- Jan 11
- 7 min read
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 12, 2025 • 10:30 a.m.
_________________________
10:20am Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, AV and Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator
Heidi Fowler, Scripture reader
Diane Smith Candle lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
_______, Fellowship Set-Up
Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up
Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Entrance of the Light of Christ
Land Acknowledgement
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 welcomes us. . . all the time! All the time . . . God welcomes us!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
Next Sunday: MLK and Many Gifts
No, Bible Study, Monday at 7pm
Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am
String-A-Lings, Wednesday, 5:30pm;
Sing-A-Lings Wednesday, 6:30pm
Community giving this month: Venessa Behan Crisis Nursery
Women’s March/Rally Saturday, January 18 at 11 am, Red Wagon
MLK March, January 20, 10am at Spokane Convention center
Rosa Parks Birthday Party, Sunday, Feb 2, 1:30pm
Passing the Peace and Welcoming the Light Christ
Hymn: “Wade in the Water”
Refrain: Wade in the water, wade in the water, children, Wade in the water, God’s gonna trouble the water.
1 See that host all dressed in white, God’s gonna trouble the water. The leader looks like the Israelite, God’s gonna trouble the water. [Refrain]
2 See that band all dressed in red, God’s gonna trouble the water. Looks like the band that Moses led, God’s gonna trouble the water. [Refrain]
3 Look over yonder, what do I see? God’s gonna trouble the water. the Holy Ghost a comin' on me, God’s gonna trouble the water. [Refrain]
4 If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed, God’s gonna trouble the water. Just follow me down to Jordan’s stream, God’s gonna trouble the water. [Refrain]
Community Prayer
Ferry our prayers across the water, kindle our hopes a lighthouse flame. Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.
Prayers of Gratitude
Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.
Prayers of Concern
Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.
Prayers in Silence
Amazing grace is most amazing, praying for those we cannot name.
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 812 (NCH)
Amen. Amen. Amen.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Dedication “Come into His Presence”
Come into his presence with thanksgiving in your heart and give him praise, and give him praise.
Come into his presence with thanksgiving in your heart, your voices raise, your voices raise. Give glory and honor and power unto him, Jesus, the name above all names!
Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Beloved God, pour out your blessing and renew our lives. May these gifts of our time, talent, and treasure be multiplied and move us toward your vision of a justice and peace world. Amen
Listening for God
Message to Young Hearts
Why do we share baptism with children?
Scripture
From second Isaiah, the story of the captives in Babylon being set free — not just them but everyone whom God has created is set free and will come together to do what is just.
Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.Because you are precious in my sight and honored and I love you,I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you;I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold;bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
There was conflict among the followers of Jesus from the beginning. Jesus had been a follower of John and John had been great. How could the student overshadow the teacher… Well, tell the story of how the teacher lifts up the student.
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
(And)
Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Message: You are Mine, the Beloved.
Meditation in Music
Affirmation of Baptismal Pledges
Pastor: Members and friends in Christ, today we remember that Jesus was baptized. We remember how the early followers of Jesus joined together in community through the sacrament of baptism. We have shared in that old, old sacred practice and today, we remember and renew our unity in the affirmation of our baptism.
The sacrament of baptism is an outward and visible sign of the grace of God. Baptism is the sacrament through which we are united in Jesus Christ and given part in Christ’s ministry. In this ritual we practice the death to separation from God and a rising to new life in a loving, healing relationship with God. In baptism, God works in us the power of forgiveness, the renewal of the Spirit, and the knowledge of the call to be God’s people in our everyday lives.
Affirmation
Pastor: All who wish to affirm their baptism are invited to respond to the following questions and pledges. (You can stand or sit whichever is best for you)
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 Lord, the one who governs your life, and Savior, 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 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?
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.
Moment of silent reflection
Pastor: You have always been God’s beloved. Now, in the name of the God, known to us as the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, may you embrace that love. Amen”
Prayer
ALL: We give you thanks, O Holy One, for the renewal of our baptism celebrated today. We remember that this ancient practice joins us across all time and space with the ancestors of our faith. We affirm our dedication to the spiritual practice of following the way of Jesus. Embrace us all as sons and daughters in the one household of your love. Grant us grace to receive, nurture, and befriend our sisters and brothers and all the world you love.
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Hymn: “I am the Light of the World” 584 (NCH)
Refrain: I am the Light of the World You people come and follow me. If you follow and love, You'll learn the mystery of what you were meant to do and be.1. When the song of the angels is stilled. When the star in the sky is gone. When the sages and the shepherds have found their way home, the work of Christmas is begun! Refrain2. To find the lost and lonely one, to heal that broken soul with love, to feed the hungry children with warmth and good food, to feel the earth below the sky above! Refrain3. To free the prisoner from his chains, to make the powerful care, to rebuild the nations with strength of goodwill, see all God’s children everywhere! Refrain4. To bring hope to every task you do, to dance at a baby's new birth, to make music in an old person’s heart, and sing to the colors of the earth! Refrain
Benediction and Community Blessing
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion.
