Sunday Worship Bulletin, June 2 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!”

June 2, 2024

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10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

_______, Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Naomi Hanvey, Scripture Reader

Diane Smith, Candle lighter

Sue Ferrozzo, 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 is good ...all the time!  All the time...God is good!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

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: Birthday Kits

Welcoming the Light of Christ

*Hymn: As the Deer (Three verses)

As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul length after Thee. You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship Thee. 

Refrain: You alone are my strength, my shield; to you alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship Thee.

You're my friend and you are my brother even though you are the One. I love you more than any other, so much more than anything. (Refrain)

I want you more than gold or silver. Only you can satisfy. You alone are the real joy giver and the apple of my eye. (Refrain)

Community Prayer

(p.53, Green Book)

My peace I give unto you. It’s a peace that the world cannot give. It’s a peace that the world cannot understand. Peace to know. Peace to live. My peace I give unto you.

Prayers of Gratitude 

My peace I give unto you. It’s a peace that the world cannot give. It’s a peace that the world cannot understand. Peace to know. Peace to live. My peace I give unto you.

Prayers of Concern

My peace I give unto you. It’s a peace that the world cannot give. It’s a peace that the world cannot understand. Peace to know. Peace to live. My peace I give unto you.

Prayers in Silence

My peace I give unto you. It’s a peace that the world cannot give. It’s a peace that the world cannot understand. Peace to know. Peace to live. My peace I give unto you.

 Lord’s Prayer

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

A Time of Offering

 An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn (p.113 Red Book)

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.

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

2 Corinthians 4:5-12 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’s sake.For it is the God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, always carrying around in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For we who are living are always being handed over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us but life in you.

Mark 2:23-3:6 One Sabbath he was going through the grain fields, and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food, how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions?” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath, so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Again, he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They were watching him to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Message: Is it lawful to do good or to do harm?

Silence

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: “You are the Seed” 528(NCH)

You are the Seed that will grow a new sprout; you’re a star that will shine through the day; You are the yeast and a small grain of salt, a beacon to glow in the night.

You are the dawn that will bring a new day; you’re the wheat that will bear golden grain. You are a sting and a soft, gentle touch, my witnesses where’er you go.

Refrain: Go, my friends, go to the world proclaiming love to all, messengers of my forgiving peace, eternal love. Be, my friends, a loyal witness, from the dead I arose; “Lo, I’ll be with you forever, ’til the end of the world”

You are the flame that will brighten the way, sending sparkles of hope, faith, and love; You are the shepherds to lead the whole world through valleys and pastures of peace.

You are the friends that I chose for myself, the word that I want to proclaim. You are the city that’s built on a rock where justice and truth always reign. (Refrain)

You are life that will nurture the plant; you’re the waves in a turbulent sea; yesterday’s yeast is beginning to rise, a new loaf of bread it will yield.

There is no place for a city to hide, nor a mountain can cover it’s might; may your good deeds show a world in despair a path that will lead all to God. (Refrain)

Benediction 

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

Sunday Worship Bulletin, May 26 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!”

May 26, 2024

Trinity Sunday and Memorial Day Weekend

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Tom Cuilla, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Tom Cuilla, Scripture Reader

Diane Smith, Candle lighter

Gregg Glisson, 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 is One. . . all the time!  All the time . . . God is One!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

No Bible Study Monday

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: Blessing Box and Coats for Kids

Welcoming the Light of Christ

Lighting of Memorial Candles during the hymn.

(Many of us cannot get to the graves of our loved ones. This is an opportunity to honor our ancestors by lighting a candle and speaking/thinking their names)

Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy” 277 (NCH) 

Holy, holy, holy! God the Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! Saints adore you truly, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; cherubim and seraphim bow before you only, From the beginning God eternally.

Holy, holy, holy! Though we know but dimly, though the eye of human kind your glory may not see, you alone are holy holy; you alone are worthy, perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! God the Almighty! All your works shall praise your name, in earth, and sky, and sea. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed trinity!

Community Prayer

We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.

Prayers of Gratitude 

We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground

Prayers of Concern

We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.

Prayers in Silence

We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.

 Lord’s Prayer

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

A Time of Offering

 An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn

Love, love, love, love, 

Christians this is your call. 

Love your neighbor as yourself 

for God loves us all.

Dedication Prayer

Holy One, as you are one in justice, love, and mercy, make us one. Bless these gifts and make them pleasing in your site. May the day soon come when sharing by all will mean scarcity to none. Amen.

Listening for God

Isaiah 6:1-8 NRSVUE

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory.”

The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said, “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”

John 3:1-17 NRSVUE

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Message: The Wind Blows Where It Chooses

Silence

Meditation in Music

Announcement Reminder

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Closing Hymn: “Shall We Gather At the River” 597 (NCH

Shall we gather by the river where bright angel’s feet have trod with its crystal tide foreverflowing by the throne of God?Refrain: Yes, we’ll gather by the river the beautiful, the beautiful river, gather with the saints by the river that flows by the throne of God.

On the margins of the river, washing up its silver spray, we will walk and worship ever, all the happy golden day. (Refrain)

As we reach the shining river, lay we every burden down, grace our spirits, and provide a robе and crown. (Refrain)

Soon we’ll reach the shining river. Soon our pilgrimage will cease. Soon our happy hearts will quiver with the melody of peace. (Refrain)

Benediction 

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

Pentecost Sunday Bulletin, May 19 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!”

May 19, 2024

Pentecost

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Tom Cuilla, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Maureen Carroll James, Scripture Reader

__________, Candle lighter

Gregg Glisson, 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 breathes life...all the time!  All the time...God breathes life!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Bible Study Monday at 7pm at Maureen and John’s home

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: Blessing Box and Coats for Kids

Welcoming the Light of Christ

*Hymn: “Spirit Come” by Bryan Sirchio used with his permission

Spirit come,… fall on us anew,…open up our hearts,,, as we worship you (repeat from beginning)

 God of Love, everyday your mercy falls like rain. We give thanks for your ever flowing streams of grace

Spirit come,… fall on us anew,…open up our hearts… as we worship you… as we worship you… as we worship you, as we worship you, as we worship you.

Community Prayer

We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.

Prayers of Gratitude 

We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.

Prayers of Concern

We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.

Prayers in Silence

We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.

 Lord’s Prayer

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

A Time of Offering

 An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn

Love, love, love, love, 

Christians this is your call. 

Love your neighbor as yourself 

for God loves us all.

Dedication Prayer

Blessed Spirit, fill us with your light and life that we may be the body of Christ in the world today. Bless all our gifts of time, talent, and treasure. With your blessing, we will fulfill your vision for our lives, our world, and this your church. We pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen

Listening for God

Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

So I prophesied as I had been commanded, and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath,[d] and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’  Therefore prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”

Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”  All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”  But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,  

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,    

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,    

in those days I will pour out my Spirit,        

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above    

and signs on the earth below,        

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness    

and the moon to blood,        

before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Message: I Will Put My Spirit within You

Silence

Meditation in Music

Announcement Reminder

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Closing Hymn: Come, O Spirit  267 (NCH)

1. Come, O Spirit, dwell among us, come with Pentecostal power. Give the church a stronger vision; help us face each crucial hour. Built upon a firm foundation, Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone. Still the church is called to mission that God's love shall be made known.

2 We would raise our alleluias for the grace of former years. For tomorrow's unknown pathway, Hear, O God, our humble prayers. In the church's pilgrim journey, you have led us all the way. Still in presence, move before us, fire by night and cloud by day.

3 Come, O Spirit, dwell among us; give us words of fire and flame. Help our struggling voices praise You, glorify Your holy name. Good Creator, Savior, Spirit,  three in One: what mystery! We would sing our loud hosannas now and through eternity.

Benediction 

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion