Sunday Worship Bulletin, April 16 2023

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!”

April 16, 2023

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10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, Acolyte and AV

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Naomi Hanvey, Scripture Reader

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Worship begins:

God is with us ...all the time! All the time...God is with us!

Welcoming the Light of Christ

*Hymn: Seek Ye First

Seek ye first the kingdom of GodAnd His righteousness;And all these things shall be added unto you.Hallelu, Hallelujah!

Ask, and it shall be given unto you;Seek, and you shall find.Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.Hallelu, Hallelujah!

We shall not live by bread alone,But by every wordThat proceeds out from the mouth of God.Hallelu, Hallelujah!

Community Prayer

Prayers of Gratitude

Prayers of Concern

Silent prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Response: Sing Amen

(Sing Amen) Amen, we praise your name, O, God

(Sing Amen) Amen, we praise your name, O, God

(Sing Amen) Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen,

we praise your name, O, God

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: What Does the Lord Require

CCLI license #11038266

1. What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you?2. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.

3. To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

Dedication Prayer

Infinite Source of All, we make this offering of time, talent, and treasure to the work of this congregation. May our gifts and our practice of faith be pleasing in your sight. Amen

Message With Young Hearts

Name some things that belong together and why.

Rite of Membership

About Veradale UCC

*You don’t have to be a member to participate in the life of the church

*Membership - belonging. It is a covenantal relationship where we stand with the community gathered in this time and place.

*Our members determine the direction of our church, care for the ministries we do together, the rules we live by are ones we choose through the determination of our congregation.

*As an autonomous church, we are free to determine what God calls us to be in this time and place. Our covenantal relationships with the Conference and National Church gives us guidance and offers us possibilities.

Invitation I invite Lillian Rae McGaugh, Terrio Turntine, and Michael James Weissenfels to come forward, affirm their baptism, and unite with us in this household of faith.

Sentences: Friends in Christ, we were all received into the global church through the sacrament of baptism. Today, the journey of these, our siblings in Christ, has brought to claim us as their community where they will grow in their relationship with God and all God’s creation. Also, we claim them as our companions in this practice of the way of Jesus.

Having prayerfully considered the commitment they are about to make, they will affirm again their baptismal pledges. May we listen with love and support and may we be reminded of our promises made in baptism and membership.

(to the Candidate/s): You are no longer strangers or sojourners. You are equal citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus being the cornerstone. You are part of that holy temple, the body of Christ. You are built as a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

Questions of the Candidate:

Pastor: Do you desire to affirm your baptized into the faith and family of Jesus Christ?

Response: I do.

Pastor: Do you profess Jesus Christ as the one who governs your life, and the one who sets you free?

Response: I do.

Pastor: Do you promise, by the grace of God, to be Christ’s disciple, to follow in the way of Jesus, to resist oppression and evil, to show love and justice, and to witness to the work and word of Jesus Christ as best you are able?

Response: I promise, with the help of God.

Pastor: Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to grow in the Christian faith and to be a faithful participant in the community of Jesus Christ, celebrating Christ’s presence and furthering Christ’s vision of compassion and justice in all the world?

Response: I promise, with the help of God.

Address:

Pastor: By your baptism, you were made one with us in the body of Christ, the church. Today, we rejoice that your journey of faith has brought you to be with us in this time and place. We give thanks for every community of faith that has been your spiritual home and we celebrate your presence in this household of faith.

Question about Participation:

Pastor: Do you promise to participate in the life and mission of this family of God’s people, sharing regularly in the worship of God and enlisting in the work of this local church as it serves this community and the world.

Candidate/s: I promise, with the help of God.

Welcome and Reception:

Moderator: Let us, the members of the Veradale United Church of Christ, express our welcome and affirm our mutual ministry in Christ.

All: We welcome you with joy in the common life of this church. We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of this church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we continue to grow together in God’s knowledge and love and be witnesses of our risen Savior.

Greeting of Christian Love:

Moderator: In the name of Jesus Christ, and on behalf of the Veradale United Church of Christ, we extend our hearts in Christian love, welcoming you into the company of this local church.

Prayer:

All: O God, we praise you for calling us to faith and for gathering us into this church, the body of Christ. We thank you for your people gathered in this Veradale United Church of Christ and rejoice that you have increased our community of faith. Together may we live in the Spirit, building one another up in love, sharing in the life and worship of the church, and serving the world for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Listening for God

Acts 2:14a, 22-32 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

“Fellow Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having released him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

“Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne.Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’ “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.

John 20:19-31, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may continueto believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Message: Blessed are Believers who have not Seen

Silence

Announcements

Sending the Light out to the World

Hymn: “Bless Be the Tie that Binds” 393 (NCH)

Bless be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The sharing of a common life is like to that above.

Before our God we come and pour our ardent prayers. Our Fears our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.

We share each other’s woes, each other’s burdens bear, and often for each other flows a sympathizing tear.

When we are called to part it gives us inward pain, but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.

Benediction and Silent Meditation with Postlude

Palm/Passion Sunday Bulletin, April 2 2023

Palm/Passion Sunday

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!”

Sunday, April 2, 2023 • 10:30 a.m.

___________________________________

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Dian Smith: Candle Lighter and Scripture Reader

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Worship begins

God is with us . . all the time! All the time . . . God is with us!

GATHERING

(We gather on Zoom, Facebook, and in person. Those in the sanctuary, we will have a palm parade from the sanctuary out to the church sign and back. For those with us at a distance, find a branch (bay leaf branch if you have a tree), scarf, or other way to remember the crowd that cheered on Jesus.)

CALL TO WORSHIP

Pastor: Hosanna to the Son of David, the Sovereign of the World!

All: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

PROCLAMATION OF THE ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM

Matthew 21:1-11 read by Diane Smith

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.”4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,

Look, your king is coming to you,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

BLESSING OF THE PALMS

Pastor: God be with you.

All: And also with you.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to God Most High.

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Pastor: Let us pray.

All: Beloved Jesus, today we remember that you entered Jerusalem in peace and dignity, heralding a week of pain and sorrow. Be with us now as we follow. Remind us again that you have sealed the closeness of death and resurrection, of humiliation and exaltation. We thank you for these branches that become for us reflections of the past and visions of the future. Bless them and us that their use this day may announce in our time that Christ has come, Christ is here, and Christ will come again. Amen! Come, Christ Jesus!

PALMS DISTRIBUTED

Pastor: Let us welcome the Christ!

All: Let us receive Christ with Praise!

Processional Hymns:

Our God is an Awesome God,

Who reigns from heaven above;

With wisdom,pow’r, and love.

Our God is an Awesome God.

Once we get to the front door we sing:

“Hosana, Loud Hosanna” 213 (NCH)

Hosanna, loud hosanna the little children sang; through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang, to Jesus, who had blessed them,close folded to his breast, the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed mid a cheering crowd, the victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud. The one whom angels worship rode on in lowly state, and glad to see the children slowed down the donkey’s gate.

"Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song is ours, we hail the great Redeemer and sing with all our powers. “Hosanna, Christ, we praise you with heart and life and voice. Hosanna! In your presence forever we rejoice!

Silence

Call to Confession

One: Let us return to God.

Prayer of Confession

ALL: Holy One, we have travel through this season of Lent, opening up to your transforming love. We offer to you all that we have done and all that we have left undone. We return our life to your way of mercy and justice. We place before you the truth of ourselves. Set us free from our regrets. Let shame have no power over us. Help us begin anew. Help us to return to you. We ask following the way of Jesus. Amen

Silent Confessions with God

This is the last Sunday we bring rocks forward.

Assurance

One: God longs for our return and holds nothing agains us.

All: We thank God with humble hearts.

Community Prayer

Led by Jan Young

Prayers of Gratitude

Prayers of Concern

Silent 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 forever. Amen.

Solo Response: “Sing Amen” by Jan Young

Sing Amen. Amen, we praise your name, O, God

Sing Amen. Amen, we praise your name, O, God

Sing Amen. Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen,

we praise your name, O, God.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: “Give Thanks”

CCLI license #11038266

Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because God’s given Jesus Christ, the son. (Repeat) And now let the weak say, “I am strong!” Let the poor say, “ I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us!” (repeat)

Give thanks. Give thanks.

Dedication prayer

ALL: Holy One, you came to be among us to show us the way of life through compassion and justice and a heart open to the divine. Bless these offerings for the ministry of this congregation and to the needs of our neighbors at Spokane Valley Partners. May your vision of a just and compassionate world be known in us. Amen

Listening for God

Message to Young Hearts

Thinking about disappointments

Matthew 27:11-54

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?”14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Jesus Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

24 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 So he released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and after twisting some thorns into a crown they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

32 As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; 36 then they sat down there and kept watch over him. 37 Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

38 Then two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to, for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ” 44 The rebels who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Message: “Tortured for the Message”

Remembering through the sharing of Holy Communion

Choir: In an Upper Room

Sharing Holy Communion

Those at home have a little something to drink and eat.

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

Announcements

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

*Hymn: “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord” sung three times

Sing hallelujah to the Lord.

Sing hallelujah to the Lord.

Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah,

sing hallelujah to the Lord.

Benediction with Silent Prayer and Postlude

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Mar 26 2023

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 26, 2023• 10:30 a.m.

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, Usher and AV

Jerry Brines, Usher

Sue Ferrozzo, Candle Lighter

John Carroll, Scripture Reader

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Worship begins

God inspires us. . . all the time!

All the time . . . God inspires us!

Call to Confession

One: Seek God; call upon God; God is here. Trusting in the compassion and mercy of God, we pray:

Prayer of Confession

From the Presbyterian Church USA

Forgive us, God, for the many ways that we fail to trust your promise.

Too often we count the trespasses of others, as though we were the ones to judge. Too often we fail to believe that your gifts are freely given. Too often we spend our money for that which is not bread, and our labor for that which does not satisfy. Help us, loving God. Forgive us when we operate out of scarcity and fear rather than out of your abundant, good gifts. Help us to live as your trusting, sharing, reconciling people.

Silent Confessions with God

Assurance of Pardon

(from 2 Corinthians 5)

One: Beloved in Christ: God was in Christ reconciling the world, not counting our wrongs against us, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, anyone in Christ is a new creation! The past is gone; everything has become fresh and new. Hear and believe the good news of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

All: Thanks be to God! Amen

*Welcoming the Light

Hymn: “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” 472 (NCH)

Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light:

Refrain: Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near. When my life is almost gone. Hear my cry, hear my call. Hold my hand lest I fall:

Refrain

When the shadows appear and the night draws near, and the day is past and gone, at the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand:

Refrain

Community Prayer

Spoken Prayers of gratitude

Spoken Prayers of concern

A Community Prayer from Louise Tajuddin’s New Zealand Prayer Book: Holy One, holy and eternal, awesome, exciting and delightful in your holiness; make us pure in heart to see you; make us merciful to receive your kindness and to share our love with all your human family; then will your name be hallowed on Earth as in Heaven.

Support us, Lord, all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and evening comes, the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work done; then Lord, in your mercy, give us safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at last.

God our judge and our companion, we thank you for the good we did this day and for all that has given us joy. Everything we offer as our humble service. Bless those with whom we have worked, and those who are our 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 forever. 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

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

Give of light and love, pour out your Spirit on these offerings of our time, talent, and treasure. Multiply our giving that this little church may be an embassy of your realm of compassion and justice. We ask as we serve

Rite of Adult Baptism

Pastor: Michael James Weissenfels, do you desire to be baptized into the faith and family of Jesus Christ?

Michael: I do.

Pastor: Michael, As you stand here with your family and God parents, you stand in the loving presence of God. Surrounded in that love, do you renounce the powers of evil and desire the freedom of new life in Christ?

Michael: I do.

Pastor: Do you profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, accepting his teachings, example, and loving path to God as the practice for your life?

Michael: I do.

Pastor: Do you promise, by the grace of God, to be Christ’s disciple, to follow in the way of our Savior, to resist oppression and evil, to show love and justice, and to witness to the work and word of Jesus Christ as best you are able?

Michael: I promise, with the help of God.

Pastor: Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to grow in the Christian faith and to be a faithful member of the church of Jesus Christ, celebrating Christ’s presence and furthering Christ’s mission in all the world?

Michael: I promise, with the help of God.

Congregational Assent

All may be invited to stand as the congregation is asked to make promises.

Pastor: Jesus Christ calls us to make disciples of all nations and to offer them the gift of grace in baptism.

Do you, who witness and celebrate this sacrament, promise your love, support, and care to the one about to be baptized, as he lives and grows in Christ?

People of VUCC: We promise our love, support, and care.

Pastor: Let us unite with the church in all times and places in confessing our faith in the triune God.

Pastor: Do you believe in God?

People: I believe in God.

Pastor: Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

People: I believe in Jesus Christ.

Pastor: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

People: I believe in the Holy Spirit.

Prayer of Baptism

The congregation may be seated.

Pastor: Christ be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor Let us pray.

Pastor We thank you, God, for the gift of creation called forth by your saving Word. Before the world had shape and form…Glory to you, eternal God, the one who was, and is, and shall always be, world without end. Amen.

Act of Baptism

Prayer for the Baptized

Pastor We give you thanks, O Holy One, mother and father of all the faithful, for Michael and for the grace acknowledged here today in water and the Holy Spirit. Embrace us all as your children in the one household of your love. Grant us grace to receive, nurture, and befriend our new brother in Christ.

ALL: Give to Michael: strength for life’s journey, courage in time of suffering, the joy of faith, the freedom of love, and the hope of new life; through Jesus Christ, who makes us one. Amen.

Listening for God

Ezekiel 37:1-14 (NRSVUE)

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I had been commanded, and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”

Message: Can these Bones Live?

Silent Reflection

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

* Closing Hymn: “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” 286 (NCH)

Used with permission from Jim Manley

Refrain: Spirit, spirit of gentleness,blow through the wilderness, calling and free,Spirit, spirit of restlessness,stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;and over the eons you called to each thing;“Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.” Refrain:

You swept through the desert, you stung with the sandand you goaded your people with a law and a land;and when they were blinded with idols and lies,then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes. Refrain:

You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill,then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;and down in the city you called once again,when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind. Refrain:

You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes.From the bondage of sorrow all the captives dream dreams;our women see visions, our men clear their eyes.With bold new decisions your people arise. Refrain:

Benediction with Silent Reflection