Sunday Worship Bulletin, Dec 7 2025

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!”

Second Sunday of Advent, December 7, 2025• 10:30 a.m.

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10:15am Enter in Silence

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator

Joe McSwain, Scripture reader

Kelly Cuilla, Candle of Peace

_____, Fellowship Set-Up

Charlie Salt, Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor 

10:30am Worship begins

Candle of Hope is Re-Lit

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.

Community Affirmation

God is our peace . . . all the time!  All the time . . . God is our peace!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: Advent 3 the Candle of Joy, Zack 

Bible Study, Monday at 7pm

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

String-A-Lings, Wednesday, 5:30pm; 

Sing-A-Lings Wednesday, 6:30pm

 Community Giving: Birthday Kits

‘Opening Hymn

*Hymn “Who Would Think That What Was Needed” 153 (NCH)

Who would think that it was needed to transform and save the earth might not be a plan or army proud and purpose, proved in worth? Who would think, Despite derision, that a child should lead the way? God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas Day.

Shepherds watch and sages wonder, monarchs scorn and the angels sing; such a place as none would reckon hosts a holy, helpless thing; stabled beasts and passing strangers watch a baby laid in hay: God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas Day.

Centuries of skill and science spanned the past from which we move, yet experience questions whether with such progress we improve. In our search for sense and meaning, lest our hopes and humor fray, God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas Day. 

Lighting of the Candle of Peace

Kelly Cuilla: “They shall not hurt or destroy on all God’s holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:9

Message from Kelly Cuilla

Prayer at the lighting of the candle of Peace:

All: Holy one, we light this candle asking that all may be filled with the knowledge of you. May all seek the to live justly with one another that peace may prevail.  Amen

Advent Hymn: “Come O Long-Expected Jesus” 122 (NCH)vs 1 and 3

1. Come, O long-expected Jesus, born to set all people free; From our fears and sins release us; grant us your true liberty.

3. Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again.

Community Prayer

“O Lord, You’re Beautiful” 310 (RB)

O Lord, you’re beautiful. You face is all I seek. For when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me.

Prayers of Gratitude

song

Prayers of Concern

Song

Silent Prayer

Song

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: “There Is None” 67 (RB)

There is none holy as the Lord, there is none beside thee; Neither is there any rock like our God, there is none holy as the Lord.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: “Joy to the World” 132 (NCH) verse 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 of God's love.

Dedication prayer:  Holy One, we are thankful that you come to us in the cold nights of this season. As we give these offerings of our time. talent, and treasure, pour out the healing of hope and peace that we may be your light in the world today. Amen.

Listening for God

Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,    and a branch shall grow out of his roots.² The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,    the spirit of counsel and might,    the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.³ His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see    or decide by what his ears hear,⁴ but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor    and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth;he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist    and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

⁶ The wolf shall live with the lamb;    the leopard shall lie down with the kid;the calf and the lion will feed together,    and a little child shall lead them.⁷ The cow and the bear shall graze;    their young shall lie down together;    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.⁸ The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,    and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.⁹ They will not hurt or destroy    on all my holy mountain,for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord    as the waters cover the sea.

¹⁰ On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ³ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord;    make his paths straight.’ ”

⁴ Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.⁵ Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?⁸ Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, ⁹ and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with^[d] the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Message: Prepare the Way of Peace

Sharing Holy Communion

Hand sanitizer passed around.

Pastor: Friends in Christ, we gather at our many tables mindful of the presence of God’s Spirit that is here with us.  We seek to honor the request of Jesus given in the scripture.  Of all the teachings Jesus gave to our ancestors, this he asked them and us to do for him to remember him. 

When Jesus and his friends sat together at a Passover meal, Jesus took bread; giving God thanks and praise, he broke the bread.  He gave it to his friends saying, “Take this all of you and eat of it.  This is my body that is broken for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”

After the meal had ended, Jesus poured out the cup and again he gave God thanks and praise.  He gave the cup to his friends and said, “Take this all of you and drink from it.  This is the cup of the new covenant.  Do this as often as you drink of it in remembrance of me.”

Let us pray.

All: Loving God, you are with us in the easy times and through the difficult experiences.  We thank you with humble hearts. Let your presence be felt among us.  Come, Holy Spirit come.  Bless this bread and this cup and all who have gathered in your Spirit.  Refresh us and renew us as Christ’s body in the world today.  In the name of Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

The ushers will invite who want to receive to come forward. We will break bread and share a common cup or you can receive the packaged bread and drink

Prayer of Thanksgiving

All: We thank you, God, for your presence at all our tables where we remember and experience the presence of Christ.  Help us to live more fully the way of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and let us show forth your praise in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

Meditation in Music

Announcements Reminders

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

* Hymn: “O God of Love, O God of Peace” 571 (NCH)

O God of love, O God of peace, make wars throughout the world to cease; The wrath of human wrong restrain: Give peace, O God, give peace again!

Remember, God, your work of old, the wonders that our people told; Heal every malice, harm, and pain: Give peace, O God, give peace again!

Whom shall we trust, O God, but you? For you are constant, strong, and true. None ever called on you in vain: Give peace, O God, give peace again!

Benediction

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion