- Aug 17, 2024
- 6 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!”
August 18, 2024
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
String-A-Lings, Musicians
Joe McSwain, Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Tom Cuilla, Scripture Reader
Mike Weissenfels, Candle lighter
________, Fellowship Set-up
________, 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 loves us ...all the time! All the time...God loves us!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
Next Sunday: The Book of the Revelation to John Part 1
Bible Study off for the Summer
Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am
String-A-Lings practice Wednesday, 5:30pm
Community giving this month: Winter Gear
Welcoming the Light of Christ
Hymn: Out of the Depths, O God, We Call 554 (NCH)
Out of the depths, O God, we call to you. Wounds of the past remain, affecting all we do. Facing our lives, we need your love so much. Here in this community, heal us with your touch.
Out of the depths of fear, O God, we speak. Breaking the silences, the searing truth we seek. Safe among friends, our grief and rage we share. Here in this community, hold us in your care.
God of the loving heart, we praise your name. Dance through our lives and loves; anoint with Spirit flame. Your light illumines each familiar face. Here in this community, meet us with your grace.
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
Creator God, we make our offerings of time, talent, and treasure asking that you multiply them to your service. May all that we are and all that we do be fill with our love for you. Amen
Listening for God
1Corinthians 7:17-24
17 However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying the commandments of God is everything. 20 Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.
21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make the most of it. 22 For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave belonging to Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of humans. 24 In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect, 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
Colossians 3:18-4:1
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever task you must do, work as if your soul depends on it, as for the Lord and not for humans, 24 since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality.
4:1 1 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Ephesians 6:1- 9 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ, 6 not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul. 7 Render service with enthusiasm, as for the Lord and not for humans, 8 knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are enslaved or free.
9 And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Lord in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.
Message: Slaves Obey?
Announcement Reminder
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Closing Hymn: Jesus, Lover of My Soul 546 (NCH)
Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to your bosom fly, while the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high; hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past; safe into the haven guide, O receive my soul at last!
Other refuge have I none; in your hands my destiny; leave, O leave me not alone, still support and comfort me. All my trust on you is stayed, all my help from you I bring; cover my defenseless head with the shadow of your wing.
Plenteous grace in you is found, grace to cover all my sin; let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within. Fount of life, your love impart; fill my cup abundantly, spring up now within my heart, rise to all eternity.
Benediction
Communal Blessing
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion
