Sunday Worship Bulletin, March 23 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!”

March 23, 2025 • 10:30 a.m. 

------------------------Please, silence cellphones-----------------------

10:20am Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator

Kelly Cuilla, Scripture reader

Diane Smith, Candle lighter

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Gregg Glisson, Fellowship Set-Up

Sue Ferrozzo, Fellowship Clean-up

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, Lent 4: From the Candle of Love

Lenten Book Study: Speaking Christian Monday at 7pm

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

Wednesday: String-A-Lings 5:30 and Sing-A-Lings 6:30

Ding-A-Lings after Worship

 Community giving this month: VOA Women’s Shelters

Call to Confession

One: Seek God; call upon God; God is here. Trusting in the compassion and mercy of God, we pray:

Prayer of Confession

From the Presbyterian Church USA

Forgive us, God, for the many ways that we fail to trust your promise. 

Too often we count the trespasses of others, as though we were the ones to judge. Too often we fail to believe that your gifts are freely given. Too often we spend our money for that which is not bread, and our labor for that which does not satisfy. Help us, loving God. Forgive us when we operate out of scarcity and fear rather than out of your abundant, good gifts. Help us to live as your trusting, sharing, reconciling people. 

Silent Confessions with God

Assurance of Pardon

(from 2 Corinthians 5)

One: Beloved in Christ: God was in Christ reconciling the world, not counting our wrongs against us, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, anyone in Christ is a new creation! The past is gone; everything has become fresh and new. Hear and believe the 

good news of the Gospel:

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God! Amen.

Opening Hymn

We bring forward rocks that symbolize the barriers and burdens that keep us from embracing God’s steadfast love.

Hymn: I Woke Up This Morning 85 (NCH)

I woke up this morning with my mind Stayed on Jesus, (repeat 2x more),

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.

Sing and praying with my mind, stayed on Jesus.

(repeat 2x more)

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.

Community Prayer

Hymn: Spirit of the Living God” RB 277

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Prayers of Gratitude 

Refrain: Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Prayers of Concern Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Prayers in Silence Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

 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: 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

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Offering Hymn: “Make Me A Servant” RB236Make me a servant humble and meek. Lord, let me lift up those who are weak. And may the pray’r of my heart always be. Make me a servant, Make me a servant. Make me a servant, today.

Dedication Prayer: Beloved Creator, bless these offerings of our time, talent, and treasure. Draw us closer to you and one another through this season of transformation. May we find joy in our love for you and this community as we follow the way of Jesus. Amen

Listening for God

Readings from the Candle of Joy (read by Brianna )

Luke 13:1-9, At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?  No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.  Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem?  No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish just as they did.”

 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.  So he said to the man working the vineyard, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’  He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.  If it bears fruit next year, well and good, but if not, you can cut it down.’ 

Message: Time Limits

Meditation in Music

Announcement Reminders

Our Light moves into the World God Loves  

Hymn: “God Speak to Me that I may Speak” 531 (NCH)

God, speak to me, that I may speak in living echoes of your tone; as you have sought, so let me seek erring children lost and lone.

O, lead me, God, that I may lead some wanderers along life’s way; O, feed me so that I may feed your hungry ones without delay. 

O, fill me with your fullness, God, your overflowing love to know. In glowing word and kindling thought, you love to tell, your praise to show. 

O, use me, God, use even me, just as you will, and when, and where, until your blessed face I see, your rest, your joy, your glory share.

Benediction 

Go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage. Hold fast to that

which is good. Render to no one evil for evil. Strengthen the

fainthearted. Support the weak. Help the afflicted. Honor all people.

Love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. The

Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the

Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen.

Community Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.