Order of Worship
CALL TO WORSHIP “Bless Their Hearts” by Richard Newman
OPENING SONG For The Beauty of the Earth
For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies.
[Refrain]:
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.
For the wonder of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale and tree and flower,
sun and moon and stars of light,
[Refrain ]
For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild,
[Refrain]
For yourself, best gift divine,
to the world so freely given,
agent of God's grand design:
peace on earth and joy in heaven.
[Refrain]
WELCOME
OPENING PRAYER
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Peace be with you
…...and also with you
SONG Give Thanks
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because God’s given
Jesus Christ, the Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because God’s given
Jesus Christ, the Son.
And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us;
and now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks…
SCRIPTURE Psalm 126
READING “Thanks” by W. S. Merwin
SONG OF PREPARATION Come, O Thankful People, Come
Come, O thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest home;
all is safely gathered in
as the winter storms begin;
God our Maker doth provide
for our wants to be supplied;
come to God's own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.
All the blessings of the field,
all the stores the gardens yield,
all the fruits in full supply
ripened 'neath the summer sky,
All that spring with bounteous hand
scatters o'er the smiling land,
all that liberal autumn pours
from its rich o'erflowing stores.
These to you, our God, we owe,
source from whom all blessing flow;
and for these our songs we raise,
grateful vows and solemn praise.
Come, then, thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest home;
come to God's own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.
SERMON Rev. Rebecca Anderson
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Goodness of God by CeCe Winans.
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
STEP BY STEP STEWARDSHIP MOMENT Mike Ogawa
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 Take My Gifts
Take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me,
gave me light and food and shelter,
gave me life and set me free,
now because your love has touched me,
I have love to give away,
now the bread of love is rising,
loaves of love to multiply!
Take the fruit that I have gathered
from the tree your Spirit sowed,
harvest of your own compassion,
juice that makes the wine of God,
spiced with humor, laced with laughter -
flavor of the Jesus life,
tang of risk and new adventure,
taste and zest beyond belief.
Take whatever I can offer -
gifts that I have yet to find,
skills that I am slow to sharpen,
talents of the hand and mind,
things made beautiful for others
in the place where I must be:
take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me.
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE.
* * *
Thanksgiving Potluck- Today After Worship
We’ll be hosting our annual Thanksgiving Potluck on Nov. 24th after worship. Please join us for this wholesome Bethany tradition if you’re able!
Step By Step Pledge Campaign
At Bethany, we’re on a journey of revitalization. Of becoming the community that God dreams we might be: a congregation that challenges itself to work for justice and care for our neighbors; that cares for its historical legacy, so that we can pass the gifts that we have received on to the next generation of Bethany members.
This is the time of year when we ask you to make a commitment to take the next step toward the church we are becoming. In our recent congregational budget meeting, we set ourselves a goal of $125,000 in pledges for 2025. We can only get there with everyone’s help. We hope that you’ll take the next step and pledge to Bethany for 2025.
You can make a pledge here or submitting a pledge card to the church by mail or in the offering box.
Creation Justice Small Group - Tuesday Nov. 26th, 7-8pm
Do your favorite pair of Bob Ross socks have a hole in them so now you can’t wear them? Or is your only red sweater relegated to the depths of your closet because of a small tear? Well fret no more, this month we are darning socks and sewing our old outfits together. Having to buy new clothes out of new materials takes a huge toll on the environment, so let’s learn how to mend what’s broken. If you are proficient at sewing or darning socks, I need you! Sign up here
Advent Contemplative Prayer
Give yourself the gift of a sacred pause this December! Join Kelli and Vince for our Advent Contemplative Prayer group. There will be silence! There will be prayer! There will be a chance to connect with one another and with God in this busy season. The group will run for three weeks: Thursdays, December 5, 12, and 19 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Sign up here!
Adult Sunday School- Dec. 8th After Worship
In Matthew, Jesus tells us that, after loving God, the second most important commandment is to "love thy neighbor as thyself.” But how do we strike the right balance between caring for others and caring for ourselves? Building on Rev. Rebecca’s powerful sermon from this summer, December’s adult Sunday school will tackle the question: Seeing another in the metaphorical jaws of a shark, how do we decide whether to help or swim to safety?
Collecting Items for The Night Ministry- Dec. 8th
On December 8th after service, we'll be filling stockings again for folks living unsheltered or under-sheltered. The Night Ministry gives us guidance and distributes them: we need your help providing the stocking stuffers!This year, we are filling 40 stockings with requested items (with an emphasis on quality items that will last through the winter and provide real warmth) so you'll notice you have the option to provide less items this year. Sign up here and follow the directions there: select which items to purchase and drop off (or have delivered) to Bethany on or before Sunday, Dec 8th. Then, after church, we'll stuff stockings together. Want to do something extra? Consider grabbing gift cards to a few convenient Chicago stores (Walgreens, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, etc) — recipients really appreciate it!
Other Things Coming Up....
Hanging Of The Greens, Dec 1st: Help us after worship on 12/1 to decorate our sanctuary for Christmas!
December Coat Drive, Dec. 14th- We'll be delivering coats, gloves, hats, and socks during the meal to keep people warm all week. Sign up here
Friendly Beast’s Living Nativity, Dec. 13th 5-7pm: Our annual neighborhood Christmas party/petting zoo/living nativity is BACK. Sign up to help here
COFFEE HOUR
We’ll have coffee hour on every second and fourth Sunday of each month! Click here to lock in a date you're willing to host. Reminder, we make the coffee and you bring treats to share!
