WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF PENTECOST
July 13, 2025
PRELUDE: My Kind of Joy—based on Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” C. Ricker
CALL TO WORSHIP: (Life Doesn’t Frighten Me, by Maya Angelou)
One: Shadows on the wall
Noises down the hall
Life doesn’t frighten me at all
All: Bad dogs barking loud
Big ghosts in a cloud
Life doesn’t frighten me at all
One: Mean old Mother Goose
Lions on the loose
They don’t frighten me at all
All: Dragons breathing flame
On my counterpane
That doesn’t frighten me at all.
One: I go boo
Make them shoo
I make fun
Way they run
I won’t cry
So they fly
I just smile
They go wild
All: Life doesn’t frighten me at all.
One: Tough guys fight
All alone at night
Life doesn’t frighten me at all.
All: Panthers in the park
Strangers in the dark
No, they don’t frighten me at all.
One: That new classroom where
Boys all pull my hair
(Kissy little girls
With their hair in curls)
They don’t frighten me at all.
All: Don’t show me frogs and snakes
And listen for my scream,
If I’m afraid at all
It’s only in my dreams.
One: : I’ve got a magic charm
That I keep up my sleeve
I can walk the ocean floor
And never have to breathe.
All: Life doesn’t frighten me at all
Not at all
Not at all.
Life doesn’t frighten me at all.
*OPENING HYMN (You may rise in Body or Spirit):
#365 Glory to God God Reigns! Let Earth Rejoice!
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
All: Spirit of the Living God, your fruit includes love, peace, patience and kindness
but we are divided within ourselves, living from bitterness and complaint.
We turn to violent means and violent words to settle our disputes.
We are impatient with each other and fail to honor your commandment to love.
Our idols fascinate and distract us from the path of goodness and joy.
Forgive us. Turn our feet into paths of wisdom. Set us free in Jesus Christ. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:
One: Christ has set us free. Claim your forgiveness. Rejoice in God’s grace.
Respond with love and live with the enthusiasm that comes from God’s Spirit!
All: Yes! Thanks be to God.
SUNG RESPONSE:
#591 Glory to God Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! (refrain, sing twice)
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: Open our hearts and minds by the power of your Spirit, Holy Mystery,
that we might hear and receive the message you intend for us today.
All: Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Deuteronomy 30:9-14
Colossians 1:7-14
One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: Living Enthusiastically Through A Challenging Year Hazel Krebs
*CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:
#410 Glory to God God Is Calling through the Whisper
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:
#851 Glory to God Come, Bring Your Burdens to God
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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: The Apostle Paul reminds us that generosity is a fruit of the Spirit.
Let us generously share of the gifts we have been given.
Let us present our offerings to God.
OFFERTORY SOLO: Sunset Florence Price
Sarah Baxter, alto
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Most generous God, you have blessed us with gifts to serve and share.
May the offerings we present today be used to further your realm
and build your beloved community.
All: Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN (You may rise in Body or Spirit):
#700 Glory to God I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me
*CHARGE AND BLESSING
*POSTLUDE: A Little Boogie (tribute to Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) C. Ricker
A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING!
Today we welcome HAZEL KREBS as our guest speaker/worship leader! After numerous transitions in her life, Hazel has found her calling professionally as an author and speaker for her own company Enthusiastically You. Hazel published her first book in January 2024 entitled Enthusiastically Me, which chronicles her journey into sobriety and gender transition, earning her a nomination for Kansas City’s Best Local Author by The Pitch. Her story about breaking free from society’s inherent expectations for gender presentation, career aspirations, and dreams, spark her passion of inspiring everyone to live enthusiastically. Find out more on her website: enthusiastically-you.com and follow Hazel’s message on social media: @hazelgkrebs
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). There will be no Children’s Sunday School in July. Children’s Sunday School usually meets during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space.
HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES & HEADPHONES available upon request. Talk to Deanna up in the front of the sanctuary at the livestream table if you would like to use one.
CHOIR is on break for the summer. There will be no choir practice after church.
Following today’s worship service, everyone is invited to join us for a Lunch Gathering at Jerusalem Café (515 Westport Rd).
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 once a week in the RESOURCE CENTER and Sundays as part of WESTPORT SHOWERS. Food donations of bread, fruit, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.
The Resource Center is now open on Fridays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Ella Hinson is the new director (thank you Kate for all your good work!!)
BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED: Westport Center for the Arts is seeking board members who are interested in helping us keep community arts alive in Westport. We are a volunteer board who meets monthly (usually on the 4th Saturday of the month at 10 am) to work on planning programming, fundraising, community partnerships, and marketing. With the recent loss of our board president, we need people who are willing to fill some leadership roles within the organization. Our programming includes Monthly Brown Bag Concerts, Independent Professional Theater, The Dancing Word (poetry & dance) and Visual Art Exhibits. If you have an interest in the arts or know anyone who may be interested in serving on the board, please contact us at admin@wcakc.org. Support from our community is needed to keep our organization thriving.
CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUPS:
Sunday Mornings
9:40 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. Currently reading The Idiot, Novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK:
(All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
Monday, Jul. 14 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, Jul. 15 6:00 p.m. Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
Wednesday, Jul. 16 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
5-8 p.m. HolyCow! Assessment Results (online)
Please let Jared know if you would like the link to join.
Thursday, Jul. 17 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
Saturday, Jul. 19 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
Sunday, Jul. 20 8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
Connection Hour Small Groups:
9:40 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm”
10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group
11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
After Church Potluck Luncheon (Fellowship Room)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Wednesday, Jul. 23 6:30 p.m. Stewardship Meeting (online)
8:00 p.m. Mission & Outreach Meeting (zoom)
Wednesday, Jul. 30 6:00 p.m. Choir Party with Westport Pres & Ward Parkway Pres (at Westport
Pres) Anyone who has ever participated in a choir is welcome to join us!
We will enjoy pizza, games & hymn singing.
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