Generosity Sunday Worship Bulletin, Nov 12, 2023

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!” Stewardship (Generosity) Sunday, November 12, 2023 • 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 Kelly Cuilla , Candle lighter Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor ______, Fellowship Set-Up ________, Fellowship Clean-up Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor Naomi Hanvey, Worship Leader 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. Worship begins God blesses us . . . all the time! All the time . . . God blesses us! Opening Words Worship Leader: Today, we celebrate our practice of generosity. All: Today, we focus on our generosity to our church. Worship Leader: Today, we listen to the Spirit leading us and know that if things change in our lives, even our pledges can be changed. All: Today, we pledge of our treasure for the ministry we will share in 2024! Worship Leader: Today, we follow our hearts. All: Today, we celebrate our covenant of belonging with one another! Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light of Christ *Hymn: “What a Covenant” 471 (NCH) Pledge Cards are brought forward while we sing What a covenant, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms. (Refrain): Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the ever lasting arms. (Refrain) What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Savior near, leaning on the everlasting arms (Refrain) Blessing of Pledges ALL: Holy One, we hope in you. Bless our lives with health and wholeness that we may meet the pledges we make this day. May this church be a beacon of your love, justice, and compassion. We ask this in the name of Jesus whose way we follow. Amen Community Prayer Refrain: Love, love, love, love Christians this is our call. Love your neighbor as yourself for God loves us all. 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 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 Giver of all that is, we lift up these gifts of our time, talent, and treasure. Bless us that we may shine your light of compassion and justice into a world that is plagued by trouble. Amen. Listening for God
 Message with Young Hearts Deuteronomy 8:11-18 NRSVUE 11 “Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes that I am commanding you today. 12 When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them 13 and when your herds and flocks have multiplied and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock. 16 He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you and in the end to do you good. 17 Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today. Deuteronomy 16:13-17 NRSVUE 13 “You shall keep the Festival of Booths for seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress. 14 Rejoice during your festival, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female slaves, as well as the Levites, the strangers, the orphans, and the widows resident in your towns. 15 Seven days you shall keep the festival to the Lord your God at the place that the Lord will choose, for the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all your undertakings, and you shall surely celebrate. 16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, at the Festival of Weeks, and at the Festival of Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed; 17 all shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you. 1 Peter 4 7-11 NRSVUE 7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. Message: Generosity Naomi Hanvey Silence Announcements Our Light moves into the World God Loves Closing Hymn: “My Faith, It is an Oaken Staff” 418 (NCH) My faith, it is an oaken staff, the traveler’s well-loved aid; my faith, it is a song of trust, sustains me undismayed. I'll travel on and still be stirred by silent thought or social word, by all my perils undeterred, a pilgrim unafraid. My Guide is Jesus Christ whose steps, when travelers have trod, whether beneath was flinty rock or yielding grassy sod, they carried on, their joy unspent; through pain and trial they onward went, unstayed by pleasure, still they bent their zealous course to God. My faith, it is an oaken staff, oh let me on it lean. My faith provides the ground of hope, supports a purpose keen. Your Spirit, God, upon me send, that I maybe what you intend. With patient courage, we’ll contend as radiant saints serene. Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude Be Yourself. Grow in Christ. Live with Compassion.

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Nov 5 2023

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!”

All Saints Sunday, November 5, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Kelly Cuilla, Scripture reader

Joe McSwain, Candle lighter

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Sue Ferrozzo, 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.

Worship begins

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

Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light of Christ

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

We light candles for the saints in our lives as we sing.

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

Refrain: Love, love, love, love Christians this is our call. Love your neighbor as yourself for God loves us all.

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 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

Giver of all Life, we give thanks for all the saints in our lives who have made this day possible. Bless this offering of our time, talent, and treasure to strengthen our witness in this community now and for generations yet to come. Amen.

Listening for God


Message with Young Hearts

Painting with Colorful Angles

Revelation 7:9-17

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. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

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

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, singing,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might
be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 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.

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.

They will hunger no more and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them,
 nor any scorching heat,

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.”

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Message: For All the Saints

Silence

Announcements

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 the easy times and the difficult experiences. 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.

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 and Silent Meditation with Postlude

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Oct 29 2023

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, October 29, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Diane Smith, Scripture reader

Cherall Anne St. James, Candle lighter

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Maureen Carroll, Fellowship Set-Up

_________, 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.

Worship begins

God listens . . . all the time! All the time . . . God rlistens!

Passing the Peace of Christ and 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

Refrain: Love, love, love, love Christians this is our call. Love your neighbor as yourself for God loves us all.

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 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 gifts for the sheltering and rehoming of pets. May these gifts bring hope and comfort to those pets without homes. Amen

Listening for God


Message with Young Hearts

Have you ever seen a Ghibli Soot Sprite?

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: The Questions We Share

Silence

Announcements

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

*Hymn: “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing” (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 and Silent Meditation with Postlude

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.