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Sunday Worship Bulletin, May 5 2024

May 7, 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!”

May 5, 2024

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Tom Cuilla, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Diane Smith, Scripture Reader

Naomi Hanvey, 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 includes all of us ...all the time! All the time...God includes all of us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities

Bible Study Monday at 7pm at ___________ 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: God Made from One Blood 427 (NCH)

God Made from One Blood all the families of earth,

the circles of nurture that raise us from birth;

Companions who join us to work through each stage

of childhood and youth and adulthood and age.

We turn to you, God, with our thanks and our tears

for all of the families we’ve known through the years;

The intimate networks on whom we depend

of parents and partners and children and friends.

Through families we’ve tasted the value of trust

and felt what it means to be loving and just;

Yet families have also betrayed their best goals,

mistreating their members and bruising their souls.

Help families in all of their various forms

to face with integrity struggles and storms;

Grant peace to our homes that will nurture the bud

of peace for the families you made from one blood.

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, 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

Loving God, we give these offerings of our time, talent, and treasure as tokens of our gratitude. Fill our lives with your Spirit that we may bring your presence into our relationships. Amen

Listening for God

Acts 10:44-48 NRSV

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

John 15:9-17 NRSV

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants[a] any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Message: Love One Another

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: “Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant” 539 (NCH)

Won't you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you? Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road; we are here to help each other go the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you in the shadow of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh, I'll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow 'til we've seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony, born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.

Won't you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you? Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too.

Benediction

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

Sunday Worship Bulletin, April 28 2024

Apr 26, 2024
5 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!”

April 28, 2024

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Tom Cuilla, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

___________, Scripture Reader and Zoom Monitor

___________, Candle lighter

Gregg Glisson, Fellowship Set-up

____________, Fellowship Clean-up

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Worship begins

Community Affirmation

God welcomes us ...all the time! All the time...God welcomes us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities

Bible Study Monday at 7pm at ___________ 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: Coats for Kids

Welcoming the Light of Christ

*Hymn: De colores (Sing of Colors) 402 (NCH)

Sing of colors, sing of colors, that over the hills in profusion are springing. Sing of colors, sing of colors, of the birds that fly outside my window their cantiles singing. Sing of colors, in the rainbow’s bright colors God’s promise of hope we recall. Sing of colors that make up the earth and give thanks to the God who created us all. Sing of colors that make up the earth and give thanks to the God who created us all.

Sing rejoicing! Every creature that breathes raise a song to the God of creation. Sing rejoicing! Sing to God who so earnestly cares, who has offered salvation. Sing the good news! Sing the love of the Savior reflecting the colors of all. Many colors that shine from God’s face, many colors that tell us God’s love to recall. Many colors that shine from God’s face, many colors that tell us God’s love to recall.

De colores, de colores se visten los campos en la primavera. De colores, de colores son los pajaritos que vienen de afuera. De colores, de colores es el, arco iris que vemos lucir. Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí. Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí

Community Prayer

105 (Sing Book)

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Gratitude

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Concern

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers in Silence

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Lord’s Prayer

Response: Sing Amen

(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: What Does the Lord Require

1. What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you?2. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.

3. To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

Dedication Prayer

Source of All That Is, we give thanks and praise. Fill these offerings of our time talent and treasure and these Coats for Kids with blessings. May we, your servants, may bring justice, peace, and kindness to the world. Amen

Listening for God

Acts 8:26-40 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So, he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So, Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak and starting with this scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

Message: Jesus Di-Vine, We Di-Branches.

Silence

Announcements

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Closing Hymn: “You Are Salt for the Earth, O People” 181 (NCH)

You are salt for the earth, O people: salt for the reign of God; Share the flavor of life, O people: life in the City of God!

Refrain: Bring forth the reign of mercy, bring forth the reign of peace. Bring forth the reign of justice, bring forth the City of God.

You are light on the hill, O people: light for the City of God! Shine so holy and bright. O People: shine for the City of God! (Refrain)

You are a seed of the Word, O people: bring forth the reign of God! Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice, grow in the City of God! (Refrain)

We are a blessed and a pilgrim people: bound for the City of God! Love our journey and love our homeland: love is the City of God. (Refrain)

Benediction

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

Sunday Worship Bulletin, April 21 2024

Apr 20, 2024
5 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!”

April 21, 2024

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Tom Cuilla, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Diane Smith, Scripture Reader

Cherall-Anne St. James, Candle lighter

____________, Fellowship Set-up

____________, Fellowship Cean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Worship begins

Community Affirmation

God shepherds us ...all the time! All the time...God shepherds us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities

Bible Study Monday at 7pm at John and Maureen’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: Coats for Kids

Welcoming the Light of Christ

*Hymn: “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” 295 (NCH)

1. I sing a song of the saints of God, faithful their whole lives through, who bravely labored, lived, and died for the God they loved and knew.  And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green: they were saints of God if you know what I mean. God help me to be one, too.

2. They loved their God and they lived that love. It was loving that made them strong; They did what was right, for Jesus’ sake, lived justly their whole lives long. And one was a prophet, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast; there is no earthly reason, none in the least, why I shouldn't be one, too.

3. They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still. The world is filled with living saints who choose to do God’s will. You can meet them in school, on the road or at sea, in church, in a train, in a shop, or at tea; for the saints are folk like you and like me, and I mean to be one, too.

Community Prayer

105 (Sing Book)

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Gratitude

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Concern

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers in Silence

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Lord’s Prayer

Response: Sing Amen

(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

Here’s the News from Faith Action Network

Guest: Brianna Dilts

Dedication Hymn: What Does the Lord Require

1. What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you? 2. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God. 

3. To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

Dedication Prayer

Good Shepherd, you lead us on the path of justice that brings lasting peace. We thank you with humble hearts. Bless these offerings of time, talent, and treasure. May we bring forth the fulfillment of your vision of a just peace within our lives and our communities. Amen

Listening for God

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;3 he restores my soul.He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

1 John 3:16-24

16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

18 Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

John 10:11-18

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes[a] it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”