From Paralyzed to Mobilized

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF EPIPHANY
February 9, 2025

PRELUDE:  There Is a Balm in GileadMark Patterson
CALL TO WORSHIP: 

     One:        We have come from different backgrounds and various roads to get here.
     All:         But we are all here seeking an experience of the holy.
     One:        Listen for the promise of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.
     All:         We are listening for God’s call in our lives. 

OPENING HYMN:  Here in This Place (Gather Us In)   GTG#401
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
     All:         God of the universe, Close Companion to all who struggle, we find it hard to be honest about our lives. We feel tossed about by political debates; unmoored by the animosity that eats away our community life. We lose our bearings and become frightened and angry. Help us to see ourselves more clearly. Give us the strength to acknowledge our faults and the kindness not to judge ourselves too harshly. Forgive us and strengthen us for fruitful lives of service. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:

     One:        The promise is this: God is faithful and steadfast, eager to forgive our sin and welcome us home. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
     All:         Thanks be to God!

SUNG RESPONSE:  Goodness Is Stronger than Evil   GTG#750
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. 

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Isaiah 6:1-8         1 Corinthians 15:1-11 

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

CHORAL ANTHEM:   Home By Another Road   Mark A. Miller
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

One:        Loving God, may your Spirit be with us all, showing us your Word and your Way.

All:         Amen.

MESSAGE:  From Paralyzed to Mobilized
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: There Is a Balm in Gilead  GTG#792
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:  Come, Bring Your Burdens to God  GTG#851
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES/INVITATION TO GIVE: 

One:        Through Jesus Christ we have come to know the abundance of God. Let us then give generously, as has been given to us.

OFFERTORY SOLO: An Instrument of Thy Peace—prayer of St. Francismusic by Gwyneth WalkerSarah Baxter, alto
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
     One:        Holy One, we give you thanks for your generosity to us. Bless these gifts and multiply them, for the sake of those in need around us.
     All:          Amen.
CLOSING HYMN:    Every Time I Feel the Spirit  GTG#66
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE: In Christ There Is No East or West (MCKEE)Anna Laura Page

 

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! 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.
• 2025 PER CAPITA is $44.98 per member. This money helps support our denomination on the regional and national levels. The breakdown is: $10.84 to General Assembly, $3.15 to Synod of Mid-America, and $30.99 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!

 

MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:

• ¬WINTER WEATHER CLOTHING DRIVE: 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 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.

 

CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUPS:
Sunday Mornings 

9:30 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 Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell

 

 

 

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

     Monday, Feb. 10                 6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
                                                   7:30 p.m.         Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
     Tuesday, Feb. 11                4:30 p.m.         Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
5:30 p.m.         Happy Hour Gathering (Location TBD)
                                                7:00 p.m.         Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
     Wednesday, Feb. 12           10:00 a.m.        Resource Center Open (Storefront)
11:00 a.m.        Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
     Thursday, Feb. 13               5:30 p.m.         Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non-conforming people (Basement)
     Saturday, Feb. 15                8:30 a.m.          Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
     Sunday, Feb. 16                  8-9:30 a.m.       Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement) 

Connection Hour Small Groups:
9:30 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)

                                      12:15 p.m.        Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

 

LOOKING AHEAD:

 

     Friday, Feb. 21                    12 noon           Westport Center for the Arts’ Brown Bag Concert Series: The Lyric Duo – Eva Peng, lyric soprano & Anthony Olson, pianist  “Harmony of the East: A Journey through Chinese Folksongs and Their Stories” (Sanctuary) 

Saturday, Feb. 22                10 a.m.             Westport Center for the Arts Board Meeting (Fellowship Room)

MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
from Riva and the League of Women Voters

There will be weekly information on bills moving through the legislative system. If you would like to read more about individual bills please go to the house and senate websites (house.mo.gov – HB bills) (senate.mo.gov – SB bills). You will also find the emails to all legislators there.

If you would like to receive the weekly Legislative Action Newsletter from the League of Women Voters KC, visit the website lwvkc.org and click on the red sign-up box on top of the page. You do not have to be a member of the league to do this. You can also share the alert with others.

• HB35, 1016, 1038, 1081 Repeals original expiration date for gender treatments for minors
• Concerns: Putting health care decisions into the hands of lawmakers instead of doctors and parents. Will mean that all those now in treatment will have to cease which could create serious health issues.
• HJR54, HB195 and HB1119 These bills put restrictions on personal choice in regards to reproductive rights. It also includes provisions whereby medical professionals could be prosecuted. This protection was embedded in the Reproductive Freedom Amendment that was just passed.
• SB77 Allows a person to carry a concealed firearm with a valid permit on any public transporation system (buses, streetcar, etc.) Concerns: Passengers will be trapped in a moving vehicle in the event gunfire occurs. Puts passengers and bus driver in peril.