Welcome Back Pastor Gen!
Bulletin 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!” November 20, 2022 • 10:30 a.m. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 10:20 Gathering and Prelude Wayne Shull, Music Director Charlie Salt and Joe McSwain, AV Jerry Brines, Usher Naomi Hanvey Facebook Monitor Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor Diane Smith, Acolyte Mavin Wilson, Scripture Reader Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor 10:30am Worship begins: God is with us. . . all the time! All the time . . . God is with us! *Passing of Peace and Welcoming the Light of Christ *Hymn: “Dance Into Joy” 205 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266 (refrain) So, dance into joy with hands upraised. Greet each new day as the holiest of days, and to your God sing great songs of praise. To your God sing praise! Share from your path some strand of light. Bring all the shades both dark & light.Weaving together makes us all one. Stories of hope have just begun. (refrain) Reds from your passion and from your fear. Rainbows shine through ev’ry tear.Tender green shoots that bloom ev’ry Spring, growing in love with each song we bring. (refrain) Through the deep blues now are revealed old hidden wounds soon to be healed.On bold purples of dawn serene float the myst’ries yet unseen. (refrain) Weave now each one this web of light surrounding our world both day and night with healing love and inner peace. Joining together, joy will increase. (refrain) Passing of the Baton Don Young: Almost four months ago Pastor Gen passed the baton of leadership to Wayne. It was then passed on to Pastor Roger, who then passed it back Wayne. And now we are ready to bring it all full circle. The past few months have been filled with new experiences, and new opportunities for learning and growth, for both our congregation and for Pastor Gen, with the promise of more which is still to come. Wayne Shull: Pastor Gen, on behalf of the whole congregation I stand here this morning ready to return to you the baton of leadership. Welcome home! When you left we used words like “rest” and “renewal.” In truth, as we received your weekly updates, it didn’t sound like there was much “rest” going on, but we trust that the “renewal” you experienced more than made up for it. We know you have much to share with us, and we also have much to share with you. The weeks, and month, and years ahead are full of promise, and we look forward to exploring this new landscape with you. Therefore, I am now prepared to return this baton of leadership into your capable care. Together, may our faithful adventure continue. Congregation: Over the past few months, with God’s help and the mutual support of the many gifted leaders among us, we have explored new possibilities for our life together. We are grateful for our time with Pastor Roger, and we are excited to be reunited with Pastor Gen. Together may we step boldly into the future to which God is calling us. Pastor Gen: Because of the blessings of this congregation’s faith, love, and support along with the award of the Lilly Pastoral Renewal Grant and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I return to you renewed and ready to serve. Along the journey, I experienced a tiny glimmer of what the Apostle Paul might have felt for the Philippian church. He wrote to them “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that God who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philipians 1: 3-6. It is in the Spirit of our partnership in the work of the Gospel that I joyfully receive this baton. May we work together to keep the Spirit’s energy moving us to minister with one another and our wider community. The Community at Prayer Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration ALL: I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all my burdens down at your feet; and anytime that I don’t know what to do, I will cast my cares upon you. Sharing Prayers of Concern All: I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all my burdens down at your feet; and anytime that I don’t know what to do, I will cast my cares upon you. Sharing Prayers Which Take Us Beyond Words Into Silence All: I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all my burdens down at your feet; and anytime that I don’t know what to do, I will cast my cares upon you. (Repeat) I will cast my cares upon you. CCLI license #11038266 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) Public Domain Collecting of Pledge Cards Blessing of Pledges Holy One, bless our lives with health and wholeness that we may meet the pledges we make this day. Strengthen us in practicing the way of Jesus.Help our small and mighty church be a beacon of your love, justice, and compassion. Bring forth the day when it truly will be on Earth as it is in Heaven. We pray with reverence and hope. Amen A Time of Offering An Invitation to Share Offerings of Gratitude for the Ministry of Mark and Julie Boyd Sharing stories of Mark and Julie *Dedication Hymn: “A Doxology” CCLI license #11038266 Praise God who gives us life to live. Praise God who calls us all to give. Praise God whose image we all bear. Praise God whose love we now can share. 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 seems plagued by trouble. Amen. Listening for God Message with Young Hearts: Charlie Salt reads “The Secret of Saying Thanks” Lectionary passages for Thanksgiving read by Marvin Wilson Philippians 4:4-9 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you. John 6:25-35 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us, then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which[a] comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Message: All Good Gifts Around Us Rev. Gen Heywood Silence Announcements Our Light moves into the World God Loves Hymn “ “Wherever We Go” 213 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266 Wherever we go, God is with us. Wherever we go, God is there. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we are in God’s care. Wherever we go, God goes before us. Wherever we go, God calls us on. Wherever we go, whatever we do, God will lead us on. *Benediction and “ Rejoice in the Lord ” Public Domain Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, Rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, Rejoice! Rejoice, rejoice, and again I say, Rejoice! Rejoice, rejoice, and again I say, Rejoice! Postlude