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 28, 2022 • 10:30am
10:20am Gathering & Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, Acolyte & AV
Naomi Hanvey, Facebook Monitor
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
10:30am Worship begins
God offers us new beginnings . . . all the time!
All the time . . . God offers us new beginnings!
Passing the Peace and Welcoming the Light Christ
Hymn: “Here I Am, Lord”
CCLI license #11038266
I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deep despair My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? (refrain)
(refrain) Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them. They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone. Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them. Whom shall I send? (refrain)
I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them. My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide, ’til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? (refrain)
The Community at Prayer
Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration
All: Floating & flaming & filling new life. Hov’ring & healing & helping with sighs.
Spirit at work since the dawning of time; meet us right here, touch us right now.
Meet us right here, touch us right now.
CCLI license #11038266
Sharing Prayers of Concern
All: Floating & flaming & filling new life. Hov’ring & healing & helping with sighs.
Spirit at work since the dawning of time; meet us right here, touch us right now.
Meet us right here, touch us right now.
CCLI license #11038266
Sharing Prayers Which Take Us Beyond Words Into Silence
All: Floating & flaming & filling new life. Hov’ring & healing & helping with sighs.
Spirit at work since the dawning of time; meet us right here, touch us right now.
Meet us right here, touch us right now.
CCLI license #11038266
The Lord’s Prayer
(in the spirit of diversity, you are invited to use the words most familiar to you)
Response: Amen. Amen. Amen. 812 (NCH)
CCLI license #11038266
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Dedication Hymn: “A Doxology”
Praise God who calls us on from here. Praise Christ whose presence calms our fear.
Praise Holy Spirit in our lives. God calls, and leads, and through us thrives. Amen.
Dedication Prayer
O God of New Beginnings, you meet us where we are, you call us beyond where we think we can go, and you invite us to share our blessings with the world. Expand our awareness and inspire our generosity so that we might become more fully who you already know us to be. May your love shine in us and through us, lighting our way forward. Amen.
Listening for God
Scripture
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1: 1-5)
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1: 4-11)
Pastoral Reflection: The God of New Beginnings
Silence
Announcements
We Carry God’s Light Into the World God Loves
Hymn: “Dance into Joy” 205 (Sing!)
CCLI license #11038266
(refrain) So dance into joy with hands upraised. Greet each new day as the holiest of days,
and to your God sing great songs of praise. To your God sing praise!
Share from your path some strand of light. Bring all the shades, both dark and light.
Weaving together makes us all one. Stories of hope have just begun. (refrain)
Reds from your passion and from your fear. Rainbows shine through ev’ry tear.
Tender green shoots that bloom ev’ry Spring growing in love with each song we bring. (refrain)
Through the deep blues now are revealed old hidden wounds soon to be healed.
On bold purples of dawn serene float the myst’ries yet unseen. (refrain)
Weave now each one this web of light surrounding our world both day and night
with healing love and inner peace. Joining together, joy will increase. (refrain)
Blessing for Departing
Closing Song: “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 their separate ways?
God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar,
we your people, ours the journey, now & ever, now & ever, now & evermore.
Postlude
You are invited to spend a few minutes in quiet reflection& allow the music to wash over you.
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