Sunday Worship Bulletin, Jul 14 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!”

July 14, 2024

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

String-A-Lings, Musicians

Joe McSwain, Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Tom Cuilla, Scripture Reader

Diane Smith, Candle lighter

Sue Ferrozzo, 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 reveals more ...all the time!  All the time...God reveals more!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday “As with a Woman”

Bible Study off for the Summer

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

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

Sing-A-Lings (a.k.a.Choir) practice Wednesday 6:30pm

 Community giving this month: School Supplies

Welcoming the Light of Christ

Hymn: Gather Us In

Here in this place new light is streaming. Shadows of doubt are vanished away. See in this space our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of this day.Gather us in, the lost and forsaken. Gather us in, our spirits inflame. Call to us now and we shall awaken. We shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face. We have been sung throughout all of history called to be light to the whole human race.Gather us in, the rich and the haughty. Gather us in, the proud and the strong. Give us a heart so meek and so lowly. Give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we receive new life in the waters.  Here we receive the bread of new birth. Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the Earth.Give us to drink the wine of compassion. Give us to eat the bread that is you. Nourish us well and teach us to fashion. Lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Not just in buildings, small and confining. Not in some heaven light years away. Here in this place the new light is shining. Now is God present, now is the day.Gather us in and hold us forever. Gather us in and make us your own. Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bones.

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: (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

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, your hope in us never wavers. Fill our offerings of time, talent, and treasure with your blessing so that this little church may shine the light of hope and healing.Amen

Listening for God

Romans 1:18 – 2:1 

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; 21 for although they knew God they did not honor God as God or give thanks to God, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. 29 They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them.

2:1 Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others, for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.

Message: Natural Relations

Announcement Reminder

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Closing Hymn: “Some Glad Morning” 595 (NCH)

 Some glad morning when this life is o’er, I'll fly away to a home on God's celestial shore. I’ll fly away. I’ll fly away, O Glory, I'll fly away when I die, Hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away.

When the shadows of this life have flown, I’ll fly away Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I’ll fly away. I’ll fly away, O Glory, I'll fly away when I die, Hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away.

Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away to a land where joy shall never end, I’ll fly away. I’ll fly away, O Glory, I'll fly away when I die, Hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away.

Benediction 

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

Sunday Worship Bulletin, July 7 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!”

July 7, 2024

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Reader’s Theater, Scripture Reader

_______, 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 guides us ...all the time!  All the time...God guides us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday “Natural Relations”

Bible Study off for the Summer

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

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

Sing-A-Lings (a.k.a.Choir) practice Wednesday 6:30pm

 Community giving this month: School Supplies

Welcoming the Light of Christ

Hymn: This is my Song 591 (NCH)

This is my song, O God of all the nations, a song of peace for lands afar and mine; this is my home, the country where my heart is; here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine: but other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean, and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine; but other lands have sunlight too, and clover, and skies are everywhere as blue as mine: O hear my song, O God of all the nations, a song of peace for their land and for mine.

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: 812 (NCH)

Amen. Amen. Amen. 

A Time of Offering

 An Invitation to Share 

Choir: Gather Us In

Dedication Hymn 780 (NCH)

Praise God from whom all blessing flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One.  Amen

Dedication Prayer

  Holy One, your hope in us never wavers. Fill our offerings of time, talent, and treasure with your blessing so that this little church may shine the light of hope and healing.Amen

Listening for God

Readers Theater

Readings from Genesis 18 and 19

Message: Another Tale of Two Cities

Choir: At This Table

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: Let us Talents and Tongues employ 347(NCH)

1.    Let us talents and tongues employ, reaching out with a shout of joy: bread is broken, the wine is poured, Christ is spoken and seen and heard.

Refrain: Jesus lives again; earth can breathe again.Pass the Word around: loaves abound!(repeat)

2. Christ is able to make us one, at his table he set the tone, teaching people to live to bless, love in word and in deed express Refrain

3. Jesus calls us in, sends us out bearing fruit in a world of doubt, gives us love to tell, bread to share: God, Immanuel, everywhere! Refrain

Benediction 

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

Sunday Worship Bulletin June 30 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!”

Sunday, June 30, 2024 • 10:30 a.m.

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Tom Cuilla, Scripture reader

Diane Salt, Candle lighter

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

_________, Fellowship Set-Up

Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor

10:30am 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 listens ...all the time!  All the time... God listens!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday is Communion

Bible Study off for the Summer

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

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

Sing-A-Lings (a.k.a.Choir) practice Sunday Mornings before Worship

Community giving NEXT month: School Supplies

Welcoming the Light of Christ

*Hymn “Ask, Seek, Knock”

1.  Sometimes it’s hard to believe in someone my eyes can’t see. Sometimes I question and doubt the way Thomas did. But God’s not the kind who says don’t use your mind, so when questions trouble my soul, I trust in the promise that Jesus made to us all…

Chorus: When we ask, seek knock we will receive from God! When we ask, seek knock, surely we’ll find! When we ask, seek knock, doors will swing open wide! So let us, ask, seek knock, all of our lives!

2. Sometimes when I’m feeling strong I promise things I can’t keep. Sometimes I let Jesus down the way Peter did. But God gives me grace to learn from my mistakes, and pick up the pieces again, and trust that the Savior is working good through it all! Chorus:

Used with permission from Bryan Sirchio

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: 812 (NCH)

Amen. Amen. Amen. 

A Time of Offering

Dedication Hymn 780 (NCH)

Praise God from whom all blessing flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One.  Amen

Dedication Prayer

Loving God, we thank you for the gift of life and the journey of faith. Bless our time, talent, and treasure that your compassion maybe know through us and in us. Bless also our Birthday Cake Kits given over these last 6 months. May these gifts bring hope and joy to those who receive them. Amen

Listening for God

Psalm 13

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?    

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I bear pain in my soul    

and have sorrow in my heart all day long?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!    

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,

and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;    

my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

But I trusted in your steadfast love;    

my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord    

because God has dealt bountifully with me.

Matthew 7:7-8 

Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 

Message: Freedom to Question

Silence

Meditation in Music

Announcement Reminder

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

*Hymn: “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing” 76 (NCH)

Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from this dwelling take leave. The service is ended, O now be extended the fruits of our worship in all who believe.

The seed of the teaching, receptive hearts reaching, shall blossom in action for God and for all. God’s grace did invite us, and love shall unite us to work for God’s realm and to answer the call.

With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living, the tasks of our everyday life we will face. Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring, embracing God’s children of each tribe and race.

With your grace you feed us, with your light now lead us, united us as one in this life that we share. Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving give honor to Christ and that name which we bear.

Benediction

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.