WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
7th Sunday after Pentecost
July 12, 2026
PRELUDE: Morning Prayer Nicholas Palmer
CALL TO WORSHIP: (from Psalm 119)
One: All who walk in shadow, come into the light!
All: God’s Word lights the way for us.
One: God has promised to abide with us.
All: So let us commit to walk in God’s ways.
One: All who are afflicted, wounded by the world, come give praise to God.
All: God is the joy of our heart, our sure and certain comfort, come what may!
OPENING HYMN: #726 Glory to God Will You Come and Follow Me
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
All: Gracious Creator, you created this world and called it good, and out of it called us as a pilgrim people, chosen to bless the world by serving others. Yet we often live beneath that profound calling. Give us the courage to face our unruly hearts. Draw us away from our love of power and comfort. Drive us towards what is just and good and beautiful, that the way of Jesus might become more persuasive for others. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE: (from Romans 8:1-3)
One: One: For those who are in Christ, there is no condemnation; for by Christ’s death and resurrection, God has done what rules and religion could not: breathed new life through the Holy Spirit into the world, turning it upside down. So put your trust in this scandalous, joyous good news: through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and restored to new life.
All: Alleluia! Amen.
SUNG RESPONSE: #591 Glory to God Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! (Refrain, Sing 2x)
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: One: Holy Creator, the earth is yours, and all that is in it. We give you thanks for the beauty of the earth, for the creatures that fill it, and for your providential care. Now grant us hearts open to your grace, eyes open to your wonders and ears open to your Holy Word. Let your Holy Spirit dwell with us, that we might recommit our lives to the way of Jesus.
All: Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: Genesis 25:19-34
One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: The Odyssey (2): On Practicing Hospitality Rev. Dr. Jared Witt
MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: #713 Glory to God Touch the Earth Lightly
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: #469 Glory to God Lord, Listen to You Children Praying (Sing 1x)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE, BLESSINGS, 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: God invites us to inhabit the infinite ocean of grace poured out through our savior, Jesus Christ. It is this generosity that gives us life, and it is in our own acts of generosity that we join in this larger life. So let us give joyfully, thanking God for the wonders of Christ’s love.
OFFERTORY: At the River Aaron Copland Emma WitbolsFeugen, soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Holy God, you have called us together as your people, gathered as your church, to struggle on behalf of your promises of grace and life for all the world. So we pledge this portion of what is precious to us gratefully and hopefully. Bless and multiply these gifts. And if that’s asking too little, do more!
All: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: #656 Glory to God We’ve Come This Far by Faith
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE: Nocturnal Ola Gjielo
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! 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 is on break for the summer.
- 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.
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, Jul. 13 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Fellowship Room)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, Jul. 14 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
5:15 p.m. Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
Wednesday, Jul. 15 8:00 p.m. Mission & Outreach Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Thursday, Jul. 16 11:00 -3 Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed
5-6 p.m. MO Workers Center Meeting (Fellowship Room)
5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
Friday, Jul. 17 6:30 p.m. WCA Visual Art Exhibit: Opening Reception Disability Pride (Chapel & Fellowship Room)
Saturday, Jul. 18 8:30 a.m. Private Rental – Meeting (Living Room/Library)
12-6 p.m. Missouri Workers Center Meeting (Fellowship Room)
Sunday, Jul. 19 6:30-9:00 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
Connection Hour Small Group:
10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group
11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
6:00 p.m. WCA Jazz Concert Series: Brad Gregory Sextet (Fellowship Room)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Sunday, July 26 4:30 p.m.- WCA Disability Pride Event: ADA Anniversary Celebration
7:30 p.m. (Chapel & Fellowship Room)
Thursday, July 30 6-7 p.m. WCA Disability Pride Event: Resilient Meditation – Chronic Pain-Informed (Chapel)
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AMENDMENT PRESENTATIONS FOR AUGUST 4TH ELECTION
| Dates | Times | Locations |
| Monday, July 13 | 6 p.m. | Mid-Continent Public Library: Lee’s Summit East 2240 SE Blue Parkway, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 |
| Tuesday, July 14 | 5:30 p.m. | Ivanhoe Community Center 3700 Woodland Ave, Kansas City, MO 64109 |
| Monday, July 20 | 6 p.m. | Kansas City Public Library: Plaza Branch 4801 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64112 |
| Monday, July 27 | 6 p.m. | Mid-Continent Public Library: Woodneath Library Center 8900 NE Flintlock Road, Kansas City, MO 64157 |
In addition there will be on-line presentations at Noon on Wednesday July 15 with the Kansas City Public Library and at 6 PM on Wednesday July 22 with the Mid-Continent Public Library.
CANDIDATE FORUMS BY THE LEAGUE OF KC
Many KC voters will find themselves in a new Congressional District in the August 4 primary. The Forums Committee is hosting three forums for Districts 4, 5, and 6 and four forums for the Jackson County Legislature. See below for date and topic. All forums are at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom.
Go to www.lwvkc.org, scroll down to GET READY TO VOTE on the left hand side to register for these forums. If you cannot make that date, they will be video taped and put up on the League’s You Tube Channel.
IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES
- Voter registration deadline for August 4 primary is July 8, 2026
- Early voting (in-person, NO EXCUSE REQUIRED) begins July 21, 2026
- Deadline to request a mail-in ballot for August 4 election is July 22, 2026
0 Comments