Sunday Worship Bulletin, March 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!”

March 12, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.

___________________________________________________________

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, Usher and AV

Jerry Brines, Usher

Marsilius Flumo, Scripture Reader

Sue Ferrozzo, Candle Lighter

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Worship begins

God renews us …all the time!

All the time...God renews us!

Welcome

Call to Confession

One: Seek God; call upon God; God is here. Trusting in the compassion and mercy of God, we pray:

Prayer of Confession

From the Presbyterian Church USA

Forgive us, God, for the many ways that we fail to trust your promise.

Too often we count the trespasses of others, as though we were the ones to judge. Too often we fail to believe that your gifts are freely given. Too often we spend our money for that which is not bread, and our labor for that which does not satisfy. Help us, loving God. Forgive us when we operate out of scarcity and fear rather than out of your abundant, good gifts. Help us to live as your trusting, sharing, reconciling people.

Silent Confessions with God

Assurance of Pardon

(from 2 Corinthians 5)

One: Beloved in Christ: God was in Christ reconciling the world, not counting our wrongs against us, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, anyone in Christ is a new creation! The past is gone; everything has become fresh and new. Hear and believe the

good news of the Gospel:

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God! Amen.

Welcoming the light of Christ

Placing rocks that symbolize the burdens we carry.

Hymn: “Glory, Glory, Halleujah” 2(NCH)

Glory, glory, hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down. Glory, glory, hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down.

I feel better, so much better, since I laid my burdens down! I feel better, so much better, since I laid my burdens down!

Feel like shoutin' hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down! Feel like shoutin' hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down!

I am dancing Miriam’s dance now, since I laid my burdens down. I am dancing Miriam’s dance now, since I laid my burdens down.

I am climbing Jacob’s ladder, since I laid my burdens down!I climbing Jacob’s ladder, since I laid my burdens down!

Every round goes higher, higher, since I laid my burdens down!Every round goes higher, higher, since I laid my burdens down!

Community Prayer

Spoken Prayers of gratitude

Spoken Prayers of concern

Silent Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

A version of The Lord’s Prayer from The New Zealand Prayer Book Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen.

Response “Grace Alone” v1

CCLI license #11038266

Every promise we can make, every prayer and step of faith, every difference we can make is only by God’s grace. Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine, every blessing left behind is only by God’s grace. Grace alone which God supplies strength unknown God will provide; Christ in us, our Cornerstone, we will go forth in grace alone.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Sharing Stories about the experiences of Bigotry

Scotty Patton

Sue Ferrozzo

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

Beloved Creator, bless these offerings of our time, talent, and treasure. Draw us closer to you and one another through this season of transformation. May we love one another as you continue to love us. Amen

Listening for God

Time with Young Hearts

How did you get good at that?

Romans 5:1-11(NRSVUE)

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. 9 Much more surely, therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

John 4:5-42 (NRSVUE)

5 So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.

7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”

27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” 28 Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” 30 They left the city and were on their way to him.

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. 36 The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”

Message: “Powerful Reconciliation”

Silent Reflection

Announcements

Bible Study at Kelly and Tom’s, 7pm Monday

Choir 6:30pm Wednesday

Book: Caste the Origin of our Discontent Reports

*Hymn: In the Midst of New Dimensions 391 (NCH)

In the midst of new dimensions, in the face of changing ways. Who will lead the pilgrim peoples wandering in their separate ways?

[Refrain] God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar, We your people, ours the journey now and ever, now and ever, now and ever more.

Through the flood of starving people, warring factions and despair, Who will lift the olive branches? Who will light the flame of care?

As we stand a world divided by our own self-seeking schemes, Grant that we, your global village might envision wider dreams

We are man and we are woman, all persuasions, old and young, Each a gift in your creation, each a love song to be sung.

Should the threats of dire predictions cause us to withdraw in pain, May your blazing phoenix spirit, resurrect the church again.

Benediction

Postlude and Silent Reflection

Sunday Worship Bulletin, March 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!”

March 5, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.

___________________________________________________________

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, Usher and AV

Jerry Brines, Usher

Diane Smith, Scripture Reader

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Worship begins

God loves all the world…all the time!

All the time...God loves all the world!

Call to Confession

One: Gracious God, oil the hinges of our hearts’ doors that they may swing gently and easily to welcome your forgiving and healing Spirit. Amen

(alt 816 NCH)

Let us open our hearts to God.

Prayer of Confession

All: Almighty and everlasting God, always more ready to hear than we are to pray, always willing to give more that we either desire or deserve; pour upon us the abundance of your mercy; forgiving those things of which our conscience is afraid and releasing us to new life. Return us to journey in the way of Jesus. Amen alt. 834 (NCH)

Silent Confessions with God

Assurance of Pardon

One: There is no valley too dark nor mountain too high for the healing love of God. We are forgiving. Return to the journey with Christ!

All: Thanks be to God. Amen!

Welcoming the light of Christ

Placing rocks that symbolize the burdens we carry.

Hymn: “Glory, Glory, Halleujah” 2(NCH)

Glory, glory, hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down. Glory, glory, hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down.

I feel better, so much better, since I laid my burdens down! I feel better, so much better, since I laid my burdens down!

Feel like shoutin' hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down! Feel like shoutin' hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down!

I am dancing Miriam’s dance now, since I laid my burdens down. I am dancing Miriam’s dance now, since I laid my burdens down.

I am climbing Jacob’s ladder, since I laid my burdens down!

I climbing Jacob’s ladder, since I laid my burdens down!

Every round goes higher, higher, since I laid my burdens down!

Every round goes higher, higher, since I laid my burdens down!

Community Prayer

Spoken Prayers of gratitude

Spoken Prayers of concern

Silent Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

A version of The Lord’s Prayer from The New Zealand Prayer Book Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen.

Response “Grace Alone” v1

CCLI license #11038266

Every promise we can make, every prayer and step of faith, every difference we can make is only by God’s grace. Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine, every blessing left behind is only by God’s grace. Grace alone which God supplies strength unknown God will provide; Christ in us, our Cornerstone, we will go forth in grace alone.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Sharing Stories of Bigotry of all Kinds

Wayne Shull

Mike Weissenfel

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

Beloved Creator, bless these offerings for Spokane Valley Partners and the offerings of our ourselves to your service. May this little church be a light of compassion, justice, and spiritual transformation. Amen

Listening for God

Time with Young Hearts

Do you have something that someone made and you love?

John 3:1-17

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 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.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

11 “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. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16 “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. 17“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 “God so Loved the World”

Silence

Sharing of Holy Communion

Pastor: We gather at this table mindful of the many who have gathered here before us and those yet to come. We are grateful that we have this day together. We remember that Jesus walked among our ancestors and the Holy Spirit dwells within us today. We remember that Jesus asked for us to remember him when we eat bread and drink of a cup.

When Jesus and his friends sat together at a Passover meal, Jesus took bread; ... Do this as often as you drink of it in remembrance of me." Let us pray.

All: Come, Holy Spirit come. Bless this bread and this cup and all who have gathered in your Spirit. Help us to remember that you have dwelt among us. Help us to dwell in the world today as living temples of your presence. Bless us to remember your teachings, commandments, and example. May we be renewed in this sharing. Amen.

Silence

Prayer of Thanksgiving

ALL: We thank you, God, for your presence as we remember the Living Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you are among us still, in each of us, and in all of your creation. Bless us to more fully live as your people. Amen.

Silent Reflection

Announcements

*Hymn: “ I Sing the Mighty Power of God” 12(NCH)

I sing the mighty pow’r of God, that made the mountains rise,

That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;

The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of our God, that filled the earth with food, God formed the creatures through a word, and then pronounced them good. Oh, how your wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye, if I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

On Earth there’s not a plant or flower but makes your glory known. The clouds arise and spread their showers by order from your thrown. All Life is but a gift from you and ever in your care; wherever people gather, you, O God, are present there.

Benediction

Postlude and Silent Reflection

Sunday Worship Bulletin and Lent, Jan 26, 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!”

February 26, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.

___________________________________________________________

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, Usher and Scripture Reader

Jerry Brines, Usher

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Worship begins

God is with us…all the time!

All the time...God is with us!

Call to Confession

One: We are made of stardust and to dust we shall return. Let us return our lives to God, the maker of the stars, the planets, and every living creature and know the freedom of living the way of Jesus.

Prayer of Confession

Maker of All, we are yours. Hold us in that love as you reveal to us the ways we have fallen short of our potential as your children. Heal the brokenness within us. Heal the brokenness we have caused. Grant to us hearts ready to make the change and become new through the power of forgiveness, the freedom of repentance, and the joy of transformation. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Welcoming the light of Christ

Placing rocks that symbolize the burdens we carry.

Hymn: “Glory, Glory, Halleujah” 2(NCH)

Glory, glory, hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down. (Repeat)

I feel better, so much better, since I laid my burdens down! (Repeat)

Feel like shoutin' hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down! (Repeat)

I am dancing Miriam’s dance now, since I laid my burdens down. (Repeat)

I am climbing Jacob’s ladder, since I laid my burdens down!(Repeat)

Every round goes higher, higher, since I laid my burdens down!(Repeat)

Assurance

One: God forgives us.

All: O Majesty, O Magnificence, O Mystery, come!

Be the hammer, and break our indifference.

Be the sun, and splinter our shadows.

Be the wind, and scatter our despair.

Yea, in the dry country of our souls, let thy grace rain;

so that we take root in thee, and grow.

Make us trees strong in all seasons, bearing fruit,

giving shade to all the weariness

and shelter to them that are lost.

So we pray to the glory of Jesus Christ

who made the cross tree green and flourishing forever.

Amen.

(Arnold Kenseth, USA)

Response

Hymn: “Grace Alone” v1

Every promise we can make, every prayer and step pf faith, ev’ry difference we can make is only by His grace. Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine, every blessing left behind is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies strength unknown He will provide; Christ in us, our Cornerstone, we will go forth in grace alone.

Community Prayer

Spoken Prayers of gratitude

Spoken Prayers of concern

Silent Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Response “Grace Alone” v1

CCLI license #11038266

Every promise we can make, every prayer and step of faith, every difference we can make is only by God’s grace. Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine, every blessing left behind is only by God’s grace.

Grace alone which God supplies strength unknown God will provide; Christ in us, our Cornerstone, we will go forth in grace alone.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Sacred Conversations about Racism and Bigotry of all Kinds:

Lillian McGaugh

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 ask a blessing on our gifts for Hope House and for our church. With your Spirit’s help, may we live as servants of your vision and people of Christ’s way. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen

Listening for God

Time with Young Hearts

Did you ever invent something silly?

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”

(And)

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die, 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,[a] knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Message “Silly Clothes”

Silence

Announcements No Bible Study this week Choir Wednesday at 6:30pm Sign-up Clip Boards in the back of the sanctuary

We take God’s Light into the World

Hymn: “My Faith it is an Oaken Staff” 418 (NCH)

Public Domain

1 My faith, it is an oaken staff, the trav'ler’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.

2 My guide is Jesus Christ whose steps, when travelers have trod, whether beneath was flinty rock or yielding grassy sod, they cared on their joy unspent, through pain and trial they onward went, unstayed by pleasures, still they bent their zealous course to God.

3 My faith, it is an oaken staff, O let me on it lean! My faith, provides the ground of hope, supports a purpose keen! Your Spirit, God, upon me send, That I may be what you intend. With patient courage, we’ll contend as radiant saints serene.

Benediction

Postlude and Silent Reflection