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!”
Third Sunday of Advent, December 17, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, AV and Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Sue Ferrozzo, Scripture reader
Sue Ferrozzo, Candle lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Gregg Glisson, Fellowship Set-Up
Gregg Glisson and all who can help, Fellowship Clean-up
Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Land Acknowledgement
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.
Worship begins
The joy of God is here . . . all the time!
All the time . . . the joy of God is here!
Welcoming the Light of Christ
*Hymn: “Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn” 107 (NCH)
1 Awake! Awake and greet the new morn, for angels herald its dawning. sing out your joy, for Jesus is born, behold! the Child of our longing. Come as a baby weak and poor, to bring all hearts together, to open wide the heavenly door, and lives now inside us forever.
2 To us, to all in sorrow and fear, Emmanuel comes a-singing, whose humble song is quiet and near, yet fills the Earth with its ringing. Music to heal the broken soul and hymns of loving kindness, the thunder of the anthems roll to shatter all hate and injustice.
3 In deepest night Christ's coming shall be, when all the world is despairing, as morning light so quiet and free, so warm and gentle and caring. One without voice breaks forth in song, a lame one leaps in wonder, the weak are raised above the strong, and weapons are broken asunder.
4 Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night, though cold the winter and cheerless, the rising sun shall crown you with light, be strong and loving and fearless; Love be our song and love our prayer, and love, our endless story, may God fill every day we share, and bring us at last into glory.
Lighting of the Candle of Joy
Sue Ferrozzo: “ By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” Galatians 5:22-23
Message from Sue Ferrozzo
Prayer at the lighting of the candle of Joy:
All: Joyful God, hoping in you brings us joy even when the nights seem very dark. As we light this candle, light within each of us a joy that the world cannot understand – the joy of life with you. Amen
Community Prayer
124 (NCH) verse 3: Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay close by me forever and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in your tender care and fit us for heaven to live with you there.
Prayers of Gratitude
124 (NCH) verse 3
Prayers of Concern
124 (NCH) verse 3
Silent Prayer
124 (NCH) verse 3
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: 812 (NCH)
Amen. Amen. Amen.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Offering Acclamation Hymn # 132 (NCH)v. 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 joy, bless our offerings of time, talent, and treasure. We dedicate these to the work and witness of our little congregation. Multiply them to fulfill your vision of a just and peaceful world. Amen.
Listening for God
Time with Young Hearts
What is needed for joy to exist?
Luke 1:46- 55 NRSVUE
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name;50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly;53 he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Choir: My Soul Cries Out (Canticle of Turning)
Luke 2:1-5
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
All: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” page 21 Carol Booklet
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see you lie! Above your deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in your dark streets shines forth the everlasting light.The hopes and fears of all the years are met in you tonightFor Christ is born of Mary and, gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keeptheir watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together proclaim the Holy birth! And praises sing and voices ring with peace to all on Earth.
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human heartsthe glorious love of heaven. No one discerns God’s coming but in this world of sin, where yearning souls long to be whole, the dear Christ enters in.O Holy Child of Bethlehem descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with usOur Lord Emmanuel
Luke 2:8-14
Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[b] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[c] praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
Choir: While By my Sheep
Luke 2:15-16
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.
ALL: “What Child is This, Who Laid to Rest” p. 30 Carol Booklet
1. What Child is this who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping?
Refrain: This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud,The Babe, the Son of Mary.
2. Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here the silent word is pleading. Refrain:
3. So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh. Come peasant, king to own Him; The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him. Refrain:
Luke 2: 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
Choir: Mary Rocked the Little Baby
Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
All: “Angels We have Heard on High” p.5 Carol Booklet
1. Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain: Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? Say what may the tidings be, which inspire your heav’nly song? Refrain:
3. Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain:
Message: “What is this Joy?”
Silence
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
* Hymn: “Joy to the World” in Carol Booklet
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let Earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room and heaven and nature sing and heaven and nature sing and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love and wonders, wonders, of His love.
Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion.