Happy New Year! 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!”
January 1, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10:20am Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, AV
Naomi Hanvey, Scripture Reader
Gregg Glisson, Candle Lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins:
God is with our light. . . all the time! All the time . . . God is our light!
*Welcoming the Light of Christ
Hymn: One verse from three hymns and why these are favored.
Community Prayer
Spoken Gratitudes
Spoken Concerns
Silent Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer using whatever translation which is meaningful to you.
Response 110 (NCH)”Now Bless the God of Israel” v.2
Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear, that we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year; and you my child shall go before to preach and prophesy, that all may know the tender love and grace of God most high.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
*Offering Acclamation:
Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful (Carol Book) v.2
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation. O sing all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God, all glory in the highest; O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
*Dedication Prayer
Light of our lives, we offer of ourselves to the work of this community. Bless these offerings for our church and for our community. May we more fully reflect your presence now and in the time to come. Amen
Hymn: Three more favorite hymns and why they are favorites
Listening for God in Word
Matthew 2:13-23: Reader Naomi Hanvey
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18
“A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Message: Joseph Dreamed
Sharing Holy Communion
Pastor: Friends in Christ, we gather at our many tables mindful of the presence of God’s Spirit that is here with us. We seek to honor the request of Jesus given in the scripture. Of all the teachings Jesus gave to our ancestors, this he asked them and us to remember him.
When Jesus and his friends sat together at a Passover meal, Jesus took bread; giving God thanks and praise, he broke the bread. He gave it to his friends saying, “Take this all of you and eat of it. This is my body that is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
After the meal had ended, Jesus poured out the cup and again he gave God thanks and praise. He gave the cup to his friends and said, “Take this all of you and drink from it. This is the cup of the new covenant. Do this as often as you drink of it in remembrance of me.”
Let us pray.
All: Come, Holy Spirit come. Bless this bread and this cup and all who have gathered in your Spirit. Help us to remember that you have dwelt among us. Help us to dwell in the world today as living temples of your presence. Bless us to remember your teachings, commandments, and example. May we be renewed in this sharing. Amen.
Silence
Prayer of Thanksgiving All: We thank you, God, for your presence as we remember the Living Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you are among us still, in each of us, and in all of your creation. Bless us to more fully live as your people. Amen.
Silence
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: We thank you, God, for your presence at our many tables where we have known the presence of Christ. Help us to live more fully the way of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and let us show forth your praise in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Hymn: Three more favorite hymns and why they are favorites
Benediction with silent reflection
Postlude
Favorite hymns in Public Domain#4 Joyful, Joyful We adore you#116. O Come, O Come Emmanuel# 124Away in a Manger #125 Angels We have heard on High#129 Good Christian Friends Rejoice#277 Holy,Holy, Holy#407 How Firm a Foundation#132 Joy to the World#471 What a Covenant (Leaning on the Everlasting Arms)#43 Love Divine all Loves Excelling#134 Silent Night#139 The First Noel#195 The Old Rugged Cross#452 Be Now My Vision#157 Amazing Grace#606 Near My God to You#743 Be Still and Know that I am GodFavorites from Praise BookAwesome God 161 Red BookBind Us Together 76 Red BookCares Chorus 115 Red BookIn Moments Like These 117 Red bookLord, I lift your name on high 199 Red BookMagisty 236 Red Bookopen our eyes Lord 215 Red BookRejoice in the Lord Always 239 Red BookSeek Ye First 243 Red BookThis is the Day 210 Red BookMore Favorites#423 Great is Your Faithfulness#595 Some Glad Morning (I'll Fly Away)# 21 God Reigns o'er All the EarthFavorites not in hymnal or song bookMorning has BrokenO Holy NightLittle Drummer BoyHere I am LordIn Christ Alone (A song we will learn in the New Year)