Sunday Worship Bulletin, Feb 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!”

February 5, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.

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

10:20am Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, AV and Candlelighter

Naomi Hanvey, Zoom App Assistance

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Sue Ferrozzo, Candle Lighter and Scripture Reader

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Worship begins

God’s light shines... all the time!

All the time . . . God’s light shines!

*Welcoming the Light of Christ

*Hymn: “You are the Salt for the Earth” 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 a 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)

About Our Sacred Conversations about Racism

Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Racism (highlighted words link to definitions)

a belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

behavior or attitudes that reflect and foster this belief : racial discrimination or prejudice

the systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another

a political or social system founded on racism and designed to execute its principles

Community Prayer

Spoken Gratitude

Spoken Concerns

Silent Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Response: “Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn”

107(NCH) v.4

Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night, though cold the winter and cheerless, the rising sun shall crown you with light, be strong and loving and fearless. Love be our song and love our prayer, and love, our endless story, may God fill every day we share, and bring us at last into glory.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Sacred Conversations about Racism: Marvin Wilson

*Offering Acclamation:

Response: “Awake, Awake to Love and Work” 89 (NCH) v.2

Come, let your voice be one with theirs, shout with their shout of praise. See how the giant sun soars up, God’s gift for all your days! So, let the love of Jesus come and set your soul ablaze.

*Dedication Prayer

Just God, we offer these gifts for Spokane Valley Partners and our church with the hope that they may be found as worthy tokens of our gratitude. Bless them and strengthen us to serve you always. Amen

Listening for God

Message with Young Hearts:

What is the best part of being in the dark?

Matthew 5:13-20

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Message: Powerfully Small

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

Signups for Sacred Conversations about Racism

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

* Hymn: “You are the Seed” 528(NCH)

You are the Seed that will grow a new sprout; you’re a star that will shine through the day; You are the yeast and a small grain of salt, a beacon to glow in the night.

You are the dawn that will bring a new day; you’re the wheat that will bear golden grain. You are a sting and a soft, gentle touch, my witnesses where’er you go.

Refrain: Go, my friends, go to the world proclaiming love to all, messengers of my forgiving peace, eternal love. Be, my friends, a loyal witness, from the dead I arose; “Lo, I’ll be with you forever, ’til the end of the world”

You are the flame that will brighten the way, sending sparkles of hope, faith, and love; You are the shepherds to lead the whole world through valleys and pastures of peace.

You are the friends that I chose for myself, the word that I want to proclaim. You are the city that’s built on a rock where justice and truth always reign. (Refrain)

You are life that will nurture the plant; you’re the waves in a turbulent sea; yesterday’s yeast is beginning to rise, a new loaf of bread it will yield.

There is no place for a city to hide, nor a mountain can cover it’s might; may your good deeds show a world in despair a path that will lead all to God. (Refrain)

*Benediction

Silent Meditation and Postlude

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Jan 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!” January 29, 2023 • 10:30 a.m. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 10:20am Gathering and Prelude Wayne Shull, Music Director Charlie Salt, AV Joe McSwain, AV and Candlelighter Naomi Hanvey, Zoom App Assistance Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor John Carroll, Scripture Reader Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor 10:30am Worship begins God is with us... all the time! All the time . . . God is with us! *Welcoming the Light of Christ *Hymn: “I Want Jesus to Go with Me” 490 (NCH) I want Jesus to go with me; I want Jesus to go with me; All along my pilgrim journey, O, I want Jesus to go with me. In my trials, O comfort me; In my trials, O comfort me; When my heart is almost breaking, O, I want Jesus to comfort me. When I’m in trouble, O stay with me; When I’m in trouble, O stay with me; When my head is bowed in sorrow, O I want Jesus to stay with me. Community Prayer Spoken Prayer Silent Prayer Lord’s Prayer Response: “Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn” 107(NCH) v.4 Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night, though cold the winter and cheerless, the rising sun shall crown you with light, be strong and loving and fearless. Love be our song and love our prayer, and love, our endless story, may God fill every day we share, and bring us at last into glory. A Time of Offering An Invitation to Share How Do they Do that? Wayne Shull tells us about the Office of Moderator *Offering Acclamation: Response: “Awake, Awake to Love and Work” 89 (NCH) v.2 Come, let your voice be one with theirs, shout with their shout of praise. See how the giant sun soars up, God’s gift for all your days! So, let the love of Jesus come and set your soul ablaze. *Dedication Prayer Holy One, bless our offerings for Hope House and for our church. Multiply our time, talent, and treasure that we may do justice and love kindness, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen Listening for God Message with Young Hearts: What is Pouting? Micah 6:1-8 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 6 Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2 Hear, you mountains, the case of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the Lord has a case against his people, and he will contend with Israel. 3 “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! 4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.” 6 “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? Matthew 5:1-12 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 5 When Jesussaw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 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: Do, Love, Walk Rite of Membership About Veradale UCC *You don’t have to be a member to participate in the life of the church *Membership - belonging. It is a covenantal relationship where we stand with the community gathered in this time and place. *Our members determine the direction of our church, care for the ministries we do together, the rules we live by are ones we choose through the determination of our congregation. *As an autonomous church, we are free to determine what God calls us to be in this time and place. Our covenantal relationships with the Conference and National Church gives us guidance and offers us possibilities. Invitation (The names of those wanting to become members are spoken and they are invited to affirm their baptism and unite with us in this household of faith.) Sentences: Friends in Christ, we were all received into the global church through the sacrament of baptism. Today, the journey of these, our siblings in Christ, has brought to claim us as their community where they will grow in their relationship with God and all God’s creation. Also, we claim them as our companions in this practice of the way of Jesus. Having prayerfully considered the commitment they are about to make, they will affirm again their baptismal pledges. May we listen with love and support and may we be reminded of our promises made in baptism and membership. (to the Candidate/s): You are no longer strangers or sojourners. You are equal citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus being the cornerstone. You are part of that holy temple, the body of Christ. You are built as a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Questions of the Candidate: Pastor: Do you desire to affirm your baptized into the faith and family of Jesus Christ? Response: I do. Pastor: Do you profess Jesus Christ as the one who governs your life, and the one who sets you free? Response: I do. Pastor: Do you promise, by the grace of God, to be Christ’s disciple, to follow in the way of Jesus, to resist oppression and evil, to show love and justice, and to witness to the work and word of Jesus Christ as best you are able? Response: I promise, with the help of God. Pastor: Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to grow in the Christian faith and to be a faithful participant in the community of Jesus Christ, celebrating Christ’s presence and furthering Christ’s vision of compassion and justice in all the world? Response: I promise, with the help of God. Address: Pastor: By your baptism, you were made one with us in the body of Christ, the church. Today, we rejoice that your journey of faith has brought you to be with us in this time and place. We give thanks for every community of faith that has been your spiritual home and we celebrate your presence in this household of faith. Question about Participation: Pastor: Do you promise to participate in the life and mission of this family of God’s people, sharing regularly in the worship of God and enlisting in the work of this local church as it serves this community and the world. Candidate/s: I promise, with the help of God. Welcome and Reception: Moderator: Let us, the members of the Veradale United Church of Christ, express our welcome and affirm our mutual ministry in Christ. All: We welcome you with joy in the common life of this church. We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of this church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we continue to grow together in God’s knowledge and love and be witnesses of our risen Savior. Greeting of Christian Love: Moderator: In the name of Jesus Christ, and on behalf of the Veradale United Church of Christ, we extend our hearts in Christian love, welcoming you into the company of this local church. Prayer: All: O God, we praise you for calling us to faith and for gathering us into this church, the body of Christ. We thank you for your people gathered in this Veradale United Church of Christ and rejoice that you have increased our community of faith. Together may we live in the Spirit, building one another up in love, sharing in the life and worship of the church, and serving the world for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen. Announcements Annual Budget Meeting today Rosa Parks Birthday Party, Next Saturday Feb 4 Birthday Cake Kits Next Sunday, Feb 5 Sacred Conversations about Racism begin Feb 5 Our Light moves into the World God Loves * Hymn:

*Benediction Silent Meditation and Postlude

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Jan 22 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!”

January 22, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.

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

10:20am Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, AV

Naomi Hanvey, Zoom App Assistance, Candle Lighter

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor and Scripture Reader

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Worship begins

God’s kin-dom is near... all the time!

All the time . . . God’s kin-dom is near!

*Welcoming the Light of Christ

*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? [Refrain]

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

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. [Refrain]

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

Report back from Community Solidarity at the MLK March

Mike Weissenfels

Community Prayer

Spoken Prayer

Silent Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Response: “Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn” 107(NCH) v.4

Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night, though cold the winter and cheerless, the rising sun shall crown you with light, be strong and loving and fearless. Love be our song and love our prayer, and love, our endless story, may God fill every day we share, and bring us at last into glory.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

How Do they Do that? Charlie Salt tells us about the Office of Clerk

*Offering Acclamation:

Response: “Awake, Awake to Love and Work” 89 (NCH) v.2

Come, let your voice be one with theirs, shout with their shout of praise. See how the giant sun soars up, God’s gift for all your days! So, let the love of Jesus come and set your soul ablaze.

*Dedication Prayer

Holy One, your kin-dom is near, wishing our own gathering. We thank you with humble hearts. Bless our offerings of time, talent, and treasure that we may follow the kin-dom ways of compassion, justice, and peace. Amen

Listening for God

Message with Young Hearts:

What is your favorite adventure and why?

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been made clear to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God[a] that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel—and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.

18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Matthew 4:12-23

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers.19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Message: A Start of Something New

Silent Reflection

Announcements

Exploring membership after worship

Annual Budget Meeting Next Sunday

Hope House supplies Next Sunday

Rosa Parks Birthday Party, Saturday Feb 4

Birthday Cake Kits Sunday, Feb 5

Sacred Conversations about Racism begin Feb 5

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

* Hymn: “You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore” 173 (NCH)

You have come down to the lakeshore seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy, but only asking for me to follow.

Refrain: O, Jesus, you have looked into my eyes, kindly smiling, you've called out my name. On the sand I've abandoned my small boat;Now with you, I will seek other seas.You know full well my possessions; Neither treasure nor weapons for conquest just these my fishnets and will for working. (Refrain)You need my hands, my exhaustion, working love for the rest of the weary, a love that's willing to go on loving. (Refrain)You who have fished other waters; You, the longing of souls that are yearning; O loving friend, you have come to call me. (Refrain)

*Benediction

Silent Meditation and Postlude