WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF PENTECOST
October 26, 2025
PRELUDE: Prelude from Sonata 3 in A Major Felix Mendelssohn
CALL TO WORSHIP: (from “Allow,” by poet Danna Faulds)
One: There is no controlling life.
All: Try corralling a lightning bolt, containing a tornado. Dam a stream and it will create a new channel.
One: Resist, and the tide will sweep you off your feet.
All: Allow, and grace will carry you to higher ground. The only safety lies in letting it all in – the wild and the weak; fear, fantasies, failures and success.
One: When loss rips off the doors of the heart, or sadness veils your vision with despair, practice becomes simply bearing the truth.
All: In the choice to let go of your known way of being, the whole world is revealed to your new eyes.
OPENING HYMN: All Things Bright and Beautiful (verses 1, 2 & 4) GTG#20
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
All: Generous God, Jesus calls us to a way of love that involves everything: heart, soul, mind, and strength. But we live with divided hearts. Our commitment to your new realm is fickle. We want a little of this and a little of that. We want others to love us, but often fail to love to others. Mend our wayward lives back towards wholeness. Give us undivided hearts.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE: (from Ezekiel 36)
One: God promises to pour out into our lives a new spirit, replacing our stony hearts – cold and closed – with hearts warm and open. You are forgiven and called to live open-hearted lives.
All: Alleluia. Thanks be to God.
SUNG RESPONSE: Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! (refrain, sing twice) GTG#591
[Kids’ Time Front of Sanctuary]
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: Come, Holy Spirit, and open our hearts – that we might be transformed into small reflections of your goodness in the world.
All: Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Psalm 86:1-13 James 1:16-18
One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.
CHORAL ANTHEM: Like A Mighty Wind by Karen Marolli
MESSAGE: A Spirituality of Open-Heartedness Rev. Jared Witt
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: When the Morning Stars Together (verses 1, 3 & 4) GTG#689
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Come, Bring Your Burdens to God (sing twice) GTG#851
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 us give and live generously in response to all that God has done for us. Let us present our tithes and offerings to the Lord.
OFFERTORY SOLO: Allerseelen R. Strauss Emma Witbolsfeugen, soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Holy and generous God, there is great joy for us when we share what we have. Use these gifts to heal and teach, comfort and feed, that all others might experience your love.
All: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: How Great Thou Art (verses 1, 2 & 4) GTG#625
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE: How Majestic is Your Name arr. Mark Hayes
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 usually meets during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space, but is on break.
- 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.
- We are short on Sunday School teachers! 20 min commitment a month, we have a curriculum to follow… Contact James Capps if you would like to help!
- Many of our PLANTS (we think it’s primarily the ones the women’s AA group left in our care) are infected with scale. If anyone with a green thumb is willing to take on babying them back to health, let us know!
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 bread, fruit, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.
- WINTER WEATHER CLOTHING DRIVE: As cooler weather approaches Westport Showers will be collecting coats, hats, gloves, warm socks, and boots. Look through your closets and see if you have any extra items you can donate.
- 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 that periodically involve some work: Marketing person (email newsletter, website updates, figure out where to advertise), Photographer, Grant Writer, Visual Arts Program Director. If interested, email [email protected] or speak with Josh Stark or Deanna Capps.
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK: (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
Monday, Oct. 27 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, Oct. 28 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
6:00 p.m. Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
Wednesday, Oct. 29 6:00 p.m. Halloween Sing-a-Long! (Chapel)
Fun for All Ages, Costumes Welcome (not required)
Thursday, Oct. 30 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non-conforming people (Basement)
Friday, Oct. 31 HALLOWEEN
11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
11:15 a.m Voting Equipment Delivered (Fellowship Room)
Saturday, Nov. 1 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
7:00 p.m. KC English Dance (Westport Rising Room)
Halloween Dance – Costumes Welcome (not required)
Sunday, Nov. 2 8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
Connection Hour Small Groups:
9:40 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm”
10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group
11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
12:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Tuesday, Nov. 4 ELECTION DAY
6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Polls Open (Fellowship Room)
MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: from Riva and the League of Women Voters
November 4th Special Election
| Absentee Voting with an Excuse (In-Person) |
Sept. 23 – Oct. 20 During KCEB’s Hours |
| No-Excuse Absentee Voting (In-Person) | Oct. 21 – Nov. 3 Locations + Hours TBA |
| Absentee Ballot Return Deadline |
November 4 |
Question: Shall Articles Ill, IV, and V of the Jackson County Charter, adopted by vote on November 3, 1970, and as amended by public votes on August 8, 1978, April 2, 1985, November 4, 1986, August 2, 1994, August 3, 2010, and November 6, 2018 be amended to require that the Charter Office of the Jackson County Assessor no longer be a qualified appointee and instead be an elected position?
There are 7 locations for No-Excuse Absentee Voting for the November 4, 2025 Election. Note that ONLY KCEB will be open on Monday, Nov. 3.
Kansas City Election Board Palestine Senior Activity Center
4407 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd 3325 Prospect Ave.
Weekdays, Oct. 21 – 31: 8am – 6pm Weekdays, Oct. 21 – 31: 10am – 6pm
Saturday, Nov. 1: 8am – 12pm Saturday, Nov. 1: 8am – 12pm
Monday, Nov. 3: 8am – 5pm
Fellowship Right Baptist Church Second Presbyterian Church
4700 Pittman Rd 318 E. 55th St.
Weekdays, Oct. 21 – 31: 10am – 6pm Weekdays, Oct. 21 – 31: 10am – 6pm
Saturday, Nov. 1: 8am – 12pm Saturday, Nov. 1: 8am – 12pm
Garrison Community Center United Believers Community Church
1124 E. 5th St. 5600 E. 112th Ter.
Weekdays, Oct. 21 – 31: 10am – 6pm Weekdays, Oct. 21 – 31: 10am – 6pm
Saturday, Nov. 1: 8am – 12pm Saturday, Nov. 1: 8am – 12pm
Mount Christian Worship Center
1800 E. 79th St.
Weekdays, Oct. 21 – 31: 10am – 6pm
Saturday, Nov. 1: 8am – 12pm
No-Excuse Absentee Voting Locations ONLY use Ballot Marking Devices. Pre-printed Paper Ballots will ONLY be available at your home ward and precinct on Election Day.
Provisonal Ballots, which are used for voters who do not have a valid form of ID, are only available on Election Day.
You must have an acceptable form of ID to vote absentee.
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