Freedom Takes Form: The Shape of Life

WESTPORT RISING WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF PENTECOST
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
September 1, 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) 

PRELUDE:   Ballo del granduca                                                                     Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

CALL TO WORSHIP:

One:         We find ourselves startled awake, Awash in goodness of all kinds.
     All:           And for all this we give thanks to God, Who lavishes our lives with abundance.

OPENING HYMN:  Called as Partners in Christ’s Service   GTG #761

UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED FOR GOD: 

All:          Gift-giving God, free us from divided hearts. Heal us of our fractured lives. Integrate the different parts of who we are so that how we live and speak is aligned with the good news of Jesus Christ. Forgive us for wanting lives with little responsibility. Forgive us when we forget that your gifts are to be used for the good of others. Help us to welcome your Spirit’s guidance for the shape of our lives. Amen.

SILENT CONFESSION

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE: 

One:         Friends, do not despair. God renews and forgives us in the Spirit of Christ, That we might become the first-fruits of God’s creation. Welcome this blessing and let it fill you with strength.
    All:           Thanks be to God. 

SUNG RESPONSE:   Alleluia (sing twice)   GTG #586

SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST: 

One:          The peace of Christ be with you.
     All:           And also with you.
     One:          Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:      Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9     James 1: 17-27
CHORAL ANTHEM:   Word Made Flesh                                                                        Gabriel Fauré
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION: 

One:     Lord, by the power of your Spirit, open our hearts, minds and bodies to receive your Word. Let us never forget the wonders of your care for the world; Nor neglect to make your lavish giving known to our children.
     All:     Amen.

SERMON:   Freedom Takes Form: The Shape of Life                                           Rev. Jared Witt

SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:  Come, Bring Your Burdens to God (sing twice)   GTG#851
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER:
(Our Mother and Father in heaven…)

THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES/INVITATION TO GIVE
                 Offering link
OFFERTORY SOLO:   Flow Not So Fast, Ye Fountains          John Dowland
Joshua Stark, baritone

PRAYER OF DEDICATION: 

One:     O God, receive these gifts for the work of your church. With these gifts we dedicate our lives to Jesus’ way of kindness and compassion.
All:   And we commit ourselves to a way of life shaped by love and service. Amen.

CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION:

INVITATION TO THE TABLE

GREAT THANKSGIVING

BREAKING OF THE BREAD

COMMUNION

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION:

     All:     O God, author and giver of all good things, Plant in our hearts the love of your name; Increase in us true religion; Nourish us with all goodness through this meal, And bring forth in us the fruit of good works. We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.

WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community

CLOSING HYMN:  Lord, Make Us More Holy   GTG #313

BLESSING

POSTLUDE:   Prelude in F major, BWV 928                                        J.S. Bach

 A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING!

• Today we welcome Renee Zimmerman who is leading music during worship, as Emily is sick and Nico Caruso who is joining our choir!
• 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.
• Deacon’s would like to update our church’s PRAYER CHAIN LIST. If you would like to be included on the prayer chain (to receive a call when there is a prayer concern among those in the congregation, and pass it on to the next person) please let Nancy Gay know that you are interested.

MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:

• Bread, Buns, Fruit, Water, Meat, Peanut Butter, Cheese are always needed for our INTERRUPT HUNGER work.
• 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.
• FALL WEATHER CLOTHING DRIVE: To prepare for the colder months ahead Westport Showers is collecting coats, hats, gloves, warm socks, and boots. Look through your closets and see if you have any extra items you can donate.
• 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.

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

Monday, Sept. 2          LABOR DAY HOLIDAY (Church Office Closed)
6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)

Tuesday, Sept. 3          11:00 a.m.        Sack Lunches Distributed (Front Door)
6:00 p.m.         Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)

Wednesday, Sept. 4            10:00 a.m.        Resource Center Open (Storefront)
11:00 a.m.        Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)

Thursday, Sept. 5               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)

Friday, Sept. 6                    11:00 a.m.        Sack Lunches Distributed (Front Door)
6:00 p.m.         A Time of Remembering and Sharing Stories about Rev. Scott Myers

Saturday, Sept. 7                8:30 a.m.          Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
10:00 a.m.        Cub Scouts (Westport Rising Room)
7:00 p.m.         KC English Dance (Westport Rising Room)

Sunday, Sept. 8                   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, Sept. 10               7:00 p.m.         Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)

Wednesday, Sept. 11          7:00 p.m.         Zoom Bible Study – contact church office for link (Online)
*meets every other week*