Pressing On

Pressing On

In Person and Livestream Worship Service
Westport Presbyterian Church—The Phoenix is Rising!—October 15, 2023

(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: Sonata, op. 79: Andante Beethoven
RESPONSIVE CALL TO RETURN TO OUR SOULS IN WORSHIP:

One: This is a thin place
All: where earth and heaven embrace
One: Where past interweaves with future
All: Where people gather expectantly
One: This is a thin place, where hopes are renewed
All: Where faith is restored,
One: Where peace is revived
All: Where love is refreshed
One: This is a thin place
All: Where fresh words are heard
One: Deep wisdom revealed
All: Daring promises proclaimed
One: This is a thin place
All: Where the God who shaped us
One: The Christ who remakes us
All: The Spirit who inspires us
One: Walks among us
All: Full of Grace and Truth

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:  My Life Flows On   GTG#821
RESPONSIVE PRAYER OF CONFESSION (adapted from A Wee Worship Book):

One: Glorious God, Divine Love and Light
Your thoughts are not our thoughts
All: Your ways are not our ways
One: Not to have our works confirmed,
All: But to have our best liberated
One: We pray for your grace and pardon.
All: Forgive us for what has gone wrong,
Repair in us what is wasted,
Reveal in us what is good.

SUNG RESPONSE CELEBRATING GOD’S GRACE:   Halle, Halle, Halle (REFRAIN ONLY)   GTG#591
PASSING THE PEACE:

Leader: The grace, peace, love, and joy of Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Leader: Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.

BIBLE READING: Phillipians 3:4b-14
CHORAL ANTHEM: God of the Ages Arlen Clarke.  Today, we welcome Nathan Sullins, tenor guest.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

Leader: Let the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
Leader: Be acceptable to You,
People: O LORD, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

SERMON: “Pressing On” Rev. Eric Garbison
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: My Shepherd Will Supply My Need   GTG#803
WELCOMING
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:   Come, Bring Your Burdens to God   GTG#851
PASTORAL PRAYER, LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERTORY SOLO: The Earth Is the Lord’s Frank Lynes; Sarah Baxter, alto
                 Offering link

UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION:

May our offerings change us. May our offerings change our church. May our offerings change the path and fate of just one person. May our offerings travel a long ways beyond us & make Your Realm of Love larger. And may our offerings travel a long ways inside of us and make us more humble. Amen.

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:   I’ve Got Peace Like a River   GTG#623
BENEDICTION
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE:   Goodness is Stronger than Evil (Desmond Tutu)  GTG#750
POSTLUDE: Fantasia in A major: Allegro Telemann

 

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! 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. Sunday mornings during the 1st half of worship, beginning at 11:00 am.
• We are mourning the sudden death, August 26, of our beloved pastor REV. SCOTT MYERS. We welcome ERIC GARBISON who is leading our worship service today.
• Today we welcome guest tenor NATHAN SULLINS!
• If you need pastoral care, please contact the church office. Rev. Eric Garbision has volunteered to be on call and available to the congregation.
· Bread, Buns, Fruit, Water, Meat, Peanut Butter, Cheese are always needed for our INTERRUPT HUNGER work. WESTPORT SHOWERS happens on Sundays & Thursday nights. Men’s boxer brief underwear needed. Men’s and Women’s shoes. Backpacks! Jackets, Sweatshirts, Warm Clothes for this cold weather!
• Join us for 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.
• Stan Morgan’s art exhibit continues in our church gallery spaces. Tell your friends, neighbors, family, co-workers to come and see the amazing lifetime works of this great artist and human being!

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

Monday, Oct. 16 4:30 p.m. FREDitation – a centering prayer experience – 20 min (Chapel)
6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, Oct. 17 7:00 p.m. Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 8:00 p.m. Mission & Outreach Meeting (Zoom)
Friday, Oct. 20 12:00 noon Westport Center for the Arts’ Brown Bag Concert Series: Shortleaf Band – Music of the Ozarks (Sanctuary)
Saturday, Oct. 21 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
Sunday, Oct. 15 8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
10:20 a.m. Friendship Time – coffee & snacks – before & after worship (Fellowship Hallway)
11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day: Diane Waddell, worship leader (Sanctuary)
Children’s Sunday School (Upstairs Children’s Room)
12:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
LOOKING AHEAD:

Friday, Oct. 27 7:00 p.m. & Saturday, Oct. 28 2:00 p.m:   Westport Center for the Arts’ The Dancing Word: “Carrying the Ancestors’ Stories”  (Center for Spiritual Living, 1014 W 39th Street, KCMO 64111) Presented Free, Donations Welcomed.

STAFF:

Music Director………………………………………………………………………………Emily Davidson
Office Manager………………………………………………………………………………Deanna Capps
Custodians……………………………………………..Jose (Chico) Jimenez & Marisel Myers-Aronson

CONTACT INFORMATION:

www.westportpresbyterian.org
info@westportpresbyterian.org (church contact)
816-931-1032

Follow us on Facebook at: facebook.com/westportpresbyterian

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