BETHANY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
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BETHANY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Sunday, January 3, 2021
Epiphany Sunday
Forty-Third Sunday in Covid-19
1270 Sanchez Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
415-647-8393
Rev. Sadie Stone
Music Director Ray Capiral
Guided by God’s radical love for all, Bethany seeks to… Offer sanctuary, Inspire
personal transformation, Foster a faith community, and Engage locally and
globally for social justice.
1Bethany News and Notes
Sunday, January 3, 2021 Sunday, January 10th, 2021
Greeter: Everyone Greeter: Everyone
Lay Worship Leader: All of you Lay Worship Leader: All of you
Fellowship: Whatever is in your kitchen Fellowship: Whatever is in your kitchen
Small Groups started. Be on the lookout for an email from your small group leader. If you’re not sure you’re
assigned to a group and would like to be please let me know. Sadie.e.stone@gmail.com
Lack on Talent Show postponed. Thank you to all who have submitted acts so far, we still need more. So it is
once again postponed. For any questions please contact Joel.
Covid numbers are rising again everywhere. Please do your part to keep yourselves and the larger community
safe, especially during the holidays. Don’t host holiday gatherings, stay home, wear your masks, wash your
hands. I know we are weary, but we must stay strong to protect one another.
2Worship Celebration: January 3, 2021 Online Worship10:45am
Bethany United Methodist Church Epiphany Sunday | 43rd Sunday in Covid-19
WE GATHER IN COMMUNITY FROM OUR HOMES
PRELUDE We Three Kings UMH #254
WELCOME Pastor Sadie
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: The Magi had a dream.
All: They dreamed of a Messiah.
They dreamed of just rulers.
They dreamed of a new day for all people.
One: The Magi had a dream, and this dream led them to action.
All: They journeyed to unknown places.
They followed a star.
They walked for days to get to Jesus.
One: So may we be like the Magi,
All: May our dreams inspire action. May we worship the one true God. Amen.
* Written by Sarah Are Sanctified Art
*OPENING HYMN There’s A Song in the Air UMH #249
1. There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky! There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry! And
the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing, for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
2. There’s a tumult of joy o’er the wonderful birth, for the virgin’s sweet boy is the Lord of the earth. Ay! the
star rains its fire while the beautiful sing, for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
3. In the light of that star lie the ages impearled; and that song from afar has swept over the world. Every hearth
is aflame, and the beautiful sing in the homes of the nations that Jesus is King!
4. We rejoice in the light, and we each the song that comes down through the night from the heavenly throng.
Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring, and we greet in his cradle our Savior and King!
STAR WORDS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
God of starlight,
There has always been something holy about stars for us.
We wish on them.
We look for them.
We celebrate when we see them streaking across the sky on summer nights.
We map out their designs, and consider glimpses of the Milky Way holy enough for bare feet.
3There has always been something holy about stars. We know that.
You know that.
The Magi must have known that.
So today we come to you in prayer, trusting that if you can paint the stars in the sky, Then surely you can hear
us over the noise.
So first we pray for people wishing on stars:
We pray for those for whom 2020 was a year full of hospital rooms and isolation. We pray for those who lost
love in 2020.
We pray for those who lost life in 2020.
We pray for those who lost a job, a home, or a sense of hope in 2020.
We pray for parents forced to homeschool children in 2020,
And for children who missed their friends in 2020.
We pray for the milestones canceled in 2020,
And for the breath that was stolen in 2020.
However, at the same time,
We also say a prayer of gratitude for all the stars you have left for us this last year— The signs and mile
markers of hope on the horizon.
For example, we could not have survived without the birthday parades and the sidewalk chalk. And oh how we
needed the slower schedule, and the family around dinner tables.
We thank you for the gifts of technology, backyard gardening, and sourdough bread.
We thank you for every variety of essential workers, from grocery store clerks and teachers,
to internet technicians and doctors.
We thank you for the quiet that came with less cars on the road and less planes in the sky. We thank you for
protesters demanding justice and for leaders like the late John Lewis
who refused to give up on a broken system.
In so many ways, 2020 was a turbulent year, and in so many ways, you were there,
leaving stars in the sky, painting hope on the horizon.
So today, in this new year, we ask that once more you would give us a sign.
Pour out a double portion of your Spirit on these star words,
So that these ordinary slips of paper might provide us a glimpse of something more. For like the Magi, we are
seeking you.
Like the Magi, we are looking up.
Like the Magi, we just need a sign.
Guide our feet. Show up in the mundane and the extraordinary. Be in the stars in the sky and in our everyday
lives.
Hear our prayers.
We are hopeful, O God. We are hopeful.
And so with the confidence of children wishing on stars, We pray the prayer you taught us to pray, saying. . .
4PASTORAL PRAYER Pastor Sadie
LORD’S PRAYER
Our God 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. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against
us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory
forever. Amen.
WE ENGAGE THE WORD
SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to
Jerusalem, 2asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its
rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem
with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the
Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had
appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have
found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ 9When they had heard the king, they set
out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where
the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the
house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their
treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream
not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
*HYMN OF PREPARATION The King of Glory Comes TFWS #2091
REFRAIN
The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices. Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.
REFRAIN (repeated at beginning)
1. Who is the King of glory; how shall we call him? He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages. REFRAIN
2. In all of Galilee, in city or village, he goes among his people curing their illness. REFRAIN
3. Sing then of David’s son, our Savior and brother; in all of Galilee was never another. REFRAIN
REFRAIN (repeated at end).v
SERMON “Those Who Dream: Persevere” Rev. Sadie Stone
5OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
INVITATION TO OFFERING
Visit our website at www.bethanysf.org to give online
Mail your tithes/offering to our church office at:
1270 Sanchez Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
Text to Give: 415-965-5876 text the amount you’d like to give
HOLY COMMUNION TFWS #2257 a-d
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
...And so, we praise you with the faithful of every time and place.
Sanctus
Holy, holy, holy Lord; God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Blest is the one who comes in the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
... Great is the mystery of faith;
Memorial Acclamation
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
..., all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, both now and forever. Amen.
Serving of Communion – all are welcome to the table. In the United Methodist Church we have an open communion table.
Everyone is welcome. Because we are meeting in an online forum due to Covid-19 our Bishop has extended the sacrament
to include elements as received and consecrated during the live worship service, please use whatever elements you have
available to you
WE SPEAK TO THE WORLD
*CLOSING HYMN Rise Up Shepherd and Follow TFWS #2096
Leader: There’s a star in the East on Christmas morn
All: Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
6Leader: It will lead to the place where the Christ was born
All: Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
REFRAIN (All)
Follow, follow, rise up, shepherd, and follow,
Follow the star of Bethlehem. Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
Leader: If you take good heed to the angel’s words
All: Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
Leader: You’ll forget your flocks, you’ll forget your herds
All: Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
REFRAIN
REFRAIN (repeated)iv
*BENEDICTION
i.TITLE: WORDS & MUSIC: John H. Hopkins, Jr., 1857 (Mt. 2:1-12) KINGS OF ORIENT 88.446 with Refrain CCLI #1103931.
ii
TITLE: There’s A Song in the Air WORDS: Josiah G. Holland, 1874 MUSIC: Karl P. Harrington, 1904 CHRISTMAS SONG 66.66.12 12
CCLI 1103931.
TITLE: The King of Glory Comes. WORDS: Rev. Willard F. Jabusch (Ps. 24:7-10; Matt. 1:23) MUSIC: Trad. Israeli folk song; arr. Betty
Pulkingham KING OF GLORY 12 12 with Refrain CCLI #1103931.
vii
TITLE: Rise up Shepherd & Folllow?; WORDS & MUSIC: African-American spiritual (Matt. 2:1-12; Luke 2:8-20)
RISE UP, SHEPHERD Irregular with Refrain CCLI #1103931.
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