Sunday Worship Bulletin, March 9, 2025

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 9, 2025 • 10:30 a.m.

------------------------Please, silence cellphones-----------------------

10:20am Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator

Elizabeth Brown, Scripture reader

Diane Smith, Candle lighter

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

________, Fellowship Set-Up

__________, Fellowship Clean-up

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Entrance of the Light of Christ

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.

Community Affirmation

God strengthens us . . . all the time!

All the time . . . God strengthens us !

Service and Fellowship Opportunities

Next Sunday, Lent 2: From the Candle of Peace

Lenten Book Study: Speaking Christian Monday at 7pm

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

Wednesday: String-A-Lings 5:30 and Sing-A-Lings 6:30

Ding-A-Lings after Worship

Community giving this month: VOA Women’s Shelters

Call to Our Lenten 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.

Silent Confessions with God

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)

Opening Hymn

We bring forward rocks that symbolize the barriers and burdens that keep

us from embracing God’s steadfast love.

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

Hymn: Spirit of the Living God” RB 277

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the Living God, fall

afresh on me. Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Spirit of the Living

God, fall afresh on me.

Prayers of Gratitude

Refrain: Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Spirit of the Living God,

fall afresh on me.

Prayers of Concern

Refrain

Prayers in Silence

Refrain

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: Doxology 780 (NCH) Newer words

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures

here below. Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and

Spirit, One. Amen

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication “Create in Me A Clean Heart” Red Book 39

Create in me a clean heart, O my God. And renew a right spirit within

me. Create in me a clean heart, O my God. And renew a right spirit

within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, O Lord, and take not

Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and

renew a right spirit within me.

Dedication Prayer: God known to us in Jesus, it is with joy that we

offer these gifts of our time, talent, and treasure. May your Spirit

continue to work in us and through us as a light in the storms of our

time. Amen

Listening for God

Readings from the Candle of Hope

Luke 4:1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was

led by the Spirit in the wilderness,2 where for forty days he was tested by

the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over

he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God,

command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It

is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”

5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms

of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, “To you I will give all this authority

and their glory, for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I

please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered

him, “It is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,

and serve only him.’ ”

9 Then the devil led him to Jerusalem and placed him on the pinnacle of the

temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down

from here, 10 for it is written

‘He will command his angels concerning you,

to protect you,’

11 and

‘On their hands they will bear you up,

so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the

test.’ ” 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until

an opportune time.

Message: Testing Integrity

Meditation in Music

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Hymn: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross 197 (NCH)

Jesus, keep me near the cross; there a precious fountain, free to all, a

healing stream flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, ‘till my ransomed

soul shall find rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me; there the bright

and morning star sheds its beams around me. Refrain

Near the cross! O, Lamb of God, bring it scenes before me; help me live

from day to day with its shadow o’er me. Refrain

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait, hoping, trusting ever, ‘till I reach the

golden strand just beyond the river. Refrain

Benediction

Go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage. Hold fast to that

which is good. Render to no one evil for evil. Strengthen the

fainthearted. Support the weak. Help the afflicted. Honor all people.

Love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. The

Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the

Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen.

Community Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.

Bulletin for April 3, 2022

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, April 3, 2021 • 10:30 a.m. ___________________________________ 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 is good . . all the time! All the time . . . God is good! Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light of Christ (What does it feel like to be confused? What has confused you?) Hymn: “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” CCLI license #11038266 We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord. We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord and we pray that our unity will one day be restored. And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love. We will work with each other, we will work side by side. We will work with each other, we will work side by side and we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one’s pride. And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love. Call to Confession One: Our Steadfast Creator, whom we have seen revealed in the way of Jesus, offers us healing love as we open our hearts in prayer 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 (from the New Century Hymnal) Silent Reflection We place rocks along the chancel to represent the burdens we carry. Assurance of Pardon Pastor: 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! Community Prayer Silent Prayer: We place our prayers on paper in the cross. Spoken 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 A Time of Offering An Invitation to Share Dedication Hymn: “Give Thanks” CCLI license #11038266 Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because God’s given Jesus Christ, the son. (Repeat) And now let the weak say, “I am strong!” Let the poor say, “ I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us!” (repeat) Give thanks. Give thanks. Dedication Prayer Beloved God, Creator of all, we thank you with humble hearts. Bless these offerings that we work together and come a little closer to fulfilling your vision in our time and place. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen Listening for God Message with Young Hearts What does it feel like to be confused? What has confused you? Pastor Gen Scripture Passage John 12:1-8 New Revised Standard Version Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” Message “Conflicting Values,” Cassy Benefield About Cassy from the FaVs website: “Cassandra Benefield mostly goes by Cassy (pronounced like Cassie but spelled with a 'y'). She is a wife and mommy, who married at the age of 37 and had her baby girl just shy of 39. She has moved around all her life, first as an Army brat. She is a returned Peace Corps volunteer to Romania where she taught Conversational English, Modern Literature, Creative Writing, U.S. Culture, U.S. Geography, and U.S. History (the last two subjects she was so not qualified to teach!). She is a Journalism major from Cal Poly Technical University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. She finds much comfort in her Savior, Jesus Christ, and considers herself a Bible nerd who is prone to buy more theology books than she is ever able to read. Morro Bay, California, is her favorite place on earth ... with the exception of being in the center of God's will. From time to time, you will find her writing devotions on her blog underhisshadow.blogspot.com." (see more https://spokanefavs.com/supporting-our-reporters-meet-cassy-benefield/ for more information) Sharing Holy Communion Those at home have a little something to drink and eat. Those in church, expect a to-go bag. 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 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: 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. Silence Announcements Our Light moves into the World God Loves Hymn: “Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant” 539 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266 Won't you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you? Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too. We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road; we are here to help each other go the mile and bear the load. I will hold the Christ-light for you in the shadow of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear. I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh, I'll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow 'til we've seen this journey through. When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony, born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony. Won't you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you? Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too. Benediction with Hallelujah (new melody) Postlude

Sunday Bulletin, March 6, 2022

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 6, 2022 • 10:30 a.m.

___________________________________________________________

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 is with us…all the time!

All the time...God is with us!

Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light of Christ

Hymn: “Amazing Grace” 547 (NCH)

Public Domain

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

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

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

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

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.

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.

Silent Confessions with God

Lighting of candles on the Cross

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 Prayer

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

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, bless our offerings of time, talent, and treasure. With your blessing, we will fulfill your vision for our lives, our world, and this your church. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen

Listening for God

“Reviewing Our Journey”

Who/What influenced your religious and political views?

Philippians 3:4b-11 from The Message

You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book.

7-9 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.

10-11 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

1 Peter 3:14-16 The Message

Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

Message “How Christian Education Creates Extremists” Naomi Hanvey

Silence

Sharing Holy Communion

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 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: 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

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 and Sing Amen (760)

(Sing Amen) Amen, we praise your name, O, Lord

(Sing Amen) Amen, we praise your name, O, Lord

(Sing Amen) Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, we praise your name, O, Lord

Postlude