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!”
May 19, 2024
Pentecost
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Tom Cuilla, AV and Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Maureen Carroll James, Scripture Reader
__________, Candle lighter
Gregg Glisson, Fellowship Set-up
Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
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 breathes life...all the time! All the time...God breathes life!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
Bible Study Monday at 7pm at Maureen and John’s home
Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am
String-A-Lings practice Wednesday, 5:30pm
Sing-A-Lings (a.k.a.Choir) practice Wednesday 6:30pm
Community giving this month: Blessing Box and Coats for Kids
Welcoming the Light of Christ
*Hymn: “Spirit Come” by Bryan Sirchio used with his permission
Spirit come,… fall on us anew,…open up our hearts,,, as we worship you (repeat from beginning)
God of Love, everyday your mercy falls like rain. We give thanks for your ever flowing streams of grace
Spirit come,… fall on us anew,…open up our hearts… as we worship you… as we worship you… as we worship you, as we worship you, as we worship you.
Community Prayer
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.
Prayers of Gratitude
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.
Prayers of Concern
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.
Prayers in Silence
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.
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
Love, love, love, love,
Christians this is your call.
Love your neighbor as yourself
for God loves us all.
Dedication Prayer
Blessed Spirit, fill us with your light and life that we may be the body of Christ in the world today. Bless all our gifts 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
Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
So I prophesied as I had been commanded, and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath,[d] and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”
Acts 2:1-21
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
‘In the last days it will be, God declares,that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit,
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Message: I Will Put My Spirit within You
Silence
Meditation in Music
Announcement Reminder
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Closing Hymn: Come, O Spirit 267 (NCH)
1. Come, O Spirit, dwell among us, come with Pentecostal power. Give the church a stronger vision; help us face each crucial hour. Built upon a firm foundation, Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone. Still the church is called to mission that God's love shall be made known.
2 We would raise our alleluias for the grace of former years. For tomorrow's unknown pathway, Hear, O God, our humble prayers. In the church's pilgrim journey, you have led us all the way. Still in presence, move before us, fire by night and cloud by day.
3 Come, O Spirit, dwell among us; give us words of fire and flame. Help our struggling voices praise You, glorify Your holy name. Good Creator, Savior, Spirit, three in One: what mystery! We would sing our loud hosannas now and through eternity.
Benediction
Communal Blessing
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion
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