WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
24TH Sunday after Pentecost
PLEDGE SUNDAY
November 8, 2026
PRELUDE: Wachet Auf JS Bach
CALL TO WORSHIP: Joanne Sunshower, liturgist
One: People of God, listen: The Lord has done marvelous things.
All: We will teach our children and grandchildren all that God has done, so that they may live in hope and die in peace.
One: Let us worship the living God.
OPENING HYMN: #362 Glory to God Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers
PRAYER OF REFLECTION & RENEWAL:
All: Holy and gracious God, you are our strength and our delight; You give us all we need to live. Yet we are distracted by what glitters. We keep grasping for more than we need. We chase after fleeting forms of happiness, forgetting that real satisfaction comes from serving others. Turn us back to you, for we know that you are the fount of all that is good. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:
One: Hear the good news: Nothing in life or in death Can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Believe the good news: we are forgiven and loved.
All: Thanks be to God!
SUNG RESPONSE: #648 Glory to God Thankful Hearts and Voices Raise
GENEROSITY STORIES Linda Smith
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.
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: #282 Glory to God Come Down, O Love Divine (verse 1)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER:
All: 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: Freely we have received; freely we give, with gratitude and joy.
OFFERTORY DUET: Christ Be Our Light Emma WitbolsFeugen, soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Gracious God, receive our gifts, tokens of thanks for your extravagant blessings, signs of trust in your coming realm of justice, peace, and love.
All: Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
One: By the power of your Holy Spirit, speak to us of your promises that we might hear your truth and enjoy you forever.
All: Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-18, 23-25 (pages 205-6) Matthew 25:1-13 (pages 26-27)
One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.
CHORAL ANTHEM: Keep Your Lamps arr. A Thomas Solo: Emma WitbolsFeugen, soprano
MESSAGE: Fresh Mercies Every Day Rev. Jared Witt
MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: #39 Glory to God Great Is Thy Faithfulness
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
CLOSING HYMN: #351 Glory to God All Who Love and Serve Your City
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE: Behold the Bridegroom Cometh GF Root
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 will meet during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space. Children are invited to remain in the service until the “Time for Young Disciples” and then go upstairs for the remainder of the service.
- 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.
- CHILDREN’S CHOIR PRACTICE: Kids that want to sing with the choir are invited to join Renee in the front of the sanctuary on Sunday mornings from 10:00-10:25 a.m.
- Our FALL PLEDGE DRIVE is wrapping up. The Church Session & Stewardship Committee are asking all in our community to make a financial pledge for 2027. Every pledge – large or small – will help us resource our ministries, compensate our staff, and improve our facilities. TODAY IS PLEDGE SUNDAY and we’d love to have your pledge today. You can place your pledge card in the offering plate, turn it in to the church office, or submit your pledge online at westportpresbyterian.org/pledge-drive/ Thank you for supporting our church and our mission to follow Jesus in ministries of service, healing, justice and prayer; and to make the city a better place for people to live, work and worship.
- WPC Fall Mini-Retreat: An Invitation to Post-Election Re-Connection
Sat, Nov. 14, 8:30 am-1 pm
WPC will host a small retreat designed to create space for re-connecting what so often feels dis-connected. Through simple rhythms of Scripture and poetry readings, silence and conversation, we’ll experiment with ways to reconnect to our bodies, our strengths, our wisdom, our places, and our communities. Please RSVP so that we can plan for breakfast and lunch. Let us know of any food allergies.
Cost for the retreat is $20. If the cost is prohibitive for you, just email jared@westportpresbyterian.org and we will make sure you can attend. To register use the sign-up sheet at the back of our sanctuary or online at https://westportpresbyterian.org/fall-mini-retreat/ - BAKERS/VOLUNTEERS WANTED: Our Annual Holiday Cookie Sale Fundraiser is Sat, Dec. 5, from 12 noon-3 pm. Can you bake a couple of dozen Christmas cookies? Helpers also needed to setup/sell/pack boxes on the day of the sale. Sign up sheets are in the back of the Sanctuary. Let us know if you can help with this fun holiday tradition!
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 Thursdays in the RESOURCE CENTER and Sundays as part of WESTPORT SHOWERS. Food donations of fruit cups, meat, cheese, peanut butter, squeeze jelly are always needed.
- WINTER WEATHER CLOTHING DRIVE: As cooler weather approaches 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.
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK: (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
Monday, Nov. 9 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Chapel)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, Nov. 10 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
5:15 p.m. Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
Thursday, Nov. 12 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed (Fellowship Room)
5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
Friday, Nov. 13 11:30 a.m. Children’s Mercy TIES Group (Fellowship Room)
Saturday, Nov. 14 8:30 a.m. Private Rental – Meeting (Living Room/Library)
8:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. WPC Fall Mini-Retreat
2:00 p.m. Celebration of Life for James Kenison Russell Sr. (brother of Bob & Bill Russell) (Sanctuary)/
Sunday, Nov. 15 6:30-9:00 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group (Library)
10:00 a.m. Children’s Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Guest Pianist: Michael Dolman
Children’s Sunday School/Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
after church Friendsgiving Potluck (Fellowship Room)
2:00-5:00 p.m. MO Workers Center Town Hall (Fellowship Room)
6:00 p.m. Brad Gregory Sextet (Fellowship Room)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Wednesday, Nov. 18 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Willows Woods Grandparents Day (Sanctuary & Fellowship Room)
5:45-7 p.m. Fall Bible Study (Church Living Room)
8:00 p.m. Mission & Outreach Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Friday, Nov. 20 12 noon WCA Brown Bag Concert Series: Lyric Duo (Sanctuary)
Saturday, Nov. 21 6-9:00 p.m. WCA Visual Art Exhibit Opening: Jennifer Renee (Chapel)
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