Sunday Worship Bulletin June 29, 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!”

June 29, 2025

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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, Usher Coordinator and Scripture Reader

Diane Smith, Candle lighter

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Sue Ferrozzo, Fellowship Set-Up

Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor 

10:30am Welcoming 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 is good ...all the time!  All the time...God is good!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities  

Next Sunday, Naaman, the Healed Foreigner

Bible Study Monday 7pm

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

Wednesday String-A-Lings 5:30pm  

*Hymn “Life Every 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 harsh 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 people 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, God who has brought us thus far on the way; God who has by your 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 you. Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget you; Shadowed beneath your hand, May we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.

Community Prayer 

Hymn: “Glory to the Lamb” RB 143

Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb. Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb.

Prayers of Gratitude

Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb. Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb.

Prayers of Concern 

Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb. Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb.

Prayers in Silence 

Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb. Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb.

 Lord’s Prayer

Response: “His Name is Wonderful” RB 108

His name is wonderful. His name is wonderful. His name is wonderful. His name is wonderful, Jesus my Lord. He is Mighty King, Master of Everything. His name is wonderful, Jesus my Lord. He’s the Great Shepherd, The Rock of all ages, The Almighty God is he. Bow down before him. Love and adore him. His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord.

A Time of Offering 

 An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: Doxology  780 (NCH) Newer words

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures here below. Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One.  Amen

Dedication Prayer: 

Holy One, you show us how the way of life is through compassion, justice, and a heart open to your presence in our midst. We thank you with humble hearts. Bless these offerings of time, talent, and treasure. May the day soon come when compassion is the practice of all on Earth.  Amen. 

Listening for God

Galatians 5:1, 13-25  For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 

Luke 9:51-62 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, 53 but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village.

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Message:  Jesus said, “Follow Me”

Meditation in Music 

Announcement Reminders 

Our Light Goes Into the World 

Hymn: “Spirit Song” RB 287

Oh, let the son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love. Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul, Oh, let him have those things that hold you and his Spirit, like a dove, will descend upon your life and make you whole.

Chorus: Jesus, oh, Jesus, come and fill your lambs. Jesus, oh, Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

Oh, come and sing this song of gladness as your hearts are filled with joy. Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name. Oh, give him all your tears and sadness. Give him all your years of pain and you’ll enter into life in Jesus name.

Benediction 

Communal Blessing 

Be Yourself. Grow in Christ. Live with Compassion