Healing as Belonging

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
March 22, 2026

PRELUDE: My Comfort by Day, My Song in the Night arr. G. Martin
CALL TO WORSHIP: (from Psalm 130)

One: Out of the depths we call to you, O Lord.
All: Let your ears hear our supplication.
One: We wait for you, O God. In your word is our hope.
All: We wait for you, O Lord, for with you there is mercy.
One: Come. Let us worship God.

OPENING HYMN:  #718 Glory to God Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said (verses 1, 2, 3)
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:

All: God, we are a busy people. Distracted and distressed.
We become pre-occupied with work, errands, and entertainment.
We focus on our own needs and fail to register the needs of those around us.
We end up doing what we don’t want to do,
and failing to do what most needs to be done.
We ask for your forgiveness and for your guidance on the path of peacemaking.
Set our feet on the wise way, and provide us with friends and support.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE: (from Psalm 130, The Message translation)

One: “If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped.”
Friends, through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
All: Amen.

SUNG RESPONSE:  #468 Glory to God In My Life (verses 1-2)
[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: Gracious God, we listen for your voice in these ancient stories, collected and passed down to us by the earliest generations of those following the way of Jesus. Open our ears and our hearts.
All: Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING: John 9:1-41

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

CHORAL ANTHEM: Jesus Paid It All arr. Sterling
MESSAGE: Healing as Belonging Rev. Jared Witt
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Apostles’ Creed):

All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: #314 Glory to God Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness (verses 1, 2, 5)
LOVE THEM NOW AWARD
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:  #472 Glory to God Kum ba Yah (verses 1, 4)
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: Everything we have, we owe to the grace of God.
Therefore, it is only right that we return a portion of those gifts to God,
whether it be financial, our skills and talents, or our relationships.
Let us take this moment to give these gifts to God.

OFFERTORY SOLO: Anthem of Healing E. Meyer    Nico Caruso, tenor
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:

One: Loving God, we offer these gifts to you, fruits of our labors and a token of our appreciation for everything that you have done for us and given to us. We pray that you guide their use for the wellbeing of your creation.
All: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN: #807 Glory to God When We Must Bear Persistent Pain (verses 1, 2, 4)
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE: Abide With Me S. Saxton

 

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.
• CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUP:
  Sunday Mornings
  10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group readings related to various topics including faith, art, culture, politics, earth care. Currently reading Search: A Novel, by Michelle Huneven.

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, squeeze jelly are always needed.
• 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: Grant Writer, Visual Arts Program Director. If interested, email admin@wcakc.org or speak with Josh Stark or Deanna Capps.

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

• Today, Mar. 22 5:00 p.m. Chili/Soup Dinner (Fellowship Room)
  6:00 p.m. Taizé Service –Meditative Singing by Candlelight (Sanctuary)
• Monday, Mar. 23 5:30 p.m. MO Workers Center Training (Fellowship Room)
  6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
  7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
• Tuesday, Mar. 24 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
• Wednesday, Mar. 25 7:00 p.m. Stewardship Committee Meeting (Zoom)
• Thursday, Mar. 26 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
• Friday, Mar. 27 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
• Saturday, Mar. 28 8:30 a.m. Private Rental – Meeting (Storefront)
• Sunday, Mar. 29 PALM/PASSION SUNDAY
  8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
  • • Connection Hour Small Groups:
      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)
    • Children’s Sunday School/Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
    • 12:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
    • HOLY WEEK AT WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
      PALM/PASSION SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE Sunday, March 29 11 a.m.
      GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE SERVICE Friday, April 3 6:00 p.m.
      EASTER SUNDAY COMMUNION SERVICE Sunday, April 5 11 a.m.
      If you would like to order an Easter Lily for Easter Sunday, please use the sign-up sheet at the back of the sanctuary (please include your dedication), or you may contact the church office. The cost is $15 each. You can pay by check or cash and write Easter Lily in the memo line or on the pew envelope. Orders are due by March 29 (Palm Sunday).

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

• Absentee ballot applications are available now for April 7 election.
  Absentee voting with an excuse: until March 23; without out an excuse: begins March 24

No Excuse – Absentee Voting Locations

• Kansas City Election Board Weekdays Mar 24-Apr 3 8am-6pm (KCEB only hours)
  4405 E. 50th Terrace Saturday Apr 4 8am-12pm
  Kansas City, MO 64130 Monday April 6 8am-5pm
• Fellowship Right Baptist Church Garrison Community Center (NOT open April 4)
  4700 Pittman Rd 1124 E. 5th
  Kansas City, MO 64133 Kansas City, MO 64106
• Mount Christian Worship Center Palestine Senior Center
  1800 E. 79th St. (Corner of 79th and Paseo) 3325 Prospect Ave
  Kansas City, MO 64132 Kansas City, MO 62128
• Second Presbyterian Church United Believers Community Church
  318 E. 55th St 5600 E. 112 Ter
  Kansas City, MO 64113 Kansas City, MO 64134
• Hours for all locations, except KCEB
  Weekdays, March 24 – April 3 10am – 6pm Saturday, April 4 8am – 12pm
  Live in KC? Go to KCEB.org. Live in Jackson County outside of KC? Go to JCEB.org. Outside of these counties, go to Secretary of State’s office sos.mo.gov

The Leagues Vote411.org publication is now live online for election information. Remember to check your voter registration!!

KC League is producing 8 school board forums with 38 candidates.
The sign up is on the main page of the website LWVKC.org. They all run from 6:30-8:30. Generally these are recorded so if you cannot view live, you can watch them later by going to the website (you do not have to be a member to view these videos).
•March 24: Raymore-Peculiar March 25: Hickman Mills
•March 26: North Kansas City March 31: Lee’s Summit
•April 1: Blue Springs April 2: Independence

Concerned? Reach out to your legislators: senate.mo.gov (the MO senate home page), scroll down right side of page to Legislator Lookup. Click on this, fill out your address and it will show you your elected officials.

Article on the state income tax bill: https://missouriindependent.com/2026/03/16/missouri-lawmakers-are-promising-tax-cuts-while-making-the-math-harder/

Article on redistricting: https://missouriindependent.com/2026/03/12/judge-rules-gerrymandered-missouri-congressional-map-is-constitutional/

MO Legislators were on spring break this past week. House has passed 480 bills through committee; the Senate, 135. House has sent 88 House bills to the Senate; the Senate, only 21 Senate bills to the House.