Order of Worship
GATHERING MUSIC Freedom Come
WELCOME
* OPENING SONG Now Thank We All Our God
Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this world rejoices;
who from our parents' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us still in grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God
the Maker now be given,
To Christ and Spirit too,
our help in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
OPENING PRAYER
2026 Free for All Dave Scott
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Peace be with you… ...and also with you
* SONG Thank You for Being a Friend
Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down a road and back again
Your heart is true
You're a pal and a confidant
I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off
Won't you stand up and take a bow
And if you threw a party
Invited everyone you knew
You would see the biggest gift would be from me
And the card attached would say…
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
If it's a car you lack
I'd surely buy you a Cadillac
Whatever you need
Any time of the day or night
I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off
Won't you stand up and take a bow
And when we both get older
With walking canes and hair of gray
Have no fear, even though it's hard to hear
I will stand real close and say…
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
SCRIPTURE Luke 6:38
READING “I let the flies bite me when I meditate” Nick Demske
reader, Louis Bergonzi
SONG OF PREPARATION I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart to stay
I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus…
I’ve got the peace that passes understanding…
I’ve got the wonderful love of my blessed Redeemer…
SERMON Rev. Rebecca Anderson
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Everybody Deserves to be Free
Keanon Kyles, baritone
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS led by Johnny Buranosky
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 You Shall Go Out by Mark Miller
You shall go out, go out in joy
and be led back, led back in peace.
The mountains, hills, shall burst in song,
and all the trees shall clap their hands. (Repeat)
You shall go out in joy
and be led back in peace.
The mountains shall burst in song
and all the trees shall clap their hands. (Repeat)
You shall go out and be led back.
Sing for joy, and CLAP. YOUR. HANDS.
You shall go out and be led back.
Sing for joy, and CLAP. YOUR. HANDS.
* BENEDICTION
**********
Hanging of the Greens - Nov. 30th
Make the Bethany sanctuary merry and bright for the holiday season! You’re invited to stay after worship on November 30th to help decorate Bethany for Advent and Christmas. There are jobs for all ages and skill levels. We’ll add lights and ornaments to our tree and hang greenery in the chancel and balcony. Come prepare the space and yourself to welcome the Christ child this year.
If you have an extra ornament from your collection that you'd like to donate, bring it on November 30th and hang it on our tree. We'd love to have our decorations represent our whole community!
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
Holiday “Stockings” for Night Ministry- Dec. 7th
Believe it or not, it's that time again! We're collecting items for The Night Ministry to distribute to clients living un- or undersheltered. There's again an emphasis on high quality, so you can sign up to bring individual items (or lots). New this year: we're stuffing drawstring backpacks! Turns out: that's what recipients prefer. So we need those as well. Details about those and everything else here
Please bring or send items to church by Sun, Dec 7th. We'll be packing them up that day after church.
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!
Friendly Beasts Living Nativity - Dec. 12th 5-7pm
Join us as Bethany’s courtyard is transformed into an interactive nativity scene, complete with live animals! There will be cookies, hot cocoa, mulled wine and our fire pit outside to keep warm. We will also have the amazing Irving Sisters providing carols and live music! We're in need of volunteers to help keep our cookie supply stocked and a few friendly faces to welcome our neighbors to the festivities, if you’re available, please sign up!
This year, when so many people are looking for ways to have a positive impact on the world, we’re inviting guests to bring donations. We’ll be accepting:
1) Funds for refugee/immigrant support (via cash, check, or PayPal)
2) Dry goods for Nourishing Hope
Spread the word about all of it!
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.
Traditional 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.
Give and Get Help
Are you looking for ways to respond to ICE raids, hunger in the wake of SNAP cuts, and other urgent needs? At Bethany, we're working to identify, organize and address the issues that are facing our community. It's an evolving initiative that will change as needs change. This month, we're continuing to collect food for Nourishing Hope as the demand for their support has grown exponentially. If you haven't had the chance to contribute to this drive, or if you can do even more, here are the biggest needs: canned chicken/tuna, dry black beans, canned vegetables, canned chili or stew.
District 19 Mutual Aid is in need of warm blankets, towels and washcloths, women's M underwear, kids hats, and kids clothes (Boys 5T-7/8 bottoms, Girls 4T-8 bottoms and Girls 2T tops and bottoms. If you can provide these items, bring them to church, mark them "D19" and we'll deliver them.
And if you want to help in other ways (delivering donated items, running errands for families too afraid to go to the store, or joining a school patrol at drop-off and pick-up times), contact us at bethany.ucc.assistance@gmail.com.
And finally, if you, your family or close connections have needs that are not being met during this difficult time, contact us at bethany.ucc.assistance@gmail.com. We would love to point you in a direction that could be helpful or even provide information that you may need. We want to be there for you, our own Bethany community, so please let us know (bethany.ucc.assistance@gmail.com) if there's something we can do.
Service and Justice Pilot Year: 2026
On Tuesday, September 16th, the parlor was packed with folks who've been at Bethany forever, and some who just got here. We had a lively conversation about plans for Service & Justice in 2026. Whether you were there or not, you're invited to take part!
Bethany is a different church now than it was five years ago. We’re bigger, more active, with shifting energies and passions in the face of the current climate in our city, our country, and our world. What hasn't changed: our core commitments to serving others and pursuing justice.
As we move into 2026, we’re embarking on a pilot year for the Service and Justice arm of Bethany UCC. We want to hear from YOU about where we should be directing our energy as a church. And, we want to strengthen relationships as we serve others, both within our Bethany community and with our neighbors.
So, here’s our ask:
If you have a topic on your heart (homelessness, food insecurity, refugee resettlement, earth care, police reform, mental health, suicide-prevention, prison-abolition…) submit a proposal for Bethany’s consideration.
Our goal: a 2026 calendar full of diverse, sustainable, opportunities to serve and seek justice alongside each other. Pastor Fredrick Buecher said that the place God calls us to is "where our deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” What needs are we called to meet now, and what joyful gifts do we have to offer?
