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 9, 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
Elizabeth Brown, Scripture reader
Diane Smith, Candle lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
________, Fellowship Set-Up
__________, 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 strengthens us . . . all the time!
All the time . . . God strengthens us !
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
Next Sunday, Lent 2: From the Candle of Peace
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 Our Lenten 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)
Opening Hymn
We bring forward rocks that symbolize the barriers and burdens that keep
us from embracing God’s steadfast love.
Hymn: “Glory, Glory, Halleujah” 2(NCH)
Glory, glory, hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down. Glory, glory,
hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down.
I feel better, so much better, since I laid my burdens down! I feel better, so
much better, since I laid my burdens down!
Feel like shoutin' hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down! Feel like shoutin'
hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down!
I am dancing Miriam’s dance now, since I laid my burdens down. I am
dancing Miriam’s dance now, since I laid my burdens down.
I am climbing Jacob’s ladder, since I laid my burdens down!
I climbing Jacob’s ladder, since I laid my burdens down!
Every round goes higher, higher, since I laid my burdens down!
Every round goes higher, higher, since I laid my burdens down!
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
Refrain
Prayers in Silence
Refrain
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
Dedication “Create in Me A Clean Heart” Red Book 39
Create in me a clean heart, O my God. And renew a right spirit within
me. Create in me a clean heart, O my God. And renew a right spirit
within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, O Lord, and take not
Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and
renew a right spirit within me.
Dedication Prayer: God known to us in Jesus, it is with joy that we
offer these gifts of our time, talent, and treasure. May your Spirit
continue to work in us and through us as a light in the storms of our
time. Amen
Listening for God
Readings from the Candle of Hope
Luke 4:1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was
led by the Spirit in the wilderness,2 where for forty days he was tested by
the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over
he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God,
command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It
is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”
5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms
of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, “To you I will give all this authority
and their glory, for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I
please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered
him, “It is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’ ”
9 Then the devil led him to Jerusalem and placed him on the pinnacle of the
temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down
from here, 10 for it is written
‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,’
11 and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the
test.’ ” 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until
an opportune time.
Message: Testing Integrity
Meditation in Music
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Hymn: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross 197 (NCH)
Jesus, keep me near the cross; there a precious fountain, free to all, a
healing stream flows from Calvary’s mountain.
Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, ‘till my ransomed
soul shall find rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me; there the bright
and morning star sheds its beams around me. Refrain
Near the cross! O, Lamb of God, bring it scenes before me; help me live
from day to day with its shadow o’er me. Refrain
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait, hoping, trusting ever, ‘till I reach the
golden strand just beyond the river. Refrain
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.
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