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 29, 2022 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, Acolyte and AV
Naomi Hanvey Facebook Monitor
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
God weeps . . . all the time! All the time . . . God weeps!
Passing of Peace and Welcoming the Light of Christ
(What are the feelings? Why do we have them?)
Psalm 46 responsively
One: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. All: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
One: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. ALL: God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. One: The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter; God utters, God’s voice; the earth melts. All: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
One: Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations God has brought on the earth. All: God makes wars cease to the end of the earth; God breaks the bow and shatters the spear; God burns the shields with fire. One: “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.” ALL: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
*Hymn: “There is a Balm in Gilead” 553 (NCH)
Refrain: There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work's in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. Refrain
If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus who died to save us all. Refrain
Community Prayer
CCLI license #11038266
Refrain: I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all my burdens down at your feet; and anytime that I don’t know what to do, I will cast my cares upon you. (Repeat)
I will cast my cares upon you.
Prayers of Gratitude, Refrain
Prayers of Concern, Refrain
Silent Prayer, Refrain
The Lord’s Prayer
Response 812 (NCH)
Amen, amen, amen.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share and Announcements
Dedication Hymn:
CCLI license #11038266
Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because God’s given Jesus Christ, the son. (Repeat) And now let the weak say, “I am strong!” Let the poor say, “I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us!” (repeat)
Give thanks. Give thanks.
Dedication Prayer
Source of All That Is, we you give thanks and praise. Fill these offerings and our lives with your Spirit that we, your servants, may bring justice, peace, and kindness to the world. Amen
Listening for God
Message with Young Hearts
(What are the feelings? Why do we have them?)
Romans 8:18-39 (NRSVUE)
18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedeswith groanings too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 God who did not withhold the Son but gave him up for all of us, how will God not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ who died, or rather, who was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Message: For in Hope, We are Saved
Silence
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Hymn: “Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning”
Public Domain
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning (repeat 2x more) for this work is almost done. Sisters, don’t grow weary. Brothers, don’t grow weary. Children, don’t grow weary, for this work is almost done.
It’s our faith makes us happy (repeat 2x more) for this work’s almost done.
Sisters, don’t grow weary. Brothers, don’t grow weary. Children, don’t grow weary, for this work is almost done.
We are Climbing Jacob’s ladder (repeat 2x more) for this work is almost done. Sisters, don’t grow weary. Brothers, don’t grow weary. Children, don’t grow weary, for this work is almost done.
Every round goes higher, higher (repeat 2x more) for this work’s almost done. Sisters, don’t grow weary. Brothers, don’t grow weary. Children, don’t grow weary, for this work is almost done.
Benediction and “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds ”
Public Domain
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
Postlude
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