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 6, 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 • Naomi Hanvey, Scripture Reader
10:30am Worship begins
God promises us new life . . . all the time! All the time . . . God promises us new life!
Passing the Peace and Welcoming the Light Christ
Hymn: “O God of Vision”
CCLI license #11038266
O God of vision far greater than all human scheming,
Gather us now in your presence, refreshing, redeeming. Show us anew Life in your breath-taking view, lovely beyond all our dreaming.
Pour out Your Spirit on all now assembled before You. May our diversity here be a means to adore You. Women and men, young, old, and youthful again, make us as one, we implore You.
Grant to us insight, O God, for this time of decision. May we dream challenging dreams of both depth and precision. Speak through the dark, dispel by lightning’s bright spark whatever clouds dim our vision.
Break the sun’s rays into color, a rainbow around us. Storm clouds, though real and near, are not enough to confound us. Arched in the sky, beauty and promise are high, giving us hope to astound us.
The Community at Prayer
Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration
All: Floating & flaming & filling new life. Hov’ring & healing & helping with sighs.
Spirit at work since the dawning of time; meet us right here, touch us right now.
Meet us right here, touch us right now.
61 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266
Sharing Prayers of Concern
All: Searching and saving and soothing indeed. Teaching and turning and taking the lead.
Fathering, Mothering, birthing new ways; meet us right here, touch us right now.
Meet us right here, touch us right now.
61 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266
Sharing Prayers Which Take Us Beyond Words Into Silence
All: Calling and caring and changing each heart. Loving and lifting us to a new start.
Jesus our Savior, our teacher, our Lord; meet us right here, touch us right now.
Meet us right here, touch us right now.
61 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266
The Lord’s Prayer
(in the spirit of diversity, you are invited to use the words most familiar to you)
Response: “Four-fold Amen”
813 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266
A Time of Communion
An Invitation to God’s Feast of Grace
All who hunger & thirst for God are welcome at Christ’s table.
God’s People Receive the Gifts of God’s Grace
Individual communion packs are available on the table at the back of the sanctuary.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: O Loving God, you invite us into covenantal relationship with you in every moment.
Around this table we experience nourishment and connection.
Thank you for your ongoing presence in our lives.
Fed and nourished, may we learn to feed and nourish others with your Love. Amen.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Dedication Hymn: “A Doxology”
CCLI license #11038266
Praise God who gives us life to live. Praise God who calls us all to give.
Praise God whose image we all bear. Praise God whose love we now can share. Amen.
Dedication Prayer
All: O God of Abundant Life, you continually pour blessings into our lives.
Inspire and empower us in such a way that we learn to share your blessings abundantly. Amen.
Listening for God
Scripture
(Genesis 18: 1-5 & 8-15) The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” . . . Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”
(Genesis 21: 1-2 & 6) The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him . . . Now Sarah said, “God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
Pastoral Reflection: Promises, Promises
Silence for Reflection
Announcements
We Carry God’s Light Into the World God Loves
Hymn: “Dance Into Joy”
205 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266
(refrain) So, dance into joy with hands upraised. Greet each new day as the holiest of days,
and to your God sing great songs of praise. To your God sing praise!
Share from your path some strand of light. Bring all the shades both dark & light.
Weaving together makes us all one. Stories of hope have just begun. (refrain)
Reds from your passion and from your fear. Rainbows shine through ev’ry tear.
Tender green shoots that bloom ev’ry Spring, growing in love with each song we bring. (refrain)
Through the deep blues now are revealed old hidden wounds soon to be healed.
On bold purples of dawn serene float the myst’ries yet unseen. (refrain)
Weave now each one this web of light surrounding our world both day and night
with healing love and inner peace. Joining together, joy will increase. (refrain)
Blessing for Departing
Closing Song: “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing”
76 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from this place take our leave.
The service is ended, O now be extended the fruits of our worship in all who believe.
The seed of the teaching, receptive hearts reaching, shall blossom in action, for God and for all.
God’s grace did invite us, and love shall unite us to work for God’s realm and to answer the call.
Postlude
You are invited to spend a few minutes in quiet reflection& allow the music to wash over you.