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!”
February 18, 2024 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Tom Cuilla,Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Stephanie Wallis, Scripture reader
Sue Ferrozzo, Candle lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Gregg Glisson, 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’s covenant endures. . . all the time!
All the time . . . God’s covenant endures!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
*Welcoming the Light of Christ
We bring forward rocks that symbolize the barriers and burdens that keep us from embracing God’s steadfast love.
*Hymn: “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” 593 (NCH)Lift ev’ry voice and sing, ‘til earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise high as the list’ning skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on ’til victory is won.
Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered. We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered. Out from the gloomy past, ‘til now we stand at last where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee. Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.
Call to Confession
One: We are made of stardust and to dust we shall return. Let us return our lives to God, the maker of the stars, the planets, and every living creature and know the freedom of living the way of Jesus.
Prayer of Confession
Maker of All, we are yours. Hold us in that love as you reveal to us the ways we have fallen short of our potential as your children. Heal the brokenness within us. Heal the brokenness we have caused. Grant to us hearts ready to make the change and become new through the power of forgiveness, the freedom of repentance, and the joy of transformation. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Silent Confessions with God
Assurance
One: God forgives us.
All: O Majesty, O Magnificence, O Mystery, come!
Be the hammer, and break our indifference.
Be the sun, and splinter our shadows.
Be the wind, and scatter our despair.
Yea, in the dry country of our souls, let thy grace rain;
so that we take root in thee, and grow.
Make us trees strong in all seasons, bearing fruit,
giving shade to all the weariness
and shelter to them that are lost.
So we pray to the glory of Jesus Christ
who made the cross tree green and flourishing forever.
Amen.
(Arnold Kenseth, USA)
Community Prayer
Taize chant: Where love and caring are there is God. Where love and caring are there is God.
Prayers of Gratitude
Chant
Prayers of Concern
Chant
Silent Prayer
Chant
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
An Offering from our American Black History by Marvin Wilson
*Offering Acclamation: Hymn: “Grace Alone” v1
Ev’ry promise we can make, ev’ry prayer and step pf faith, ev’ry difference we can make is only by God’s grace. Ev’ry mountain we will climb, ev’ry ray of hope we shine, ev’ry blessing left behind is only by God’s grace.
Grace alone which God supplies strength unknown God will provide; Christ in us, our Cornerstone, we will go forth in grace alone.
Dedication prayer: Holy One, pour out your Spirit upon our offerings of time, talent, and treasure. With your blessing, we will fulfill your vision for our lives, our world, and this your church. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen
Listening for God
Genesis 9:8-17 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Psalm 25:1-10
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore God instructs sinners in the way.9 God leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble God’s way.10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep God’s covenant and decrees.
Mark 1:9-15 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tested by Satan, and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels waited on him.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.”
Message: To You, O Lord
Meditation in Music
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Closing Hymn: “In the Midst of New Dimensions” 391 (NCH)
In the midst of new dimensions, in the face of changing ways, who will lead the pilgrim peoples wandering in their separate ways?
[Refrain] God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar, We your people, ours the journey now and ever, now and ever, now and ever more.
Through the flood of starving people, warring factions and despair, who will lift the olive branches? Who will light the flame of care? [Refrain]
As we stand a world divided by our own self-seeking schemes, grant that we, your global village might envision wider dreams. [Refrain]
We are man and we are woman, all persuasions, old and young, each a gift in your creation, each a love song to be sung. [Refrain]
Should the threats of dire predictions cause us to withdraw in pain, may your blazing phoenix spirit, resurrect the church again. [Refrain]
Benediction and Blessing
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion.