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 22, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20am Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, AV
Naomi Hanvey, Zoom App Assistance, Candle Lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor and Scripture Reader
Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
God’s kin-dom is near... all the time!
All the time . . . God’s kin-dom is near!
*Welcoming the Light of Christ
*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]
Report back from Community Solidarity at the MLK March
Mike Weissenfels
Community Prayer
Spoken Prayer
Silent Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Response: “Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn” 107(NCH) v.4
Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night, though cold the winter and cheerless, the rising sun shall crown you with light, be strong and loving and fearless. Love be our song and love our prayer, and love, our endless story, may God fill every day we share, and bring us at last into glory.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
How Do they Do that? Charlie Salt tells us about the Office of Clerk
*Offering Acclamation:
Response: “Awake, Awake to Love and Work” 89 (NCH) v.2
Come, let your voice be one with theirs, shout with their shout of praise. See how the giant sun soars up, God’s gift for all your days! So, let the love of Jesus come and set your soul ablaze.
*Dedication Prayer
Holy One, your kin-dom is near, wishing our own gathering. We thank you with humble hearts. Bless our offerings of time, talent, and treasure that we may follow the kin-dom ways of compassion, justice, and peace. Amen
Listening for God
Message with Young Hearts:
What is your favorite adventure and why?
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been made clear to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God[a] that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel—and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Matthew 4:12-23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles— 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers.19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
Message: A Start of Something New
Silent Reflection
Announcements
Exploring membership after worship
Annual Budget Meeting Next Sunday
Hope House supplies Next Sunday
Rosa Parks Birthday Party, Saturday Feb 4
Birthday Cake Kits Sunday, Feb 5
Sacred Conversations about Racism begin Feb 5
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
* Hymn: “You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore” 173 (NCH)
You have come down to the lakeshore seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy, but only asking for me to follow.
Refrain: O, Jesus, you have looked into my eyes, kindly smiling, you've called out my name. On the sand I've abandoned my small boat; Now with you, I will seek other seas. You know full well my possessions; Neither treasure nor weapons for conquest just these my fishnets and will for working. (Refrain) You need my hands, my exhaustion, working love for the rest of the weary, a love that's willing to go on loving. (Refrain) You who have fished other waters; You, the longing of souls that are yearning; O loving friend, you have come to call me. (Refrain)
*Benediction
Silent Meditation and Postlude