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!”
New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, AV and Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Tom Cuilla, Scripture reader
_________, Candle lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
________, Fellowship Set-Up
Naomi Hanvey, 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
God creates. . . all the time! All the time . . . God creates!
*Welcoming the Light of Christ
*Hymn: “I am the Light of the World” 584 ( NCH)
Chorus: I am the Light of the World You people come and follow me. If you follow and love, You'll learn the mystery of what you were meant to do and be.1. When the song of the angels is stilled. When the star in the sky is gone. When the sages and the shepherds have found their way home, the work of Christmas is begun! Chorus: 2. To find the lost and lonely one, to heal that broken soul with love, to feed the hungry children with warmth and good food, to feel the earth below the sky above! Chorus: 3. To free the prisoner from his chains, to make the powerful care, to rebuild the nations with strength of goodwill, see all God’s children everywhere! Chorus: 4. To bring hope to every task you do, to dance at a baby's new birth, to make music in an old person’s heart, and sing to the colors of the earth! Chorus:
Community Prayer
Response “Now Bless the God of Israel” v.2 110 (NCH)
Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear, that we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year; and you my child shall go before to preach and prophesy, that all may know the tender love and grace of God most high.
Prayers of Gratitude
110 (NCH) verse 2
Prayers of Concern
110 (NCH) verse 2
Silent Prayer
110 (NCH) verse 2
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: O Come, All Ye Faithful (Carol Book) v.2
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation. O sing all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God, all glory in the highest; O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Dedication prayer:
Light of our lives, we offer of ourselves to the work of this community. May we more fully reflect your presence here now and in the time to come. Amen
Listening for God
Time with Young Hearts
What is curiosity?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die;a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted;3 a time to kill and a time to heal;a time to break down and a time to build up;4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;a time to mourn and a time to dance;5 a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;6 a time to seek and a time to lose;a time to keep and a time to throw away;7 a time to tear and a time to sew;a time to keep silent and a time to speak;8 a time to love and a time to hate;a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What gain have the workers from their toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. 11 He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; 13 moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.
Message: A Time for Questions
Silence
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
* Hymn: “Angels We have Heard on High” 125( NCH)
Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains. Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be, Which inspire our heavenly song? Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see Christ Whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
See Him in a manger laid, Whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While our hearts in love we raise. Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion.
IMPORTANT Scam Security Notice: Please, know that Pastor Gen would NEVER send a text, email, letter, postcard or any other form of communication asking for money. NEVER EVER. Scammers are becoming even more skilled in their deception. They have used pictures from our website to try to convince people and have used our Facebook site to see who is connected to our community. They also do this with personal accounts including, potentially, your friends and family. Thus, if you get such a communication from a friend or family member, call them on a trusted number. Scammers create convincing email addresses and can fake a caller ID of friends, family, pastors, and anyone else they think will get your attention. Simply, be aware.