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!”
May 22, 2022 • 10:30 a.m.
Assistive listening devices are available. Please contact an usher if you would like to use one.
Thank you for turning cellphones completely OFF prior to worship – they interfere with our sound system.
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, Acolyte and AV
Naomi Hanvey Facebook Monitor
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Worship begins
God inspires. . . all the time! All the time . . . God inspires!
Passing of Peace and Welcoming the Light of Christ:
(Imagine creating the best place for everyone…. What is that place?)
Hymn: “We Sing the Mighty Power of God” 12 (NCH)
Public domain (note: an older version uses “we” where our hymnal uses “I”)
1 We sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise, that spread the flowing seas abroad and built the lofty skies. We sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; the moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.
2 We sing the goodness of our God that filled the earth with food; God formed the creatures with the word and then pronounced them good. Oh, how your wonders are displayed, where'er we turn our eyes, if we survey the ground we tread or gaze upon the skies.
3 On Earth there’s not a plant or flower but makes your glories known. The clouds arise and spread their showers by order from your throne; All life is but a gift from you and ever in your care: Wherever people gather, you, O God, are present there.
Community Prayer
CCLI license #11038266
ALL: My peace I give to you. It’s a peace that the world cannot give. It’s a peace that the world cannot understand. Peace to know. Peace to live. My peace I give unto you.
Prayers of Gratitude
ALL: My peace I give to you. It’s a peace that the world cannot give. It’s a peace that the world cannot understand. Peace to know. Peace to live. My peace I give unto you.
Prayers of Concern
ALL: My peace I give to you. It’s a peace that the world cannot give. It’s a peace that the world cannot understand. Peace to know. Peace to live. My peace I give unto you.
Silent Prayer
ALL: My peace I give to you. It’s a peace that the world cannot give. It’s a peace that the world cannot understand. Peace to know. Peace to live. My peace I give unto you.
The Lord’s Prayer
Response 812 (NCH)
Amen, amen, amen.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Dedication Hymn: What Does the Lord Require
CCLI license #11038266
1. What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you?
2. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.
3. To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Dedication Prayer
Infinite Source of All, we make this offering to the work of this community gathered in love, reflection, and service. May all that we are and all that we do be found pleasing in your sight. Amen
Listening for God
Message with Young Hearts
Imagine creating the best place for everyone…. What is that place?
Responsive Reading based on Kent M. Keith’s poem
written in 1968 when he was 19 years old. In 1997, he learned that his poem "The Paradoxical Commandments" hung on the wall of Mother Theresa’s childhood home. This is based the version said to have been shared by Mother Theresa.
One: People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
All: Forgive them anyway. One: If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
All: Be kind anyway. One: If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
All: Succeed anyway. One: If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
All: Be honest and sincere anyway. One: What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
All: Create anyway. One: If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
All: Be happy anyway. One: The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
All: Do good anyway. One: Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
All: Give your best anyway. One: In the final analysis,
ALL: it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
Revelation 21:10, 22-27 and 22:1-5 NRSV
10 And in the spirit God carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 Nothing accursed will be found there anymore. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
John 5:1-9
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew[ Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. 3 In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people.[ 5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The ill man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am making my way someone else steps down ahead of me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a Sabbath.
Message: Got Peace
Silence
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Hymn: “I've Got Peace Like a River” 478 (NCH) Public Domain
I've got peace like a river. I've got peace like a river. I've got peace like a river in my soul, (Repeat)
I've got joy like a fountain. I've got joy like a fountain. I've got joy like a fountain in my soul. (Repeat)
I've got love like an ocean. I've got love like an ocean. I've got love like an ocean in my soul (Repeat)
I've got faith like an anchor. I've got faith like an anchor. I've got faith like an anchor in my soul (Repeat)
Benediction and Hallelujah 236 (NCH)
Postlude
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