Sunday Worship Bulletin, Sep 8 2024

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!”

September 8, 2024

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator

Joe McSwain, Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Kelly Cuilla, Scripture Reader

Mike Weissenfels, Candle lighter

________, Fellowship Set-up

Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

Naomi Hanvey, Worship Leader

10:30am Worship begins

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 with us ...all the time!  All the time...God is with us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday is Mark 8:27-38, Even Jesus Suffers

Bible Study is at Tom and Kelly’s home on Monday

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

String-A-Lings practice Wednesday at 5:30pm

 Community giving next month: N-Sid-Sen

Welcoming the Light of Christ

Hymn: Seek Ye First 

Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!

Ask, and it shall be given unto you;
Seek, and you shall find.
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!

 We shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds out from the mouth of God.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!

Community Prayer

Hymn: “Grace Alone” v1

Ev’ry promise we can make, ev’ry prayer and step pf faith, ev’ry difference we can make is only by God’s grace. Ev’ry mountain we will climb, ev’ry ray of hope we shine, ev’ry blessing left behind is only by God’s grace.

Grace alone which God supplies strength unknown God will provide; Christ in us, our Cornerstone, we will go forth in grace alone. 

Prayers of Gratitude

Refrain

Prayers of Concern

Refrain

Silent Prayer

Refrain

 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: Sing Amen(Sing Amen) Amen, we praise your name, O, God (Sing Amen) Amen, we praise your name, O, God (Sing Amen) Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, we praise your name, O, God

Re-Covenanting with God and One Another

Pastor: As we gather virtually and in person, we bring ourselves into the presence of the one God. Here we live out our mission of Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – Working for Justice & Peace. Today, we renew our journey on the spiritual path with the Divine. We commit our lives to a discipline of worship, prayer, learning, exploring, and developing our spiritual life and practice. We commit ourselves to opening our heart, souls, and minds to develop a deeper relationship with the Divine in community worship, acts of faith, study, and prayer.

Questions for Re-Covenanting

Pastor: Friends and members of the Veradale United Church of Christ, will you renew your relationship with God and one another to be yourself, grow in Christ, and live with compassion.

All: We will.

Pastor: Will you be part of this community, sharing in worship, study, prayer, and the missional activities as the Spirit gives you guidance and your abilities allow?

All: We will.

Pastor: Let us pray:

Re-Covenanting

All: Creator God, we renew our devotion to the spiritual path. We seek a deeper relationship with you and with one another. We promise as best as we are able to share in the worship, study, prayer, and missional activities of this community. We promise to be here with you and this congregation so that we may become one as you are one. Hear us, we pray.  Amen

A Time of Offering

 An Invitation to Share 

Dedication: Come into His Presence

CCLI license #11038266

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!

Dedication Prayer

Loving and Just God, we offer these gifts of time, talent, and treasure for the work and witness of this congregation. Bless all that we give that the love and  hope may be known through us. We ask as we follow the way of Jesus. Amen

Listening for God

Mark 7:24-37   24 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Sir even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And when she went home, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went by way of Sidon toward the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Message: Jesus Heals

Meditation in Music

Announcement Reminder

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Closing Hymn: “Bless Be the Tie that Binds” 393 (NCH)

Public Domain

Bless be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The sharing of a common life is like to that above.

Before our God we come and pour our ardent prayers. Our Fears our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.

We share each other’s woes, each other’s burdens bear, and often for each other flows a sympathizing tear.

When we are called to part it gives us inward pain, but we shall still be joined in heart and hope to meet again.

Benediction 

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Sep 1 2024

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!”

September 1, 2024

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator

Joe McSwain, Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Don Young, Scripture Reader

Diane Smith, Candle lighter

________, Fellowship Set-up

Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am    Worship begins

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 dwells among us ...all the time!  All the time...God dwells among us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: Return to the Lectionary

Bible Study Returns Monday, September 9

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

String-A-Lings practice Wednesday, 5:30pm 

Sing-A-Lings sort music Wednesday, 6:30pm

 Community giving next month: N-Sid-Sen

Welcoming the Light of Christ

Hymn: Christ is the Mountain of Horeb 45 (NCH)

1.Christ is the Mountain of Horeb which is flowing: water of life pour forth to heal, to make us whole. Christ is the Mountain of Horeb which is flowing: water of life pour forth to heal, to make us whole. Sweeter than honey is the stream, come taste and see.  Refresh your being, refresh your heart and mind. Christ is the Mountain of Horeb which is flowing: water of life pour forth to heal, to make us whole.

2. Flower of flowers, the Lily of the Valley, the Rose of Sharon, blooming pure and free for you. O Christ the pathway of love above all loves, Eternal Fountain of salvation flowing free. Come seek the one who understands your grief and pain. Refresh your being, refresh your heart and mind. Flower of flowers, the Lily of the Valley, the Rose of Sharon, blooming pure and free for you.

Community Prayer

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 may hands to the Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. I love you.

Prayers of Gratitude

Refrain

Prayers of Concern

Refrain

Silent Prayer

Refrain

 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: Amen, amen, amen.

A Time of Offering

 An Invitation to Share 

Dedication Hymn 

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! 

All your works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea.

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty. God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Dedication Prayer

God of All, you dwell with us now and always, we thank you with humble hearts. Bless our offerings of time, talent, and treasure. May our love and life reflect your presence in this world. Amen

Listening for God

Revelation 21:1-27 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home[a] of God is among mortals.He will dwell[b] with them;they will be his peoples,[c]and God himself will be with them and be their God;[d]4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes.Death will be no more;mourning and crying and pain will be no more,for[e] the first things have passed away.”

5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.7 Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless,[f] the polluted, the murderers, the sexually immoral,[g] the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And in the spirit[h] he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names that are the names[i] of the twelve tribes of the Israelites: 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel[j] who talked to me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city has four equal sides, its length the same as its width, and he measured the city with his rod, twelve thousand stadia; its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits by human measurement, which the angel was using. 18 The wall is built of jasper, while the city is pure gold, clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass.

22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Footnotes

21.3 Gk the tabernacle

21.3 Gk will tabernacle

21.3 Other ancient authorities read people

21.3 Other ancient authorities lack and be their God

21.4 Other ancient authorities lack for

21.8 Or the unbelieving

21.8 Or prostitutes

21.10 Or in the Spirit

21.12 Other ancient authorities lack that are the names

21.15 Gk He

Revelation 22:1-7 Then the angel[a] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life[b] with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.3 Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him;4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

7 “See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Footnotes

1. 22.1 Gk he

2. 22.2 Or the Lamb. In the middle of the street of the city, and on either side of the river, is the tree of life

Message: God’s Place is On Earth

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 questioning and learning.  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.

Meditation in Music

Announcement Reminder

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Closing Hymn: O Holy City, Seen of John 613 (NCH)

1 O Holy City, seen of John, where Christ, the Lamb, does reign within those four-square walls shall come no night, nor need, nor pain, and where the tears are wiped from eyes that shall not weep again.

2 O shame to us who rest content while lust and greed for gain in street and shop and tenement wring gold from human pain, and bitter lips in deep despair cry, "Christ has died in vain."

3 Give us, O God, the strength to build the City that has stayed too long a dream, whose laws are love, whose ways are your own ways, and where the sun that blazes is your grace for all our days.

4 Already in the mind of God that City is prepared: oh, how its splendor challenges the souls that greatly dare: Yes, bids us seize the whole of life and build its glory there.

Benediction 

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Aug 25 2024

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!”

August 25, 2024

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator

Joe McSwain, Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Cherall-Anne St. James, Scripture Reader

Diane Smith, Candle lighter

________, Fellowship Set-up

Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am    Worship begins

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 with us ...all the time!  All the time...God is with us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: The Book of the Revelation to John Part 2

Bible Study Returns Soon!

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

String-A-Lings practice Wednesday, 5:30pm 

 Community giving next month: N-Sid-Sen

Welcoming the Light of Christ

Hymn: Crown with Your Richest Crowns 301(NCH) verses 1, 2, & 3

Crown with your riches crowns the Lamb upon the throne; Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing of Christ who died for you, and to your risen Savior bring, your thanks for life made new.

Crown Christ whose love has flowed down hands and feet and side. Look past the peak of Calvary’s road to Christ the glorified. The sun that lights the sky is pale before that sight. At prayer we glimpse then turn the eye from mysteries so bright.

Crown Christ the truth, the life who triumphed o’er the grave and rose victorious in the strife, this fallen world to save. Christ’s glories now we sing, Christ’s name we magnify, who died eternal life to bring, and life that death may die.

Community Prayer

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 may hands to the Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. I love you.

Prayers of Gratitude

Refrain

Prayers of Concern

Refrain

Silent Prayer

Refrain

 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: Amen, amen, amen.

A Time of Offering

 An Invitation to Share 

Dedication Hymn 

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! 

All your works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea.

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty. God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Dedication Prayer

Holy One, in the midst of struggle, let us be a witness to your presence and peace. Bless our offerings of time, talent, and treasure that this little church may thrive. Bless our giving to the community, that you love may be known. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen

Listening for God

Revelation 5

Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed[a] with seven seals, 2 and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. 8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They sing a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll    and to break its seals,for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God    saints from[b] every tribe and language and people and nation;10 you have made them a kingdom and priests serving[c] our God,    and they will reign[d] on earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughteredto receive power and wealth and wisdom and mightand honor and glory and blessing!”

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, singing,

“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lambbe blessing and honor and glory and mightforever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Footnotes

a.   5.1 Or written on the inside and sealed on the back

b.   5.9 Gk ransomed for God from

c.    5.10 Gk priests to

d.   5.10 Other ancient authorities read they reign

Revelation 7:9-17

9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!”

11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdomand thanksgiving and honorand power and mightbe to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 For this reason they are before the throne of God    and worship him day and night within his temple,    and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.16 They will hunger no more and thirst no more;    the sun will not strike them,    nor any scorching heat,17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,    and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Message: Lambikins

Meditation in Music

Announcement Reminder

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Closing Hymn: For All the Saints 299 (NCH)

For all the saints who from their labors rest, who to the world their steadfast faith confessed, your name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia, alleluia!

You were their rock, their refuge, and their might: you, Christ, the hope that put their fears to flight; ’mid gloom and doubt, you were their one true light. Alleluia, alleluia!

Still may your people, faithful, true, and bold, live as the saints who nobly fought of old, and share with them a glorious crown of gold. Alleluia, alleluia!

Ringed by this cloud of witnesses divine, we feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet in your love our faithful lives entwine. Alleluia, alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, steals on the ear the distant triumph song; then hearts are brave again and faith grows strong. Alleluia, alleluia

Benediction 

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion