Listen For God’s Message

Westport Presbyterian Church   1835 – present
Baptism of the Lord Sunday
January 21, 2024­­

(Video will be posted LIVE on the church’s FB page at 11am and then cross-posted here afterward.  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)

 “The voice of the Lord is over the waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful and full of majesty.”

                                   -Psalm 29:3-4

PRELUDE:    Voluntary in C major             John Stanley
ADVENT SCRIPTURE READING:   Mark 1: 1-14
OPENING HYMN:   Down Galilee’s Slow Roadways   GTG#164
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH:                       Susan Wesley Hartley & Marian Thomas 

Leader:     O Christ, By your epiphany your light shines upon us, Giving us the fullness of salvation. Help us show your light to all we meet today.
 People:    Lord, have mercy.
Leader:     O Christ of glory, You humbled yourself to be baptized, Showing us the way of humility. Strengthen us to serve you in humility all the days of our life.
People:    Lord, have mercy.
Leader:     O Christ, By your baptism you cleansed us from our sin, Making us children of your Father. Give the grace of being a child of God to all who seek you.
People:    Lord, have mercy.
Leader:     O Christ, By your baptism you sanctified creation And opened the door of repentance To all who are baptized. Make us survants of your gospel in the world.
People:    Lord, have mercy.
Leader:     O Christ, By your baptism you revealed to us the glorious Trinity When the voice from heaven proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son,” And the Holy Spirit descended upon you like a dove. Renew a heart of worship within all the baptized.
People:    Lord, have mercy. 

UNISON PRAYER:

Merciful God, In baptism you promise forgiveness and new life, Making us part of the body of Christ. We confess that we remain preoccupied with ourselves, Separated from sisters and brothers in Christ. We cling to destructive habits, hold grudges, And show reluctance to welcome one another; We allow the past to hold us hostage. In your loving kindness, have mercy on us, And free us from sin. Remind us of the promises you make in baptism So that we may rise to new life, And live together in grace. Amen. 

SUNG RESPONSE:  Take Me to the Water   GTG#480
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:       Psalm 29: 1-4, 10-11         New Testament:    John 1: 14-34
CHORAL ANTHEM:   This Baptizing Day;       William Allen Pasch
MESSAGE:   Listen for God’s Message
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Lift Every Voice and Sing   GTG#339
WELCOMING, NEWS IN AROUND AND BEYOND THE COMMUNITY
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Come, Bring Your Burdens to God   GTG#851
MORNING PRAYER, LORD’S PRAYER (Mother Father God)
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY:   My Son, the Beloved;   David Blackwell;  Emma Witbolsfeugen, mezzo soprano
                 Offering link
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
CLOSING HYMN:   Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door   GTG#728
BENEDICTION:   Acts 19:1-7
BENEDICTION RESPONSE:   Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door (CHORUS)
POSTLUDE:   When Peace, Like a River                            Michael Larkin

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING FOLLOWING THE SERVICE

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, Sunday mornings during the 1st half of worship, beginning at 11:00 am.
• Our Annual CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held today immediately following worship. We will receive reports from committee chairs and review the church budget for 2024.
• 2024 PER CAPITA is $43.94 per member. This money helps support our denomination on the regional and national levels. The breakdown is: $9.80 to General Assembly, $3.15 to Synod, 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:

•  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!