- Nov 30, 2024
- 7 min read
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!”
First Sunday of Advent December 1, 2024 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Gregg Glisson, Usher
Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator
Naomi Hanvey, Scripture reader
Marvin Wilson, Candle lighter
_____, Fellowship Set-Up
Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
Entrance of Light
We welcome the light of God’s Spirit in a moment of silence. We do not light the candle until the candle of Hope is lit.
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 here . . . all the time! All the time . . . God is here!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
Next Sunday: Advent 2 Peace, Naomi brings a message
Also, next Sunday: Pat Jameson will be in worship
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
Bling-A-Lings, and Ding-A-Lings
Community giving this month: Birthday Kits
Opening Hymn
*Hymn “Life Every 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 people 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 has 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.
Lighting of the Candle of Hope
Marvin Wilson: "Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
Message from Marvin
Prayer at the lighting of the candle of Hope:
All: Hope of our lives, we light this candle to declare your hope for all creation. Bless this light to shine out into the darkness with the promise you are with us. Amen.
Community Prayer
“In our Prayers” 125 (Sing) In our prayers, in our hearts, in our prayers, in our hearts, God in your grace, hear our prayers, God in your grace, O God, hear our prayers.
Prayers of Gratitude
“In our Prayers”
Prayers of Concern
“In our Prayers”
Silent Prayer
“In our Prayers”
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 (NCH) refrain only
A-men. A-men. A-men. A-men.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Offering Acclamation Hymn # 132 (NCH)v. 3
Christ rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of God’s righteousness and wonders of God’s love, and wonders of God’s love, and wonders, wonders of God’s love.
Dedication prayer:
God, our Hope, bless us and all that we offer to the work of this church and the care of our neighbors. May our offerings bring the light of your hope into this world you so love. Amen.
Listening for God
Psalm 25:1-10,
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way.All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
Luke 21:25-36
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Message “Coming in a Cloud”
Sharing Holy Communion
Hand sanitizer passed around.
Pastor: Friends in Christ, we gather at our many tables mindful of the presence of God’s Spirit that is here with us. We seek to honor the request of Jesus given in the scripture. Of all the teachings Jesus gave to our ancestors, this he asked them and us to do for him to remember him.
When Jesus and his friends sat together at a Passover meal, Jesus took bread; giving God thanks and praise, he broke the bread. He gave it to his friends saying, “Take this all of you and eat of it. This is my body that is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
After the meal had ended, Jesus poured out the cup and again he gave God thanks and praise. He gave the cup to his friends and said, “Take this all of you and drink from it. This is the cup of the new covenant. Do this as often as you drink of it in remembrance of me.”
Let us pray.
All: Loving God, you are with us in the easy times and through the difficult experiences. We thank you with humble hearts. Let your presence be felt among us. Come, Holy Spirit come. Bless this bread and this cup and all who have gathered in your Spirit. Refresh us and renew us as Christ’s body in the world today. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Silence as all who want to receive come forward. We will break bread and share a common cup or you can receive the packaged bread and drink
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: We thank you, God, for your presence at all our tables where we remember and experience the presence of Christ. Help us to live more fully the way of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and let us show forth your praise in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Silence
Reminder about Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
* Hymn: “My Heart Sings Out” 106 (NCH)
My heart sings out with joyful praise to God who raises me, who came to me when I was low and changed by destiny. The Holy One, the Living God, is always full of grace to those who seek their Maker’s will in every time and place.
The arm of God is strong and just to scatter all the proud. The tyrants tumble from their thrones and vanish in a cloud. The hungry all are satisfied; the rich are sent away. The poor of Earth who suffer long will welcome God’s new day.
The promise made in ages past at last has come to be, for God has come in power to save, to set all people free. Remembering those who wait to see salvation’s dawning day, our Savior comes to all who weep to wipe their tears away.
Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion.
