Merrily on High
**********
This Week (& beyond)
Music that Makes Community - Wed, Dec 10th, 6 pm.
Book Group - Wed, Dec 10th, 7 pm. Reading Hurricane Season. Sign up here
Living Nativity - Fri, Dec 12th, 5 -7 pm
Spanish Charla - Wed, Dec 17th, 7pm
Christmas Eve - 4:30 pm and 7 pm
Sun, Dec 28th - all Zoom worship!
Yasuko in Salieri's Falstaff - Dec. 3rd-7th
Join The Outer Belt Pilgrimage - Dec 6th
Sign up to join us for the next leg of our Outer Belt Pilgrimage! We’ll be walking together on Saturday Dec. 6th
For more info, reach out Vince at vince@bethanychicago.com and/or go to outerbelt.org
Catch Nick, Yasuko, and Andy at the Check Out:
Joined by clarinettist Andy Hudson, Nick and Yasuko are performing a concert of contemporary classical chamber music featuring music written for clarinet, cello, piano, and electronics.
Tue. Dec. 9th at 7:30pm
More information here.
Order Poinsettias For Christmas Eve - Dec. 9th
We are taking orders for poinsettias! These beautiful plants will be used to decorate our sanctuary for Christmas eve, and afterwards, you'll be able to take them home with you.
Each poinsettia will be a $15 donation. You can make your donation by cash, check, or electronically by PayPal or Vanco from our website. The deadline to let us know how many you’d like to order is Dec. 9th.
Let us know how many you'd like by signing up here!
Dec. Book Group: Hurricane Season - Dec. 10th
Join us for our next Book Group on Dec. 10th at 7pm! We’ll be reading Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor:
This nonlinear novel focuses on the murder of a woman known as "the Witch" in a small, impoverished Mexican village. Told through the unreliable perspectives of various villagers, the story reveals the cycle of violence, poverty, and corruption that led to her death, exposing the myths and brutalities of the community and their connection to larger societal issues, like femicide.
Sign up here if you plan on reading with us!
Living Nativity - Dec. 12th 5-7pm
Join us as Bethany’s courtyard is transformed into an interactive nativity scene, complete with live animals! Cocoa, cookies, mulled wine, and caroling. We need your help to host, serve and/or make cookies, set-up, clean-up...sign up to let us know you’re in. This year, we’re inviting guests to bring donations. We’ll be accepting funds for refugee/immigrant support and dry goods for Nourishing Hope. Spread the word about all of it!
Pick Up Choir - Dec. 14th
We'll be rehearsing and performing Bethany's own Pick Up Choir on Sunday Dec. 14th, so please mark your calendar and lend your voice to celebrate this Advent season. We'll rehearse at 9:15am and sing during the service. We will sing the beautiful (and Yasuko’s favorite tune) "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming."
Christmas Eve at Bethany - 2 Services to Choose From!
This Christmas Eve, we are offering two opportunities to worship together. We hope you will join us for one or both!
Family-friendly Service of Lessons and Carols at 4:30pm
In the afternoon, we’ll offer a 50-minute service telling the Christmas story with the help of our kids. We’ll sing carols, light candles, and set up the nativity scene, with music from Yasuko and Katy.
Normal Christmas Eve Service at 7pm
In the evening, join us for a more contemplative (it’s all relative) candlelit Christmas Eve service with strings from Nick and Emi Photinos as we celebrate the arrival of Emmanuel, God with us. (Kids of all ages also welcome at this service!)
We Need Your Help
Two services means we need twice the greeters! Please sign up if you’re able to be the face of Bethany that night.
Zoom Service - Dec. 28th
For the last worship service of the year we’re going online! While you’re traveling or snuggled cozily into your house, you’re invited to join us for an old-fashioned (2020-2021) All-Zoom service. You can wear your PJs or sit by the tree as we sing, pray, and reflect on the gift of Jesus. Plus, you’ll get to see all the wonderful Bethany folks who join us from far away each week! We’ll have music from Yasuko and Nick, time for children, prayers of the people, and a short sermon. Mark your calendars and come to church (but don’t come to the church building!)
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.
