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!”
December 4, 2022 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, Acolyte and AV
Naomi Hanvey, Facebook Monitor and Scripture Reader
Scott Robertson, Candle Lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Marvin Wilson, Advent Candle Message
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins:
God brings peace. . . all the time! All the time . . . God brings peace!
* The Light of Hope Returns Scott Robertson
*Hymn: “When Peace Like a River” 438 (NCH) verses 1, 2, and 4
Public Domain
Written by Horatio Spafford after the death of his four daughters in the sinking of the SS Ville du Harvre
When peace, like a river, upholds me each day, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, you have taught me to say, “It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
Refrain: It is well (it is well) with my soul (with my soul). It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though evil should tempt me, though trials should come, let this blessed assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and has paid life and blood for my soul (refrain)
O God, speed the day that is filled with your light, when clouds are rolled back as a scroll. The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall appear even so it is well with my soul. (refrain)
Lighting of the Second Advent Candle: Peace
“They shall not hurt or destroy on all God’s holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Isaiah 11:1
Message about Peace from Marvin Wilson
Prayer at the lighting of the peace candle
ALL: Holy One, we light this candle asking that all may be filled with the knowledge of you. May all seek to live justly with one another. Only then, will peace prevail. Amen.
Our Community in Prayer
Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration
All: Dona nobis pacem
(Pronounced: DoeNah NoBeas PaChem)
Sharing Prayers of Concern
All: Dona nobis pacem
(Pronounced: DoeNah NoBeas PaChem)
Sharing Prayers Which Take Us Beyond Words Into Silence
All: Dona nobis pacem
The Lord’s Prayer
In the spirit of diversity, you are invited to use the words most familiar to you.
Response: “Four-fold Amen” 813 (NCH)
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
*Dedication Hymn
Hymn 132 (NCH)vs 3
Christ rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of God’s righteousness and wonders of God’s love, and wonders of God’s love, and wonders, wonders of God’s love.
*Dedication prayer
Just God, bless the offerings we place before you. May these be multiplied to fulfill your vision of a just and peaceful world. Amen.
Listening for God
Listening for God
Message to Young Hearts
Isaiah 11:1-10 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
read by Naomi Hanvey
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see
or decide by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor
and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
6 The wolf shall live with the lamb;
the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the lion will feed[b] together,
and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
9 They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
Romans 15:4-13 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
read by Naomi Hanvey
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the ancestors 9 and that the gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will confess you among the gentiles
and sing praises to your name”;
10 and again he says,
“Rejoice, O gentiles, with his people”;
11 and again,
“Praise the Lord, all you gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him”;
12 and again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse shall come,
the one who rises to rule the gentiles;
in him the gentiles shall hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Message: Vision of Peace
Sharing of Holy Communion
Pastor: We gather at this table mindful of the many who have gathered here before us and those yet to come. We are grateful that we have this day together. We remember that Jesus walked among our ancestors and the Holy Spirit dwells within us today. We remember that Jesus asked for us to remember him when we eat bread and drink of a cup.
When Jesus and his friends sat together at a Passover meal, Jesus took bread; ... 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 here. We offer ourselves as Christ’s body in the world today. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Silence
Prayer of Thanksgiving
ALL: We thank you, God, for your presence known to us in the sharing of this meal and in the sharing of this community. We remember that 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
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
*Hymn “In the Bleak Midwinter” 128 (NCH)
Public Domain Poem by Christina Rossetti and Music by Gustav Holst
In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone. Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow. In the bleak midwinter, long ago
Our God transcends all heaven, earth, and its domain; heaven and earth shall flee away when Christ comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter a stable place suffice the sovereign God almighty, Jesus Christ.
Angels and Arc Angels may have gathered there, Cherubim and Seraphim thronged the midnight air. But his mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I offer, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb. If I were a wise one, I would do my part. But what I can offer: all my heart.
*Benediction with Sing Halleluiah to the Lord
Sing halleluiah to the Lord
Sing halleluiah to the Lord
Sing halleluiah.Sing halleluiah. Sing halleluiah to the Lord
Postlude