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 8, 2024
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator
Joe McSwain, Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Kelly Cuilla, Scripture Reader
Mike Weissenfels, Candle lighter
________, Fellowship Set-up
Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor
Naomi Hanvey, Worship Leader
10:30am Worship begins
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 is with us ...all the time! All the time...God is with us!
Service and Fellowship Opportunities
Next Sunday is Mark 8:27-38, Even Jesus Suffers
Bible Study is at Tom and Kelly’s home on Monday
Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am
String-A-Lings practice Wednesday at 5:30pm
Community giving next month: N-Sid-Sen
Welcoming the Light of Christ
Hymn: Seek Ye First
Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness; And all these things shall be added unto you. Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Ask, and it shall be given unto you; Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Hallelu, Hallelujah!
We shall not live by bread alone, But by every word That proceeds out from the mouth of God. Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Community Prayer
Hymn: “Grace Alone” v1
Ev’ry promise we can make, ev’ry prayer and step pf faith, ev’ry difference we can make is only by God’s grace. Ev’ry mountain we will climb, ev’ry ray of hope we shine, ev’ry blessing left behind is only by God’s grace.
Grace alone which God supplies strength unknown God will provide; Christ in us, our Cornerstone, we will go forth in grace alone.
Prayers of Gratitude
Refrain
Prayers of Concern
Refrain
Silent Prayer
Refrain
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: Sing Amen(Sing Amen) Amen, we praise your name, O, God (Sing Amen) Amen, we praise your name, O, God (Sing Amen) Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, we praise your name, O, God
Re-Covenanting with God and One Another
Pastor: As we gather virtually and in person, we bring ourselves into the presence of the one God. Here we live out our mission of Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – Working for Justice & Peace. Today, we renew our journey on the spiritual path with the Divine. We commit our lives to a discipline of worship, prayer, learning, exploring, and developing our spiritual life and practice. We commit ourselves to opening our heart, souls, and minds to develop a deeper relationship with the Divine in community worship, acts of faith, study, and prayer.
Questions for Re-Covenanting
Pastor: Friends and members of the Veradale United Church of Christ, will you renew your relationship with God and one another to be yourself, grow in Christ, and live with compassion.
All: We will.
Pastor: Will you be part of this community, sharing in worship, study, prayer, and the missional activities as the Spirit gives you guidance and your abilities allow?
All: We will.
Pastor: Let us pray:
Re-Covenanting
All: Creator God, we renew our devotion to the spiritual path. We seek a deeper relationship with you and with one another. We promise as best as we are able to share in the worship, study, prayer, and missional activities of this community. We promise to be here with you and this congregation so that we may become one as you are one. Hear us, we pray. Amen
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Dedication: Come into His Presence
CCLI license #11038266
Come into his presence with thanksgiving in your heart and give him praise and give him praise.
Come into his presence with thanksgiving in your heart, your voices raise, your voices raise. Give glory and honor and power unto him, Jesus, the name above all names!
Dedication Prayer
Loving and Just God, we offer these gifts of time, talent, and treasure for the work and witness of this congregation. Bless all that we give that the love and hope may be known through us. We ask as we follow the way of Jesus. Amen
Listening for God
Mark 7:24-37 24 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Sir even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And when she went home, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went by way of Sidon toward the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
Message: Jesus Heals
Meditation in Music
Announcement Reminder
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Closing Hymn: “Bless Be the Tie that Binds” 393 (NCH)
Public Domain
Bless be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The sharing of a common life is like to that above.
Before our God we come and pour our ardent prayers. Our Fears our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.
We share each other’s woes, each other’s burdens bear, and often for each other flows a sympathizing tear.
When we are called to part it gives us inward pain, but we shall still be joined in heart and hope to meet again.
Benediction
Communal Blessing
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion
Comments