Sunday Worship Bulletin, Jan 11 2026

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!”

January 11, 2026 • 10:30 a.m. 

_________________________

Please, silence cell phones

We gather in silent meditation

10:20am Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director (Vacation)

Charlie Salt, AV (Vacation)

String-A-Lings, Musicians

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Gregg Glisson, Usher 

DeDrick Albright-Walker, Scripture reader

Sue Ferrozzo, Candle lighter

Sue Ferrozzo, Fellowship Set-Up

Mike Weissenfels Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor 

10:30am Entrance of the Light of Christ

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 renews us. . . all the time!  All the time . . . God renews us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: Amos and MLK Sunday

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 this month: Venessa Behan Crisis Nursery

MLK March, Next Monday, 10am at Spokane Convention center

Rosa Parks Birthday Party, Sunday, Feb 8, 1:30pm

 Opening Hymn

 “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”

Michael row the boat ashore, hal-le-lu-jah. Michael 

row the boat a-shore, hal-le-lu-jah.

Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah. Sister help to trim the sail, 

Hal-le-lu  jah.

Jordon’s river is chilly and cold, hallelujah. Chills the 

body but warms the soul hal-le-lu  jah.

Jordon’s river is deep and wide, hallelujah. Meet my 

mother on the other side, hallelujah.

Community Prayer

Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Gratitude 

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers of Concern

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

Prayers in Silence

Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.

 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

Hymn of Dedication In moments like these, I sing out a song. I sing out a love song to Jesus. In moments like these, I lift up my hands, I lift up my hands to the Lord. Singing, I love you, Lord. Singing, I love you, Lord. Singing, I love you, Lord! I love you.

Prayer of Dedication (unison) Beloved God, pour out your blessing and renew our lives. May these gifts of our time, talent, and treasure be multiplied and move us toward your vision of a justice and peace world.  Amen

Listening for God

Isaiah 42:1-9

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;I have put my spirit upon him;    he will bring forth justice to the nations.² He will not cry out or lift up his voice    or make it heard in the street;³ a bruised reed he will not break,    and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;    he will faithfully bring forth justice.⁴ He will not grow faint or be crushed    until he has established justice in the earth,    and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

⁵ Thus says God, the Lord,    who created the heavens and stretched them out,    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,who gives breath to the people upon it    and spirit to those who walk in it:⁶ I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;    I have taken you by the hand and kept you;I have given you as a covenant to the people,^[a]    a light to the nations,⁷     to open the eyes that are blind,to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,    from the prison those who sit in darkness.⁸ I am the Lord; that is my name;    my glory I give to no other,    nor my praise to idols.⁹ See, the former things have come to pass,    and new things I now declare;before they spring forth,    I tell you of them.

Matt 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶ And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Message: New Things I Now Declare

Affirmation of Baptismal Pledges

Pastor: Members and friends in Christ, today we remember that Jesus was baptized. We remember how the early followers of Jesus joined together in community through the sacrament of baptism. We have shared in that old, old sacred practice and today, we remember and renew our unity in the affirmation of our baptism.

The sacrament of baptism is an outward and visible sign of the grace of God. Baptism is the sacrament through which we are united in Jesus Christ and given part in Christ’s ministry.  In this ritual we practice the death to separation from God and a rising to new life in a loving, healing relationship with God. In baptism, God works in us the power of forgiveness, the renewal of the Spirit, and the knowledge of the call to be God’s people in our everyday lives.

Affirmation

Pastor: All who wish to affirm their baptism are invited to respond to the following questions and pledges. (You can stand or sit whichever is best for you)

Pastor: Do you desire to affirm your baptized into the faith and family of Jesus Christ?

Response: I do.

Pastor Do you profess Jesus Christ as Lord, the one who governs your life, and Savior, the one who sets you free?

Response: I do.

Pastor Do you promise, by the grace of God, to be Christ’s disciple, to follow in the way of our Savior, to resist oppression and evil, to show love and justice, and to witness to the work and word of Jesus Christ as best you are able?

Response:  I promise, with the help of God.

Pastor Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to grow in the Christian faith and to be a faithful participant in the community of Jesus Christ, celebrating Christ’s presence and furthering Christ’s vision of compassion and justice in all the world?

Response: I promise, with the help of God.

Moment of silent reflection

Pastor: You have always been God’s beloved. Now, in the name of the God, known to us as the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, may you embrace that love. Amen”

Prayer

ALL: We give you thanks, O Holy One, for the renewal of our baptism celebrated today. We remember that this ancient practice joins us across all time and space with the ancestors of our faith. We affirm our dedication to the spiritual practice of following the way of Jesus. Embrace us all as sons and daughters in the one household of your love. Grant us grace to receive, nurture, and befriend our sisters and brothers and all the world you love. 

Meditation in Music

Our Light moves into the World God Loves  

Closing Hymn “I was There to Hear Your Borning Cry? 351(NCH)

1.   I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. I re-joiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well; I’ll be there in case you wander off and find where demons dwell.

2.   When you found the wonder of the Word, I was there to cheer you on; You were raised to praise the living God, to whom you now belong.  Should you find someone to share your time, and you join your hearts as one, I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk ’till rising sun.

3.   In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young, I’ll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I’ve begun.  When the evening gently closes in, and you shut your weary eyes, I’ll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise.

4.   I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. I re-joiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. 

Benediction and Community Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.