Living By the Power of an Epiphany!

4th Sunday of Epiphany—Holy Season of Wonder and Light!
Westport Presbyterian Church—January 29, 2023, 11:00 am

(Video will be posted LIVE on the church’s FB page at 11am and then cross-posted here.  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: Sonata in G Major, K.V. 283: Andante—Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Mozart
RESPONSIVE CALL TO RETURN TO OUR SOULS (pastor: normal font people: bold font)

You are The Creative Mystery!
You are Divine Light!
You are the Unnamed Stupendous!
You are the Heavenly Father!
You are the Mother Miraculous!
You are Earth Maker!
Deep Heaven’ Source!
You are Healing Wisdom!
You are the One Whose Voice releases the voices of peoples long silenced!
The One Whose Truth is Everywhere!

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Comfort, Comfort, You My People
UNISON CALL TO CONFESSION AND COMMITMENT

This the hour of transformation every one of us needs. And so we confess, here in the presence of a Loving God: We have been blind—Now we would regain our sight. We have been asleep—We need to awaken. We have been in exile from our true selves—We desire to return. We have been empty—We seek to be filled. Our hearts have closed. Would you open them? We have forgotten You. But would You remember us? We have sinned—Would you forgive us? Amen.

SUNG BLESSED ASSURANCE OF GOD’S ACTIVE GRACE: Lead Me, Guide Me (sing twice)    #740 GtG
BIBLE READINGS:  Matthew 5:1-12 (from New Revised Standard Version and The Message) —Josh Stark and Rev Scott
ANTHEM: This Little Light of Mine—setting by George Mabry; The Westport Choir
PRAYER BEFORE SERMON

Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
Pastor: Be acceptable to you, O Lord
People: Our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen.

SERMON— Living By the Power of an Epiphany!
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Wounded World That Cries for Healing
WELCOMING
EPIPHANY PRAYER, LORD’S PRAYER, SUNG RESPONSE:  Jesu, Tawa Pano ( Jesus,We Are Here)    #392GtG
OFFERTORY:  Life Indeed —Handel/arr. John F. Wilson; Jennifer Weiman, mezzo soprano
                 Offering link
UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF OUR GIFTS, SOULS, LIVES:

Our greatness has always come From people who expect nothing And take nothing for granted Folks who work hard for what they have,Then reach back and help others after them. May God bless our reaching back. And helping others. Amen —adapted from Michelle Obama

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:  Siyahamba (marching, dancing, praying, singing)      #853 GtG
BENEDICTION
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE:  Siyahamba (siyahamba stanza))  #853 Glory to God
POSTLUDE: Sonata in C major, K. V. 545: Rondo—W. A. Mozart
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS

• Thanks to all who are joining in on the Pick Up Choir today and on the last Sundays of the month! Join us and sing your faith!
• We pray for Carly Simon and family in the passing of her brother, Darrell, and for Glenn Stewart, as she recovers from a broken leg.
• All are invited to Mister Sticky Notes Affinity Process on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 pm. Join the journey to think and discuss together our commitments, hopes, fears, questions, dreams, goals here at Westport Presbyterian. Snacks and sweets and the company of Jesus following friends.
• We will continue this journey on Sunday, March 12 in an interactive worship service, followed by a pot luck lunch.
• We continue to need winter coats, gloves, winter hats and backpacks for Westport Showers folks! Volunteers needed on Sunday mornings!
• Stan Morgan, Rev Scott, Karen Daniels and Brother John Anderson will be speaking together for Police Reform at the Board of Police Commissioners this Tuesday morning. Timely Note: One of the principles we will be sharing: “We call on police leaders, commissioners, and union leaders to become a voice for Common Sense Gun Reform and Ban on Sale of Assault Weapons”.