Sunday Worship Bulletin, Oct 19, 2025

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 19, 2025

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10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director and Worship Leader

Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator

Joe McSwain, Usher and Candle Lighter

Jerry Brines, Usher

Tom Cuilla, Scripture Reader

Sue Ferrozzo, Fellowship Set-up

Michael Pflieger, Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am    Welcoming the Light of Christ_and 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 has compassion ...all the time!  All the time...God has compassion!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: God Our Witness

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 and Luke 18:9-14

Bible Study, Monday, 7pm

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

String-A-Lings practice Wednesday, 5:30pm 

Sing-A-Lings practice starts Wednesday, Sept 6:30pm

Saturday, Nov 1 at 1pm Celebration of Deb Bradshaw’s Life

Can you help with refreshments?

Community giving: Animal Shelter Supplies

Opening Hymn: “Dream God's Dream” 120 Sing

(Chorus)Dream God's dream Holy Spirit, help us dream...Of a world where there is justice, and where everyone is free to build and grow and love and to simply have enough the world will change when we dream God's dream

I'm dreaming of a world where the color of one's skin will mean less than what's within the person's heart. A world where water's clean, and where air is safe to breathe and every child born has enough to eat. (Chorus)

I'm dreaming of the call God is offering to me how to use my energy and my best gifts to do the work of Christ -- to say, God please use my life to spread Your healing love -- and to live your Truth (Chorus)

I'm dreaming of the way that I want my life to go. I've got hopes and I've got goals I'd like to meet. I'm reaching for the stars, but I won't forget the scars of Christ who died to show that the Dream's for all...(Chorus)

Community Prayer

NCH 769 Hear our prayer, O God, hear our prayer, O God: incline your ear to us, and grant us your peace.

Prayers of Gratitude

song

Prayers of Concern

song

Silent Prayer

song

 The Lord’s Prayer use the translation which is meaningful to you or

 Our Father (Creator) who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

Response: “Surely the Presence” RB 285

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. I can feel his mighty power and his grace. I can hear the brush of angel wings. I see glory on each face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

A Time of Offering

 An Invitation to Share 

Dedication Hymn: “We Bring The Sacrifice of Praise” RB 235

We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. 

We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. 

And we offer up to you the sacrifices of thanksgiving.

And we offer up to you the sacrifices of joy!

Dedication prayer: Creator of All, we offer our time, talent, and treasure to the sustaining of this congregation and our witness to your compassion and justice. May the abundance of your love for all creation be know through us. Amen

Listening for God

Genesis 32:22-31 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. ²³ He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. ²⁴ Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. ²⁶ Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” ²⁷ So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” ²⁸ Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.” ²⁹ Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. ³⁰ So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.” ³¹ The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. ² He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. ³ In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ ⁴ For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” ⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? ⁸ I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Message: Wrestling with Faithfulness

Meditation in Music

Announcement Reminder

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Closing Hymn: “Fear Not” (2x) 51RB

Fear not, for I am with you. Fear not, for I am with you.

Fear not, for I am with you, says the Lord. (Repeat)

I have redeemed you, I have called you by name. Child, you are mine. When you walk through waters I will be there, and through the flame. You’ll not (NO WAY!) be drowned! You’ll not (NO WAY!) be burned! For I am with you.

Last time

Fear not, for I am with you. Fear not, for I am with you.

Fear not, for I am with you, says the Lord. Fear not!

Benediction 

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion