Order of Worship
GATHERING MUSIC I am One Voice and I am Singing
WELCOME
* OPENING SONG When We are Living We Are in the Lord
Pues si vivimos, para Él vivimos,
y si morimos, para Él morimos;
sea que vivamos a que moramos
somos del Señor, somos del Señor.
When we are living, we are in the Lord.
And when we’re dying, we are in the Lord.
For in our living and in our dying,
We belong to God, we belong to God.
Each day allows us to decide for good,
loving and serving as we know we should;
in thankful giving, in hopeful living,
we belong to God, we belong to God.
Sometimes we sorrow, other times, embrace,
sometimes we question everything we face;
yet in our yearning is deeper learning:
we belong to God, we belong to God.
Till earth is over may we always know
love never fails us:God has made it so.
Hard times will prove us, never remove us;
we belong to God, we belong to God.
OPENING PRAYER
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Peace be with you… ...and also with you
* SONG Always a Place for You
Bethany Pick Up Choir
SCRIPTURE - I Corinthians 12: 20-26, read by Izzy Collazo
READING - from Sonnets to Orpheus by Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Joanna Macy
SONG OF PREPARATION - Fear Not the Pain
Fear not the pain.
Let its weight fall back into the earth,
For heavy are the mountains
Heavy are the seas.
SERMON Rev. Vince Amlin
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Heavy by Birdtalker
Keanon Kyles, bass 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 Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.
When your day is long
And the night, the night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough
Of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go
'Cause everybody cries
Everybody hurts sometimes
Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go (hold on)
If you think you've had too much
Of this life, well hang on
'Cause everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts
Don't throw your hand, oh no
Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone
No, no, no, you are not alone
If you're on your own in this life
The days and nights are long
When you think you've had too much
Of this life to hang on
Well, everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries
Everybody hurts, sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes
So hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on
Everybody hurts
* BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Keanon Kyles, bass baritone
**********
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Share Your Belonging(s) Stories
In line with our “Belongings” worship theme for September, we’d love to hear from you about times you felt welcomed, invited, known, befriended… Answer one or all of our prompts at the link with or without your name.
Sign Up To Host Coffee Hour!
September’s theme is all about belonging and getting to know each other. No better time for that than a coffee hour! Help make it happen by signing up here. On coffee hour Sundays, hosts provide a snack or treat while Bethany provides the coffee! Store bought or homemade is fine, whatever works for you!
Service and Justice Meeting- Sept. 16th
Tuesday, September 16th, 7 pm, join a planning conversation for Service & Justice in 2026. Bethany is a different, bigger, busier, more active, more diverse church than we were even 5 years ago. What are we called to and gifted for now? What are your passions and where do they overlap with the commitments of both our church as a whole and other individuals here? Come get in on the start of a pilot year of Service and Justice opportunities. Coffee and dessert will be served, so let us know you’re coming!
Join Ann Ridge for Beach Clean Up - Sept. 20th
Click here to register for a Beach Cleanup at Foster Beach, Sept. 20th 10am-12pm, and invite family and friends to join! This is an easy morning action to bring awareness of plastic in our environment, building community. Reach out to Ann Ridge at ann_ridge@juno.com for more info!
Make and Eat Dinner at the Crib with Bethany Friends!- Sept. 20th
Been wanting to help out at The Crib but slightly overwhelmed at the prospect of cooking dinner for 25 people? Well, have we got opportunities for you! Sign up here to be one of 8 Bethanians cooking/eating together at the Crib’s brand new industrial kitchen! We need folks for: Saturday dinner (9/20) and Sunday dinner (11/30). Sorry, at this time only 18 years or older can participate. Reach out to Johnny with questions Johnny.buranosky@gmail.com
Orchard Outing- Sept. 28th
Join us for a Family Outing to All Seasons Orchard on Sept. 28th! We’ll eat a quick lunch after church (please bring a lunch to church with you) then we’ll drive/carpool to the orchard for apple picking and fall festivities. Sign up here to let us know you’re coming!
Book Group- Oct. 1st
Join us October 1st at 7pm for our next book group! We’ll be reading The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry, a coming-of-age novel set in the fictional small town of Thalia, Texas, in the 1950s, focusing on high school seniors Sonny and Duane as they navigate the mysteries of sex and love, witness the decline of their town's culture, and experience profound changes that lead to loss and a struggle for identity.
Sign up here if you plan on reading with us!
Pet Blessing Sunday - Oct 5th
Bring your furry, feathered or scaly pets to church on Oct. 5th for a special day of worship on the front lawn! We'll bless them, rain or shine. (If it rains, we'll be in the gym.) It's also a great day to invite your animal-loving human friends. Mark your calendars!
Adult Sunday School- Oct 5th
As a whole, our society isn't the best at dealing with grief. So let's talk about it! Facilitated by Hannah Rumsey, we’ll explore the ways grief has affected our lives, how to support those who are grieving, how we'd like to receive support, and more. Join us after worship on Oct. 5th!
Next Outer Belt Pilgrimage- Oct. 11th
We’ve already walked 40 miles (!) along Chicago’s Outer Belt Trail, but we’ve got a ways to go before we’re finished! Sign up here join our next leg of the journey on Saturday Oct. 11th, and mark your calendars the next upcoming dates:
November 8th
December 6th
For more info, contact Vince (vince@bethanychicago.com)
