- Mar 10, 2022
- 4 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!”
March 13, 2022 • 10:00am
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, Acolyte and AV
Naomi Hanvey Facebook Monitor
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
God encourages us. . . all the time! All the time . . . God encourages us!
Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light of Christ
(Remember when you were told something about yourself you didn’t want to hear?)
Hymn: “Sweet Hour of Prayer” 505 (NCH)
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! That calls me from a world of care, and bids me at my Maker’s throne make all my wants and wishes known. In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief, and oft escaped the tempter’s snare, by your return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! The joys I feel, the bliss I share, of those whose anxious spirits burn with strong desires for your return! With them I hasten to the place where I would know my Savior’s face, and gladly take my station there, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! Whose wings shall my petition bear to One whose truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless. And since I’m bid me seek God’s face, believe God’s Word and trust God’s grace, I’ll cast away my every care, and wait for you, sweet hour of prayer!
Call to Confession
In Dietrich Bonhoeffer's words:
"cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.”
Costly grace includes: forgiving and repenting; carefree and disciplined; celebrating and confessing; joy and suffering and so, we turn 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
(from 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. from 834 (NCH)
Silent Confessions with God
Bringing up rocks
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!
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.
Community Prayer
Spoken Prayer
Silent Prayer
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
Offerings of the People
Invitation to share
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. May all that we are and all that we have be dedicated to your service. May the life of this little church reflect the light of compassion, justice, and spiritual transformation. Amen
Message to Young Hearts
Remember when you were told something about yourself you didn’t want to hear?
Scripture Readings
Luke 13:31-35
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Message: “Speaking Truth in Love: Firstly, to ourselves. Secondly, to our neighbor.”
“Reflecting on the Experiences of Mel White,” Wayne Shull
“Reflections on the Insights of Randall Balmer and his book Bad Faith,” Scotty Patton
Silent Reflection
Announcements
God’s Light Goes forth into the World God Loves
Closing Hymn: “Let it Be Said of Us”
CCLI license #11038266
Let it be said of us
That the Lord was our passion
That with gladness we bore
Every cross we were given
That we fought the good fight
That we finished our course
Knowing within us the power of the risen Lord
Chorus
Let the cross be our glory
And the Lord be our song
By mercy made holy
By the Spirit made strong
Let the cross be our glory
And the Lord be our song
'Till the likeness of Jesus
Be through us made known
Let the cross be our glory
And the Lord be our song
Let it be said of us
We were marked by forgiveness
We were known by our love
And delighted in meekness
We were ruled by his peace
Heeding unity's call
Joined as one body
That Christ would be seen by all (Chorus)
Benediction with Hallelujah (new melody) 766 (NCH)
