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!”
February 26, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, Usher and Scripture Reader
Jerry Brines, Usher
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
God is with us…all the time!
All the time...God is with us!
Call to Confession
One: We are made of stardust and to dust we shall return. Let us return our lives to God, the maker of the stars, the planets, and every living creature and know the freedom of living the way of Jesus.
Prayer of Confession
Maker of All, we are yours. Hold us in that love as you reveal to us the ways we have fallen short of our potential as your children. Heal the brokenness within us. Heal the brokenness we have caused. Grant to us hearts ready to make the change and become new through the power of forgiveness, the freedom of repentance, and the joy of transformation. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Welcoming the light of Christ
Placing rocks that symbolize the burdens we carry.
Hymn: “Glory, Glory, Halleujah” 2(NCH)
Glory, glory, hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down. (Repeat)
I feel better, so much better, since I laid my burdens down! (Repeat)
Feel like shoutin' hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down! (Repeat)
I am dancing Miriam’s dance now, since I laid my burdens down. (Repeat)
I am climbing Jacob’s ladder, since I laid my burdens down!(Repeat)
Every round goes higher, higher, since I laid my burdens down!(Repeat)
Assurance
One: God forgives us.
All: O Majesty, O Magnificence, O Mystery, come!
Be the hammer, and break our indifference.
Be the sun, and splinter our shadows.
Be the wind, and scatter our despair.
Yea, in the dry country of our souls, let thy grace rain;
so that we take root in thee, and grow.
Make us trees strong in all seasons, bearing fruit,
giving shade to all the weariness
and shelter to them that are lost.
So we pray to the glory of Jesus Christ
who made the cross tree green and flourishing forever.
Amen.
(Arnold Kenseth, USA)
Response
Hymn: “Grace Alone” v1
Every promise we can make, every prayer and step pf faith, ev’ry difference we can make is only by His grace. Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine, every blessing left behind is only by His grace.
Grace alone which God supplies strength unknown He will provide; Christ in us, our Cornerstone, we will go forth in grace alone.
Community Prayer
Spoken Prayers of gratitude
Spoken Prayers of concern
Silent Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Response “Grace Alone” v1
CCLI license #11038266
Every promise we can make, every prayer and step of faith, every difference we can make is only by God’s grace. Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine, every blessing left behind is only by God’s grace.
Grace alone which God supplies strength unknown God will provide; Christ in us, our Cornerstone, we will go forth in grace alone.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Sacred Conversations about Racism and Bigotry of all Kinds:
Lillian McGaugh
Dedication Hymn: “Holy Ground”
CCLI license #11038266
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.
Dedication Prayer
Loving God, we ask a blessing on our gifts for Hope House and for our church. With your Spirit’s help, may we live as servants of your vision and people of Christ’s way. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen
Listening for God
Time with Young Hearts
Did you ever invent something silly?
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”
(And)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die, 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,[a] knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Message “Silly Clothes”
Silence
Announcements No Bible Study this week Choir Wednesday at 6:30pm Sign-up Clip Boards in the back of the sanctuary
We take God’s Light into the World
Hymn: “My Faith it is an Oaken Staff” 418 (NCH)
Public Domain
1 My faith, it is an oaken staff, the trav'ler’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.
2 My guide is Jesus Christ whose steps, when travelers have trod, whether beneath was flinty rock or yielding grassy sod, they cared on their joy unspent, through pain and trial they onward went, unstayed by pleasures, still they bent their zealous course to God.
3 My faith, it is an oaken staff, O let me on it lean! My faith, provides the ground of hope, supports a purpose keen! Your Spirit, God, upon me send, That I may be what you intend. With patient courage, we’ll contend as radiant saints serene.
Benediction
Postlude and Silent Reflection