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!”
April 21, 2024
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Tom Cuilla, AV and Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Diane Smith, Scripture Reader
Cherall-Anne St. James, Candle lighter
____________, Fellowship Set-up
____________, Fellowship Cean-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 shepherds us ...all the time! All the time...God shepherds us!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
Bible Study Monday at 7pm at John and Maureen’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: Coats for Kids
Welcoming the Light of Christ
*Hymn: “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” 295 (NCH)
1. I sing a song of the saints of God, faithful their whole lives through, who bravely labored, lived, and died for the God they loved and knew. And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green: they were saints of God if you know what I mean. God help me to be one, too.
2. They loved their God and they lived that love. It was loving that made them strong; They did what was right, for Jesus’ sake, lived justly their whole lives long. And one was a prophet, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast; there is no earthly reason, none in the least, why I shouldn't be one, too.
3. They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still. The world is filled with living saints who choose to do God’s will. You can meet them in school, on the road or at sea, in church, in a train, in a shop, or at tea; for the saints are folk like you and like me, and I mean to be one, too.
Community Prayer
105 (Sing Book)
Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.
Prayers of Gratitude
Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.
Prayers of Concern
Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.
Prayers in Silence
Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.
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
Here’s the News from Faith Action Network
Guest: Brianna Dilts
Dedication Hymn: What Does the Lord Require
1. What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you? 2. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.
3. To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Dedication Prayer
Good Shepherd, you lead us on the path of justice that brings lasting peace. We thank you with humble hearts. Bless these offerings of time, talent, and treasure. May we bring forth the fulfillment of your vision of a just peace within our lives and our communities. Amen
Listening for God
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;3 he restores my soul.He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
1 John 3:16-24
16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
18 Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
John 10:11-18
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes[a] it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Message: The Good Shepherd
Silence
Announcements
*Hymn This Pretty Planet
(1) This pretty planet spinning through space, you're a garden, you're a harbor, You're a holy place.
(2) Golden sun going down, gentle blue giant spin us around.
(3) All through the night, safe 'til the morning light.
Benediction
Communal Blessing
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion