WESTPORT RISING WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF PENTECOST
Pledge/Commitment Sunday
November 10, 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: Adagio for Strings Samuel Barber, arr. Lawrence Rosen
CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 146):
One: I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
All: Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
One: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
All: The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
One: The Lord watches over the strangers; she upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
All: I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
OPENING HYMN: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling GTG#366
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED FOR GOD:
Merciful God, forgive our systemic sins, the way we build and support and collaborate with oppression. Open our eyes to the injustice of wealth inequality. Open our hearts to righting our societal wrongs. Forgive our excuses, our apathy, our votes cast only for our benefit, or that of our nation’s. Help us follow Christ in prioritizing the poor and vulnerable. Help us build your beloved community where all belong, and all may flourish. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE (Psalm 34:22):
One: “The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in her will be condemned.” Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
All: Amen.
SUNG RESPONSE:Live in Charity (English & Latin) GTG#205
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST:
One: The peace of Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 1 Kings 17:8-16 (page 309) Mark 12:38-44 (page 46)
One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.
CHORAL ANTHEM:
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (a prayer by Ulrich Zwingli):
One: Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. As we approach your Word, may we be ready to receive the message you intend for us today.
All: Amen.
SERMON: Living with Generosity and Joy
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: We Give Thee but Thine Own GTG#708
GIVING STORIES Brooke Sweeney
Pledge Link
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying (SING ONCE) GTG#469
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER: (Our Mother and Father in heaven…)
THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES/INVITATION TO GIVE:
One: Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” [Today is Pledge Sunday. If you are prepared to submit a pledge card today, you are welcome to place in the offering plates].
OFFERTORY SOLO: Imagine John Lennon Sarah Baxter, alto
Offering link
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Holy God, these offerings are only a portion of all that you have given us.
All: We gratefully present these gifts and entrust them to your work in this world.
One: May our gifts share the Good News of your love to those who are in need.
All: May these gifts help unburden those with the heaviest of loads. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: Soon and Very Soon GTG#384
BLESSING
POSTLUDE: I Vow to Thee, My Country Gustav Holst
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test
That lays upon the altar, the dearest and the best
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
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 meets in the 2nd floor Children’s Space, Sunday mornings during the 1st half of worship, beginning at 11:00 am. NURSERY care is also available upstairs. Parents are asked to fill out a brief registration form before church begins. (This form only needs to be filled out once).
- 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.
- 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 coming to an end. 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 TODAY! Or submit your pledge online at westportpresbyterian.org/pledge-drive/ We have $59,800 in pledges so far!
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.
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.
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK: (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
Monday, Nov. 11 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, Nov. 12 4:30 p.m. FREDitation – a centering prayer experience – 20 min (Chapel)
6:00 p.m. Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
7:00 p.m. Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
Wednesday, Nov. 13 12:00 p.m. Nominating Committee Meeting (Zoom)
6:00 p.m. House KC Meeting (Fellowship Room)
Thursday, Nov. 14 10:00 a.m. Resource Center (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. 15 12:00 p.m. Westport Center for the Arts’ Brown Bag Concert Series: Lyric Arts Trio – The “X” Factor – Sarah Tannehill Anderson, soprano; Elena Lence Talley, clarinet & Daniel Velicer, piano (Fellowship Room)
Saturday, Nov. 16 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
Sunday, Nov. 17 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. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Children’s Sunday School (Upstairs Children’s Room)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Wednesday, Nov. 20 7:00 p.m. Zoom Bible Study – contact church office for link (Online) *meets every other week*
8:00 p.m. Mission & Outreach Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Sunday, Nov. 24 12:00 p.m. Friendsgiving Potuck (Fellowship Room)
& Decorating the Church for Advent/Christmas
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