In Person and Livestream Worship Service—a service to souls!
Westport Presbyterian Church—The Phoenix is rising!
September 25, 2022, 11:00 am
(Video will be posted LIVE on the church’s FB page at 11am and then cross-posted here. 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)
PRELUDE: Allemande from The Danserye—Tylman Susato
CALL TO RETURN TO OUR SOULS—Filling and Emptying
Leader: Be filled with the passion of radical compassion.
People: Be emptied of indifference.
Leader: Be filled with curiosity.
People: Be emptied of apathy.
Leader: Be filled with faithfulness.
People: Be emptied of fearfulness.
Leader: Be filled with the self giving love of Jesus.
People: Be emptied of the strange idea—
Leader: That we are at the center of everything.
People: Be filled.
Leader: Be emptied.
HYMN: Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken #81GTG
RESPONSIVE CONFESSION
Leader: Do not get lost in a sea of despair.
People: Be hopeful.
Leader: Be optimistic.
People: Our struggle will not be a brief one.
Leader: Our struggle is the struggle of a lifetime.
People: Never, ever be afraid to make some noise
Leader: And get into good trouble,
People: Necessary trouble.
Leader: Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people
People: To make a difference in our society.
—adapted from words of John Lewis
HYMN: Jesus, We Are Here (English and Shona) #392GTG
SCRIPTURE: 1 John 4:7-21 Isaiah 41:10
SUNG RESPONSE: Be Not Afraid (sing twice) #243GTG
Leader: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
Leader: Be acceptable to You, O Lord,
People: Our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
SERMON: Fear Knocked on the Door. Faith and Love Answered. No One was There.
HYMN: Give to the Winds Thy Fears #815GTG
WELCOMING
PRAYER: Matthew 25 Prayer, Lord’s Prayer, Congregational Sung Response
HYMN: Come, Bring Your Burdens to God(sing twice) #851GTG
OFFERTORY: Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land—Kyle Johnson, The ensemble
Offering link
RESPONSIVE PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Leader: May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses.
People: May those frightened cease to be afraid.
Leader; And may those bound be free.
People: May the powerless find power.
Leader: And may people think of befriending one another.
People: May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wilderness—
Leader: The children.
People: The aged.
Leader: The unprotected—
People: Be guarded now and always.
All: Amen.
–Buddhist prayer
HYMN: Soon and Very Soon #384GTG
BENEDICTION
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Lead Me, Guide Me (Sing Twice) #740GTG
POSTLUDE: Soon and Very Soon—words and music by Andraé Crouch; arr. Phillip Keveren
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS
*Thanks to everyone making Westport Showers happen on Sunday and Thursday and Westport Weekday Food Refuge every weekday. We are grateful for your support, and we praise God for your faithfulness. We need water again, chips, lunch meat.
Please consider signing the MORE2 statement of support on the book table at the back of the sanctuary. This statement calls for local control of the Kansas City Police Department.
*#GoodTroubleKC. Stan Morgan, Rev Scott, Marian Thomas, Karen Daniels (niece of pioneering Black police chief in KCK), John Simpson (retired attorney, leader of Social Justice Committee of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church), are working for local control, and we are also working with the Urban League on a campaign to Vote NO on the statewide measure that would compel cities to spend 25% on the police budget (An unfunded mandate, government over reach). We are NOT for Defund. *We are FOR REFORM, eg More Black and Brown police officers and promotions to higher office, equity audit process to begin ending White Supremacy culture in KCPD, police union support for Common Sense Gun Reform and ban on assault weapons sales.
*Safe Service of Holy, Holy Communion AND Holy Community Next Sunday, October 2, 11 am
*Memorial Service for Fred Culver, Saturday, Oct. 8, 1:00 pm here.
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