This Week's Worship Bulletin

“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.” (Matthew 5:9; CEB)

Worship Leader: Laura Garvey

* Indicates that worshippers are to stand if able. Congregational responses are in bold print.

Entrance & Praise

Prelude (John Kwon)

Welcome (Rev. Park)

Announcements

Call to Worship (Laura Garvey)
I Have a Dream, inspired by Martin Luther King

L: May we dream of a world made new,
All: Where together we shout for justice,
And as one we fight against oppression.

L: May we dream of a world made new,
All: Where together we seek God’s righteousness
And as one we sing God’s praise.

L: May we dream of a world made new,
All: Where together we climb God’s mountain,
And as one we enter the promised land.

L: May we dream of a world made new,
All: Where together we proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom,
And as one we enjoy its peace, and abundance and love.
AMEN

Opening Hymn “God of Love, We’ve Known Division” (vs.1&4)
1. God of love, we’ve known division and we’ve seen its awful cost.
We have struggled as a nation, and there’s much that we have lost.
We have been a house divided¬¬¬¬--and divided, we can’t stand.
May our nation be united; give us peace throughout this land.

4. You have challenged us to goodness; you have shown a kinder way.
It’s your love that now inspires us as we seek a better day.
May we end our harsh division; may we stop the hate and fear.
Make us one, Lord, as a nation; may we be united here.

View sheet music

Passing the Peace

Pastoral Prayer Rev. Park

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, 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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Proclamation

Scripture Reading
Matthew 5:21-26 (Laura Garvey)
This is the Word of Life for all the people of God.
Thanks be to God

Offering Anthem Prelude from Partita #1 BWV 825 (Bach) (John Kwon)
You may give online at www.bfvumc.org/online-giving or mail to Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, 2200 Ridge Ave. Aurora, IL. 60504

Message Let Us Be a Peacemaker (Rev. Park)

Sending Forth

Closing Hymn “Let There Be Peace on Earth” UMH #431
1. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me;
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God our creator, children all are we.
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

Benediction (Rev. Park)

Postlude (John Kwon)

Download the full bulletin

Bethany Happenings

1. SAINTS IN ACTION
Liturgist: Laura Garvey
Facebook Live Service: Park Family and Jim Young

2. 2021 ENVELOPES ARE AVAILABLE
Offering envelopes for 2021 are available. If you would like a box for the upcoming year, please contact Lynn Coughlin at llcoughlin@comcast.net or Karen in the church office at 630.851.8010 or info@bfvumc.org. Leave your name and a contact number so we can assign you an envelope number and let you know when the envelopes are ready to be picked up.

3. SENIORS INVITED TO DEFER PROPERTY TAXES
Qualified senior citizens aged 65 years and older, are invited to apply for the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program. The program allows participants to defer property tax payment until the property is sold. The deferral is treated as a loan and accrues 6 percent simple interest until paid. To qualify, the applicant's household income cannot exceed $55,000. Additionally, the property must be used exclusively for residential purposes.

The application period closes March 1, 2021. For more information, contact the DuPage County Treasurer's Office at 630-407-5900 or www.dupageco.org/treasurer. Gwen Henry, Treasurer.

4. ALTAR FLOWER SIGN-UP FOR 2021
The new Altar Flower sign-up sheet for 2021 has been created and is currently in the church office. (It will be relocated to the bulletin board in the Narthex once we return to in-person worship) For now, please contact the office at 630.851.8010 to sign up for your special Sundays in the coming New Year!

5. PASTORAL VISITATION WITH HOLY COMMUNION
During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to Holy Communion has been very limited. Even though BFVUMC acknowledges that online communion can be still sacramental, many of you may miss terribly the physical presence of church members incorporated in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Pastor Sam is now on duty to deliver the non-anxious and prayerful presence of God with a pre-packed communion element (Wafer and Juice) to all families of BFVUMC. If you and your whole family would like to receive Holy Communion at your own place, please reach out to Pastor Sam at 847.612.7477(Call or Text) or pastorsam@bfvumc.org and he will be available at your convenience.

5. ONLINE GIVING
While we are keeping one another safe by practicing social distancing through online worship services, please know that your giving is vital to maintain the ministries of the church. You can continue your financial support by giving online through Bethany’s website, www.bfvumc.org . On the home page select Online Giving in the upper right corner of the screen. You will see that you have two choices: you can donate via your bank account through our partnership with Vanco, or you can donate via PayPal/Credit Card. Both options allow you to make a one-time donation or a recurring donation. If you prefer, you can continue to support the church by mailing you contribution to Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, 2200 Ridge Avenue, Aurora, IL 60504.

6. NORTHERN ILLINOIS CONFERENCE REDISTRICTING
On Dec. 17, the Cabinet and Bishop Sally Dyck approved the redistricting plan reducing the number of districts (and District Superintendents) in the Northern Illinois Conference from six to five effective July 1, 2021. The Annual Conference voted in favor of the legislation during the Nov. 14 virtual session.

The names of the districts are Lake North, Lake South, Prairie Central, Prairie North, and Prairie South. Bethany of Fox Valley is in the Prairie Central District, along with all the other Aurora churches.

Bishop Dyck is setting the boundaries of these districts as of December 31, 2020. Any additional reconsiderations may be submitted with a rationale to your current district superintendent by January 15, 2021. The Interim Bishop and Cabinet will make a final determination by January 31.

7. WELCOME INTERIM BISHOP JOHN HOPKINS
With the new year, we welcome retired Bishop John L. Hopkins, who is serving as the interim bishop for the Northern Illinois Conference through 2021.

Bishop Hopkins was elected to the episcopacy in July 1996 at the North Central Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to the Minnesota Area for eight years. In September 2004, Bishop Hopkins was assigned to the Ohio East Area until his retirement in 2016.

Bishop Hopkins and his wife Elaine live in Indianapolis. He will be working remotely for a time because of COVID-19 guidelines, but plans to travel and work out of the Chicago office periodically while keeping safety in mind.