WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
11TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
August 4, 2024
(Video will be posted LIVE on the church’s FB page at 11am and then cross-posted here afterwards. If the video doesn’t load properly here, you should be able to click on the Watch on Facebook link and watch as a guest, even if you don’t have Facebook)
The light of Christ comes to share and illumine our worship.
WORDS OF WELCOME Pastor Susan Wesley Hartley, Introduce Rev. Jared Witt
PRELUDE: Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life setting by Daniel Burton
OPENING SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 16: 1-4, 9-15 Rev. Jared Witt, liturgist
OPENING HYMN: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah GTG#65
RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP (selected verses Psalm 78: 1-4):
Leader: The LORD Yahweh said “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching, incline your ears to the words of my mouth.”
People: I will open my mouth as in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from old, things we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.
ALL: We will not hide them from our children; we will tell the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD and his might, and the wonders he has done.
SUNG RESPONSE: Love the Lord Your God (sing twice) GTG#62
CALL TO CONFESSION: Psalm 78: 17-25
CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
God of yesterday and God of tomorrow, it’s hard for us to learn new things, new ways of eating bread, new ways of saying goodbye for now, and hello right now to the pastors you have led to us. But we know You are the constant in our lives as individuals and as a church community and their lives as pastors. Forgive us our confusion and help us to see Your love at work in us, with them, and among us all. Please awake trust in You and confidence that You are leading us into our shared future. We ask this in Jesus name and the action of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
SUNG RESPONSE: Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! GTG#591
SHARING OF THE PEACE:
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.
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling GTG#366
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: John 6: 24-35; Ephesians 4: 1-16
MESSAGE: Building the Body of Christ Pastor Susan Westley Hartley
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: I Come with Joy GTG#515
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION:
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE:
Pastor: Let’s gather around this planet friendly, holy table, With holy bread & drink
People: The promise of Christ coming alive among us
Pastor: This is the welcome table of God where all who intend to experience the non- physical spiritual dimension of life—
People: And live in relationships of freedom and peace with neighbors
Pastor: Hunger no more! Come to eat! Here, all who long for otherwise elusive grace
People: May enjoy the strong love of God in Jesus Christ.
Pastor: Here you are embraced and held by Self Emptying Love!—
People: One of God’s great and holy names!
Pastor: Come to drink, you are invited into this holy mystery.
People: We are ready!
Pastor: Jesus said: “I am the bread of life. All who come to me shall not hunger, and all who believe in me shall never be thirsty.”
People: We are hungry for Your Love, O God, We are thirsty for Your Deep Peace, O Lamb of God. We seek an unusual gift— an experience of wonder and joy.
Pastor: Come in, Holy Spirit. Open our eyes to the mystery of The living Christ’s presence in our midst. Through the broken bread…
People: We are becoming the Body of Christ—
Pastor: Feeding the hungry!
People: Giving showers and clothes to people who are homeless and extremely poor!
Pastor: Becoming anti-racist! Getting into Good Trouble!
People: Let us praise and pray to God by singing an African hymn
CONGREGATIONAL SUNG PRAYER: Come, Bring Your Burdens to God GTG#851
Pastor: Let us lift up names of the people or situations we wish to pray for, concluding with The Lord’s Prayer (Glory to God, page 35 – Mother, Father God…)
BREAKING AND SHARING OF THE BREAD, WORDS OF INSTITUTION
POURING AND SHARING OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE
Pastor: The Grace, Peace, Love and Joy of Jesus Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us pray in unison…
UNISON PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:
Gracious, loving God, You have called us to become a body of Christ. Thank you for filling us amidst hunger & thirst. Now send us into the world to do the great work You have called us to do—Find the lost & lonely! Heal wounded souls! Free people, including ourselves, who are not at all free! Give compassion to the vulnerable & marginalized! Love Beauty, Planet & Sky, persist in resisting evil, share by how we live the Message of Jesus, who is The Light in the World.Amen.
COMMUNION RESPONSE: You Satisfy the Hungry Heart GTG#523
WELCOME! NEWS IN, AROUND AND BEYOND THE COMMUNITY
THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES / INVITATION TO GIVING
Offering link
OFFERTORY ANTHEM: Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness G. F. Handel
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
CLOSING HYMN: Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ GTG#526
BENEDICTION AND CHARGE TO CONGREGATION Rev. Jared Witt
BENEDICTION RESPONSE: We Are Marching in the Light of God (Siyahamba) GTG#853
POSTLUDE: Listen! God Is CallingKenyan traditional, arr. Anne Krentz Organ
The Light of Christ leads us out into Westport and the World.
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! 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).
- 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.
- Today we welcome Interim Pastor Rev. Jared Witt and Thank Pastor Susan Wesley Hartley for being our Bridge Pastor over this past year. Please join us after the service for a luncheon in the Fellowship hall!
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.
2024 MISSOURI VOTER INFORMATION – AUGUST 6 ELECTION
THE FOLLOWING OFFICES WILL BE ON THE BALLOT:
Governor, Attorney General, Lt. Governor, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, Jackson County Prosecutor, Treasurer, Jackson County Sheriff
All 163 seats of the house are up for election.
Find Your Local Election Authority here: Check your registration and polling place: https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/localelectionauthority
Find Your District & Current Representatives here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default
Find Your Ballot at Vote411.org or the Secretary of State’s website
THERE ARE 2 BALLOT QUESTIONS:
Amendment 1: Property Exemption for Childcare Establishments: If passed, allows taxing jurisdictions to exempt childcare facilities from property tax. For individual or organizational providers using part of their property to provide such care, the amendment would authorize the assessing jurisdiction to exempt that portion of that property used for childcare. A child’s personal home could not be granted an exemption. SJR26
Amendment 4: Allow Legislature to Require a City to Increase Funding without State Reimbursement for a Police Force Established by State Board Measure. If passed, it would authorize the Missouri legislature to mandate increased funding by the City of Kansas City for the Kansas City Police Department without the provision of incremental funds from the State of Missouri . More complete description at LWVMO.org.
Go to https//www.youtube.com/@LWVKC/videos to find videos of candidate forums.
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK:
(All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
Monday, Aug. 5 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 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, Aug. 6 ELECTION DAY
11:00 a.m. Sack Lunches Distributed (Front Door)
6:00 p.m. Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
Wednesday, Aug. 7 8:55 a.m. Voting Machines Picked Up (Fellowship Room)
10:00 a.m. Resource Center Open (Storefront)
11:00 a.m. Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
Thursday, Aug. 8 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)
6:00 p.m. Stewardship Meeting (Library)
Friday, Aug. 9 10:00 a.m. Children’s Mercy TIES Group (Fellowship Room)
11:00 a.m. Sack Lunches Distributed (Front Door)
Saturday, Aug. 10 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
Sunday, Aug. 11 8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Children’s Sunday School (Upstairs Children’s Room)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Tuesday, Aug. 13 Boy Scout Troop 60 – Blood Drive Eagle Scout Project (Fellowship Rm)
7:00 p.m. Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
Wednesday, Aug. 14 7:00 p.m. Zoom Bible Study – contact church office for link (Online)
*meets every other week*
STAFF:
Bridge Pastor…………………………………………………………………………………..Susan Wesley Hartley
Interim Pastor……………………………………………………………………………………..Rev. Dr. Jared Witt
Music Director……………………………………………………………………………………….Emily Davidson
Office Manager………………………………………………………………………………………..Deanna Capps
CONTACT INFORMATION:
www.westportpresbyterian.org
church office: info@westportpresbyterian.org (816) 931-1032
Pastor Susan’s contact: susan2blessu@gmail.com (719) 330-5134
Pastor Jared’s contact: jared@westportpresbyterian.org
Follow us on Facebook at: facebook.com/westportpresbyterian
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