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Worship is central to the life of God’s people.
In worship we hear God’s word and with it the truth we need to live.
We are reminded of who we are as God’ s people.
We offer our thanks and praise for God’s many blessings.
We share our gifts and commit ourselves for God’s work in the world.
Weekly Worship
We invite you to join us for worship at 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m., Sunday mornings, September through June, and 8:30 a.m. or 9:30 a.m., July and August.
The scriptural texts, around which all weekly worship at Bethany is built, are from the Common Lectionary, which provides readings from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Gospels, and the Epistles, in a three-year cycle for churches in many denominations around the world.
Both services include a children’s message, in which one of the Bible lessons for the day is interpreted especially for younger worshippers. Childcare for younger children is also available.
Opportunities to share food and fellowship with other worshippers are provided after both services.
While the early and late services are both rooted in the heritage of the Protestant tradition, they are distinct in a number of ways. The early service uses a variety of new worship forms. It incorporates more contemporary music and responses. It includes music from a variety of individuals, groups, and ensembles. The service follows a four week cycle:
8:30 a.m. Worship
Our early worship service offers a monthly series of services.
- 1st Sunday - Communion Worship with an open table
- 2nd Sunday - Fellowship Worship with Youth Choir
- 3rd Sunday - Healing and Reconciliation Worship with Laying on of Hands
- 4th Sunday - Prayer Service with Prayer Litanies and Intercessions.
- 5th Sunday - Traditional Service
Throughout the year, 8:30 a.m. worship service also lifts up for celebration a variety of themes such as All Saints Day, Peace and Justice Sunday, and Celebrating the Christian Home.
Christmas Eve:
Family Service with Pageant at 7:30 p.m. The joy of Christ’s birth is proclaimed through a spirited Christmas pageant featuring the 1st through 6th grade children of the church.
Candlelight service at 11:00 p.m.
The wondrous good news of the light of God’s love coming into the world is proclaimed through this service.
Lent
- Ash Wednesday Communion at 7:30 p.m.
This service reminds us of our need for repentance and offers the opportunity to recommit ourselves to faithful discipleship as we seek to follow Christ on his journey to the cross.
- Mid-week services at 7:30 p.m.
These Wednesday evening services offer the opportunity hear preaching by other local United Church of Christ pastors and share in worship and fellowship with their congregations.
- Maundy Thursday Tenebrae and Communion at 7:30 p.m.
This service is a dramatic reminder of Christ’s last supper with his disciples and his abandonment, betrayal, and sacrifice.
Easter
Great Vigil of Easter at 6:00 a.m.
- This is the oldest service of the church, in which biblical texts and hymns proclaiming God’s promise to overcome the power of sin and death are shared to help us more fully celebrate the good news of Christ’s resurrection.
- Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. is also offered on Easter Sunday.
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