Carols to Sing

Greetings, Bethany family and friends—

Dr. May Tucker has put together a couple of lovely Advent carols for us to sing-along to from home. The lyrics are at the end of this email. Click here to see this, the latest in her series of sing-alongs.

As always, all are welcome to join us for our Facebook Live worship service at 10:20 a.m. on Sundays via this link:  https://www.facebook.com/bethpres.  Invite your friends to join us! 

Then, immediately following this service, all are invited to our Zoom worship service which begins around 11:10 a.m.  You can find the link to this service, as well as two our other Zoom meetings (Tuesday Bible studies and Wednesday check-ins – both beginning at 11 a.m.):  https://bethpres.com/worship-during-quarantine. 

The final discussion of the first half of Ibram X. Kendi’s, “How to be an Antiracist” will be held this coming Tuesday, December 15th at 7 p.m. (the second part of this book study will be held in February 2021).  We continue to have heartfelt discussions, and we enjoy welcoming new-comers each session.  If you would like to join us, please contact Donna Tabaie and she’ll be in touch with further information. 

The Gathering presents the 7th annual “Write Christmas” community writing workshop—this year via Zoom!  You can participate as a writer or simply as a spectator in this 90-minute online gathering of creative minds.  Writers, prepare a brief (300 words or less, taking under 4 minutes of reading time) Christmas memory or thought that you will read aloud.  Rev. Judy Davis, parish associate of Bethany Presbyterian Church and founder of The Gathering, will again lead this spirited evening. All are welcome to attend! Click here for more details and to log in.

The SSIP will be sharing 500 Christmas boxes with people in need in our neighborhood. They are looking for volunteers for a variety of tasks—decorating bags, filling bags, etc. The work will be taking place between December 17-23; details to follow!   

Just a friendly reminder that the Budget and Stewardship Commission is still eagerly awaiting your pledges for 2021 for the Stewardship drive. Please send them into Bethany’s office as soon as possible so they can begin putting together our budget for 2021 (5625 24th St., Sacramento, CA 95822). Thank you!

You can share fun videos on our webpage. Check out what others are up to!  If you have a bunch of pictures, we can edit them into a mini slide show/video to share on the website. Bethany folks are finding interesting ways to use their days of relative isolation during the COVID=19 pandemic and quarantine. Perhaps you have been doing arts and crafts … writing or composing … exploring family history … reminiscing about (or even “safely social-distanced” travel to) favorite places. Sharing your ideas and projects can help inspire and reassure others during these uncertain times. We’ve started a new gallery to help you express yourself. You can send in videos and photos for us to post. You are also invited to share photos, videos, poems, music, etc., at the Sunday morning Zoom worship services.

Here are the words to the Christmas carols you will hear on May’s sing-along:  

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

  1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, 
    that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
    Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.

  2. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan's tyranny;
    from depths of hell thy people save and give them victory o'er the grave.
    Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.

  3. O Come, Thou Dayspring, from on high and cheer us by they dawning nigh; 
    disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death's dark shadows put to flight.
    Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

  1. Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free;
    from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.
    Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the Earth Thou art; 
    dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

  2.  Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king,
    born to reign in us forever, no Thy gracious kingdom bring.
    By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; 
    by Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.      

Happy Advent, 
Jesse

Bethany Presbyterian