Thanksgiving Sunday Bulletin, Nov 23, 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!”

Thanksgiving Sunday, Nov 23, 2025

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10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director and Worship Leader

Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator

Joe McSwain, Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Maureen Caroll, Scripture Reader

Heidi Fowler, Candle Lighter

Everyone, Fellowship Set-up

Naomi, Charlie, and All, 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 fills us...all the time!

All the time...God fills us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities

Next Sunday: First Sunday of Advent, Hope

Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44

Bible Study, Monday 7:00pm

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

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

Sing-A-Lings, Wednesday, 6:30pm

This month’s community giving: Salish School

Opening Hymn “For the Fruit of All Creation” 425 (NCH)

For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God. For God’s gifts to every nation, thanks be to God. For the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we were sleeping, future needs in Earth’s safe-keeping, thanks be to God.

In the just reward of labor, God’s will is done. In the help we give our neighbor, God’s will is done. In the worldwide task of caring for the hungry and despairing, in the harvest we are sharing, God’s will is done.

For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God. For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God. For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us, most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God.

Community Prayer

“On Eagle’s Wings” 775 (NCH)

And God will raise you up on eagle’s wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of God’s hand.

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: “Lord, You're Worthy” 305 RB

Lord, you're worthy to be praised and I worship you. Lord, you're worthy to bow down to and I bow down to you. Lord, you're worthy to be worshipped and I worship you. I praise you, I bow down to you, I worship you.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: “This Is My Commandment” 241 RB

This is my commandment that you love one another that your joy may be full. This is my commandment that you love one another that your joy may be full. That your joy may be full. That your joy may be full. This is my commandment that you love one another that your joy may be full.

Dedication prayer: Generous God, we offer these gifts of our time, talent, and treasure to the work of your way of doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with our God. Bless us that we may shine your light into a world that struggles through many troubles. Amen.

Blessings for our Pledges

Anthem: “A Thanksgiving Garden” Choir

ALL: Holy One, we hope in you. Bless our lives with health and wholeness that we may meet the pledges we make this day. May this church be a beacon of your love, justice, and compassion. We ask this in the name of Jesus whose way we follow. Amen 

Listening for God

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

 “When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess and you possess it and settle in it, ² you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. ³ You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ‘Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.’ ⁴ When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, ⁵ you shall make this response before the Lord your God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. ⁶ When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, ⁷ we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. ⁸ The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; ⁹ and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.¹⁰ So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.’ You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. ¹¹ Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.

John 6:25-35  

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” ²⁶ Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves. ²⁷ Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” ²⁸ Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” ³⁰ So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us, then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” ³² Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is that which^[a] comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴ They said to him, “Sir,^[b] give us this bread always.”

³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty

Message: Giving Thanks

Meditation in Music

Announcement Reminder

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Closing Hymn: “The Greatest Thing” 311 RB

The greatest thing in all my life Is knowing You; The greatest thing in all my life Is knowing You; I want to know you more, I want to know you more. The greatest thing in all my life Is knowing You.

The greatest thing in all my life Is loving You; The greatest thing in all my life Is loving You; I want to love you more; I want to love you more. The greatest thing in all my life Is loving You.

The greatest thing in all my life Is serving You; The greatest thing in all my life Is serving You; I want to serve you more; I want to serve you more. The greatest thing in all my life Is serving You.

Benediction

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

ADVENT CANDLES

Lighting of the Candle of Hope, November 30

"Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  Hebrews 11:1

Message from ________

Prayer at the lighting of the candle of Hope:

All: Hope of our lives, we light this candle to declare your hope for all creation.  Bless this light to shine out into the darkness with the promise you are with us. Amen.

Lighting of the Candle of Peace, December 7

 “They shall not hurt or destroy on all God’s holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:1

Message from ______

Prayer at the lighting of the candle of Peace:

All: Holy one, we light this candle asking that all may be filled with the knowledge of you. May all seek the to live justly with one another that peace may prevail.  Amen

Lighting of the Candle of Joy, December 14

 “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” Galatians 5:22-23

Message from ________

Prayer at the lighting of the candle of Joy:

All: Joyful God, hoping in you brings us joy even when the nights seem very dark. As we light this candle, light within each of us a joy that the world cannot understand – the joy of life with you. Amen

Lighting of the Candle of Love, December 21

 “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

Message from ________

Prayer at the lighting of the Love:

All: Loving God, help us to welcome your love in our lives. Cleanse all guilt, shame, and resentment from our lives that your love may heal us. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen

December 24, Candlelight Service: Lighting of the Christ Candle: 

 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of people.  That light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:1-5

Message from ____________

Prayer at the Lighting of the Christ Candle

All:  Tonight we declare that God’s light, known to us in Christ, shines in our darkest hours.  Surrounding the light of Christ is Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.  May the light of Christ be re-lit in us this night.  May we find room in our hearts and our lives to welcome Emmanuel, in whose name we pray.  Amen.