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, November 27, 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 Acolyte
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor and Advent Candle Message
Joe McSwain, Scripture Reader
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
God is our light. . . all the time! All the time . . . God is our light!
Welcoming the Peace of Christ
Hymn: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” 345 (NCH)
Public Domain
1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand. Ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand Christ our God to earth descending comes, our homage to demand.
2 Monarch great, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth Christ stood, Lord of all in human vesture — in the body and the blood — Christ will give to all the faithful bread of life for heav’nly food.
3 Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way, as the Light of light descending from the realms of endless day, that pow’rs of hell may vanish, as the shadows clear away.
4 At Christ’s feet the six-winged seraphs, cherubim with sleepless eye, veil their faces to the Presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry, “Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia, God Most High!”
First Sunday of Advent : The Candle of Hope
"Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 read by Scotty Patton
Message about hope from Scotty Patton
Naomi Hanvey lights our first Advent candle as we all pray: Hope of our lives, we light this candle to declare your hope for all creation. Bless this light to shine out into the darkness with the promise you are with us. Amen.
Our Community in Prayer
Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration
All: Dona nobis pacem
(Pronounced: DoeNah NoBeece PahChem)
Sharing Prayers of Concern
All: Dona nobis pacem
(Pronounced: DoeNah NoBeece PahChem)
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) Public Domain
A Time of Offering
An invitation to share
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:
God, our Hope, bless us and all our offerings of time, talent, and treasure. Help us live as the light of Jesus’s way in our world so that hope may be felt among us. Amen.
Listening for God
Message with Young Hearts
Scripture Reader Joe McSwain
Isaiah 2:1-5
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord!
Matthew 24:36-44
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Message: The Day of the Lord
Silent Reflection
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Hymn “Come, O Long-Expected Jesus” 122 (NCH)
Public Domain
1. Come, O long expected Jesus, born to set all people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find true liberty.
2. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth impart; dear desire of every nation, enter every longing heart.
3. Born all people to deliver, born a child, you come to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come be known to us again.
4.By your own eternal Spirit, come to claim us as your own; by your own sufficient merit, let us share your cross and crown.
*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