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!”
First Sunday of Advent December 8, 2024 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Gregg Glisson, Usher
Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator
Diane Smith, Scripture reader
Cherall-Anne St. James, Candle lighter
_____, Fellowship Set-Up
Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor
Naomi Hanvey, Message
10:30am Worship begins
Entrance of Light
Cherall-Anne re-lights the candle of Hope.
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’s justice brings peace. . . all the time!
All the time . . . God’s justice brings peace!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
Next Sunday: Advent 3 Joy! Poetry Sunday
No Bible Study tomorrow
Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am
String-A-Lings, Wednesday, 5:30pm
Sing-A-Lings Wednesday, 6:30pm
Bling-A-Lings, and Ding-A-Lings
Community giving this month: Birthday Kits
Opening Hymn
*Hymn: “Come O Long-Expected Jesus” 122 (NCH)
1. Come, O long-expected Jesus, born to set all people free; From our fears and sins release us; grant us your true liberty.
2. Israel's strength and consolation, hope to all the earth impart; Dear desire of every nation, enter every longing heart.
3. Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again.
4. By your own eternal Spirit, come to claim us as your own; By your all-sufficient merit, let us share your cross and crown.
Lighting of the Candle of Peace
Sue: “They shall not hurt or destroy on all God’s holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:1
Message from Sue
Prayer at the lighting of the candle of Peace:
All: Holy one, we light this candle asking that all may be filled with the knowledge of you. May all seek the to live justly with one another that peace may prevail. Amen
Hymn after the lighting of the Advent candle: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” 116 (NCH) verses 1, 2, 4, and 7
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Child of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
2. O come, O Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh; To us the path of knowledge show, and help us in that way to go. Refrain
4. O come, O shoot of Jesse, free your own from Satan's tyranny, From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain
7. O come, Desire of Nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; Make envy, strife, and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with heaven's peace. Refrain
Community Prayer
“In our Prayers” 125 (Sing) In our prayers, in our hearts, in our prayers, in our hearts, God in your grace, hear our prayers, God in your grace, O God, hear our prayers.
Prayers of Gratitude
“In our Prayers”
Prayers of Concern
“In our Prayers”
Silent Prayer
“In our Prayers”
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: 161 (NCH) refrain only
A-men. A-men. A-men. A-men.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Offering Acclamation Hymn # 132 (NCH)v. 3
Christ rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of God’s righteousness and wonders of God’s love, and wonders of God’s love, and wonders, wonders of God’s love.
Dedication prayer:
Holy One, we are thankful that you come to us in the cold nights of this season. As we give these offerings of our time. talent, and treasure, pour out the healing of hope and peace that we may be your light in the world today. Amen.
Listening for God
Isaiah 6:1-9 NRSVUE
1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear,4 but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth;he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
6 The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid;the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them.7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain,for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Luke 1:67-79 NRSVUE
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his child David,70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors and has remembered his holy covenant,73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,77 to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,79 to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Message: Peace on Earth
Naomi Hanvey
Meditation in Music
Bell Choir
Reminder about Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Closing Hymn: “Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old” 108 (NCH)
1. Isaiah the prophet has written of old how God's new creation shall come. Instead of the thorn tree, the fir tree shall grow; the wolf shall lie down with the lamb, the lamb, the wolf shall lie down with the lamb.
2. The mountains and hills shall break forth into song, the peoples be led forth in peace; The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea, the sea, as the waters cover the sea.
3. Yet nations still prey on the meek of the world, and conflict turns parent from child. Your people despoil all the sweetness of earth; the brier and the thorn tree grow wild, grow wild, the brier and the thorn tree grow wild.
4. God, bring to fruition your will for the earth, that no one shall hurt or destroy, That wisdom and justice shall reign in the land and your people shall go forth in joy, in joy, your people shall go forth in joy.
Benediction
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion.
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