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 28, 2024 • 10:30 a.m.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, AV
Joe McSwain, AV and Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Stephany Wallis, Scripture reader
Diane Smith, Candle lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Sue Ferrozzo, Fellowship Set-Up
Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up
Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor
10:30am 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.
Worship begins
God is One. . . all the time!
All the time . . . God is One!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
*Welcoming the Light of Christ
*Hymn: ““In the Midst of New Dimensions” 391 (NCH)
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.
Through the flood of starving people, warring factions and despair, who will lift the olive branches? Who will light the flame of care? [Refrain]
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]
Community Prayer
Response 769 (NCH) Hear our prayer, O God! Hear our prayer O God! Incline your ear to us and grant us your peace.
Prayers of Gratitude
Response 769
Prayers of Concern
Response 769
Silent Prayer
Response 769
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
*Offering Acclamation: Hymn: 108 (NCH) 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!
Dedication prayer: Just and Compassionate God, pour out your blessing upon all the time, talent, and treasure that we offer. May the abundance of your loving kindness be known through our witness in this time and place. Amen
Listening for God
Message to Young Hearts
For those who are kids and all those who were once kids: When you were little, what did you sense about God?
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge, but anyone who loves God is known by him.
Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists” and that “there is no God but one.” Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister for whom Christ died is destroyed. But when you thus sin against brothers and sisters and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never again eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
Mark 1:21-28 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Message: One God
Meditation in Music
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Closing Hymn: “*Hymn: “God Reigns o’er All the Earth” 21 (NCH)
God reigns o’er all the earth! Green hills and valley’s low, the farms and towns in golds and browns God’s grace and beauty show. God reigns o’er all the earth! Stone banks and spreading plains, in rainbow hues - reds, yellows, blues - of stream and country lanes.
God reigns o’er human life! Through youth and aging years, in death, in birth, in grief in mirth, in all our hopes and fears. God reigns o’er human life! Our inspiration still. Through all our schemes, in all our dreams, we see God’s reigning will.
God reigns o’er time and space! In history’s bygone days, Christ’s faithful folk in reverence spoke to bring God earnest praise. God reigns o’er time and space! O’er galaxy and sun, through timeless years the cosmos hears the heavenly music run.
God reigns! Emmanuel! God with us every day, in all our past and to the last, our comfort and our stay. God reigns! Emmanuel! Let praise to Christ be sung! God’s presence here makes all things dear. Let joyful bells be rung!
Benediction and Community Blessing
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion.
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