5th Sunday of Epiphany—Holy Season of Wonder and Light!
Westport Presbyterian Church—Feb. 5, 2023, 11:00 am
(Video will be posted LIVE on the church’s FB page at 11am and then cross-posted here. 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 The River is Wide—Bradley Sowash Mozart
CALL TO SEND OUR SOULS INTO KINGDOM OF GOD WORK (pastor: normal font people: bold font)
A child once dreamed the Voice was calling his name… ‘Samuel’;
Fisherman once heard the Voice when a young man bid them follow;
And still the Voice beckons today… can you hear?
Here I am. Send me!
Moses protested vehemently as the Voice spoke at the burning bush;
Mary stood amazed as the Voice proclaimed impending birth;
And still the Voice beckons today… can you hear?
Here I am. Send me.
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN TO BEGIN A COMMUNION SERVICE: Let Us Break Bread Together GTG#525
UNISON CALL TO CONFESSION AND COMMITMENT
This the hour of transformation we need. So we confess, here in the presence of a Loving God: We have been blind—Now we would regain our sight. We’ve been asleep. We need to awaken. We’ve been in exile from our true selves. We desire to return. We’ve been empty. We seek to be filled. Our hearts have closed. Would you open them? We have forgotten You. But would You remember us? We’ve sinned—Will you forgive us? Amen.
SUNG BLESSED ASSURANCE OF GOD’S ACTIVE GRACE: Halle, Halle, Hallelujah (refrain only, twice) GtG #591
BIBLE READINGS: Isaiah 6:1-8 John 20: 1, 11-18 Jennifer Weiman
ANTHEM: My Spirit Longs for Thee—Richard Shephard
PRAYER BEFORE SERMON
Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
Pastor: Be acceptable to you, O Lord
People: Our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen.
SERMON— On Being Sent By A Strong Voice
SUNG PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION: Here I Am, Lord GTG#69
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Pastor: Let’s gather around this planet friendly, holy table, With holy bread & drink People: The promise of Christ being 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 Giving 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, O Lamb of God. We seek an unusual gift— an experience of wonder and joy.
Pastor: Come, Holy Spirit. Come. 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
Lift up names of people we wish to pray for, concluding with The Lord’s Prayer (Glory to God, page 35)…
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 and loving God, You have united us into a body of Christ, and nourished us at Your table with holy food and drink. Thank you for feeding our hunger and relieving our thirst. Now send us into the world to do the great work You have called us to do; To find the lost and lonely! To heal wounded souls! To free people, including ourselves, who are not at all free! To give compassion to the vulnerable and marginalized! To love Beauty, the Planet & Sky, To persist in resisting evil, o share by what we say and do The Message of Jesus Christ, Who is The Light in the World. Amen.
WELCOMING
OFFERTORY: At the River—Aaron Copland Joshua Stark, bass
Offering link
UNISON PRAYER TO DEDICATE OURSELVES TO BEING SENT TO DO THE WORK OF A GOD NAMED LOVE
Matthew Shepherd followed the Voice into his true self; Martin Luther King, Jr. heard the Voice as the bullet shattered; And still the Voice beckons today… can you hear? Here I am. Send me. The Voice beckons from humble places… In the tears of hungry children, in the resistance of those whose dreams have been too long deferred; Mary Magdalene heard the voice in The Garden! And still the Voice beckons today… can you hear? Here I am. Send me. A timid believer pauses to listen to the Voice; A struggling church hears the Voice and turns And still the Voice beckons today… can you hear? Here I am. Send me.
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Down in the River to Pray
BENEDICTION
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Down in the River to Pray
POSTLUDE
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS
- All are invited to Mister Sticky Notes Affinity Process on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 pm. Join the journey to think and discuss together our commitments, hopes, fears, questions, dreams, goals here at Westport Presbyterian. Snacks and sweets and the company of Jesus following friends.
- We will continue this journey on Sunday, March 12 in an interactive worship service, followed by a pot luck lunch.
- We continue to need winter coats, gloves, winter hats and backpacks for Westport Showers folks! Volunteers needed on Sunday mornings!
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