Hope and Fear In An Election Year (Part 3)

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
ALL SAINTS SUNDAY
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
November 3, 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:   Come, My Way                                                              Vaughan Williams/Daniel Burton
CALL TO WORSHIP:   What is All Saints’ Day?

All Saints’ Day has been celebrated around November 1 since the ninth century. And the church needed a day to celebrate all the saints, remembered and forgotten, known and unknown. Let’s take a moment to thank God for all those who have been important to us… Now let us worship God. 

OPENING HYMN:     For All the Saints   GTG#326
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:

Eternal God, in every age you have raised up children, women, and men to live and die in faith. Most days we live beneath this invitation to live in faith, hope, and love. In your mercy, forgive us. Give us courage to follow Jesus’ way of peace and justice, so the joined with those from ages past, we may become the meek who inherit the earth. Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE: 

One:          In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
All:           Thanks be to God!

SUNG RESPONSE:   Halle, Halle, Hallelujah!   GTG#591
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 READING:   Deuteronomy 6: 1-9         Hebrews 9: 11-14
CHORAL ANTHEM:   This Host in Shining Robes              John Helgen           Meribeth Risebig, oboe
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION: 

One:          Faithful God, how blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
All:           Pour out on us afresh your Spirit, that we might hear your word and awake to all that’s here.  

MESSAGE:   Hope and Fear In An Election Year (Part 3)                                             Rev. Jared Witt
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:  Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation   GTG#394
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Come, Bring Your Burdens to God   GTG#851
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER:  (Our mother and Father in heaven…)
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION:
THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES/INVITATION TO GIVE:
                 With glad and generous hearts, let us bring our tithes and offerings to the God who has so richly blessed us.
                 Offering link
OFFERTORY SOLO:   Going Up               Spiritual arranged by Peter Hilliard                 Josh Stark, baritone
PRAYER OF DEDICATION: 

One:          Generous and loving God, we thank you for the many blessings in our lives. As you have so freely given your love in Jesus Christ, may we freely share your love with others through these gifts we offer today.
All:           May they be signs of our devotion to you and our willingness to love in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

INVITATION TO THE TABLE
GREAT THANKSGIVING
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION: 

All:           Sustaining God, in this holy feast you have made us one with Christ and with that great multitude of the faithful – those who hunger and thirst no more. Guide our paths in the wisdom of Spirit until we join the great choir of all your beloved people. Amen. 

GIVING STORIES                     Marian Thomas
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
CLOSING HYMN:     I Sing a Song of the Saints of God   GTG#730
BLESSING
POSTLUDE:   Fanfare on “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”  setting by Matthew Machemer

A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING! 

• NEW 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. Join us to discuss what we want to begin reading/studying.
• INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CHURCH? We will be receiving new members to the congregation this Fall. If you’re interested or just have questions, contact Pastor Jared!
• Our FALL PLEDGE DRIVE is underway. The Session has set a goal of $100,000. Please prayerfully consider what you are able to give in the coming year to help us reach our larger goals of making space for God’s grace here at Westport Presby. Our mission is to uncover what Jesus is doing now—here in the heart of the city—and follow him! PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR GOAL by submitting a pledge card by Sunday, November 10!  Or submit your pledge online at westportpresbyterian.org/pledge-drive/

MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:

• 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 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 bread, fruit, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.

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

     Monday, Nov. 4                 6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m.         Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
     Tuesday, Nov. 5                 6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.        ELECTION DAY – Polls Open (Fellowship Room)
4:30 p.m.         FREDitation – a centering prayer experience – 20 min (Chapel)
6:00 p.m.         Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
     Thursday, Nov. 7               9:15 a.m.         Voting Equipment Picked Up (Fellowship Room)
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, Nov. 8                    10:00 a.m.       Children’s Mercy TIES (Fellowship Room)
Saturday, Nov. 9               8:30 a.m.         Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
10:00 a.m.       Cub Scouts (Westport Rising Room)
     Sunday, Nov. 10                8-9:30 a.m.      Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
NEW Connection Hour Small Groups:
9:30 a.m.         “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm”
10:00 a.m.       Book Discussion Group
11:00 a.m.       Pledge Sunday (help us reach our goal by this date)
Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Children’s Sunday School (Upstairs Children’s Room)

LOOKING AHEAD:

Tuesday, Nov. 12               7:00 p.m.         Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
Friday, Nov. 15                  12 noon           Westport Center for the Arts’ Brown Bag Concert Series: Lyric Arts Trio (Sanctuary)
Wednesday, Nov. 20         8:00 p.m.         Mission & Outreach Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Sunday, Nov. 24                12:00 p.m.       Friendsgiving Potluck (Fellowhip Room)