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!”
September 25, 2022 • 10:30am
10:20am Gathering & Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director • Charlie Salt, AV • Naomi Hanvey, Facebook Monitor • Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Diane Smith, Acolyte • Sue Ferrozzo, Scripture Reader
10:30am Worship begins
God is in the midst of us . . . all the time!
All the time . . . God is in the midst of us!
Passing the Peace and Welcoming the Light Christ
Hymn: “Come and Find the Quiet Center”
CCLI license #11038266
Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.
Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, touches base,
making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.
In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other’s pain,
let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:
there’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare!
The Community at Prayer
Sharing Prayers of Gratitude & Celebration
All: Enter our hearts, enter our hearts, O Spirit of pow’r and love. May we proclaim your holy name. O Spirit, enter our hearts.
39 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266
Sharing Prayers of Concern
All: Enter our lives, enter our lives, O Spirit of pow’r and love. May we fulfill your holy will. O Spirit, enter our lives.
39 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266
Sharing Prayers Which Take Us Beyond Words Into Silence
All: Enter our world, enter our world, O Spirit of pow’r and love. In us increase your holy peace. O Spirit, enter our world.
39 (Sing!) CCLI license #11038266
The Lord’s Prayer
(in the spirit of diversity, you are invited to use the words most familiar to you)
Response: “Four-fold Amen”
813 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Dedication Hymn: “a Doxology”
CCLI license #11038266
Praise God for visions great and small. Praise God who calls us one and all.
Praise God whose Spirit gives new sight. Praise God who fills our lives with light. Amen.
Dedication Prayer
All: O God of Life, in every moment you are with us.
With every breath we take you bless us.
Help us to notice.
Empower us to respond by reaching out beyond ourselves to share love with the world. Amen.
Listening for God
Scripture
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24: 13-32)
Pastoral Reflection: Finding God in the Common Places
Silence for Reflection
Announcements
We Carry God’s Light Into the World God Loves
Hymn: “For the Beauty of the Earth”
Page (hymnal) CCLI license #11038266
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth over and among us lies.
Source of All, to thee we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.
For the beauty of each hour, of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light.
Source of All, to thee we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.
For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight.
Source of All, to thee we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild.
Source of All, to thee we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.
Blessing for Departing
Closing Song: “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”
82 (NCH) CCLI license #11038266
Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.
Postlude
You are invited to spend a few minutes in quiet reflection& allow the music to wash over you.
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