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!”
March 5, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, Usher and AV
Jerry Brines, Usher
Diane Smith, Scripture Reader
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
God loves all the world…all the time!
All the time...God loves all the world!
Call to Confession
One: Gracious God, oil the hinges of our hearts’ doors that they may swing gently and easily to welcome your forgiving and healing Spirit. Amen
(alt 816 NCH)
Let us open our hearts to God.
Prayer of Confession
All: Almighty and everlasting God, always more ready to hear than we are to pray, always willing to give more that we either desire or deserve; pour upon us the abundance of your mercy; forgiving those things of which our conscience is afraid and releasing us to new life. Return us to journey in the way of Jesus. Amen alt. 834 (NCH)
Silent Confessions with God
Assurance of Pardon
One: There is no valley too dark nor mountain too high for the healing love of God. We are forgiving. Return to the journey with Christ!
All: Thanks be to God. Amen!
Welcoming the light of Christ
Placing rocks that symbolize the burdens we carry.
Hymn: “Glory, Glory, Halleujah” 2(NCH)
Glory, glory, hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down. Glory, glory, hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down.
I feel better, so much better, since I laid my burdens down! I feel better, so much better, since I laid my burdens down!
Feel like shoutin' hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down! Feel like shoutin' hallelujah! since I laid my burdens down!
I am dancing Miriam’s dance now, since I laid my burdens down. I am dancing Miriam’s dance now, since I laid my burdens down.
I am climbing Jacob’s ladder, since I laid my burdens down!
I climbing Jacob’s ladder, since I laid my burdens down!
Every round goes higher, higher, since I laid my burdens down!
Every round goes higher, higher, since I laid my burdens down!
Community Prayer
Spoken Prayers of gratitude
Spoken Prayers of concern
Silent Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
A version of The Lord’s Prayer from The New Zealand Prayer Book Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen.
Response “Grace Alone” v1
CCLI license #11038266
Every promise we can make, every prayer and step of faith, every difference we can make is only by God’s grace. Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine, every blessing left behind is only by God’s grace. Grace alone which God supplies strength unknown God will provide; Christ in us, our Cornerstone, we will go forth in grace alone.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Sharing Stories of Bigotry of all Kinds
Wayne Shull
Mike Weissenfel
Dedication Hymn: “Holy Ground”
CCLI license #11038266
We are standing on holy ground, and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in his presence on holy ground.
Dedication Prayer
Beloved Creator, bless these offerings for Spokane Valley Partners and the offerings of our ourselves to your service. May this little church be a light of compassion, justice, and spiritual transformation. Amen
Listening for God
Time with Young Hearts
Do you have something that someone made and you love?
John 3:1-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Message “God so Loved the World”
Silence
Sharing of Holy Communion
Pastor: We gather at this table mindful of the many who have gathered here before us and those yet to come. We are grateful that we have this day together. We remember that Jesus walked among our ancestors and the Holy Spirit dwells within us today. We remember that Jesus asked for us to remember him when we eat bread and drink of a cup.
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: 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.
Silent Reflection
Announcements
*Hymn: “ I Sing the Mighty Power of God” 12(NCH)
I sing the mighty pow’r of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of our God, that filled the earth with food, God formed the creatures through a word, and then pronounced them good. Oh, how your wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye, if I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.
On Earth there’s not a plant or flower but makes your glory known. The clouds arise and spread their showers by order from your thrown. All Life is but a gift from you and ever in your care; wherever people gather, you, O God, are present there.
Benediction
Postlude and Silent Reflection
