Money Can’t Buy You Love

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
20TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
October 11, 2026

CHORAL INTROIT: Rejoice in the Lord Always Reese & Zack Capps, instrumentalists
CALL TO WORSHIP: (from Psalm 10) Bobbie Testa, liturgist

One: Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord,
All: for God is good; God’s steadfast love endures forever.
One: Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all God’s praise?
All: Happy are those who observe justice, who do the right thing at all times.
One: Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations,
All: that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
One: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
All: Amen. Praise the Lord!

OPENING HYMN:  #4 Glory to God Holy God, We Praise Your Name
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:

All: Almighty God, you call us to seek your kingdom first, to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with you. Still, we make excuses and go our own way. Forgive us and turn us to your ways of grace, mercy, love and service. May we strive, through the power of your Holy Spirit, to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:

One: Hear the good news! The night is far gone, the day is near. Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
All: Thanks be to God!

SUNG RESPONSE:  #529 Glory to God Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether (verses 1, 2)
TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES
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: Living God, the good news of Scripture equips us for every good work. As we hear your Word read and proclaimed, inspire us to love and serve you – by using our gifts to bless others.
All: Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Isaiah 25:4-9 (page 613)    Luke 16:19-31 (page 75)

One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.

CHORAL ANTHEM: The Heavens Are Declaring Beethoven
MESSAGE: Money Can’t Buy You Love Rev. Jeff Clayton
MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:   #613 Glory to God O Lord, Our Lord (sing 2x)
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community Bobbie Testa
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:  #451 Glory to God Open My Eyes, That I May See
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER:

All: 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: Because God so loved the world, God gave the ultimate gift in Jesus Christ. In gratitude for this boundless grace, let us bring our tithes and offerings to support the work of God’s church, both in our local community and around the world.

OFFERTORY: Praise My Soul, The King of Heaven arr. L. Smith    Renee Zimmerman, organ
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:

One: Bountiful God, all that we can offer comes from your generosity. May these gifts that we return to you become a blessing for your whole community, enriching and empowering us for the work to which you call us. We thank you in the name of Jesus Christ, your indescribable gift to us and the world.
All: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN:   #17 Glory to God Sing Praise to God, You Heavens!
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE: The Heavens Are Declaring    arr. D. Wells

A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING!

• We welcome REV. JEFF CLAYTON who is leading our Worship Services this morning while Rev. Jared is on vacation. A graduate of Duke University and Yale Divinity School, Rev. Jeff Clayton was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in Greater Atlanta Presbytery in 1982. In his first decade of ministry he served as the solo pastor of a town and country church, Presbyterian University Pastor at Clemson University, and Associate Pastor of a large suburban church in Atlanta. In 1992, Jeff became the Pastor of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in the Northland of Kansas City, MO. In 1999, he became the Pastor/Head of Staff of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, KS. After 23 long and fruitful years of ministry there, Jeff retired in 2022.
• 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). Children’s Sunday School will meet during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space. Children are invited to remain in the service until the “Time for Young Disciples” and then go upstairs for the remainder of the service.
• 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.
• CHILDREN’S CHOIR PRACTICE: Kids that want to sing with the choir are invited to join Renee in the front of the sanctuary on Sunday mornings from 10:00-10:25 a.m.
• NEW BIBLE STUDY FOR THE FALL: WPC will experiment with a new format for a mid-week Bible study and discussion group this Fall. The goal for the gatherings will be two-fold: First, to help persons become more skilled in understanding Scripture and better able to relate the Bible to daily life; and second: to learn from one another as we deepen our connections as a community. Please let Jared know if you are interested in participating. The next two Bible Study dates in the Fall will be Wednesdays: Oct. 21, and Nov. 18 (all 5:45-7pm).
• DISCUSSION GROUP is reading The Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang in September. Book Discussion Group meets Sundays at 10 a.m. before church in the living room/library. The next two books this fall will be: Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Reslilient Disabled Body, by Rebekah Taussig & The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture, by Wendell Berry
• OCTOBER 25 – POTLUCK & AFTERNOON MUSIC RECITAL:

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 on Thursdays in the RESOURCE CENTER and Sundays as part of WESTPORT SHOWERS. Food donations of fruit cups, meat, cheese, peanut butter, squeeze jelly are always needed.

INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK:  (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)

• Monday, Oct. 12 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Chapel)
  • • 7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
• Tuesday, Oct. 13 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
  • • 5:00 p.m. MO Workers Center Press Conference/Rally  (Pioneer Park/Fellowship Room)
    • 5:15 p.m. Session Meeting (Fellowship Room/Library)
• Thursday, Oct. 15 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed (Fellowship Room)
  • • 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
• Friday, Oct. 16 12 noon Westport Center for the Arts – Brown Bag Concert: The Salon Recital: Trumpet & Piano with Alan Wenger & Mia Kim   (Sanctuary)
• Saturday, Oct. 17 10:00 a.m. WCA Board Meeting (Fellowship Room)
• Sunday, Oct. 18 6:30-9:00 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
  • • 10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group (Library)
    • 10:00 a.m. Children’s Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
    • 11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
    • Children’s Sunday School/Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
    • 12:15 p.m Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
    • 6:15 p.m. Brad Gregory Sextet (Fellowship Room)

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Wednesday, Oct. 21 5:45 p.m. Fall Bible Study (Sanctuary)
  • • 8:00 p.m. Mission & Outreach Committee (Zoom)
• Saturday, Oct. 24 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. NAAAP Diwali Event (Storefront & Fellowship Room)
• Sunday, Oct. 25 after church Potluck & Musical Recital (Fellowship Room)   “Music of the Night” Fred & Renee Zimmerman presentation by Reese & Zack Capps
• Boots on the Ground: Meet the Candidates
  Oct 21 6-7:30
  South-Broadland Presbyterian Church, 7850 Holmes Rd
  Registration link:  https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/1043254/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
• No Kings Day is Oct. 17th:Saturday, Oct. 17th | 2 p.m. | Mill Creek Park on the Plaza | Join BOTG and a host of other groups for a rally followed by specific pro-voting actions.
• Tuesday, October 20th | Help kick off the No-Excuse needed early absentee voting period in Missouri by joining us for a rally, voting early, then celebrating afterwards at a happy hour! Meet at 4:30 near 55th and Brookside for a “Rush Hour rally” to raise awareness of early voting. Then head in together to vote early at Second Presbyterian Church at 318 E 55th street! Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/1051798/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email