4th Sunday of Easter, Mother’s Day May 14, 2023, 11:00 am
PRELUDE: Sonata in E major, K. 380—Domenico Scarlatti
RESPONSIVE CALL TO RETURN TO OUR SOULS:
(Pastor: regular font—People: bold font—we will go slowly so roses can be placed in vases to honor mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, mothering women, the Mothering God)
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Mother, Mami, Mum, Madre, Maman, Oma, Mither, Mumzy, Mutter, Mothering God, Who have given us breath, Call us to return to our deep souls!
HYMN: A Prophet-Woman Broke a Jar GTG#201
CALL TO CONFESSION OF OUR DEEP NEED FOR MOTHERING’S POWER
Pastor: Thanks, Mom!—For making us wash the dishes.
People: For teaching us to read, to have manners,
Pastor: Eat something besides candy and cake
People:: And keep going to school…
Pastor: And keep going and keep going—until we could actually become useful.
People: Thanks, Mom!
Pastor: For telling us not to be so miserable.
People: And not to hang around the wrong people,
Pastor: Especially when the wrong people was us!
People: Thanks, Mom, For showing us what womanhood could be.
Pastor: For giving us a deeper vision of life’s meaning
People: For saying stuff to us that made us think we were hearing it straight from the mouth of God.
Pastor: And maybe we are!
People: We praise God!
AFFIRMING OF HEALING, SAVING POWER OF GOD: Halle, Halle, Halle (sing refrain twice) GTG#591
SHARING OF PEACE
Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us share the peace of Christ with each other.
(You may use your hands/body to signal people you want to pass the peace in one of several ways: 1. Hand outstretched to shake hands 2. Hands together in Prayer/Namaste position to greet while standing apart 3. Hug)
BIBLE READINGS: Luke 15:8-10 Matthew 23:37 Deuteronomy 32:11-12 Hosea 13:8 Isaiah 49: 13-15 Ephesians 6:2-3
ANTHEM: “Consider” – Roland E. Martin
SERMON: Mothering We All Desperately Need Now! Mothering We Need to Give Now!
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: His Eye is on the Sparrow GTG#661
WELCOMING
PRAYER: Mother’s Day Prayer, Lord’s Prayer,
Congregational Sung Response: Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth GTG#7
OFFERTORY: “Thank You for These Gifts” – John F. Wilson
Joshua Stark, bass
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
Shawnee Traveling Song—spoken
Leader: I am walking upon the earth; the earth is my mother.
People: Wherever I walk, I am home.
Leader: I am walking with the people who love me; their love surrounds me.
People: Wherever I walk, I am loved.
Leader: I am walking on the circle of Creator; Creator above, Creator below.
People: Wherever I walk, I am with Creator.
Leader: I am walking upon the earth with people who love me on the circle of Creator.
People: I am always home.
Leader: I am always loved.
People: I am with Creator. Amen.
Closing Hymn: Over My Head STF#2148
BLESSING
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Over My Head (refrain)
POSTLUDE: Waltz in E major, op. 18, no. 1—Franz Schubert
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS
Bread, Buns and Fruit are needed for the INTERRUPT HUNGER work we are doing. Thanks to all who are generously giving to this great work and to Westport Showers and Clothes Washing/Drying work. Thanks to everyone making WESTPORT SHOWERS happen on Sundays and on Thursday nights. You make space for grace! We need men’s pants in all sizes! And men’s shoes!
Children’s Sunday School has restarted! During worship with teachers 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 start time.
We are committed to Steptoe Lives in an effort to honor and preserve the historic Black Westport community of Steptoe. A major event now being planned is Juneteenth in Steptoe, on the Sunday afternoon, June 18, 4 pm, the day before the new national holiday. Events will be held in the neighborhood (parade with drill team), at the St. James Missionary Baptist Church (music and Dancing Word) and here at Westport Presby (film) Want to join in the effort? Stan Morgan, Rev Scott and Mary Jo Draper, our church’s electronic newsletter publisher, and Taylor Brown, Westport Center for the Arts Executive Director, are participating so far.
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.
Westport Center for the Arts exciting, creative arts form—The Dancing Word!—is coming soon, Friday, May 26, 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 27, 2:00 p.m, both performances here at church in the Fellowship Room turned into a performance space. For this performance, Taylor Brown’s poem “I Dream of a World” and Glenn Stewart’s poem “Locked Away” are interpreted through dance and choreography by Nora Burkitt-Davis and Suzanne Ryanstrati—dancers Tessa McNeil, Lauren Thompson, Kosha Chandler and Nora Burkitt Davis. Free. Donations welcomed to help WCA continue to create worlds that do not currently exist.
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