Sunday Worship Bulletin, Jan 25 2026

Veradale United Church of Christ

An Open & Affirming Congregation

Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – Working for Justice & Peace

“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”

January 25, 2026 • 10:30 a.m. 

_________________________

Please, silence cell phones

We gather in silent meditation

10:20am Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director 

Charlie Salt, AV 

Tom Cuilla: Usher Coordinator

Joe McSwain, Usher

Gregg Glisson, Usher 

Diane Smith, Scripture reader

Sue Ferrozzo, Candle lighter

Gregg Glisson and Nick Wood, Fellowship Set-Up

_______, Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor 

10:30am Entrance of the Light of Christ

Land Acknowledgement

We worship on the unceded traditional territory of the Spokane, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Coeur d’Alene, and other tribes. We acknowledge the history of indigenous genocide, removal, and erasure that continues to this day.  We recognize the role that Christian communities played in these injustices, and we recommit ourselves to seeking more peaceful, just, and neighborly ways of sharing this land with all who call it home.

Community Affirmation

   God is our light . . . all the time! 

All the time . . . God is our light!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: “Light in Times of Trouble” Isaiah 9:1-4, Matthew 4:12-23

No Bible Study, Monday 

Bible Study Monday at 7pm

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

String-A-Lings, Wednesday, 5:30pm; 

Sing-A-Lings Wednesday, 6:30pm

 Community giving next month: MLK Family Outreach Center

Rosa Parks Birthday Party, Sunday, Feb 8, 1:30pm

 Opening Hymn

“What A Covenant” 471 NCH

What a covenant, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms. 

(Refrain): Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. 

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the ever lasting arms. (Refrain) 

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Savior near, leaning on the everlasting arms (Refrain)

Community Prayer

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Gratitude 

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Concern

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers in Silence

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

 The Lord’s Prayer use the translation which is meaningful to you or

 Our Father (Creator) 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass 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.

Response 161 Amen (NCH)

A—      men, a—men, a-men, a-men, a-men.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Hymn of Dedication “Come into His Presence”

Come into his presence with thanksgiving in your heart and give him praise, and give him praise. 

Come into his presence with thanksgiving in your heart, your voices raise, your voices raise. 

Give glory and honor and power unto him, Jesus, the name above all names!

Prayer of Dedication (unison)

Holy One, your pour out light in the troubles of our time. We thank you with humble hearts. Bless our offerings that they may help shine your light of justice and peace though our lives and the work of this your church. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen

Listening for God

Isaiah 9:1-4 But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

^2]The people who walked in darkness    have seen a great light;those who lived in a land of deep darkness—    on them light has shined.³ You have multiplied exultation;    you have increased its joy;they rejoice before you    as with joy at the harvest,    as people exult when dividing plunder.⁴ For the yoke of their burden    and the bar across their shoulders,    the rod of their oppressor,    you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Matthew 4:12-23 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³ He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

¹⁵ “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,    on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—¹⁶ the people who sat in darkness    have seen a great light,and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death    light has dawned.”

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

¹⁸ As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

²³ Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Message: “Light in Times of Trouble”

Meditation in Music

Our Light moves into the World God Loves  

Closing Hymn “Blessed Assurance” 473 NCH

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of the Spirit, washed in Christ's blood.

Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight! Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blessed; Watching and waiting, looking above, filled with God's goodness, lost in Christ's love. [Refrain]

Benediction

Community Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Jan 18 2026

Veradale United Church of Christ

An Open & Affirming Congregation

Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – Working for Justice & Peace

“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”

January 18, 2026 • 10:30 a.m. 

_________________________

Please, silence cell phones

We gather in silent meditation

10:20am Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director 

Charlie Salt, AV 

Tom Cuilla: Usher Coordinator

Jerry Brines, Usher

Stephanie Wallis, Usher 

Maureen Carroll, Scripture reader

Diane Smith, Candle lighter

Sue Ferrozzo, Fellowship Set-Up

_______, Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor 

10:30am Entrance of the Light of Christ

Land Acknowledgement

We worship on the unceded traditional territory of the Spokane, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Coeur d’Alene, and other tribes. We acknowledge the history of indigenous genocide, removal, and erasure that continues to this day.  We recognize the role that Christian communities played in these injustices, and we recommit ourselves to seeking more peaceful, just, and neighborly ways of sharing this land with all who call it home.

Community Affirmation

   God requires justice . . . all the time! 

All the time . . . God requires justice!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: “Light in Times of Trouble” Isaiah 9:1-4, Matthew 4:12-23

No Bible Study, Monday 

Join us for the MLK Rally and March10am at Spokane Convention center

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

String-A-Lings, Wednesday, 5:30pm; 

Sing-A-Lings Wednesday, 6:30pm

 Community giving this month: Venessa Behan Crisis Nursery

Rosa Parks Birthday Party, Sunday, Feb 8, 1:30pm

 Opening Hymn

“Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” 593 (NCH)

Lift ev’ry voice and sing, ‘til earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise high as the list’ning skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the harsh past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on ’til victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered. We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered. Out from the gloomy past, ‘til now we stand at last where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, God who has  brought us thus far on the way; God who by your might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met you. Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget you; Shadowed beneath your hand, may we forever stand, true to our God, true to our native land.

Community Prayer

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Gratitude 

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Concern

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers in Silence

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

 The Lord’s Prayer use the translation which is meaningful to you or

 Our Father (Creator) 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass 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.

Response 161 Amen (NCH)

A—      men, a—men, a-men, a-men, a-men.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Hymn of Dedication “Come into His Presence”

Come into his presence with thanksgiving in your heart and give him praise, and give him praise. 

Come into his presence with thanksgiving in your heart, your voices raise, your voices raise. 

Give glory and honor and power unto him, Jesus, the name above all names!

Prayer of Dedication (unison)

Holy One, pour out your Spirit upon our offerings of time, talent, and treasure.  With your blessing, we will fulfill your vision of justice and peace for our lives, our neighbors, our world, and this your church. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen

Listening for God

Amos was written around 760-753 BCE from Tekoa (about 6 miles south of Bethlehem, Kingdom of Judah) It’s a time of great prosperity for Judah and Israel – with some people have plenty while denying the needs of others which Amos sees as moral decay.

Amos 5:6-24

6 Seek the Lord and live,    or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire,    and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it.7 Ah, you who turn justice to wormwood    and bring righteousness to the ground!

8 The one who made the Pleiades and Orion    and turns deep darkness into the morning    and darkens the day into night,who calls for the water of the sea    and pours it out on the surface of the earth,the Lord is his name,9 who makes destruction flash out against the strong,    so that destruction comes upon the fortress.

10 They hate the one who reproves in the gate,    and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.11 Therefore because you trample on the poor    and take from them levies of grain,you have built houses of hewn stone,    but you shall not live in them;you have planted pleasant vineyards,    but you shall not drink their wine.12 For I know how many are your transgressions    and how great are your sins—you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe    and push aside the needy in the gate.13 Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time,    for it is an evil time.

14 Seek good and not evil,    that you may live,and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,    just as you have said.15 Hate evil and love good,    and establish justice in the gate;it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,    will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

16 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord:In all the squares there shall be wailing,    and in all the streets they shall say, “Alas! Alas!”They shall call the farmers to mourning    and those skilled in lamentation to wailing;17 in all the vineyards there shall be wailing,    for I will pass through the midst of you,            says the Lord.

18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!    Why do you want the day of the Lord?It is darkness, not light,19     as if someone fled from a lion    and was met by a bearor went into the house and rested a hand against the wall    and was bitten by a snake.20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,    and gloom with no brightness in it?

21 I hate, I despise your festivals,    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,    I will not accept them,and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals    I will not look upon.23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;    I will not listen to the melody of your harps.24 But let justice roll down like water    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Message: Let Justice Roll Down

Meditation in Music

Our Light moves into the World God Loves  

Closing Hymn “We Shall Overcome” 570 (NCH)

We shall overcome. We shall overcome. We shall overcome some day.

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome someday.

We’ll go hand in hand. We’ll go hand in hand. We’ll go hand in hand someday. Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we’ll go hand in hand someday.

We are not afraid. We are not afraid. We are not afraid today. Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we are not afraid today.

Our God will see us through. Our God will see us through. Our God will see us through someday. Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, our God will see us through someday.

Benediction

Community Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Jan 11 2026

Veradale United Church of Christ

An Open & Affirming Congregation

Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – Working for Justice & Peace

“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”

January 11, 2026 • 10:30 a.m. 

_________________________

Please, silence cell phones

We gather in silent meditation

10:20am Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director (Vacation)

Charlie Salt, AV (Vacation)

String-A-Lings, Musicians

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Gregg Glisson, Usher 

DeDrick Albright-Walker, Scripture reader

Sue Ferrozzo, Candle lighter

Sue Ferrozzo, Fellowship Set-Up

Mike Weissenfels Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor 

10:30am Entrance of the Light of Christ

Land Acknowledgement

We worship on the unceded traditional territory of the Spokane, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Coeur d’Alene, and other tribes. We acknowledge the history of indigenous genocide, removal, and erasure that continues to this day.  We recognize the role that Christian communities played in these injustices, and we recommit ourselves to seeking more peaceful, just, and neighborly ways of sharing this land with all who call it home.

Community Affirmation

    God renews us. . . all the time!  All the time . . . God renews us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: Amos and MLK Sunday

Bible Study, Monday at 7pm

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

String-A-Lings, Wednesday, 5:30pm; 

Sing-A-Lings Wednesday, 6:30pm

 Community giving this month: Venessa Behan Crisis Nursery

MLK March, Next Monday, 10am at Spokane Convention center

Rosa Parks Birthday Party, Sunday, Feb 8, 1:30pm

 Opening Hymn

 “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”

Michael row the boat ashore, hal-le-lu-jah. Michael 

row the boat a-shore, hal-le-lu-jah.

Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah. Sister help to trim the sail, 

Hal-le-lu  jah.

Jordon’s river is chilly and cold, hallelujah. Chills the 

body but warms the soul hal-le-lu  jah.

Jordon’s river is deep and wide, hallelujah. Meet my 

mother on the other side, hallelujah.

Community Prayer

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Gratitude 

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Concern

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers in Silence

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

 The Lord’s Prayer use the translation which is meaningful to you or

 Our Father (Creator) 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass 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.

Response 812 (NCH)

Amen. Amen. Amen.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Hymn of Dedication In moments like these, I sing out a song. I sing out a love song to Jesus. In moments like these, I lift up my hands, I lift up my hands to the Lord. Singing, I love you, Lord. Singing, I love you, Lord. Singing, I love you, Lord! I love you.

Prayer of Dedication (unison) Beloved God, pour out your blessing and renew our lives. May these gifts of our time, talent, and treasure be multiplied and move us toward your vision of a justice and peace world.  Amen

Listening for God

Isaiah 42:1-9

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;I have put my spirit upon him;    he will bring forth justice to the nations.² He will not cry out or lift up his voice    or make it heard in the street;³ a bruised reed he will not break,    and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;    he will faithfully bring forth justice.⁴ He will not grow faint or be crushed    until he has established justice in the earth,    and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

⁵ Thus says God, the Lord,    who created the heavens and stretched them out,    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,who gives breath to the people upon it    and spirit to those who walk in it:⁶ I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;    I have taken you by the hand and kept you;I have given you as a covenant to the people,^[a]    a light to the nations,⁷     to open the eyes that are blind,to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,    from the prison those who sit in darkness.⁸ I am the Lord; that is my name;    my glory I give to no other,    nor my praise to idols.⁹ See, the former things have come to pass,    and new things I now declare;before they spring forth,    I tell you of them.

Matt 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶ And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Message: New Things I Now Declare

Affirmation of Baptismal Pledges

Pastor: Members and friends in Christ, today we remember that Jesus was baptized. We remember how the early followers of Jesus joined together in community through the sacrament of baptism. We have shared in that old, old sacred practice and today, we remember and renew our unity in the affirmation of our baptism.

The sacrament of baptism is an outward and visible sign of the grace of God. Baptism is the sacrament through which we are united in Jesus Christ and given part in Christ’s ministry.  In this ritual we practice the death to separation from God and a rising to new life in a loving, healing relationship with God. In baptism, God works in us the power of forgiveness, the renewal of the Spirit, and the knowledge of the call to be God’s people in our everyday lives.

Affirmation

Pastor: All who wish to affirm their baptism are invited to respond to the following questions and pledges. (You can stand or sit whichever is best for you)

Pastor: Do you desire to affirm your baptized into the faith and family of Jesus Christ?

Response: I do.

Pastor Do you profess Jesus Christ as Lord, the one who governs your life, and Savior, the one who sets you free?

Response: I do.

Pastor Do you promise, by the grace of God, to be Christ’s disciple, to follow in the way of our Savior, to resist oppression and evil, to show love and justice, and to witness to the work and word of Jesus Christ as best you are able?

Response:  I promise, with the help of God.

Pastor Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to grow in the Christian faith and to be a faithful participant in the community of Jesus Christ, celebrating Christ’s presence and furthering Christ’s vision of compassion and justice in all the world?

Response: I promise, with the help of God.

Moment of silent reflection

Pastor: You have always been God’s beloved. Now, in the name of the God, known to us as the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, may you embrace that love. Amen”

Prayer

ALL: We give you thanks, O Holy One, for the renewal of our baptism celebrated today. We remember that this ancient practice joins us across all time and space with the ancestors of our faith. We affirm our dedication to the spiritual practice of following the way of Jesus. Embrace us all as sons and daughters in the one household of your love. Grant us grace to receive, nurture, and befriend our sisters and brothers and all the world you love. 

Meditation in Music

Our Light moves into the World God Loves  

Closing Hymn “I was There to Hear Your Borning Cry? 351(NCH)

1.   I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. I re-joiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well; I’ll be there in case you wander off and find where demons dwell.

2.   When you found the wonder of the Word, I was there to cheer you on; You were raised to praise the living God, to whom you now belong.  Should you find someone to share your time, and you join your hearts as one, I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk ’till rising sun.

3.   In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young, I’ll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I’ve begun.  When the evening gently closes in, and you shut your weary eyes, I’ll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise.

4.   I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. I re-joiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. 

Benediction and Community Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.