God is Working God’s Purpose Out

Westport Presbyterian Church   1835 – present
First Sunday of Christmas
December 31, 2023­­ 

PRELUDE:   Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming; arr. Sowash

OPENING HYMN:  Mary and Joseph Came to the Temple   GTG#148
ADVENT SCRIPTURE READING:   Luke 2:21-40
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH:                                                  Charles Gay & Jim Turner 

Leader:     Today we re-light our Advent wreath and Christ candle in honor of Simeon and the prophetess Anna. They patiently waited many years for the Christ to be revealed as they worshipped and served in the Temple in Jerusalem. When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus to the priest for blessing, Anna and Simeon recongnized Jesus to be God’s promised Savior. They shared their joy publically, but privately warned that the changes and justice God sought would bring rejection and violence to Jesus and Mary for people do not give up power and wealth easily. 

LIGHT ALL THE CANDLES
UNISON PRAYER: 

O God of Justice and Mercy – help us to join you and seek to bring peace through justice, joy through healing, and love through shared power and resources. Amen.

SUNG RESPONSE:  Jesus, Jesus, O What a Wonderful Child   GTG#126
PASSING OF PEACE: 

     Pastor:      The grace, peace, love and joy of Jesus Christ be with you.
     People:    And also with you.
     Pastor:      Let us share the peace of Christ with each other. 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

     Pastor:      Let the words of my mouth
     People:    And the meditations of our hearts
     Pastor:      Be acceptable to You,
     People:    O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.   Amen. 

SCRIPTURE READINGS:  Hebrew Bible:  Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; New Testament: Ephesians 1:15-20a, 22-23
MESSAGE:   God is Working God’s Purpose Out         Pastor Susan Wesley Hartley
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:  Infant Holy, Infant Lowly   GTG#128
WELCOMING, NEWS IN AROUND AND BEYOND THE COMMUNITY
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:    Come, Bring Your Burdens to God (SING TWICE)   GTG#851
MORNING PRAYER, LORD’S PRAYER (Mother Father God)
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY:   Song of Simeon, Orlando Lassus; Sarah Baxter, mezzo soprano 

            Lord, let thy servant now depart, in peace and joy and meet oblation;
            They word is hidden in my heart; mine eyes have seen thy salvation.
            To be a light to nations shining, and to thy people Israel,
            Glory, honor, praise combining, “God with us”, Emmanuel
            Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and to the Holy Ghost
            Sing praises, while timeless ages run,
            World without end, amen. 

PRAYER OF DEDICATION
CLOSING HYMN:   Go, Tell It on the Mountain   GTG#136
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE:   Angels We Have Heard on High                                   French Carol, arr. John Purifoy

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 is back in action in the redesigned 2nd floor Children’s Space, teaching & learning will emphasize Care for the Earth, Sky and all God’s creation. Sunday mornings during the 1st half of worship, beginning at 11:00 am.
• Our Annual CONGREGATIONAL MEETING has been called by the session for Sunday, Jan. 7 after worship. We will receive reports from committee chairs and review the church budget for 2024. 

MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:

• Bread, Buns, Fruit, Water, Meat, Peanut Butter, Cheese are always needed for our INTERRUPT HUNGER work. WESTPORT SHOWERS happens on Sundays & Thursday nights. Men’s boxer brief underwear needed. Men’s and Women’s shoes. Backpacks! Coats, Sweatshirts, Warm Clothes for this cold weather!
• WESTPORT SHOWERS is taking a break from our weekday Lunch Bag program on New Year’s Day (Mon. Jan. 1). We will resume lunches on Tuesday.

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

Monday, Jan. 1                                                NEW YEAR’S DAY (Church Office Closed)
                                                6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
Tuesday, Jan. 2                        6:00 p.m.         Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
Wednesday, Jan. 3                  6:00 p.m.         Stewardship Committee Meeting (Fellowship Room)
7:00 p.m.         Zoom Bible Study – contact church office for link (Online) *meets every other week*
Thursday, Jan. 4                      5:30 p.m.         Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non-conforming people (Basement)
Saturday, Jan. 6                       8:30 a.m.         Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
10:00 a.m.       Cub Scouts (Westport Rising Room)
Sunday, Jan. 7                         8-9:30 a.m.      Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
11:00 a.m.       Service of the Lord’s Day: Epiphany Sunday (Sanctuary)
                                                                       Children’s Sunday School (Upstairs Children’s Room)
12:15 p.m.       Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary) 

LOOKING AHEAD: 

Tuesday, Jan. 9                        7:00 p.m.         Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
Monday, Jan. 15                      12:00 noon      Westport Center for the Arts’ Brown Bag Concert Series: Doug Talley Quartet – Jazz Concert to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Sanctuary)