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!”
October 1, 2023
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, AV and Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
___________, Scripture Reader
Sue Ferrozzo, Candle Lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Sue Ferrozzo, Fellowship Set-Up
Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up
Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Land Acknowledgement
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.
Worship begins
God is good...all the time! All the time... God is good!
Welcoming the Light of Christ and Gathering of Prayers
*Hymn: “Morning has broken”
Words: Eleanor Farjeon, Music: Traditional Gaelic
1. Morning has broken like the first morning; Blackbird has spoken like the first bird. Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!
2. Sweet the rain's new fall sunlit from heaven, like the first dewfall on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where His feet pass.
3. Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning. Born of the one light Eden saw play! Praise with elation; praise ev'ry morning, God's recreation of the new day!
Community Prayer
Hymn: “Amazing Grace” 547 (NCH)
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.
Prayers of Gratitude
T’was grace that taught my heart to fear and grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
Prayers of Concern
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come ‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.
Silent prayer
My God has promised good to me, whose word my hope secures; God will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
Lord’s Prayer
Response: 812 (NCH)
Amen. Amen. Amen.
A Time of Offering
Dedication 780 (NCH)
Praise God from whom all blessing flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen
Dedication prayer: From Saint Francis
God, all powerful, most holy sublime ruler of all, you alone are good - supremely, fully, completely good, may we render to you all praise, all honor, and all blessing: may we always ascribe to you alone everything that is good! Amen
Listening for God
Philippians 2:1-13 If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was[a] in Christ Jesus,
who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name, so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Matthew 21:23-32 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.
Message: Gathering in the Kingdom of God
Holy Communion
Pastor On this World Communion Sunday, we celebrate that our unity in in sharing this sacred moment that crosses all languages, boarders, and barriers. We are grateful and we remember. Of all the teachings Jesus gave to our ancestors, there was one thing he asked them and us to do for him. He asked us to remember.
When Jesus and his friends sat together at a Passover meal, Jesus took bread; ... Do this as often as you drink of it in remembrance of me." Let us pray.
All: Loving God, you are everywhere. People around the world feel your presence and celebrate your love. May we feel your presence here today as we share in this Holy Communion. Come, Holy Spirit come. Bless this bread and this cup and all who have gathered here. Refresh us and renew us as Christ’s body in the world today. We remember Jesus as we pray. Amen
Sharing Communion
Sung as we receive Hymn # 283 (NCH)
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me; Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Blessing of the Animals
We form a circle, each pet is anointed with water and a blessing is said. After all have been blessed, we pray
Beloved Creator, you have made all creatures beautiful in your sight. Brother Francis recognized every animal as a true brother or sister. We thank you with humble hearts. By the power of your love, help each of these pets to live as companions and friends. Help us who love them to show your kindness and compassion to them all the days of their lives. We pray in the power of your Spirit. Amen
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastor:: Let us pray. We thank you, God, for this circle of love and community. As we share in this meal and these blessings, we are awed that you are everywhere and in all creation. Bless us now to more fully live as your people in respect and love for all your creation through Jesus Christ whose way we follow. Amen.
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
*Departing Hymn: “All Things Bright and Beautiful”
Refrain: All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful: Our dear God made them all.
Each little flow’r that opens, each little bird that sings, God made their glowing colors, and made their tiny wings. Refrain
The purple-headed mountains, the river running by, the sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky.
Refrain
The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the ripe fruits in the garden, God made them every one. Refrain
Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion.
Comments