Worshiping God in Christ, Welcoming all, working for justice and peace

Veradale United Church of Christ

The Messenger

The answer to the statement “Why this church matters.”

Thoughts form the Pastor

Wow! January was more than most of us ever expected. Many thanks to all who joined in worship on all those stormy Sundays! Many thanks to the flooring crew who have shown that this church is alive and loved. Many thanks to those who marched with us on MLK Day and at the Women’s March. Our faith calls us to be active in the care for others. Remember the commandments of Jesus:

Matthew 22:34-40 "When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together,and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’This is the greatest and first commandment.And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

However, before Jesus taught about loving God and neighbor, he taught about the love of our enemy. Matthew5:43– 45“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

This love of our enemy is active. It is a passion that wants for the enemy what we want for ourselves, food, shelter, safety, work, and health. When our enemy has this, they are no longer our enemy. They are our neighbors and friends. That Jesus, he’s brilliant!

Much later in the Gospel of Matthew we hear Jesus teach about those who are welcomed into the kingdom of God, Matthew 25:34-40:Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,you did it to me.’

Currently, the condition of our country is not normal. No matter what political principles a person lives by, what has happened is not normal, it is not moral, and it is not Christian. When you wonder what is happening or when you want to encourage our leaders to do that which is just, below is the contact information for our Representative and Senators. Write them. Call them. Question them. Encourage them.

I have been mostly writing Rep. McMorris Rogers because as a Republican, she needs our support to stand up to what is happening. The question for her and other Republicans is whether they are in their offices to serve themselves or to serve the people.RememberRepublican values used to be honesty, responsibility, integrity, financial responsibility, andmoral integrity.

For us, our core values are to love God, love our neighbor, and to love our enemy. This difficult practice must be our daily effort.

With blessings,

Pastor Gen

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Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers

Spokane
10 North Post Street, Suite 625
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone:509-353-2374

Washington, D.C.
203 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone:202-225-2006
Fax:202-225-3392

Senator Patty Murray

Washington, D.C. Office

154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone:(202) 224-2621
Fax:(202) 224-0238
Toll Free:(866) 481-9186

Spokane Office

10 North Post Street, Suite 600
Spokane, Washington 99201
Phone:(509) 624-9515
Fax:(509) 624-9561

Senator Maria Cantwell

Washington, DC
511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone:(202) 224-3441
Fax:(202) 228-0514

Spokane
920 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 697
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone:(509) 353-2507
Fax:(509) 353-2547

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SUNDAY / MONDAY / TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY / FRIDAY / SATURDAY
February 2017
Join us and visiting UCC Missionaries: Erik & Kim Free
Sunday, February 26th / 1
6:30 -7:30 pm
Bible Study
7:45 – 9:00 pm
Choir Practice / 2
Groundhog Day
/ 3 / 4
Days For Girls Preliminary Introduction Workshop at 1:00pm
(See page 9)
5
9:30 a.m. Music
10:20 Praise
10:30 a.m. Worship w/Communion
11:45 Fellowship
100 Days of Prayer Meeting @ at VUCC
(After Worship) Hosted by the Youngs
Morian Davies-B
Robert Fuller-B / 6 / 7
9-9:30 a.m. Prayer
in Sanctuary / 8
10am – 2pm Days for Girls @ LDS Church on 16th Ave.
2:30–4:00 p.m.
Prayer Shawl Min.
6:30 -7:30 pm
Bible Study – Book is
(‘The Shack’)
7:45 – 9:00 pm
Choir Practice
Rosa Fawcett-B / 9
Pastor: Gen Heywood-B
Darlene Turner-B / 10 / 11
8:30 a.m.
Saturday Breakfast Fellowship
at VUCC
(Guest Speaker)
12
9:30 a.m. Music
10:20 Praise
10:30 a.m. Worship
11:45 Fellowship / 13 / 14

9-9:30 a.m. Prayer
in Sanctuary / 15
6:30 -7:30 pm
Bible Study
7:45 – 9:00 pm
Choir Practice / 16
100 Days of Prayer Meeting - Bobbie Nicole & Debbie H. (Hostess’) from
7-8 p.m.@ VUCC. / 17 / 18
2:00 p.m.
Ted Morse’s Memorial at Rockwood S. Hill
2903 E. 25th, Spokane
Paul Salisbury-B
Daniel Steinke-B
19
9:30 a.m. Music
10:20 Praise
10:30 a.m. Worship
11:45 Fellowship
Don & Jan Young-A / 20
OFFICE CLOSED

7:00 p.m. Council Meeting / 21
9-9:30 a.m. Prayer
in Sanctuary / 22 Newsletter
Deadline for March
2:30–4:00 p.m.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
6:30 -7:30 pm
Bible Study
7:45 – 9:00 pm
Choir Practice / 23
Andy & Joyce Walker-A / 24 / 25
8:30 am – Noon
Photography Workshop #2 @ VUCC
Glen Scott-B
26Missionaries
9:30 a.m. Music
10:20 Praise
10:30 a.m. Worship w/SVP Food Bank Offering Visiting Missoinaries-Erik & Kim Free
12:00 – 12:45 Potluck
12:45 – 3pm Presentation on Global Ministries / 27 / 28
9-9:30 a.m. Prayer
in Sanctuary / Looking Forward to Lenten Season
Wednesday, March 1st,
ASH WEDNESDAY
6:45 p.m. Taize Meditation
7:00 p.m. Worship, Ashes and Oil
Date / Worship Service Readers / Greeters / Fellowship Snack Folks
February 5 / Gae Ann Moffit / Dave & Becky Knapp / Last Names begin with A-E
February 12 / Charlie Salt / Jerry Brines / Last Names begin with A-E
February 19 / Helen Bonser / Last Names begin with A-E
February 26 / Diane Smith / Last Names begin with A-E
Potluck with Missionaries & (Birthday Cake Provided)
February 2017 - Scripture Readings and Sermon Titles
February 5: Isaiah 58:1-9 / Matthew 5:13-20 “To Believe is to Do”
February 12: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 / Matthew 5:21-37 “Love Whom?”
February 19: Leviticus 19:1-2 & 9-18 / Matthew 5:36-48 “Non-Violent Way”
February 26: Exodus 24:12-18 / Matthew 17:1-9 “Fulfillment of the Law”


Pt. Gen, Hana, Charlie, Diane, Carol & Jan-MLK Day Event Chains representing the time in history of Slavery

Rev. Percy (Happy) Watkins giving the MLK Speech Participants at the MLK Day Event

January Women’s March in downtown Spokane, WA. Veradale UCC Participants –January Woman’s March


VERADALE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

611 N. PROGRESS ROAD

SPOKANE VALLEY, WA 99037

The Messenger published Monthly

Vol.29 Published MonthlyNo.2/February2017

Ministers: People of the Church

Pastor:Genavieve (Gen) Heywood

Office Manager: Joyce Walker

Music Director: Wayne Shull

Phone: (509) 926-7173

Email:

Website: veradaleucc.org

Facebook: facebook.com/Veradaleucc

Worship ServiceSundaysat 10:30 a.m.