Order of Worship

GATHERING MUSIC Arise, Shine Ruth Cunningham

Arise, shine, for your light has come
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.

WELCOME            

* OPENING SONG    Morning Has Broken

Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where God's feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's re-creation of the new day

CHILDREN’S TIME

PASSING OF THE PEACE    

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

* SONG Do Re Mi

Let's start at the very beginning,
A very good place to start.
When you read you begin with A B C,
When you sing you begin with Do Re Mi.
Do Re Mi? Do Re Mi!
The first three notes just happen to be
Do Re Mi! Do Re Mi
Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti
Let's see if I can make it easier

Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long, long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow Sew
Tea, I drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to Do!

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do, So Do!

SCRIPTURE Matthew 18: 1 - 5 reader, Gina Henrickson

READING “Start Close In” by David Whyte

SONG OF PREPARATION What a Wonderful World

I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying
I love you

I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world

SERMON Rev. Rebecca Anderson

MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Feelin’ Good 

Katy Lindhart, soprano
Paula Gelpi, piano

SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS led by Jen Pope

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 Forever Young by Rod Stewart

May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
Surround you when you're far from home
And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you'd have done to you

Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart, you'll always stay
Forever young (forever young)
Forever young (forever young)

May good fortune be with you
May your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to heaven
With a prince or a vagabond

And may you never love in vain
And in my heart you will remain
Forever young (forever young)
Forever young (forever young)
Forever young.
Forever young.

And when you finally fly away
I'll be hoping that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime
No one can ever tell

But whatever road you choose
I'm right behind you, win or lose
Forever young (forever young)…

 * BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

***********

Announcements

Adult Sunday School - Today After Worship

There really isn’t much textual evidence for hell in the Bible. And yet, it sometimes seems to be the only thing conservative Christianity cares about. In large part, this is a cultural legacy from the Middle Ages. In this session, we'll look at the biblical references to hell in the Bible, finding that they are muddled, contradictory, and rare. Please join Brett on 1/4 after worship for a discussion!

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!

Service & Justice Huddle - Jan. 11th

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.

Book Group Reads Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor - Jan. 7th

Join us on January 7th at 7pm at the Parsonage for our next Book Group! We’ll be reading Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor:

In 1938, a dead whale washes up on the shores of remote Welsh island. For Manod, who has spent her whole life on the island, it feels like both a portent of doom and a symbol of what may lie beyond the island's shores. Manod can't shake her welling desire to explore life beyond the beautiful yet blisteringly harsh islands.

The arrival of two English ethnographers who hope to study the island culture, then, feels like a boon to her—both a glimpse of life outside her community and a means of escape. The longer the ethnographers stay, the more she feels herself pulled towards them, reckoning with a sensual awakening inside herself, despite her misgivings that her community is being misconstrued and exoticized.

With shimmering prose tempered by sharp wit, Whale Fall tells the story of what happens when one person's ambitions threaten the fabric of a community, and what can happen when they are realized. O'Connor paints a portrait of a community and a woman on the precipice, forced to confront an outside world that seems to be closing in on them.

Sign up here if you plan on reading with us!

Kids’ Sunday School - Returns Jan. 11th

Sunday school resumes for Bethany kids on January 11. We meet downstairs during worship with Ms. Judy leading younger group and Ms. Kezia teaching the older class. We will start 2026 with lessons from the life of Jesus.

During worship, kids 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.

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.