A Death As Large As Life 

A Death As Large As Life 

  • Date

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
PALM/PASSION SUNDAY
March 29, 2026

PRELUDE:   All Glory, Laud and Honor                                                                        arr. D. Paxton
CALL TO WORSHIP:
      One:         “Hosanna!” They shouted, “Save us!”
All:           “Hosanna!” We’re shouting, “Save us!”
      One:         Savior, ride into our lives again,
      All:           wash over us with excitement and hope,
      One:         give us a reason to praise
      All:           and to shout again, “Hosanna! Hosanna!”

OPENING HYMN:  Hosanna, Loud Hosanna (with waving of palms)  GTG#197
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:

      All:           Holy Christ, on this Palm Sunday – as we imagine our way through your final week – we find ourselves in more turmoil than triumph. Our faith is unsteady. Our wisdom is fragile. Our resolve is shaken. Our mercy is drying up.  Our hope is weakening.   Come again and save us from this too-small life.  Give us strength to follow you into the largeness of your new realm, learning from our humble Savior, the wise fool, our all in all. Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:

One:         Jesus faces the cruelty of the cross without flinching. He enacts God’s surprising, relentless love for us. By the power of the cross, by the power of wondrous love, we are forgiven.
All:           Thanks be to God!

SUNG RESPONSE:  In My Life (verses 1-2)   GTG#468
[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.

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 27: 11-54

      One:         May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
      All:           Thanks be to God.

CHORAL ANTHEM:   Prepare the Way O Zion                                                                Schweizer
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

One:          Illuminating God,
All:           shine your light into every corner of our hearts.
One:          As we reflect together on the stories of Scripture,
All:           may we welcome the joy that is ours in the crucified and risen Christ, Amen.

MESSAGE:   A Death As Large As Life                                                                       Rev. Jared Witt
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:Jesus, Remember Me (Sing 4 Times)   GTG#227
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Kum ba Yah (verses 1, 4)   GTG#472
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE, BLESSINGS, AND THE LORD’S PRAYER: 

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:          Let our “hosannas” to the One who liberates the world express themselves in our gifts, tithes, and offering.

OFFERTORY SOLO:   Intermezzo in E, Op. 116 No. 4                                                   by Brahms                                         Emma WitbolsFeugen, soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION: 

One:          Holy one, we cannot offer you great treasures as the world measures them. Here is only what we have at hand: cloaks and palm fronds to line your path, and all our ordinary sacrifices. Accept these gifts, and transform them, that we may share in  your great work of love.      All:           Amen. 

CLOSING HYMN:    There in God’s Garden (verses 1, 2, 4)    GTG#226
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE:   Once to Every Man and Nation                                                               arr, B. Price

 

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.
  • CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUP: Sunday Mornings
    10:00 a.m.       Book Discussion Group readings related to various topics including faith, art, culture, politics, earth care. Currently reading Search: A Novel, by Michelle Huneven.

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 Fridays 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.
  • BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED & PAID PART-TIME POSTITIONS AVAILABLE: Westport Center for the Arts, an non-profit organization founded by our church that has dedicated itself to bringing free art exhibits, concerts, dance performances, etc. to the neighborhood, has several positions that need filling. They need a board president to set a meeting agenda and keep track of who is doing what, and they are looking to fill several paid positions: Grant Writer, Visual Arts Program Director.  If interested, email [email protected] or speak with Josh Stark or Deanna Capps.

 HOLY WEEK AT WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

  • PALM/PASSION SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE   Sunday, March 29   11 a.m.
  • Good Friday TENEBRAE Service   Friday, April 3   6:00 p.m.
  • EASTER SUNDAY COMMUNION SERVICE   Sunday, April 5   11 a.m.
    If you would like to order an Easter Lily for Easter Sunday, please use the sign-up sheet at the back of the sanctuary (please include your dedication), or you may contact the church office. The cost is $15 each. You can pay by check or cash and write Easter Lily in the memo line or on the pew envelope. Orders are due TODAY (Palm Sunday).

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

Monday, Mar. 30               6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m.         Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, Mar. 31               4:30 p.m.         Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
Wednesday, Apr. 1             5:30 p.m.         Meeting Rental – Elias Garcia (Fellowship Room)
     Thursday, Apr. 2               5:30 p.m.         Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non-conforming people (Basement)
Friday, Apr. 3                                             GOOD FRIDAY
11:00 a.m-3:00 p.m..       Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)                                                                                                11:30 a.m.       Children’s Mercy Healthy Families Group (Fellowship Room)
6:00 p.m.         Good Friday Tenebrae Service (Sanctuary)
Saturday, Apr. 4                8:30 a.m.         Private Rental – Meeting (Storefront)
2:30 p.m.         Pastor Nominating Committee (Fellowship Room)
7:00 p.m.         KC English Dance (Westport Rising Room)
     Sunday, Apr. 5                                           EASTER SUNDAY
8-9:30 a.m.      Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
Connection Hour Small Groups:
10:00 a.m.       Book Discussion Group
10:00 a.m.       Children’s Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
11:00 a.m.       Service of the Lord’s Day: Communion (Sanctuary)
Children’s Sunday School/Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
     12:15 p.m.       Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

LOOKING AHEAD:
     Tuesday, Apr. 7                                         ELECTION DAY
5:00 a.m.         Election Workers Arrive
6:00 a.m.-        Polls Open for School & Special Election
7:00 p.m.         (Fellowship Room)
Friday, Apr. 17                   12:00 noon      WCA Brown Bag Concert Series: New Red Onion Jazz Babies, 7-piece Dixieland band (Sanctuary)

MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:  from Riva and the League of Women Voters
Absentee ballot applications are available now for April 7 election.
Absentee voting with an excuse: until March 23; without out an excuse: begins March 24

 

No Excuse – Absentee Voting Locations
     Kansas City Election Board                                  Weekdays Mar 24-Apr 3 8am-6pm (KCEB only hours)
4405 E. 50th Terrace                                               Saturday Apr 4 8am-12pm
Kansas City, MO 64130                                         Monday April 6 8am-5pm

Fellowship Right Baptist Church                         Garrison Community Center (NOT open April 4)
4700 Pittman Rd                                                     1124 E. 5th
Kansas City, MO 64133                                         Kansas City, MO 64106

     Mount Christian Worship Center                         Palestine Senior Center
1800 E. 79th St. (Corner of 79th and Paseo)          3325 Prospect Ave
Kansas City, MO 64132                                         Kansas City, MO 62128

     Second Presbyterian Church                                 United Believers Community Church
318 E. 55th St                                                         5600 E. 112 Ter
Kansas City, MO 64113                                         Kansas City, MO 64134

     Hours for all locations, except KCEB
Weekdays, March 24 – April 3   10am – 6pm Saturday, April 4   8am – 12pm

Live in KC? Go to KCEB.org. Live in Jackson County outside of KC? Go to JCEB.org. Outside of these counties, go to Secretary of State’s office sos.mo.gov
The Leagues Vote411.org publication is now live online for election information. Remember to check your voter registration!!

KC League is producing 8 school board forums with 38 candidates.
The sign up is on the main page of the website LWVKC.org. They all run from 6:30-8:30. Generally these are recorded so if you cannot view live, you can watch them later by going to the website (you do not have to be a member to view these videos).

  • March 24: Raymore-Peculiar March 25: Hickman Mills
  • March 26: North Kansas City March 31: Lee’s Summit
  • April 1: Blue Springs April 2: Independence

Concerned? Reach out to your legislators: senate.mo.gov (the MO senate home page), scroll down right side of page to Legislator Lookup. Click on this, fill out your address and it will show you your elected officials.

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