In Us, Through Us, God is Still Creating

In Us, Through Us, God is Still Creating

WESTPORT RISING WORSHIP SERVICE
9TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
July 21, 2024

 

The light of Christ comes to share and illumine our worship.

 

WORDS OF WELCOME                                                                             Pastor Susan Wesley Hartley
PRELUDE:  Guest Organist, Michael DeVoe
OPENING SCRIPTURE:  Jeremiah 23: 1-6
OPENING HYMN:   Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us   GTG#187
RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP: (Psalm 5, selected verses) 

     Leader:     Give ear to our words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing.
     People:    Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and My God, for to you I pray.
     Leader:     O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; I plead my case to you, and watch.
     People:    Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. 

UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD: 

     Gracious God, too often we forget that Saints are made, not born, molded by You and shaped by the things they risk exposing themselves to. Even more we forget that we’re supposed to become “saints,” as well, saints with a little “s” maybe, but still saints: people who gather courage by letting our fears say our prayers, people humble enough to trust in God’s love, people upset enough about the way things are, that we truly become Jesus’ blessed ones who mourn the way life it, but don’t stop God from letting us see what might be. Help us to grow up, God, and face up to the sins for which we really need to repent: our lack of trust in YOU.   Amen.

SILENT CONFESSION
SUNG RESPONSE:   Glory be to the father    GTG#581 
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:

Leader:     Hear the Good News! The old life is gone, a new life has begun. You are not who you were, may you live into who you can be when God calls you. Know you are forgiven and be at peace!
ALL:           Thanks be to God. Amen. 

SUNG RESPONSE:    Halle, Halle, Hallelujah!  GTG#591
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST: 

     Pastor:      The grace, peace, love and joy of Jesus Christ be with you.
     People:    And also with you.
     Pastor:      Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.

CHORAL ANTHEM
UNISON PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION: 

     Gracious God, illuminate these words by your Spirit that we might hear what you would have us hear and be who you would have us be, for the sake of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Amen.

 SCRIPTURE READING:   Mark 6: 30-34
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: For the Beauty of the Earth   GTG#14
SCRIPTURE READING:   Psalm 89: 1-2, 15-18
DIALOGUE MESSAGE:  In us, Thru us, God is Still Creating                            Pastor Susan Wesley Hartley & Stan Morgan
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:  I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (Here I Am, Lord)   GTG#69
WELCOMING, NEWS IN, AROUND, AND BEYOND THE COMMUNITY
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER   There Is a Place of Quiet Rest (Near to the Heart of God)   GTG#824
JOYS AND CONCERNS, PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION,  THE LORD’S PRAYER (Our Father, Mother God, who art in heaven…)
INVITATION TO GIVE
OFFERTORY SOLO:   Give Me Jesus     Arranged by Moses Hogan; Joshua Stark, bass
UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION
CLOSING HYMN:      Let All Things Now Living   GTG#37
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION TO THE CONGREGATION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE:  He Came Down ( all verses)   GTG#137
POSTLUDE                                                                                      Guest Organist, Michael DeVoe

 

The Light of Christ leads us out into Westport and the World.

 

A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING! 

  • We welcome guest organist, Michael DeVoe, who is leading our worship music today while Emily is on vacation
  • WELCOME! MEMBERS! NEWCOMERS! FRIENDS!  We are so glad you could join us for worship today!
  • VISITORS, please take a moment to let us know you were here by picking up an attendance card (in the pews) and filling out whatever information you would like to share with us.
  • WELCOME FAMILIES! Children’s Sunday School meets in the 2nd floor Children’s Space, Sunday mornings during the 1st half of worship, beginning at 11:00 am. NURSERY care is also available upstairs. Parents are asked to fill out a brief registration form before church begins. (This form only needs to be filled out once).
  • STEPTOE LIVES first museum exhibit opens TODAY at the 1855 Harris-Kearney Historical House & Museum (next door to the church) Grand Reopening Celebration from 12-5 p.m. The exhibit contains photos and text celebrating the historic African American neighborhood of Steptoe.
  • The Session has approved the IPNC’s recommendation of Rev. Dr. Jared Witt to serve as our next Interim Pastor. He will begin on Aug 1. In his work as an “interim pastor,” Jared’s work focuses on helping the congregations prepare for the next chapter of life and ministry. This work involves strategic planning, pastoral care, staff leadership, preaching and teaching. As a theologian, pastor, and licensed therapist, Jared finds joy in exploring the many ways that God’s love leads us into deeply satisfying lives. His recent interests include organizational change, risk-taking, and the ways spirituality can sustain justice work by cultivating values like curiosity and playfulness.Originally from Kansas, Jared earned his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and his Ph.D. from the Religious Studies Department at Yale. He has served congregations in Connecticut, New York, and Kansas. Following nine years as pastor of First Presbyterian in Fort Scott, KS, Jared served for two and a half years as interim pastor at Second Presbyterian in Kansas City, MO. Jared teaches in the D.Min. program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, sees a few clients when he can, and leads suicide prevention training in schools.Jared enjoys pickleball, golf, cooking, travel, reading, the NBA, and walking the dog (when the weather is good). Jared is married to Stephanie, who is the principal at Brookridge Elementary School. They have three boys: Henry and wife Hunter, Oliver (a senior at KU), and Remy (a senior at Shawnee Mission South).
  • Pastor Susan’s last Sunday leading our worship service will be August 4, and Jared Witt will join her in co-leading the service.

 

 

MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:

  • You’re invited to A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION Celebrating the completion of the storefront project and the work of Cherith Brook founders Jodi & Eric Garbision. Thursday, August 8. Dinner @ 5-6:30 p.m. Celebrations and storytelling @ 6:30-8 p.m. 3308 E 12th St. KCMO 64127. Please RSVP at: cherithbrookkcmo@gmail.com
  • Bread, Buns, Fruit, Water, Meat, Peanut Butter, Cheese are always needed for our INTERRUPT HUNGER work. WESTPORT SHOWERS happens on Sundays & Thursday nights. Men’s boxer brief underwear needed. Men’s and Women’s tennis shoes, pants. Backpacks!
  • WESTPORT SHOWERS is looking for additional volunteers to help with Sunday mornings. With the increase in guests, we would like to have teams of 2 volunteers upstairs working together at the door and 2 downstairs working in the shower/laundry room each Sunday. You would be working with experienced volunteers who can train you in what is needed. If you would like to help, and are willing to volunteer 1 Sunday morning a month, reach out to Drew Irwin or Allison Rozga for more information.
  • WEEKDAY LUNCH VOLUNTEERS. We could use a few more people to help with making and handing out weekday lunches. Please contact the church office for more information.
  • Beginning in August the RESOURCE CENTER in the storefront will be open on Wednesdays & Thursdays instead of on Tuesdays.

INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK:  (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted) 

  •      Monday, July 22                 11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Front Door) 
        • 4:30 p.m.         FREDitation – a centering prayer experience – 20 min (Chapel)
        • 6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
        • 7:30 p.m.         Boy Scout Troop 60 (At Camp Bartle)
  • Tuesday, July 23                10:00 a.m.       Resource Center Open (Storefront)
        • 11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
        • 6:00 p.m.         Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
  • Wednesday, July 24           11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Front Door)
  • Thursday, July 25               10:00 a.m.       Resource Center Open (Storefront)
        • 11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
        • 5:30 p.m.         Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
  • Friday, July 26                    11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Front Door)
  • Saturday, July 27               8:30 a.m.         Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
        • 10:00 a.m.       Westport Center for the Arts Board Meeting (Fellowship Room)
  • Sunday, July 28                  8-9:30 a.m.      Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
        • 11:00 a.m.       Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)

 

LOOKING AHEAD:

  •       Wednesday, Jul. 31            7:00 p.m.         Zoom Bible Study – contact church office for link (Online) *meets every other week*
          • 6:00 p.m.         Stewardship Meeting 

 

 

2024 MISSOURI VOTER RESOURCES

Important dates for the AUGUST 6 Election

            JULY 24 Mail-In Absentee Request Deadline

Make Sure Your Voter Registration Is Up To Date

            Find Your Local Election Authority here: https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/localelectionauthority

Find your District & Current State and U.S. Elected Officials

            Find Your District & Current Representatives here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default

Photo ID Requirements

1. Non-expired Driver’s License

2. Non-expired or non-expiring non-driver’s license

3. Passport

4. Military ID

 

If you are registered to vote but do not have a valid ID you can vote a provisional ballot, but generally these ballots are not counted unless the vote is close. If you come back with a valid ID, your vote will count.

The League of Women Voters of Kansas City, Clay and Platte hold forums for candidates running for office for the August 6th election. They are online and you can access and register for them by going to LWVKC.org home page. Scrolling down, you will see on the left side, a button for the LWCKC Voter Education Webpage. Under that is another button for Candidate Forums. It will take you to a calendar. Find the forum(s) you want to watch and then click on that date. It will bring up a page where you can register and submit questions for the candidates. All these forums will be recorded and posted on the League website if you are unable to watch them live. There is also a button that takes you to other forums in the area.  The home page will also let you click on Vote411.org to find your specific ballot. You just need to put in your address and it will bring up the races and other measures that will be on your ballot. Get a head start and see what you will be asked to vote on.

 

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