- Oct 21, 2023
- 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!” Sunday, October 21, 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 Naomi Hanvey, Scripture reader Diane Smith, Candle lighter Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor Naomi Hanvey, 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 reigns . . . all the time! All the time . . . God reigns! Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light of Christ Hymn: “How Great Thou Art” older words below(melody NCH 35) CCLI license #11038266 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds thy hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed. Refrain: Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee, “How great Thou art, how great Thou art.” (repeat) And when through the woods, and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; when I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur and see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze. (refrain) And when I think, that God’s own Son not sparing; sent him to die, I scarce can take it in; that on the Cross, my burden greatly bearing, he bled and died to bring me home again. (refrain) When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, and then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!" (refrain) Community Prayer ALL: I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all my burdens down at your feet; and anytime that I don’t know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you. Prayers of Gratitude ALL: I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all my burdens down at your feet; and anytime that I don’t know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you. Prayers of Concern ALL: I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all my burdens down at your feet; and anytime that I don’t know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you. Silent Prayer ALL: I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all my burdens down at your feet; and anytime that I don’t know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you. 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 Sovereign of our lives, we come with humble hearts to give thanks for your presence in our lives. Bless these offerings to the work of this your church. Amen Listening for God Message with Young Hearts What is written on the bottom of Woody and Buzz Lightyear’s feet? Why? 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that God has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia (ah-KY-ah). For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming. Matthew 22:15-22 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away. Message: Written on Our Hearts Silence Announcements Our Light moves into the World God Loves *Hymn: “God Reigns o’er All the Earth” 21(NCH) God reigns o’er all the earth! Green hills and valley’s low, the farms and towns in golds and browns God’s grace and beauty show. God reigns o’er all the earth! Stone banks and spreading plains, in rainbow hues - reds, yellows, blues - of stream and country lanes. God reigns o’er human life! Through youth and aging years, in death, in birth, in grief in mirth, in all our hopes and fears. God reigns o’er human life! Our inspiration still. Through all our schemes, in all our dreams, we see God’s reigning will. God reigns o’er time and space! In history’s bygone days, Christ’s faithful folk in reverence spoke to bring God earnest praise. God reigns o’er time and space! O’er galaxy and sun, through timeless years the cosmos hears the heavenly music run. God reigns! Emmanuel! God with us every day, in all our past and to the last, our comfort and our stay. God reigns! Emmanuel! Let praise to Christ be sung! God’s presence here makes all things dear. Let joyful bells be rung! Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude Be Yourself. Grow in Christ. Live with Compassion.
