(En)gendering gladness

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF PENTECOST
June 22, 2025

PRELUDE:   Shall We Gather At The River                                                                 arr. Mayo

CALL TO WORSHIP: 

One:         Friends, we gather today to affirm our baptisms.  Through baptism we recognize and claim one another as kin in the family of Christ. We are taken into the community of God, nurtured in faith and justice, and eternally embraced as a child of the Divine, one among the many in the body of Christ.
All:           Through our baptism, we are placed in the care of the community and in the love of God that has nurtured our becoming.  This grace has held us through transitions of many kinds. On this day, we affirm that the grace and love that once claimed us and still claims us today. On this day, we affirm that our beloved and changing bodies have been, are, and will always be held and blessed by God’s grace. 

OPENING HYMN:  I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (Here I Am, Lord)   GTG#69
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD: 

All:           Loving Newness, forgive us when our lives betray our baptisms…  When we fail to care for others – whether they share our faith or not. When we fail to celebrate the transitions and becomings of others;  When our lives fail to be clear signs of your love in a cruel world; When we fail to continue on the path of learning and growth. Make us advocates of your love, seekers of your justice, and companions to all who long for the transformation of the world.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:

One:         Remember your baptism. You are being made new over and over again.  Remember, even in your grief, you are held in the Still Living Waters of Creation, determined, with hearts on fire, to bless the world back.
All:           Yes! Thanks be to God. 

SUNG RESPONSE:    Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! (refrain, sing twice)   GTG#591
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:          God revealed in fire, earthquake, water and silence,
All:           reveal yourself to us now in the reading of your holy Word. Amen. 

SCRIPTURE READINGS:   Galatians 3:23-29           Acts 8:26-40

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

MESSAGE:   (en)gendering gladness   
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:      Live into Hope    GTG#772
WELCOME:    News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying (sing once)   GTG#469
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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:          Those who were healed by Jesus declared to others how much God had done for them.
All:           As a grateful testimony of what God has done for us, let us return a portion of our resources. 

OFFERTORY SOLO:   June               Beach              Emma Witbolsfeugen, soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION: 

     One:          Generous God, may these gifts empower our witness to your work in the world.
All:           Amen.

CLOSING HYMN:  Will You Let Me Be Your Servant   GTG#727
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE:   Down To The River To Pray                                                                       arr. Hayes
 

A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING! 

• Today we welcome RENEE ZIMMERMAN who is leading music during worship, while Emily is on vacation.
• 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 will meet during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space. Children ages 5 through 11 are invited to meet with Martine and Rachel after the Passing of the Peace. They will rejoin their parents after the worship service ends.
• 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 & HEADPHONES available upon request. Talk to Deanna up in the front of the sanctuary at the livestream table if you would like to use one.

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 Wednesdays in the RESOURCE CENTER and Sundays as part of WESTPORT SHOWERS. Food donations of bread, fruit, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.
• BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED: Westport Center for the Arts is seeking board members who are interested in helping us keep community arts alive in Westport. We are a volunteer board who meets monthly (usually on the 4th Saturday of the month at 10 am) to work on planning programming, fundraising, community partnerships, and marketing. With the recent loss of our board president, we need people who are willing to fill some leadership roles within the organization. Our programming includes Monthly Brown Bag Concerts, Independent Professional Theater, The Dancing Word (poetry & dance) and Visual Art Exhibits. If you have an interest in the arts or know anyone who may be interested in serving on the board, please contact us at [email protected]. Support from our community is needed to keep our organization thriving.

CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUPS:   Sunday Mornings 

• 9:40 a.m.         “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm” lead by Jennifer White.
  Does it feel like everywhere you look the world is on fire? This weekly workshop will give you 1-5 minute tools to help deal with the stresses of our modern way of living.
• 10:00 a.m.       Book Discussion Group readings related to various topics including faith, art, culture, politics, earth care. Currently reading The Idiot, Novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

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

• Monday, Jun. 23                6:00 p.m.         Christian Ed & Worship Meeting (Broadway Café)
  • 6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
  • 7:30 p.m.         Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
• Tuesday, Jun. 24                6:00 p.m.         Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
• Wednesday, Jun. 25           10:00 a.m.       Resource Center Open (Storefront)
  • 11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
  • 4:30 p.m.         Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
  • 7:00 p.m.         Stewardship Committee Meeting (Online)
  • 8:00 p.m.         Mission & Outreach Committee Mtg. (Zoom)
• Thursday, Jun. 26              5:30 p.m.         Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non-conforming people (Basement)
• Friday, Jun. 27                    11:30 a.m.       Children’s Mercy TIES (Fellowship Room)
• Saturday, Jun. 28                8:30 a.m.         Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
  •  11:00 a.m.       WCA Board Meeting (Fellowship Room)
• Sunday, Jun. 29                  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)
                           Children’s Sunday School & Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
                          After Church  Pride Potluck (Fellowship Room)

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Monday, Jun. 30                5:30 p.m.         Westport Center for the Arts: Special Concert Event   “You, Me, Us: A Celebration of Queer Music for Saxophone & Piano”         Nick May, saxophone & Alex Li, piano (Sanctuary)          Artist Talk, Concert & Reception – Presented Free, Donations Welcomed

2025 MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:  from Riva Capellari & The League of Women Voters

• BAD BILLS THAT PASSED
• HJR 73 reverses provisions adopted by voters in Amendment 3 in November 2024. The measure will be placed on a statewide ballot at the November 2026 general election or earlier. It would impose a near-total ban on abortion and a prohibition on gender-affirming care for minors.
• HB 567 repeals provisions approved last year by voters as Proposition A. The bill blocks future automatic increases to the minimum wage and entirely repeals the sick leave provisions.
• HBs 594 eliminates state taxes on capital gains income. Initially applies to capital gains for individuals, primarily wealthy Missourians; phases in a capital gains tax cut for corporations.
  Increases the income tax credit for property taxes or rent paid by qualifying seniors (Circuit Breaker tax credit), eliminates sales tax for diapers, feminine hygiene/incontinent products, both good things.
• SB 22 revises the process for court actions challenging ballot titles. If a court finds the ballot title insufficient and unfair, the court must direct the Secretary of State to write a new ballot title before the court is allowed to write its own. This lengthy process makes it difficult or impossible to correct unfair ballot title language within the time constraints provided
• Lawmakers also passed a law allowing private electric companies to raise utility rates based on projected spending rather than actual costs, including construction on projects that haven’t even broken ground yet.

GOOD BILLS THAT PASSED

• HB 284 eliminates discrimination based on hairstyles; HB 937 requires policies against antisemitism.
• SB 10 modified the expiration date of FRA 2029 which taxes health care providers to raise additional revenue for the Medicaid program, critical to adequate funding.
• SB 79 expanding Medicaid coverage of hearing aid devices to all eligible participants, expanding prenatal testing, clarifying tele-health can be audio-only, and providing a supply of birth control up to 90 days (180 days if generic). Allows Farm Bureau to sell health care benefit plans that do not have to meet insurance regulations. (Bad part of the bill)
• SB 43 includes establishing 18 as the minimum age to marry, and establishes a diaper bank tax credit.

GOOD BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS

• HB 126 reinstate Missouri’s presidential preference primary, which was eliminated in 2022.
• HB 126 expand the no-excuse absentee voting period from the two weeks prior to an election to six weeks. Laws protecting election workers also did not pass.
• HB 1050 authorize local governments to enact firearms regulations deemed appropriate for their community.
• HB 695 prohibit children from possessing handguns.

BAD BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS

• No new law pertaining to parent access to school information, book bans, bathroom mandates, or any other similar mandates; no bills banning state agencies from spending funds on DEI initiatives, defining DEI using politically charged language that differed from the normal concept of “DEI” initiatives, raising uncertainty about how the bill would affect the work of state agencies.
• HB 711 created a voluntary system of public school open enrollment. Funding public school choice by the state  harms students and our public schools without essential criteria for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating  their effectiveness.
• No bills expanding a tax credit voucher or similar program to fund private education with public funds. (However, HB 12 does include the Governor’s proposed $50 million general revenue  appropriation to the State Treasurer for the state’s tax credit voucher.
• No bills to expand areas of the state where charter schools may be established without approval from the local school board.
• No bills passed that would reduce and eventually eliminate the state personal income tax. The top income tax rate would go from the current 4.7% to 4.0% in the next year and could eliminate the state income tax entirely over a period of many years. The bills were estimated to reduce state revenues by over $500 million within two fiscal years.
• HB 903 reduce local taxes on personal property, including school taxes, by an estimated $900 million over that three-year period.
• SB 57 remove the one cent Prop C sales tax for schools currently applied to groceries. This would remove about $150 million per year from the School District Trust Fund, without replacement from another source.
• HB 2274 repeals Missouri’s corporate income tax over a period of four years, estimated to reduce state revenues by $884 million. This limits the capacity of the legislature to invest in vital services.
• SB 594  requires school districts and charter schools to display the Ten Commandments in every building and classroom under their authority.
• No resolutions passed that would increase the approval requirement for citizen initiatives to change the Constitution and/or require the collection of more signatures.