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!”
August 11, 2024
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director and Worship Leader
Joe McSwain, Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Readers Theater, Scripture Reader
Diane Smith, Candle lighter
________, Fellowship Set-up
Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-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 is with everyone ...all the time! All the time...God is with everyone!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
Next Sunday: Why “Slaves Obey” is in the Bible
Bible Study off for the Summer
Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am
Community giving this month: Winter Gear
Welcoming the Light of Christ
Hymn: “Grant Us Wisdom to Perceive You” 510 (NCH)
Grant us wisdom to perceive you, hearts awakened to receive you, minds alert to thoughts that grieve you. God of mercy, hear us.
Grant us faithfulness in praying, strength to keep our souls from straying, sense to cease from disobeying. God of mercy, hear us.
Grant us diligence in doing, patience when you truth pursuing, eager to receive renewing. God of mercy hear us.
Grant us courage to proclaim you; Savior of our lives we name you! May our actions never shame you. God of Mercy hear us.
Community Prayer
In moments like these, I sing out a song. I sing out a love song to Jesus. In moments like these, I lift up my hands, I lift up may hands to the Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. I love you.
Prayers of Gratitude
Refrain
Prayers of Concern
Refrain
Silent Prayer
Refrain
The Lord’s Prayer use the translation which is meaningful to you or
Our Father (Creator) who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Response: Amen, Amen, Amen
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Dedication Hymn
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All your works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty. God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Dedication Prayer
We thank you, Generous God, for the ability to give of our time, talent, and treasure. Bless and multiply our gifts to the work of this you church. Amen
Listening for God
Genesis 4 Readers Theater
(Kelly) Narrator: Just after being run out of Edan Adam slept with Eve his wife. She conceived and had Cain. She said,
(Cory) Eve: “I’ve made a man, with God’s help!”
(Kelly) Narrator: Then she had another baby, Abel. Abel was a herdsman and Cain a farmer.Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn’t get God’s approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk. God spoke to Cain:
(Naomi) God “Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won’t you be accepted? And if you don’t do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it’s out to get you, you’ve got to master it.”
(Kelly) Narrator: Cain had words with his brother. They were out in the field; Cain came at Abel his brother and killed him. God said to Cain,
(Naomi) God “Where is Abel your brother?”
(Charlie) Cain, “How should I know? Am I his babysitter?”
(Naomi) God “What have you done! The voice of your brother’s blood is calling to me from the ground. From now on you’ll get nothing but curses from this ground; you’ll be driven from this ground that has opened its arms to receive the blood of your murdered brother. You’ll farm this ground, but it will no longer give you its best. You’ll be a homeless wanderer on Earth.”
(Charlie) Cain, “My punishment is too much. I can’t take it! You’ve thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I’m a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me.”
(Naomi) God “No. Anyone who kills Cain will pay for it seven times over.”
(Kelly) Narrator: God put a mark on Cain to protect him so that no one who met him would kill him. Cain left the presence of God and lived in No-Man’s-Land, east of Eden. Cain slept with his wife. She conceived and had Enoch. He then built a city and named it after his son, Enoch.
Message: Mark of Cain
Meditation in Music
Announcement Reminder
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Closing Hymn: In Christ there is no East or West 394 (NCH)
In Christ there is no East or West, in Christ no South or North; but one great community of love throughout the whole wide earth.
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find; Christ service is the golden cord, close binding humankind.
In Christ is neither Jew nor Greek, and neither slave nor free; for men and women live in God and all are kin to me.
In Christ now meet both East and West, in Christ meet North and South; one joyous true community throughout the whole wide earth.
Benediction
Communal Blessing
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion
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