An Epiphany Not Everyone Wants to Have !

An Epiphany Not Everyone Wants to Have !

Epiphany Season Celebration—Westport Presbyterian Church

January 23, 2022, 11:00 am

PRELUDE: Siyahamba/Thuma Mina (“Send Me, Jesus”)—arr. Mark Sedio
CALL TO RETURN TO OUR SOULS

Leader:        For stars guiding and doves descending!
People:       For epiphanies glad surprising!
Leader         For skies circling and streams singing!
People:       For four leggeds talking and two leggeds walking!
Leader:    Winged ones flying! Hopping ones hopping!
People:       All creatures crawling, creeping, paddling and diving!
Leader         For earth’s holy places! For soul’s silent spaces!
People:       And all God’s surprising, healing graces!
Leader:        For Jesus’ parable and Mary’s singing prayer!
People:       For Miriam’s dance and for Martin’s unfinished dream!
Leader:        For Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s gospel music sensations!
People:       And mystic Howard Thurman’s rhythmic meditations!
Leader:        Let us all, in our minds’ imagination
People         Gather in timely preparation!
Leader:        It’s a Holy Ghost liberation celebration! 

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:    We Are Marching in the Light of God    Siyahamba     GTG #853
CONFESSION

–Dr King, from the sermon “Our God is Able” after the family’s home was bombed
Pastor:        I now know that God is able!
People:       To give us interior resources to face life’s storms.
Pastor:        Let this affirmation be our ringing cry.
People:       It will give us courage to face the uncertainties of the future.
Pastor:        It will give our tired feet new strength as we strive toward the city of freedom.
People:       When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds,
Pastor:        And our nights become darker than a hundred midnights—
People:       Let us remember that there is a Power in the universe whose name is God.
Pastor:        God is able to make a way out of no way,
People:       And transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows.
Pastor:        This is our hope for becoming new persons.
People:       This is our mandate for seeking to make a better world.
Pastor:        This is why we keep returning to answer the call to worship a God
People:        Who will be at our side forever
–Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

BLESSED ASSURANCE OF GOD’S ACTIVE GRACE:    We’ve Come This Far by Faith    GTG#656
BIBLE READINGS:  Luke 4:14-30
SUNG RESPONSE:  Take Me to the Water  GTG#480
MESSAGE:     An Epiphany Not Everyone Wants to Have !
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:       What a Friend We Have in Jesus  GtG#465
WELCOMING
ANTHEM: Creator of Beauty and Giver of Light—Mark Schweizer
Matthew 25 Prayer, Lord’s Prayer, Sung Response:
     Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying(sing twice) GTG#469
OFFERTORY: Die Mainacht (The May night)—Johannes Brahms; Emma WitbolsFeugen, mezzo soprano
UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION

May I be a guard for those who need protection
A guide for those on the path
A boat, a raft, a bridge for those who wish to cross the flood
May I be a lamp in the darkness
A resting place for the weary
A healing medicine for all who are sick
A vase of plenty, a tree of miracles
And for the boundless multitudes of living beings
May I bring sustenance and awakening
Enduring like the earth and sky
Until all beings are freed from sorrow
And all are awakened.
—Shantideva, Indian Buddhist sage 700 C.E.    Prayer performed each morning by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Over My Head
BLESSING
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Over My Head (refrain)
POSTLUDE: O Jesus, King Most Wonderful (HIDING PLACE) —Charles Callahan

 

 

Tuesday, January 25   Presbyterian Urban and Immigrant Ministry Network Meeting

4:30Debriefing of Presbytery Anti-Racist/Equity Audit (Christina Rivera of “Called to

Justice” will debrief the audit with PUIMN board members who participated in the  audit process last spring)

5:30Regular Monthly Business/Work Meeting

 

 

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 12:00-12:15 

Zoom Dialogue on Racism & Anti-Racism with Micah Rose Emerson and Rev Scott

(anyone is invited to join in this event. Let Rev Scott know and you will receive the link)

 

 

 

 

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