WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
17TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
September 20, 2026
PRELUDE: Festivity on HOLY MANNA arr. D. Wagner
CALL TO WORSHIP: (from Psalm 105:1-6)
One: O give thanks to the Lord! The Lord hears the cries of the people.
All: Give thanks to the Lord.
One: The works of the Lord are great. Remember what God has done.
All: Give thanks to the Lord.
One: God delivers us from harm, and the Lord always remembers God’s covenant.
All: Give thanks to the Lord.
OPENING HYMN: #401 Glory to God Here in This Place (verses 1, 2, 4)
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
All: Gracious God, we seek many things, but we don’t seek your face. We want others to be generous, but we fail to practice it ourselves. We have not been gracious or grateful. We frequently forget all you have done for us. Forgive us and fill us with gratitude. Help us to share our gifts as we serve others. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:
One: People of God, our sins are forgiven. We are reconciled to God and to one another. Let us therefore love on another with gratitude in our hearts.
All: Thanks be to God!
SUNG RESPONSE: #700 Glory to God I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me (verses 1, 2)
TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST:
One: The peace of Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Let’s share the peace of Christ with one another.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
One: Let the wisdom of your Word rain down on us like manna and feed us, that we may be strengthened to do the work to which we are called.
All: Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Exodus 16:2-15 (pages 60-61) Philippians 1:21-30 (page 185-86)
One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.
CHORAL ANTHEM: Have You Heard God’s Voice? Arr. F. Chatfield
MESSAGE: On Mission Statements and Organizational “Whys”
MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: #170 Glory to God You Walk along Our Shoreline
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: #701 Glory to God Lord, Prepare Me
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER:
All: Our Mother and Father, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES/INVITATION TO GIVE:
One: God’s mercy toward us is great. Let us give our tithes and offerings with grateful hearts.
OFFERTORY: Balm in Gilead Emma WitbolsFeugen, soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Lord, giver of all good gifts, thank you for the resources gathered here. Use these gifts for the advancement of your realm. In Jesus’ name we pray,
All: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: #761 Glory to God Called as Partners in Christ’s Service (verses 1, 2, 4)
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE: God Leads Us Along L. Shackley
A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING!
- 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! NURSERY care is available in the upstairs children’s space. Parents are asked to fill out a brief registration form before church begins. (This form only needs to be filled out once). Children’s Sunday School will meet during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space. Children are invited to remain in the service until the “Time for Young Disciples” and then go upstairs for the remainder of the service.
- HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES available upon request. Talk to Deanna up in the front of the sanctuary at the livestream table if you would like to use one.
- CHILDREN’S CHOIR PRACTICE: Kids that want to sing with the choir are invited to join Renee in the front of the sanctuary on Sunday mornings from 10:00-10:25 a.m.
- INSTALLATION SERVICE FOR PASTOR JARED, today at 4 pm. You are invited to a special worship service, led by Heartland Presbytery, to install Pastor Jared in his new role as WPC’s Installed, Designated Pastor. Please plan to join us to celebrate this new chapter for our church. There will be a reception following in the Fellowship Hall.
- NEW BIBLE STUDY FOR THE FALL: WPC will experiment with a new format for a mid-week Bible study and discussion group this Fall. The goal for the gatherings will be two-fold: First, to help persons become more skilled in understanding Scripture and better able to relate the Bible to daily life; and second: to learn from one another as we deepen our connections as a community. Please let Jared know if you are interested in participating. The three Bible Study dates in the Fall will be Wednesdays: Sept. 23, Oct. 21, and Nov. 18 (all 5:45-7pm).
- DISCUSSION GROUP is reading The Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang in September. Book Discussion Group meets Sundays at 10 a.m. before church in the living room/library.
MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:
- WESTPORT SHOWERS happens on Sunday mornings & Thursday nights. Items Needed for our CLOTHING CLOSET include: Sneakers, T-shirts, Underwear (Men’s Boxer Briefs), Socks, Women’s pants/shorts size 0-8, Men’s pants/shorts size 28-40, Bandaids, Sweatpants, Leggings, Belts, Backpacks, Body wash, Sports bras, & Washcloths.
- 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.
- We are giving out lunches on Thursdays in the RESOURCE CENTER and Sundays as part of WESTPORT SHOWERS. Food donations of fruit cups, meat, cheese, peanut butter, squeeze jelly are always needed.
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK: (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
- Today, Sept. 20 4:00 p.m. Installation Service for Pastor Jared Witt (Sanctuary)
Reception to Follow - Monday, Sept. 21 6:30 p.m. MO Workers Center Base Meeting (Fellowship Room)
6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Chapel)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room) - Tuesday, Sept. 22 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
- Wednesday, Sept. 23 5:45-7 p.m. Fall Bible Study (Living Room/Library)
- Thursday, Sept. 24 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed. (Fellowship Room)
5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement) - Friday, Sept. 25 7:00 p.m. Westport Center for the Arts: The Dancing Word “Momentum or Motivation: The Impact of Making Progress (Center for Spiritual Living, 1014 W. 39th St.)
- Saturday, Sept. 26 8:30 a.m. Private Rental – Meeting (Living Room/Library)
10:00 a.m. Cub Scout Pack 2025 (Westport Rising Room)
2:00 p.m. Westport Center for the Arts: The Dancing Word “Momentum or Motivation: The Impact of Making Progress (Center for Spiritual Living, 1014 W. 39th St.) - Sunday, Sept. 27 6:30-9:00 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group (Library)
10:00 a.m. Children’s Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Children’s Sunday School/Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
12:15 p.m Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
LOOKING AHEAD:
- Wednesday, Sept. 30 7:00 p.m. Stewardship Committee Meeting (Zoom)
- Saturday, Oct. 3 12:00 noon Steptoe Oral History Celebration: Luncheon (Fellowship Room)
INFORMATION ON CANDIDATES AND AMENDMENTS:
- LWVKC Candidate Forums for the November 3, 2026 Election
All forums begin at 6:30 pm on Zoom. Recordings will be available on YouTube the following day.
To sign up for the Zoom link go to: LWVKC.org.calendar.- Tuesday, October 6 Platte County: Senate District 34;House Districts 12, 13, 14
- Wednesday, October 7 Clay County: House Districts 8,15,16,17,18, 38, 39
- Thursday, October 8 Lee’s Summit Area: Senate District 8;House Districts 30, 34, 35
- Tuesday, October 13 Kansas City Area: House Districts 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 37
- Wednesday, October 14 Cass County, South & East Jackson County: House Districts: 32, 33, 36, 55, 56, 62
- Thursday, October 15 Independence Area: House Districts 20, 21, 28, 29, 31
- Individual videos of each amendment will be posted on the LWVKC You Tube Channel. Please share this information with friends, neighbors, family etc.
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