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!”
August 25, 2024
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator
Joe McSwain, Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Cherall-Anne St. James, Scripture Reader
Diane Smith, Candle lighter
________, Fellowship Set-up
Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am 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 is with us ...all the time! All the time...God is with us!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
Next Sunday: The Book of the Revelation to John Part 2
Bible Study Returns Soon!
Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am
String-A-Lings practice Wednesday, 5:30pm
Community giving next month: N-Sid-Sen
Welcoming the Light of Christ
Hymn: Crown with Your Richest Crowns 301(NCH) verses 1, 2, & 3
Crown with your riches crowns the Lamb upon the throne; Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing of Christ who died for you, and to your risen Savior bring, your thanks for life made new.
Crown Christ whose love has flowed down hands and feet and side. Look past the peak of Calvary’s road to Christ the glorified. The sun that lights the sky is pale before that sight. At prayer we glimpse then turn the eye from mysteries so bright.
Crown Christ the truth, the life who triumphed o’er the grave and rose victorious in the strife, this fallen world to save. Christ’s glories now we sing, Christ’s name we magnify, who died eternal life to bring, and life that death may die.
Community Prayer
In moments like these, I sing out a song. I sing out a love song to Jesus. In moments like these, I lift up my hands, I lift up may hands to the Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. Singing I love you, Lord. I love you.
Prayers of Gratitude
Refrain
Prayers of Concern
Refrain
Silent Prayer
Refrain
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: Amen, amen, amen.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Dedication Hymn
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All your works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty. God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Dedication Prayer
Holy One, in the midst of struggle, let us be a witness to your presence and peace. Bless our offerings of time, talent, and treasure that this little church may thrive. Bless our giving to the community, that you love may be known. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen
Listening for God
Revelation 5
Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed[a] with seven seals, 2 and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. 8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They sing a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to break its seals,for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from[b] every tribe and language and people and nation;10 you have made them a kingdom and priests serving[c] our God, and they will reign[d] on earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughteredto receive power and wealth and wisdom and mightand honor and glory and blessing!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, singing,
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lambbe blessing and honor and glory and mightforever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Footnotes
a. 5.1 Or written on the inside and sealed on the back
b. 5.9 Gk ransomed for God from
c. 5.10 Gk priests to
d. 5.10 Other ancient authorities read they reign
Revelation 7:9-17
9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!”
11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdomand thanksgiving and honorand power and mightbe to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 For this reason they are before the throne of God and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.16 They will hunger no more and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat,17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Message: Lambikins
Meditation in Music
Announcement Reminder
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Closing Hymn: For All the Saints 299 (NCH)
For all the saints who from their labors rest, who to the world their steadfast faith confessed, your name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia, alleluia!
You were their rock, their refuge, and their might: you, Christ, the hope that put their fears to flight; ’mid gloom and doubt, you were their one true light. Alleluia, alleluia!
Still may your people, faithful, true, and bold, live as the saints who nobly fought of old, and share with them a glorious crown of gold. Alleluia, alleluia!
Ringed by this cloud of witnesses divine, we feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet in your love our faithful lives entwine. Alleluia, alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, steals on the ear the distant triumph song; then hearts are brave again and faith grows strong. Alleluia, alleluia
Benediction
Communal Blessing
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion
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