WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF EPIPHANY
January 25, 2026
PRELUDE: He Leadeth Me L. Harmon
CALL TO WORSHIP: (Psalm 27:1)
One: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
All: The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
One: We gather in the presence of God. Let us open our hearts and minds in worship.
*OPENING HYMN (You may rise in Body or Spirit): Lift High the Cross (verses 1, 2, 4) GTG#826
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
All: Gracious God, when despair, confusion, and pain overwhelm us, we cry out because we feel abandoned. We doubt your presence and your promises. We assume you have turned away from us. We imagine ourselves as people forsaken and alone. In these moments, strengthen our faith and fill our hearts with courage. We believe, God. Help our unbelief. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE: (from Psalm 103:17)
One: “The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.” Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
All: Thanks be to God!
SUNG RESPONSE: In My Life (verses 1-2) GTG#467
[Time with Young Disciples]
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 of epiphanies, you reveal yourself to us in diverse and numerous ways. Free us from the distractions that turn our focus away from your goodness. Open us to the truth you reveal to us today. Amen.
All: Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 27: 1, 4-9 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.
CHORAL ANTHEM: Weave Us In Community K. Marolli
MESSAGE: This Beautiful Mess: Finding Delight When the World Is Ugly Rev. Jared Witt
*CONGREGATIONAL HYMN (You may rise in Body or Spirit): When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (verses 1, 2, 4) GTG#223
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Kum ba Yah (verses 1, 4) GTG#472
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 return a portion of the gifts we have been given to Christ’s ministry and those most in need.
OFFERTORY SOLO: The Quiet Heart by JN Beck Nico Caruso, tenor
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Holy God, we present these offerings to you in faith. We trust that you will bless and use them to further Christ’s ministry and serve those in need. May these gifts bless those we know who are suffering and those known only to you.
All: Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN (You may rise in Body or Spirit): #846 Glory to God Fight the Good Fight (verses 1-3)
*CHARGE AND BLESSING
*POSTLUDE: Rejoice the Lord is King arr. N. Smith
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. Children are invited to remain in the service until the “Time for Young Disciples” and then they can go play in the upstairs children’s room.
- 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.
- 2026 PER CAPITA is $45.91 per church member. This money helps support our denomination on the regional and national levels. The breakdown is: $11.26 to General Assembly, $3.15 to Synod of Mid-America, and $31.50 to Heartland Presbytery. If you would like to help out the church by paying your own Per Capita, make your check out to Westport Presbyterian Church or place money in a pew envelope and include “per Capita” on the memo line. Thank You!
- CHILDREN’S CHOIR PRACTICE: Any kids that want to sing the anthem with the choir on Feb. 22 please join Renee at the front of the sanctuary 10:00-10:15 starting January 25.
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 fruit cups, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.
- WINTER WEATHER CLOTHING DRIVE: Through the cold weather months Westport Showers will be collecting coats, hats, gloves, warm socks, shoes 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: Photographer, Grant Writer, Visual Arts Program Director. If interested, email [email protected] or speak with Josh Stark or Deanna Capps.
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 Breathing Under Water: The Spirituality of the 12 Steps, by Richard Rohr.
- The OVERCOMING OVERWHELM group (meets Sunday mornings at 9:40 a.m.) has decided to take a break from our regular class activities to do some small projects that would help benefit the church. Some possibilities include: helping with mailings, folding brochures, cleaning out or organizing areas of the church that need attention, and anything else we can come up with. Anyone is welcome to join us in that week’s activities, and if we have time we may do a meditation as well. 😊
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK: (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
- Monday, Jan. 26 5:00 p.m. MO Workers Center Meeting (Fellowship Room)
6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room) - Tuesday, Jan. 27 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
- Thursday, Jan. 29 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non-conforming people (Basement)
6:30 p.m. Community Conversations – Panel Discussion (featuring Pastor Jared)
7:30 p.m. “A Man for All Seasons” (Warwick Theater, 3927 Main St, KCMO) - Friday, Jan. 30 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
- Saturday, Jan. 31 8:30 a.m. Private Rental – Meeting (Storefront)
- Sunday, Feb. 1 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
10:00 a.m. Children’s Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
12:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
5:00 p.m. Chili/Soup Dinner (Fellowship Room)
6:00 p.m. Taizé Service (Sanctuary)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Saturday, Feb. 7 2:30 p.m. PNC Meeting (Fellowship Room)
Saturday, Mar. 7 5:45-7:30 p.m. Iftar Gathering/Ramadan Fast Breaking Dinner
Second Pres, Rolling Hills Pres & Westport Pres
with the Dialogue Institute of Kansas City
(at Second Presbyterian Church, 318 E 55th St, KCMO)
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