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 26, 2024
Trinity Sunday and Memorial Day Weekend
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Tom Cuilla, AV and Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Tom Cuilla, Scripture Reader
Diane Smith, Candle lighter
Gregg Glisson, Fellowship Set-up
_________, Fellowship Clean-up
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
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 One. . . all the time! All the time . . . God is One!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
No Bible Study Monday
Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am
String-A-Lings practice Wednesday, 5:30pm
Sing-A-Lings (a.k.a.Choir) practice Wednesday 6:30pm
Community giving this month: Blessing Box and Coats for Kids
Welcoming the Light of Christ
Lighting of Memorial Candles during the hymn.
(Many of us cannot get to the graves of our loved ones. This is an opportunity to honor our ancestors by lighting a candle and speaking/thinking their names)
Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy” 277 (NCH)
Holy, holy, holy! God the Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! Saints adore you truly, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; cherubim and seraphim bow before you only, From the beginning God eternally.
Holy, holy, holy! Though we know but dimly, though the eye of human kind your glory may not see, you alone are holy holy; you alone are worthy, perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! God the Almighty! All your works shall praise your name, in earth, and sky, and sea. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed trinity!
Community Prayer
We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.
Prayers of Gratitude
We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground
Prayers of Concern
We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.
Prayers in Silence
We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.
Lord’s Prayer
Response: Sing Amen
(Sing Amen) Amen, we praise your name, O, God
(Sing Amen) Amen, we praise your name, O, God
(Sing Amen) Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen,
we praise your name, O, God
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Dedication Hymn
Love, love, love, love,
Christians this is your call.
Love your neighbor as yourself
for God loves us all.
Dedication Prayer
Holy One, as you are one in justice, love, and mercy, make us one. Bless these gifts and make them pleasing in your site. May the day soon come when sharing by all will mean scarcity to none. Amen.
Listening for God
Isaiah 6:1-8 NRSVUE
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory.”
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said, “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
John 3:1-17 NRSVUE
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Message: The Wind Blows Where It Chooses
Silence
Meditation in Music
Announcement Reminder
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Closing Hymn: “Shall We Gather At the River” 597 (NCH
Shall we gather by the river where bright angel’s feet have trod with its crystal tide foreverflowing by the throne of God?Refrain: Yes, we’ll gather by the river the beautiful, the beautiful river, gather with the saints by the river that flows by the throne of God.
On the margins of the river, washing up its silver spray, we will walk and worship ever, all the happy golden day. (Refrain)
As we reach the shining river, lay we every burden down, grace our spirits, and provide a robе and crown. (Refrain)
Soon we’ll reach the shining river. Soon our pilgrimage will cease. Soon our happy hearts will quiver with the melody of peace. (Refrain)
Benediction
Communal Blessing
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion
Comentários