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
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