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!”
May 14, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, AV, Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Marvin Wilson, Scripture Reader
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
God loves us. . . all the time!
All the time . . . God loves us!
*Welcoming the Light of Christ
*Hymn “I Love to Tell the Story” 522 (NCH)
I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus’ radiant glory, of Jesus’ endless love. I love to tell the story because I know it’s true. It satisfies my longing as nothing else can do.
Refrain: I love to tell the story, and when I am in glory, I’ll tell the old, old story of Jesus’ endless love.
I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems than all the golden visions of all the golden dreams. I love to tell the story. I tell it now to you because I want to share it. Because I know it’s true. (Refrain)
I love to tell the story. It’s pleasant to repeat what seems each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet. I love to tell the story; for some have never heard the message of salvation from God’s own holy Word. (Refrain)
I love to tell the story. For those who know it best, seems hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when I sing in glory, I know the new, new song, will be the old, old story, that I have loved so long (refrain)
Community Prayer
105 (Sing)
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
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 Concern
Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.
Prayers without Words
Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. 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
Dedication Hymn: What Does the Lord Require
CCLI license #11038266
1. What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you?2. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.
3. To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Dedication prayer:
Holy One, bless these offerings and make them holy. Pour out your Spirit and help us to follow you toward the vision where it is on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Listening for God
Message with Young Hearts
Think of someone you love. What are things that person loves?
1Peter 3:13-22,
13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you, 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect. Maintain a good conscience so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight lives, were saved through water. 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
John 14: 15-21
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
Message: If You Love Me
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
*Hymn “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” 12 (NCH)
I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise, that spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies. I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of our God, that filled the earth with food, God formed the creatures with a word, and then pronounced them good. Oh, how your wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye, if I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky!
On Earth there’s not a plant or flower but makes your glory known. The clouds arise and spread their showers by order from your thrown. All life is but a gift from you and ever in your care; wherever people gather, you, O God, are present there.
Benediction and Silent Reflection with Postlude
Be yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion.
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