Order of Worship
GATHERING MUSIC - Put Your Roots Down by Molly Hartwell
Put your roots down; put your feet on the ground
You can hear the earth sing if you listen. (Repeat)
'Cause the sound of the river, as it moves across the stones
is the same sound as the blood in your body, as it moves across your bones.
Are you listening?
WELCOME
OPENING SONG - I Will Trust in the Lord
I will trust in the Lord, I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord till I die. (Repeat)
I'm going to treat ev'rybody right, I'm going to treat ev'rybody right,
I'm going to treat ev'rybody right till I die. (Repeat)
I’m gonna ground myself in love; I’m gonna ground myself in love,
I’m gonna ground myself in love till I die. (Repeat)
OPENING PRAYER
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Peace be with you… ...and also with you
* SONG - Jesus is the Rock by Tony Congi
[Chorus]
Jesus is the rock and he rolls my blues away (x3)
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), 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: Offering and Announcements
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.
SCRIPTURE - Psalm 104: 1-5, 13-15, 24-30
READING from Rilke’s Book of Hours by Rainer Maria Rilke
SONG OF PREPARATION - How Firm a Foundation by Robert Keen
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God's excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake.
SERMON
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION - look up by Joy Oladokun
Sarah Simmons McCollum, Mezzo-soprano
COMMUNION - Virginia Gilbert
Everyone is welcome to receive communion at Bethany.
We have both wine and grape juice.
Invitation
One: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. You who come to me shall not hunger; you shall never thirst."
All: In company with all who hunger for spiritual food, we come to this table to know the risen Christ in the sharing of this life-giving bread.
God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to Thee, O Lord Most High. Amen.
Words of Institution
One: Gracious God, we ask you to bless this bread and cup and all of us with the outpouring of your Holy Spirit. Through this meal, make us the body of Christ, the church, your servant people, that we may be light and leaven for the furtherance of Your will in all the world.
All: Come, Holy Spirit. Amen.
One: The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are ready.
COMMUNION SONG - Trusty and True - Damien Rice
CLOSING SONG - Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
People, keep on learning
Soldiers, keep on warring
World, keep on turning
'Cause it won't be too long
Powers keep on lying
While your people keep on dying
World keep on turning
'Cause it won't be too long
[Chorus]
I'm so darn glad he let me try it again
'Cause my last time on earth, I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on trying
'Til I reach my highest ground
Teachers, keep on teaching
Preachers, keep on preaching
World, keep on turning
'Cause it won't be too long
Lovers, keep on loving
Believers, keep on believing
Sleepers, just stop sleeping
'Cause it won't be too long
[Chorus]
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE - Good Things Grow (from Disney’s Snow White) - Pasek/Paul
*****
New Outer Belt Pilgrimage Dates
We’ve already walked 40 miles (!) along Chicago’s Outer Belt Trail, but we’ve got a ways to go before we’re finished! To join us on the next leg of our journey, mark your calendars for the dates below:
August 16th
September 6th
October 11th
November 8th
December 6th
Sign up here for our upcoming August 16th For more info, please contact Vince and/or go to outerbelt.org.
Help Make Worship Happen in August!
Help make worship happen in August! We need hands to set up (from 8 - 9) as well as people willing to share readings and lead prayers.
Choose a date/slot, and Rebecca will be in touch in the week leading up to the service. Please note: if you sign up Thurs, Fri, or Sat, we will not see it until Sunday morning. Sign up here!
Bethany Book Group August Read!
The Bethany Book Group August read is The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, named one of the best book of 2018.
“It's 1969 in New York City's Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children—four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness—sneak out to hear their fortunes.”
If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life?
Pick up a copy of the book, and plan to join us on Wednesday, August 6th at 7pm at church. Sign up here to join the convo!
