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!”
November 13, 2022 • 10:30am
10:20am Gathering & Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director • Charlie Salt, AV • Naomi Hanvey, Facebook Monitor • Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Diane Smith, Acolyte • John Carroll, Scripture Reader
10:30am Worship begins
God leads us on to new vistas we cannot yet even imagine. . . all the time!
All the time . . . God leads us on to new vistas we cannot yet even imagine!
Passing the Peace and Welcoming the Light Christ
Hymn: “Gather Us In”
CCLI license #11038266
Here in this place the new light is streaming, shadows of doubt are vanished away. See in this space our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of this day. Gather us in, the lost and forsaken. Gather us in, the blind and the lame. Call to us now and we shall awaken. We shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face. We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race. Gather us in, the rich and the haughty. Gather us in, the proud and the strong. Give us a heart so meek and so lowly. Give us the courage to enter the song.
Not just in buildings, small and confining. Not in some heaven light years away. Here in this place the new light is shining. Now is God present, and now is the day. Gather us in and hold us forever. Gather us in and make us your own. Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bones.
The Community at Prayer
Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration
All: Gathered here in the mystery of this hour. Gathered here in one strong body.
Gathered here in the struggle and the power. Spirit draw near.
742 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266
Sharing Prayers of Concern
All: Gathered here in the mystery of this hour. Gathered here in one strong body.
Gathered here in the struggle and the power. Spirit draw near.
742 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266
Sharing Prayers Which Take Us Beyond Words Into Silence
All: Gathered here in the mystery of this hour. Gathered here in one strong body.
Gathered here in the struggle and the power. Spirit draw near.
742 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266
The Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic
(transliteration)
Abwoon d’bwashmaya nethqadash shmakh
teytey malkuthakh nehwey sebyanach aykanna d’bwashmaya aph b’arha.
Habwlan lachma d’sunqanan yaomana. Washboqlan khaubayn (wakhtahayn)
aykana daph khnan shbwoqan l’khayyabayn.
Wela tahlan l’nesyuna ela patzan min bisha.
Metol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta l’ahlam almin.
Ameyn.
The Lord’s Prayer
(translation from the Aramaic by Neil Douglas-Klotz)
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, you create all that moves in light.
Focus your light within us – make it useful:as the rays of a beacon show the way.
Create your reign of unity now – through our fiery hearts and willing hands.
Your one desire then acts with ours, as in all light so in all forms.
Grant what we need each day in bread & insight:subsistence for the call of growing life.
Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.
Don’t let surface things delude us, but free us from what holds us back.
From you is born all ruling will, the power & the life to do,
the song that beautifies all, from age to age it renews.
Truly – power to these statements –may they be the source from which all my actions grow. Amen.
Response: “Four-fold Amen”
813 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Dedication Hymn: “A Doxology”
CCLI license #11038266
Praise God who fills the world with Light! Praise Spirit who expands our Sight!
Praise Sacred Presence in all things! Praise All that through us shouts and sings! Amen.
Dedication Prayer
All: You have blessed us, O God, so that we might be a blessing to the world.
May the gifts which we offer, both now and in the future,
become powerful tools for healing and transformation
within this congregation, within this community, & to the uttermost ends of the earth. Amen.
Listening for God
Scripture
Matthew 28: 16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Pastoral Reflection: Looking Back – Moving Ahead
Silence for Reflection
Announcements
Passing the Baton of Leadership
The relay continues, and for Team Veradale it is still important to remember that no one person does all of the running. Everyone contributes to the success of the whole team. Sometimes we are running, and sometimes we are resting, but always we are contributing. And now it is time for the baton of leadership to change hands once again.
Wayne: Pastor Roger, three months ago you stepped into a position of leadership among us, and you have faithfully shared your gifts with us in a variety of ways. On behalf of the whole congregation I offer you our deep gratitude for your service with us, and I stand ready to receive back from you the baton of leadership. Next week I will pass it back to Pastor Gen. For now I invite you to “stand down” and go in peace.
Congregation: We are grateful for Pastor Roger’s time among us. These past three months have been fruitful, and will continue to nourish us as we welcome back Pastor Gen to re-engage with us in the ongoing adventure of being the Church God is calling us to be. We wish him well as he steps back into retirement.
Pastor Roger: I continue to be grateful for this opportunity to be with you these past three months. The time has flown by, and in many ways was not nearly long enough. And yet, it has been a time of discovery and exploration, as we opened ourselves in new ways to fresh possibilities for being the Church which God calls us to become. I remain confident that your future is unfolding in exciting and powerful ways, because I know that God has been and continues to be actively present in the midst of you, and you have been and continue to be willing to show up and be the Church together. So it is that I now return this baton of leadership into your capable care. May your faithful adventure continue.
We Carry God’s Light Into the World God Loves
Hymn: “Draw the Circle Wide”
123 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266
(refrain) Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song: no one stands alone. Standing side by side, draw the circle wide.
God the still-point of the circle, ’round whom all creation turns. Nothing lost but held forever in God’s gracious arms. (refrain)
Let our hearts touch far horizons, so encompass great and small. Let our loving know no borders, faithful to God’s call. (refrain)
Let the dreams we dream be larger than we’ve ever dreamed before. Let the dream of Christ be in us. Open every door! (refrain)
Blessing for Departing
Closing Song: “May the Blessing of God”
CCLI license #11038266
May the blessing of God go before you. May her grace and peace abound.
May the Spirit live within you. May her love wrap you ’round.
May her blessing remain with you always. May you walk on holy ground.
Postlude
You are invited to spend a few minutes in quiet reflection& allow the music to wash over you.