Sunday Worship Bulletin Aug 6, 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!”

August 8, 2023

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10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Naomi Hanvey, Scripture Reader

Sue Ferrozzo, Candle lighter,

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen 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 everywhere...all the time! All the time... God is everywhere!

Welcoming the Light of Christ

Hymn: ”Jesus Calls Us, o’er the Tumult” 172 (NCH)

1 Jesus calls us o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea; day by day that voice still calls us, saying "Christian, follow me."

2 As of old, St. Andrew heard it by the Galilean lake, turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for Jesus’ sake.

3 Jesus calls us from the worship of the treasure we adore from each idol that would keep us, saying "Christian, love me more."

4 In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease, Jesus calls us, in cares and pleasures, "Christian, love me more than these.”

5 Jesus calls us! By your mercies, Savior, may we hear your call, give our hearts to your obedience, serve and love you best of all.

Community Prayer

Hymn: “Amazing Grace” 547 (NCH)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.

Prayers of Gratitude

T’was grace that taught my heart to fear and grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

Prayers of Concern

Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come ‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.

Silent prayer

My God has promised good to me, whose word my hope secures; God will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

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 They will Know We Are Christians by our Love” v. 4

All praise to Creator from whom all things come and all praise to Christ Jesus the only Son; and all praise to the Spirit who makes us one. And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, they will know we are Christians by our love.

Dedication Prayer

Holy One, we make these offerings with grateful hearts. Bless all we are, all we have, and all we do that your realm will be made real in our lives. Amen.

Listening for God

Message with Young Hearts

How do you read the Bible?

Judges 5 The Message Translation

That day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

2 When they let down their hair in Israel, they let it blow wild in the wind. The people volunteered with abandon, bless God!

3 Hear O kings! Listen O princes! To God, yes to God, I’ll sing, Make music to God, to the God of Israel.

4-5 God, when you left Seir, marched across the fields of Edom, Earth quaked, yes, the skies poured rain, oh, the clouds made rivers. Mountains leapt before God, the Sinai God, before God, the God of Israel.

6-8 In the time of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the time of Jael, Public roads were abandoned, travelers went by backroads. Warriors became fat and sloppy, no fight left in them. Then you, Deborah, rose up; you got up, a mother in Israel. God chose new leaders, who then fought at the gates. And not a shield or spear to be seen among the forty companies of Israel.

9 Lift your hearts high, O Israel, with abandon, volunteering yourselves with the people—bless God!

10-11 You who ride on prize donkeys comfortably mounted on blankets And you who walk down the roads, ponder, attend! Gather at the town well and listen to them sing, Chanting the tale of God’s victories, his victories accomplished in Israel.

Then the people of God went down to the city gates.

12 Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, sing a song! On your feet, Barak! Take your prisoners, son of Abinoam!

13-18 Then the remnant went down to greet the brave ones. The people of God joined the mighty ones. The captains from Ephraim came to the valley, behind you, Benjamin, with your troops. Captains marched down from Makir, from Zebulun high-ranking leaders came down. Issachar’s princes rallied to Deborah, Issachar stood fast with Barak, backing him up on the field of battle. But in Reuben’s divisions there was much second-guessing. Why all those campfire discussions? Diverted and distracted, Reuben’s divisions couldn’t make up their minds. Gilead played it safe across the Jordan, and Dan, why did he go off sailing? Asher kept his distance on the seacoast, safe and secure in his harbors. But Zebulun risked life and limb, defied death, as did Naphtali on the battle heights.

19-23 The kings came, they fought, the kings of Canaan fought. At Taanach they fought, at Megiddo’s brook, but they took no silver, no plunder. The stars in the sky joined the fight, from their courses they fought against Sisera. The torrent Kishon swept them away, the torrent attacked them, the torrent Kishon. Oh, you’ll stomp on the necks of the strong! Then the hoofs of the horses pounded, charging, stampeding stallions. “Curse Meroz,” says God’s angel. “Curse, double curse, its people, Because they didn’t come when God needed them, didn’t rally to God’s side with valiant fighters.”

24-27 Most blessed of all women is Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of homemaking women. He asked for water, she brought milk; In a handsome bowl, she offered cream. She grabbed a tent peg in her left hand, with her right hand she seized a hammer. She hammered Sisera, she smashed his head, she drove a hole through his temple. He slumped at her feet. He fell. He sprawled. He slumped at her feet. He fell. Slumped. Fallen. Dead.

28-30 Sisera’s mother waited at the window, a weary, anxious watch. “What’s keeping his chariot? What delays his chariot’s rumble?” The wisest of her ladies-in-waiting answers with calm, reassuring words, “Don’t you think they’re busy at plunder, dividing up the loot? A girl, maybe two girls, for each man, And for Sisera a bright silk shirt, a prize, fancy silk shirt! And a colorful scarf—make it two scarves— to grace the neck of the plunderer.”

31 Thus may all God’s enemies perish, while his lovers be like the unclouded sun.

The land was quiet for forty years.

Message: She did what!

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 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.

Announcements

Our light Goes into the World

*Hymn: “We are Often Tossed and Driven” 444(NCH) Public Domain

1 We are often tossed and driv’n on the restless sea of time, somber skies and howling tempest oft succeed a bright sunshine; in that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away, we will understand it better by and by.

Refrain:

By and by, when the morning comes, when the saints of God are gathered home, we’ll tell the story, how we’ve overcome, for we’ll understand it better by and by.

2 We are often destitute of the things that life demands, want of food and want of shelter, thirsty hills and barren lands; In our God our trust’s assured, and according to the Word we will understand it better by and by.

[Refrain]

3 Trials harsh on every hand and we cannot understand All the ways that God would lead us to the blessed promised land; We are guided by God’s eye, and we’ll follow till we die for we’ll understand it better by and by. [Refrain]

4. Temptations, hidden snares, often take us unawares, and our hearts are made to bleed for any thoughtless word or deed; and we wonder why the test when we try to do our best, but we’ll understand it better by and by. [Refrain]

Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.

Sunday Worship Bulletin, July 30, 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, July 30, 2023• 10:30 a.m.

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

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Music Potluck Sunday

Recording of “Why Me” Prelude Music

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen 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 waiting . . . all the time! All the time . . . God is waiting!

Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light of Christ

*Hymn: “How Great Thou Art”

Marvin Wilson sings the verses and we join in the refrain.

Refrain: Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee, “How great Thou art, how great Thou art.” (repeat)

Community Prayer

Hymn: “Amazing Grace” 547 (NCH)

Solo: Jan Young

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.

Prayers of Gratitude

T’was grace that taught my heart to fear and grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

Prayers of Concern

Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come ‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.

Silent prayer

My God has promised good to me, whose word my hope secures; God will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

Lord’s Prayer

Response: Sing Amen

Diane Smith and All

(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

Special Music: "Higher” composers: Vic Bertis and Julie Wehrman

sung by Vic Bertis a Baha’i friend of Louise Tajuddin

Dedication Hymn: “Holy Ground”

CCLI license #11038266

All: 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.

Dedication Prayer

Holy One, as distant as the furthest star and as close as our very breath, we are grateful. Bless our offerings of time, talent, and treasure for this church. Bless also our school supplies. May the new school year be one that nurtures students and teachers. Amen.

Listening for God

Message with Young Hearts:

Questions for God.

Judges 6:11-40 As Readers Theater

Narrator: Naomi Hanvey

Angel: Jan Young

God: Marsilius Flumo

Gideon: Marvin Wilson

Crowd: Everyone

Someone from the crowd: Diane Smith

Men of the Crowd: Everyone who wants to be counted among the men

Gideon’s Dad: Don Young

Narrator: One day the angel of God came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of God appeared to him and said,

Angel: “God is with you, O mighty warrior!”

Gideon: With me? If God is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, ‘Didn’t God deliver us from Egypt?’ The fact is, God has nothing to do with us—he has turned us over to Midian.”

Narrator: But God faced him directly:

God: “Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven’t I just sent you?”

Gideon: Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh and I’m the runt of the litter.

God: “I’ll be with you. Believe me, you’ll defeat Midian as one man.

Gideon: “If you’re serious about this, do me a favor: Give me a sign to back up what you’re telling me. Don’t leave until I come back and bring you my gift.”

God “I’ll wait till you get back.”

Narrator: Gideon went and prepared a young goat and a huge amount of unraised bread (he used over half a bushel of flour!). He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and took them back under the shade of the oak tree for a sacred meal.The angel of God said to him,

Angel: “Take the meat and unraised bread, place them on that rock, and pour the broth on them.”

Narrator: Gideon did it. The angel of God stretched out the tip of the stick he was holding and touched the meat and the bread. Fire broke out of the rock and burned up the meat and bread while the angel of God slipped away out of sight. And Gideon knew it was the angel of God!

Gideon: “Oh no! Lord, God! I have seen the angel of God face-to-face!”

God: “Easy now. Don’t panic. You won’t die.”

Narrator: Then Gideon built an altar there to God and named it “God’s Peace.” It’s still called that at Ophrah of Abiezer.

(Act 2)

Narrator: That night this happened. God said to Gideon,

God: “Take your father’s best seven-year-old bull, the prime one. Tear down your father’s Baal altar and chop down the Asherah fertility pole beside it. Then build an altar to God, your God, on the top of this hill. Take the prime bull and present it as a Whole-Burnt-Offering, using firewood from the Asherah pole that you cut down.”

Narrator: Gideon selected ten men from his servants and did exactly what God had told him. But because of his family and the people in the neighborhood, he was afraid to do it openly, so he did it that night. Early in the morning, the people in town were shocked to find Baal’s altar torn down, the Asherah pole beside it chopped down, and the prime bull burning away on the altar that had been built. They kept asking,

Crowd: “Who did this?”

Narrator: Questions and more questions, and then the answer:

Someone from the crowd “Gideon son of Joash did it.”

Narrator: The men of the town demanded of Joash:

Men of the Crowd: “Bring out your son! He must die! Why, he tore down the Baal altar and chopped down the Asherah tree!”

Narrator: But Joash stood up to the crowd pressing in on him,

Gideon’s Dad: “Are you going to fight Baal’s battles for him? Are you going to save him? Anyone who takes Baal’s side will be dead by morning. If Baal is a god in fact, let him fight his own battles and defend his own altar.”

Narrator: They nicknamed Gideon that day Jerub-Baal because after he had torn down the Baal altar, he had said, “Let Baal fight his own battles.”

(Act 3)

Narrator: All the Midianites and Amalekites (the easterners) got together, crossed the river, and made camp in the Valley of Jezreel. God’s Spirit came over Gideon. He blew his ram’s horn trumpet and the Abiezrites came out, ready to follow him. He dispatched messengers all through Manasseh, calling them to the battle; also to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. They all came. Gideon said to God,

Gideon: “If this is right, if you are using me to save Israel as you’ve said, then look: I’m placing a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If dew is on the fleece only, but the floor is dry, then I know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said.”

Narrator: That’s what happened. When he got up early the next morning, he wrung out the fleece—enough dew to fill a bowl with water! Then Gideon said to God,

Gideon: “Don’t be impatient with me, but let me say one more thing. I want to try another time with the fleece. But this time let the fleece stay dry, while the dew drenches the ground.”

Narrator: God made it happen that very night. Only the fleece was dry while the ground was wet with dew.

Message: A Time to Test

Silence

Announcements

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Hymn: “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”

Marvin Wilson sings the verses and all sing refrain.

Refrain: Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude

“Go Now in Peace” Naomi Hanvey on Chimes with Choir

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.

Sunday Worship Bulletin July 23, 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, July 23, 2023• 10:30 a.m. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 10:20 Gathering and Prelude Wayne Shull, Music Director Charlie Salt, AV and Scripture Reader Joe McSwain, AV and Usher Jerry Brines, Usher Laila Buse, Candle Lighter Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor Rev. Gen 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 one . . . all the time! All the time . . . God is one! Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light of Christ *Hymn: “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” 472 (NCH) Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light: Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near. When my life is almost gone. Hear my cry, hear my call. Hold my hand lest I fall: Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. When the shadows appear and the night draws near, and the day is past and gone, at the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand: Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. Community Prayer Hymn: “Amazing Grace” 547 (NCH) Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see. Prayers of Gratitude T’was grace that taught my heart to fear and grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed. Prayers of Concern Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come ‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home. Silent prayer My God has promised good to me, whose word my hope secures; God will my shield and portion be as long as life endures. 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 Meet Me Moment Dedication Hymn: “Holy Ground” CCLI license #11038266 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. Dedication Prayer Loving God, we offer these gifts of our time, talent, and treasure. May they be multiplied to fulfill your vision of a just and compassionate life. Amen. Listening for God Message with Young Hearts: When do you know that someone is grown-up? Job1:6-12 NRSUE (from Biblegateway.com) One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and the accuser (the satan) also came among them. The Lord said to the accuser, “Where have you come from?” The accuser answered the Lord, “From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it.” The Lord said to the accuser, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.” Then the accuser[f]answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” The Lord said to the accuser, “Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!” So the accuser went out from the presence of the Lord. Matthew 4:1-11 NRSUE (from Biblegateway.com) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil.He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. Message: The Adversary, the Tempter, and Responsibility Silence Announcements Our Light moves into the World God Loves *Hymn: “God of the Ages, Who with Sure Command” 592 (NCH) God of the ages, who with sure command brought forth in beauty all the starry band of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, our grateful songs before your throne arise. Your purpose, just, envisions morals free; God, set our path toward human liberty. Still be our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay-your Word our law, your paths our chosen way. From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence, with steadfast care be ever our defense; Your love and faith within our hearts increase; with bounteous goodness nourish us in peace. Refresh your people on life's toil-some way; lead us from night to never ending day; With truth and love guide us through error's maze, and we shall give you glory, laud, and praise. Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude Be Yourself. Grow in Christ. Live with Compassion.