Order of Worship

GATHERING MUSIC Gathered Here

WELCOME    

* OPENING SONG  This is a Day of New Beginnings

This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember, and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that's gone.

For by the life and death of Jesus,
God's mighty Spirit, now as then,
can make for us a world of difference
as faith and hope are born again.

Then let us, with the Spirit's daring,
step from the past, and leave behind
our disappointment, guilt and grieving,
seeking new paths, and sure to find.

Christ is alive, and goes before us
to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new.

OPENING PRAYER

PASSING OF THE PEACE    

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

* SONG This is the Day

This is the day, this is the day 
that our God has made, that our God has made.
We will rejoice, we will rejoice 
and be glad in it, and be glad in it.
This is the day that our God has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day 
that our God has made.

This is the day, this is the day 
Jesus rose again, Jesus rose again…

This is the day, this is the day 
when the Spirit came, when the Spirit came…

SCRIPTURE Luke 13: 6 - 9

reader, Nathan Schaeffer

READING “Looking” by Robert Kelly

SONG OF PREPARATION Want by Birdtalker

Bethany Pick Up Choir

SERMON Rev. Rebecca Anderson

MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Vienna by Billy Joel

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 Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

I am unwritten
Can't read my mind
I'm undefined
I'm just beginning
The pen's in my hand
Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

* BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE Que Sera by Justice Crew

Keanon Kyle’s, baritone

***********

Announcements

Service & Justice Huddle - Today After Worship

Join us after church, Sunday, Jan 11th for our winter huddle for Service & Justice. Connect with Bethanians leading up work on environmental justice, welcoming and supporting refugees, meeting hunger and housing needs in Chicago.

Alaina’s Ecclesiastical Council - Today at 1

Our own Alaina Hoffman has been approved for her Ecclesiastical Council, one of the final steps on her journey to becoming an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ! An Ecclesiastical Council is the step in the process when members of local churches vote to say that Alaina is ready for ordination. Alaina will read a paper about her faith and calling and then answer questions from those gathered. The E Council represents the culmination of years of work on Alaina’s part, and we would love to have you present to support her. The gathering will be on Zoom today at 1pm. Click here to join!

Faith & Politics Small Group - Today (and this month)

How do we address injustice and how does that relate to our concepts of faith (broadly understood)?  Join Dublin-based Susan Burgess on-line and explore how others (e.g., Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Harvey Milk, Derek Bell, Dolores Huerta, AOC) have tried to make political change in a way that aligns with their visions of the world.  We’ll use their examples to help us reflect upon our own faith journeys in relation to political change. Group members will view documentaries on their own which we will then discuss together as a group in weekly meetings on Zoom on Sunday, January 4, 11, 18, 25 from 2-3 pm. Sign up here if you plan on joining!

Book Group Reads “Brooklyn” - Feb. 4th

Join us Wednesday, February 4th at 7pm for our next Book Group. We’ll be discussingBrooklyn, by Colm Tóibín:

(from the publisher) Eilis Lacey has come of age in small-town Ireland in the hard years following World War Two. When an Irish priest from Brooklyn offers to sponsor Eilis in America, she decides she must go, leaving her fragile mother and her charismatic sister behind.

Eilis finds work in a department store on Fulton Street, and when she least expects it, finds love. Tony, who loves the Dodgers and his big Italian family, slowly wins her over with patient charm. But just as Eilis begins to fall in love, devastating news from Ireland threatens the promise of her future.

Sign up using here if you plan on reading with us!

Coffee Hour Craft Project - Jan. 18th

Join Rebecca during coffee hour on Sunday, Jan. 18th to beautify our 2nd Sunday school room. We’re folding origami balloons/lanterns for a string of lights. (Actually: we’re mostly folding for those of us who might enjoy having something to do while chatting.) People of all ages and ability welcome to join. We’re also gonna pull out some of our abundant backlog of old hymnals and investigate making folded book art. No need to RSVP, just plan to hang out that day.

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.