Generosity Sunday Worship Bulletin, Nov 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!” Stewardship (Generosity) Sunday, November 12, 2023 • 10:30 a.m. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 10:20 Gathering and Prelude Wayne Shull, Music Director Charlie Salt, AV Joe McSwain, AV and Usher Jerry Brines, Usher Tom Cuilla, Scripture reader Kelly Cuilla , Candle lighter Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor ______, Fellowship Set-Up ________, Fellowship Clean-up Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor Naomi Hanvey, Worship Leader 10:30am 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. Worship begins God blesses us . . . all the time! All the time . . . God blesses us! Opening Words Worship Leader: Today, we celebrate our practice of generosity. All: Today, we focus on our generosity to our church. Worship Leader: Today, we listen to the Spirit leading us and know that if things change in our lives, even our pledges can be changed. All: Today, we pledge of our treasure for the ministry we will share in 2024! Worship Leader: Today, we follow our hearts. All: Today, we celebrate our covenant of belonging with one another! Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light of Christ *Hymn: “What a Covenant” 471 (NCH) Pledge Cards are brought forward while we sing What a covenant, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms. (Refrain): Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the ever lasting arms. (Refrain) What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Savior near, leaning on the everlasting arms (Refrain) Blessing of Pledges ALL: Holy One, we hope in you. Bless our lives with health and wholeness that we may meet the pledges we make this day. May this church be a beacon of your love, justice, and compassion. We ask this in the name of Jesus whose way we follow. Amen Community Prayer Refrain: Love, love, love, love Christians this is our call. Love your neighbor as yourself for God loves us all. Prayers of Gratitude Refrain Prayers of Concern Refrain Silent Prayer 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: 812 (NCH) Amen. Amen. Amen. A Time of Offering Dedication 780 (NCH) Praise God from whom all blessing flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen Dedication Prayer Giver of all that is, we lift up these gifts of our time, talent, and treasure. Bless us that we may shine your light of compassion and justice into a world that is plagued by trouble. Amen. Listening for God
 Message with Young Hearts Deuteronomy 8:11-18 NRSVUE 11 “Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes that I am commanding you today. 12 When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them 13 and when your herds and flocks have multiplied and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock. 16 He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you and in the end to do you good. 17 Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today. Deuteronomy 16:13-17 NRSVUE 13 “You shall keep the Festival of Booths for seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress. 14 Rejoice during your festival, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female slaves, as well as the Levites, the strangers, the orphans, and the widows resident in your towns. 15 Seven days you shall keep the festival to the Lord your God at the place that the Lord will choose, for the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all your undertakings, and you shall surely celebrate. 16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, at the Festival of Weeks, and at the Festival of Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed; 17 all shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you. 1 Peter 4 7-11 NRSVUE 7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. Message: Generosity Naomi Hanvey Silence Announcements Our Light moves into the World God Loves Closing Hymn: “My Faith, It is an Oaken Staff” 418 (NCH) My faith, it is an oaken staff, the traveler’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. My Guide is Jesus Christ whose steps, when travelers have trod, whether beneath was flinty rock or yielding grassy sod, they carried on, their joy unspent; through pain and trial they onward went, unstayed by pleasure, still they bent their zealous course to God. My faith, it is an oaken staff, oh let me on it lean. My faith provides the ground of hope, supports a purpose keen. Your Spirit, God, upon me send, that I maybe what you intend. With patient courage, we’ll contend as radiant saints serene. Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude Be Yourself. Grow in Christ. Live with Compassion.