Celebration of Holy Communion & Holy Community Westport Presbyterian Church—August 6, 2023, 11:00 am
PRELUDE: First Gymnopédie—Erik Satie
UNISON CALL TO RETURN TO OUR SOULS—
May the sound of the drum awaken us to our deep souls! May the drumbeat signal a global awakening!
May the drumbeat signal a global awakening to the earth’s voice. May we love the earth as we love ourselves
May we love Earth Maker and Sky Maker as we love ourselves. May the natural world’s voice calm us and comfort us.
Be still and know how deeply we are loved by Earth Maker and Sky Maker.
(Dah—nay—toe) Now we are finished. We love I hi do’ hah, (I-hee-DOE-hah!) Our Mother Earth.
HYMN: All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly GTG#509
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND COMMITMENT:
Sometimes, we are learning that we have to hold hands, light one candle. Walk forward into the darkness, even when we don’t know what the next step will bring. Walking by faith is not easy, We are sometimes frightened, discouraged or just plain tired. But faith will take us places where we never thought we could go. No one knows just what we are becoming, But we know one thing for sure! There is no turning back for people who are following the one whom we name Light of the World! –adapted from a reflection by Rev. William Barber, leader of Moral Mondays and the New Poor Peoples Campaign
AFFIRMING OF HEALING, SAVING POWER OF GOD: Jesus, We Are Here (English and Shona stanzas) GTG#392
PASSING OF PEACE
BIBLE READING: Matthew 14:13-21 (Miracle of Feeding the 5,000)
ANTHEM: The Gyft of Charitie—text, Thomas Cranmer(1489-1556) Setting, Carlton T. Russell
—Collect newly composed for the first Book of Common Prayer (1549).
O Lord which dost teach us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth;
Send they holy ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity,
The very bond of peace and all virtues,
without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee:
Grant this for thine only son, Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
SERMON: Miracles That Are Needed Today!
SUNG PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION: When at This Table GTG#537
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Pastor: Let’s gather around this planet friendly, holy table, With holy bread & drinkPeople: The promise of Christ coming alive among us Pastor: This is the welcome table of God where all who intend to experience the non-physical
spiritual dimension of life—
People: And live in relationships of freedom and peace with neighbors!
Pastor: Hunger no more! Come to eat! Here, all who longs for otherwise elusive grace
People:: May enjoy the strong love of God in Jesus Christ.
Pastor: Here you are embraced and held by Self Emptying Love!—
People: One of God’s great and holy names!
Pastor: Come to drink, you are invited into this holy mystery.
People: We are ready!
Pastor: Jesus said: “I am the bread of life. All who come to me shall not
hunger, and all who believe in me shall never be thirsty.”
People: We are hungry for Your Love, O God, We are thirsty for Your Deep Peace, OLamb of God. We seek an unusual gift— an experience of wonder and joy.
Pastor: Come in, Holy Spirit. Open our eyes to the mystery of
The living Christ’s presence in our midst. Through the broken bread…
People: We are becoming the Body of Christ—
Pastor: Feeding the hungry!
People: Giving showers and clothes to people who are homeless and extremely poor!
Pastor: Becoming anti-racist! Getting into Good Trouble!
People: Let us praise and pray to God by singing an African hymn!
CONGREGATIONAL SUNG PRAYER: Come, Bring Your Burdens to God GTG#851
Pastor: Lift up names of people we are praying for, concluding with The Lord’s Prayer
BREAKING & SHARING OF BREAD, POURING & SHARING OF WINE
Pastor: The Grace, Peace, Love and Joy of Jesus Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us pray the prayer of thanksgiving together….
ALL: Gracious, loving God, You have called us to become a body of Christ. Thank you for filling us amidst hunger &thirst. Now send us into the world to do the great work You have called us to do—Find the lost & lonely! Heal wounded souls! Free people, including ourselves, who are not at all free! Give compassion to the vulnerable & marginalized! Love Beauty, Planet & Sky, persist in resisting evil, share by how we live the Message of Jesus, Who is The Light in the World. Amen.
WELCOMING
OFFERTORY: How Can I Keep from Singing? —text, Robert Lowry; setting by Alfred V. Fedak; Joshua Stark, bass
UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Here in the busy city, now let the church be seen, where lesser gods are worshipped. In money and machine; where news is but sensation, the Good News hardly heard. Now let the church take action In living out the word! Here in the busy city God walks on every street In generous or greedy, the honest or the cheat, And daily we must offer The good that goes unpriced With vigor and with vision The lifestyle of the Christ. –Shirley Erena Murray
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Over My Head
BENEDICTION
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Over My Head (refrain)
POSTLUDE: I’m Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table (WELCOME TABLE)—set by Stan Pethel
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Bread, Buns, Fruit, Water, Meat, Peanut Butter are needed for our INTERRUPT HUNGER work. WESTPORT SHOWERS happen on Sundays & Thursday nights. Women’s underwear needed.
• Children’s Sunday School is back in action in the redesigned 2nd floor Children’s Space, teaching & learning will emphasize Care for the Earth, Sky and all God’s creation. 11:00 am. On Easter Sunday Westport Rising Children’s Sunday School was re-born after the pandemic! Teachers are focusing on care for the earth in our Sunday School classes.
• Friendship Time before and after worship with snacks and coffee. Starts at 10:20 am in the main hallway. Continues after worship. Time for spontaneous friendship interaction. Smile.
• We praise God for Stan Morgan’s art exhibit! Tell your friends, neighbors, family, co-workers to come and see the amazing lifetime works of this great artist and human being!
• DOG DAYS OF SUMMER Sunday Brunch, next Sunday, August 13 after church! Put that friendship and food event in your phone or paper calendar!
Holy Rollers—Archibald Motley Noted painter of Harlem Renaissance era
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