Sunday Worship Bulletin, Oct 9 2022

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 9, 2022 • 10:30am

10:20am Gathering & Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director • Charlie Salt, AV • Naomi Hanvey, Facebook Monitor • Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Diane Smith, Acolyte • Scotty Patton, Scripture Reader

10:30am Worship begins

God calls us to be the Church . . . all the time!

All the time . . . God calls us to be the Church!

Passing the Peace and Welcoming the Light Christ

Hymn: “Renew Your Church”

311 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266

Renew your church, its ministries restore: both to serve and adore. Make us again as salt throughout the land, and as light from a stand. ’Mid somber shadows of the night, where greed and hatreds spread their blight, O send us forth with power endued. Help us, God, be renewed.

Teach us to pray, for you are ever near, your still voice let us hear. Our souls are restless till they rest in you, this the goal we pursue. Before your presence keep us still that we may find for us your will, and seek your guidance every day. Teach us, God, how to pray.

Teach us to love, with strength of heart and mind, each and all, humankind. Break down old walls of prejudice and hate, leave us not to our fate. As you have loved and given your life to end hostility and strife, your grace we must be mindful of. Teach us, God, how to love.

The Community at Prayer

Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration

All: Weave, weave, weave us together. Weave us together in unity and love.

Weave, weave, weave us together. Weave us together, together in love.

CCLI license #11038266

Sharing Prayers of Concern

All: Weave, weave, weave us together. Weave us together in unity and love.

Weave, weave, weave us together. Weave us together, together in love.

CCLI license #11038266

Sharing Prayers Which Take Us Beyond Words Into Silence

All: Weave, weave, weave us together. Weave us together in unity and love.

Weave, weave, weave us together. Weave us together, together in love.

CCLI license #11038266

The Lord’s Prayer

(in the spirit of diversity, you are invited to use the words most familiar to you)

Response: “Four-fold Amen”

813 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: “A Doxology”

Praise God for love in all its forms. Love sees us through both calm and storms.

God’s love is meant for us to share. May we, in love, reach out with care. Amen.

Dedication Prayer

All: O God of abundant blessings, help us to remember that we have been given much,

and are called to respond with gratitude and generosity.

Inspire us to share our gifts freely so that others might experience your love in tangible ways. Amen.

Listening for God

Scripture

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14: 1-3)

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” . . . But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2: 2-6 & 9-10)

Pastoral Reflection: A House of Living Stone

Silence for Reflection

Announcements

We Carry God’s Light Into the World God Loves

Hymn: “They’ll Know We Are Christians”

CCLI license #11038266

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

(chorus) And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand; We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand; And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. (chorus)

We will work with each other, we will work side by side; We will work with each other, we will work side by side; And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride. (chorus)

Blessing for Departing

Closing Song: “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing”

76 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266

Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from this place take our leave.

The service is ended, O now be extended the fruits of our worship in all who believe.

The seed of the teaching, receptive hearts reaching, shall blossom in action, for God and for all.

God’s grace did invite us, and love shall unite us to work for God’s realm and to answer the call.

Postlude

You are invited to spend a few minutes in quiet reflection & allow the music to wash over you.

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Oct 2 2022

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 2, 2022 • 10:30am

10:20am Gathering & Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director • Charlie Salt, AV • Naomi Hanvey, Facebook Monitor • Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Diane Smith, Acolyte • Glen Scott, Scripture Reader

10:30am Worship begins

God calls us to abundant life . . . all the time!

All the time . . . God calls us to abundant life!

Passing the Peace and Welcoming the Light Christ

Hymn: “In the Midst of New Dimensions”

391 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266

In the midst of new dimensions, in the face of changing ways.

Who will lead the pilgrim peoples wandering in their separate ways?

(Refrain) God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar,

We your people, ours the journey now and ever, now and ever, now and ever more.

As we stand a world divided by our own self-seeking schemes,

Grant that we, your global village, might envision wider dreams. (Refrain)

We are man and we are woman, all persuasions, old and young,

Each a gift in your creation, each a love song to be sung. (Refrain)

Should the threats of dire predictions cause us to withdraw in pain,

May your blazing phoenix spirit, resurrect the church again. (Refrain)

Blessing the Animals

(see attached page)

The Community at Prayer

Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration

All: Gather us, O God, body, spirit, soul, and mind.

Gather us, O God, one in union now with you.

45 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266

Sharing Prayers of Concern

All: Gather us, O God, body, spirit, soul, and mind.

Gather us, O God, one in union now with you.

45 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266

Sharing Prayers Which Take Us Beyond Words Into Silence

All: Gather us, O God, body, spirit, soul, and mind.

Gather us, O God, one in union now with you.

45 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266

The Lord’s Prayer

(in the spirit of diversity, you are invited to use the words most familiar to you)

Response: “Four-fold Amen”

813 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266

A Time of Communion

An Invitation to the Table

All who hunger & thirst for God are welcome at Christ’s table.

God’s People Receive the Gifts of God’s Grace

Individual communion packs are available on the table at the back of the sanctuary.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

All: O God of Eternal Abundance, you call us to a full, rich, and abundant life. You feed and nourish us for that life. And you walk with us in every moment along the way. We receive your gifts with deep gratitude, and open ourselves to ongoing presence. Amen.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: “A Doxology”

Praise God who gives us hearts to care. Praise God who gives us gifts to share.

Praise God for helping us to give, so others in the world might live. Amen.

Dedication Prayer

All: O God of Overwhelming Abundance, through our giving and our living we want to participate in sharing your love with this world. Guide our choices and our actions as we continue learning to let you shine in us and through us. Amen.

Listening for God

Scripture

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10: 1-10)

Pastoral Reflection: “Abundant Life – a Test”

Silence for Reflection

Announcements

We Carry God’s Light Into the World God Loves

Hymn: “Restless Weaver”

CCLI license #11038266

Restless Weaver, ever spinning threads of justice and shalom.

Dreaming patterns of creation where all creatures find a home.

Gathering up life’s varied fibers - every texture, every hue.

Grant us your creative vision. With us weave your world anew.

Where earth’s fragile web is raveling, help us mend each broken strand.

Bless our urgent, bold endeavors, cleansing water, air, and land.

Through the Spirit’s inspiration - offering health where once was pain

strengthen us to be the stewards of your world knit whole again.

Restless Weaver, still conceiving new life - now and yet to be.

Binding all your vast creation in one living tapestry.

You have called us to be weavers. Let your love guide all we do.

With your Reign of Peace our pattern, we will weave your world anew.

Blessing for Departing

Closing Song: “Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary” (sing 2X)

187 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true.

And with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.

Postlude

You are invited to spend a few minutes in quiet reflection& allow the music to wash over you.

Blessing of the Animals

Veradale United Church of Christ

October 2, 2022

(from Rev. Deborah Streeter)

Whether you have fingers & toes or paws & claws or feathers or fins or talons or hooves, you are welcome here.

May you find this time to be holy & this space to be sacred.

Since the earliest of days, humankind has relied on the other creatures of the earth for survival.

Today we gather here with those creatures who bring us delight for our days & comfort for our nights.

We come to give thanks, not only for the animals in our own homes, but for all of God’s creatures.

We ask God to guide us & grant us wisdom as we seek to provide for each of them safe habitat & good lives.

A Litany of Welcome (responsively)

We welcome all our brothers and sisters.

We enter into this circle of diversity,

Celebrating the ways that we upright walking two-legged wanderers share

With the four-leggeds lounging, lunging and leaping among us,

With winged warblers, with slithering, sliding snaky beings,

With circling cavorters in a watery world, and with those who carry their house on their backs.

We look so different, moving according to the way we were made.

Yet look at us here in this circle, we are part of one family sharing one planet.

May our celebration bring us into a deeper relationship with the diverse beings in the interdependent web of all life,

Remembering we all have common needs for safety, care and respect.

Welcome to all our brothers and sisters gathered here today.

(written by Susan Karlson, uua.org)

Song “All Things Bright and Beautiful”

31 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, in love God made them all.

Scripture

From the most ancient of days, our ancestors knew that all living beings are connected to our creator. Hear these words from the Book of Job.

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you: ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of God has done this? In God’s hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.” (Job 12: 7-10)

Remembering Those Who Have Left Us

It is a difficult thing to lose a loved one, whether that being is human or animal. As we pause, now, to remember those pets who have left this world, we give thanks for the ways they graced our lives with their love and faithfulness. As we light a candle in remembrance, you are invited to speak the name(s) of your beloved pets and whisper a prayer of thanksgiving.

Introductions

You are invited to introduce yourself and your pet(s).

A Blessing of Our Pets (responsively)

For the blessing we receive from our animal companions we give thanks.

For the beautiful ones, those whose fur is silky and whose tails are long; whose feathers are brilliant or whose voices are splendid we give thanks.

For the frantic ones, the runts and the hungry, who run for a food bowl or a pat as though this is life’s last possible gift, we give thanks.

For the obnoxious ones, the heads that butt against us as we’re trying to sleep; the bodies that refuse to learn discretion as they make digestive gifts we give thanks.

For those who bark and purr and growl and mew, for all who squeak or squawk or snarl or hiss, we give thanks.

For the animals unknown to us, those whose niche in life’s web is fragile; whose lives are insecure; for all who care for them and wish them well, we give thanks.

Blessed are the animals.

Blessed are the creatures who live with us and need our care.

Blessed are the mammals and the reptiles and the birds who teach us we are not alone.

Blessed are all living things from whom we learn to love. Amen.

(written by Rev. Maureen Killoran, uua.org)

Song “All Things Bright and Beautiful”

31 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, in love God made them all.

Sunday Worship Bulletin Sep 25, 2022

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!”

September 25, 2022 • 10:30am

10:20am Gathering & Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director • Charlie Salt, AV • Naomi Hanvey, Facebook Monitor • Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Diane Smith, Acolyte • Sue Ferrozzo, Scripture Reader

10:30am Worship begins

God is in the midst of us . . . all the time!

All the time . . . God is in the midst of us!

Passing the Peace and Welcoming the Light Christ

Hymn: “Come and Find the Quiet Center”

CCLI license #11038266

Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead,

find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:

clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes, that we can see

all the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace,

God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, touches base,

making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,

raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other’s pain,

let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:

there’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,

in the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare!

The Community at Prayer

Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration

All: Enter our hearts, enter our hearts, O Spirit of pow’r and love. May we proclaim your holy name. O Spirit, enter our hearts.

39 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266

Sharing Prayers of Concern

All: Enter our lives, enter our lives, O Spirit of pow’r and love. May we fulfill your holy will. O Spirit, enter our lives.

39 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266

Sharing Prayers Which Take Us Beyond Words Into Silence

All: Enter our world, enter our world, O Spirit of pow’r and love. In us increase your holy peace. O Spirit, enter our world.

39 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266

The Lord’s Prayer

(in the spirit of diversity, you are invited to use the words most familiar to you)

Response: “Four-fold Amen”

813 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: “a Doxology”

CCLI license #11038266

Praise God for visions great and small. Praise God who calls us one and all.

Praise God whose Spirit gives new sight. Praise God who fills our lives with light. Amen.

Dedication Prayer

All: O God of Life, in every moment you are with us.

With every breath we take you bless us.

Help us to notice.

Empower us to respond by reaching out beyond ourselves to share love with the world. Amen.

Listening for God

Scripture

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24: 13-32)

Pastoral Reflection: Finding God in the Common Places

Silence for Reflection

Announcements

We Carry God’s Light Into the World God Loves

Hymn: “For the Beauty of the Earth”

Page (hymnal) CCLI license #11038266

For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth over and among us lies.

Source of All, to thee we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour, of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light.

Source of All, to thee we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight,

For the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight.

Source of All, to thee we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild.

Source of All, to thee we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.

Blessing for Departing

Closing Song: “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”

82 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266

Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.

Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.

In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever.

Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.

Postlude

You are invited to spend a few minutes in quiet reflection& allow the music to wash over you.