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!”
December 18, 2022 • 10:30 a.m.
__________________________________________
10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director and Scripture Reader
Charlie Salt, Acolyte and AV
Naomi Hanvey, Facebook Monitor
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Diane Smith, Candle Lighter
Charlie Salt and Wayne Shull, Advent Candle Message
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins:
God loves us. . . all the time! All the time . . . God loves us!
Welcoming the Light of Hope, Peace, and Joy
Carol: ”The First Nowell” 139 (NCH) vs 1, 2, and 4
The first Nowell, the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in
fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a
cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born in a manger, Emmanuel.
They looked above and saw a star shining in the east beyond them
far, and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued with day
and night. (Refrain)
This star shone bright in the northwest, o’er Bethlehem it seemed to
rest, and there it did both stop and stay right over the place where
Jesus lay. (Refrain)
Lighting of the Candle of Love
And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of
these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Message about love from Charlie Salt and Wayne Shull
Prayer at the lighting of the Love:
All: Loving God, help us to welcome your love in our lives. Cleanse all
guilt, shame, and resentment from our lives that your love may heal
us. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen
Our Community in Prayer
Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration
All: “Amen, Amen” 161 (NCH) Public Domain
first stanza
Sharing Prayers of Concern
All: “Amen, Amen” 161 (NCH)
first stanza
Sharing Prayers Which Take Us Beyond Words Into Silence
All: “Amen, Amen” 161 (NCH)
first stanza
The Lord’s Prayer
In the spirit of diversity, you are invited to
use the words most familiar to you.
Response: All: “Amen, Amen” 161 (NCH) Public Domain
A Time of Offering
An invitation to share
Response:” Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” 345 (NCH)verse 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!
Dedication prayer
God, our hope, peace, joy, and love bless these offerings. May the
love you have for us be known in all that we are and all that we give.
We ask following the way of Jesus. Amen
Listening for God in Word and Music
Message with Young Hearts
What Lullaby would you Sing to the Baby Jesus?
Choir: “Little Lamb”
Gospel of John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being
through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has
come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Choir: In the Presence of Jehovah
Gospel of Matthew 1:18- 25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother
Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was
found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a
righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to
divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of
the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do
not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is
from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what
had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as
the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no
marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named
him Jesus.
Carol: “What Child is This” page 30 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?
Chorus:
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
Christian, fear: for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.[Chorus]
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.[Chorus]
Gospel of Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill
country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry,
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to
me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my
womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be
a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
Choir: My Soul Cries out
Gospel of Luke 2:1-7
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world
should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while
Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be
registered. 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. He went to be registered with Mary, to
whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were
there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her
firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place in the inn.
Carol: "I Wonder as I Wander”
Public Domain
1. I wonder as I wander out under the sky that Jesus my Savior did
come for to die. For poor or’nary people like you and like I. I wonder
as I wander out under the sky.
2. When Mary birthed Jesus, all in a cow's stall, came wise men and
farmers and shepherds and all,
And high from the heavens a star's light did fall; The promise of the
ages it then did recall.
Gospel of John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his
glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Message: Wondering While Wandering
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Hymn “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” carol booklet 12
Public Domain
I heard the bells on Christmas day their old familiar carols play and mild
and sweet their songs repeat of peace on Earth, good will to all.
I thought how as the day had come, the belfries of all Christendom had
rolled along h’unbroken song of peace on Earth, good will to all.
And in despair I bowed my head "There is no peace on Earth, " I said for
hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on Earth, good will to all.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep God is not dead, nor doth He
sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on Earth, good will
to all.
Till, ringing, singing on its way, the world revolved from night to day, a
voice, a chime, a chant sublime of peace on Earth, good will to all.
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
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