Happy New Year!
Zoom Worship, January 3, 2021 (what happiness to type in 2021!) at 10:30am
Click on this link
Meeting ID: 985 8122 3201
Passcode: 112233
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+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
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NO IN-PERSON WORSHIP
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 3, 2021 • 10:30 a.m.
Wayne Shull, Music Director
Charlie Salt, Acolyte and AV
Naomi Hanvey Facebook Monitor
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
10:30am Worship begins:
God is good . . . all the time! All the time . . . God is good!
Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light Christ
Hymn: “We Three Kings”
Public Domain
1. We three kings of Orient are bearing gifts we traverse afar field and fountain, moor and mountain following yonder star: O Star of wonder, star of night star with royal beauty bright westward leading, still proceeding guide us to thy Perfect Light
2. Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain. Gold I bring to crown Him again. King forever, ceasing never over us all to rein: O Star of wonder, star of night star with royal beauty bright westward leading, still proceeding guide us to thy Perfect Light
3. Frankincense to offer have I. Incense owns a Deity nigh; pray’r and praising, all men raising worship Him, God most high: O Star of wonder, star of night star with royal beauty bright westward leading, still proceeding guide us to thy Perfect Light
4. Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume breathes of life of gathering gloom. Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying sealed in the stone-cold tomb: O Star of wonder, star of night star with royal beauty bright westward leading, still proceeding guide us to thy Perfect Light
5. Glorious now behold Him arise. King and God and Sacrifice. “Alleluia, Alleluia,” Earth to heav’n replies: O Star of wonder, star of night star with royal beauty bright westward leading, still proceeding guide us to thy Perfect Light
Community Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Silent Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Response: Amen, amen, amen
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
*Dedication 780 (NCH)
Praise God from whom all blessing flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above, you heavenly hosts: Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
Dedication: “God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen“ 122 (Pilgrim Hymnal) v. 4
Public Domain
Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place, and with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace.This holy tide of Christmas doth bring redeeming grace. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Holy One, shine your light upon these gifts and offerings. We ask a special blessing on the baby things that we have brought. May they bring warmth and comfort to the families they reach. In this small act may we fulfill your vision for our lives, our world, and this your church. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Listening for God
Message to Young Hearts
Matthew 2:1-12 from The Message translation
2 1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
3-4 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5-6 They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land,
no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.
7-8 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”
9-10 Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
12 In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.
Message: “Whoa, God with us”
Silence
Sharing Holy Communion
Pastor: Friends in Christ, we gather at this table mindful of the presence of your Spirit that is here with us. We seek to honor the request of Jesus given in the scripture. Of all the teachings Jesus gave to our ancestors, this is one thing he asked them and us to do for him. He asked us to remember.
When Jesus and his friends sat together at a Passover meal, Jesus took bread; giving God thanks and praise, he broke the bread. He gave it to his friends saying, “Take this all of you and eat of it. This is my body that is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
After the meal had ended, Jesus poured out the cup and again he gave God thanks and praise. He gave the cup to his friends and said, “Take this all of you and drink from it. This is the cup of the new covenant. Do this as often as you drink of it in remembrance of me.”
Let us pray.
All: Loving God, you are everywhere and we are grateful. As we start this New Year, we are especially mindful of the losses of 2020. Let your presence and love be our joy and comfort.
Come, Holy Spirit come. Bless this bread and this cup and all who have gathered far and near. Refresh us and renew us as Christ’s body in the world today. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Pastor: Let us open our hearts, minds, and souls to remembering that Jesus was born, lived, died, and lives still among us.
All: We share the bread and cup remembering that Jesus welcomed all. He revealed that God is one who draws together people of every kind. There is no one outside of God’s love. As we share in this holy communion, may our eyes be opened to recognize the risen Christ amongst us in all of creation.
Silence
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: We thank you, God, for your presence at our many tables where we have known the presence of Christ. Help us to live more fully the way of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and let us show forth your praise in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Announcements
Our Light moves into the World God Loves
Carol: “What Child is this” verses 1 and 3
Public Domain
1 What Child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping?
Chorus:
This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!
3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come, peasant, king to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him.[Chorus]
Benediction and “What does the Lord Require?”
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.
2. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.
3. To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
CCLI license #11038266
Postlude
Offerings
Please, remember offerings can be given through the church website at https://veradaleucc.org
There is an orange donate button on the right side of the page.
or
send checks to Veradale UCC, 611N Progress Road, Spokane Valley, WA 99037
Thank you!
Silent Prayer
on Facebook every Tuesday morning from 9am to 9:25am https://www.facebook.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255 Available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish.
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