Shifting Gears 

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
BAPTISM OF THE LORD SUNDAY
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
January 12, 2025

(Video will be posted LIVE on the church’s FB page at 11am and then cross-posted here afterwards.  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
CALL TO WORSHIP: 

One:          The Word became flesh and lived among us.
     All:           And we have seen his glory.
     One:          The true light that enlightens everyone has come into the world.
     All:           Glory to God who has blessed us in Christ.  Glory to God forever. 

OPENING HYMN:   Infant Holy, Infant Lowly   GTG#128
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:

All:           Holy One – our dawning, gentle brightness – wake us from our sleep into a new day. We confess that we are distracted and forgetful. We are making choices that hurt others and harm the world in which we live. We are deeply sorry for the ways we have neglected to foster goodness for ourselves, for each other, and for your creation. Forgive us and restore our strength, that we might live in your light. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:

One:          You are beloved children, And God’s eternal kindness shines upon you. So forgive yourself and forgive others As God in Christ has forgiven you.
All:           Thanks be to God!

SUNG RESPONSE:   Halle, Halle, Hallelujah!   GTG#591
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.

SCRIPTURE READING:   Jeremiah 31:7-14       Ephesians 1:3-14
CHORAL ANTHEM:   Behold That Star                           arr. Jonathan Birner
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION: 

One:          Holy One, your holy wisdom came to dwell with us in Jesus, filling our world with her light and life. May she also dwell within your word this day, that we might experience your love for us, through the One who is close to your heart, Jesus Christ your Son.
All:           Amen.

MESSAGE:   Shifting Gears                                                                                                Rev. Jared Witt
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:  Come, Bring Your Burdens to God   GTG#851
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER: 

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.

CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION:
THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES/INVITATION TO GIVE:  Christ has lavished on us the riches of his grace. Therefore, let us offer our lives and the fruits of our labor to God.
                 Offering link
OFFERTORY SOLO:   Be Still                Daniel Barta                   Josh Stark, baritone
PRAYER OF DEDICATION: 

One:          Living Christ, the fullness of your love embraces all of life. Accept our offering for the sake of the world you love. All that we have is yours, and all that we return to you is but a reflection of your love for us.
All:           Amen.

INVITATION TO THE TABLE
GREAT THANKSGIVING
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION: 

One:          God of glory, your Word made a home with us So that we might be at home in you. There are lots of people who need a home, a place to be safe, a place to belong, a place that recognizes their gifts and strengths. Make us a spacious home, that all kinds of different people can gather here and be glad together.
All:           Amen.

WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
CLOSING HYMN:  Go Tell It on the Mountain   GTG#136
CHARGE AND BLESSING: 

One:          Go forth in the grace of Christ.
All:           We rejoice in his grace.
One:          Go forth in the light of Christ.
All:           We walk in his light.
One:          Go forth in the love of Christ.
All:           We serve in his love.
One:          May God, the fount of all wisdom, bless you and guide you this day and always. 

POSTLUDE

 

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 meets in the 2nd floor Children’s Space, Sunday mornings during the 1st half of worship, beginning at 11:00 am. NURSERY care is also available upstairs. Parents are asked to fill out a brief registration form before church begins. (This form only needs to be filled out once).
• 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: 

• WINTER WEATHER CLOTHING DRIVE: Westport Showers is collecting coats, hats, gloves, warm socks, and boots. Look through your closets and see if you have any extra items you can donate.
• 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 bread, fruit, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.

 

CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUPS:

Sunday Mornings
9:30 a.m.         “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm” lead by Jennifer White. Does it feel like everywhere you look the world is on fire? This weekly workshop will give you 1-5 minute tools to help deal with the stresses of our modern way of living.
10:00 a.m.       Book Discussion Group readings related to various topics including faith, art, culture, politics, earth care. Currently reading When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön.

INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK:  (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
     Monday, Jan. 13                 6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m.         Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
     Tuesday, Jan. 14                 4:30 p.m.         Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
6:00 p.m.         Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
7:00 p.m.         Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
     Wednesday, Jan. 15           8:00 p.m.         Mission & Outreach Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Thursday, Jan. 16               10:00 a.m.       Resource Center Open (Storefront)
11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
5:30 p.m.         Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non-conforming people (Basement)
Saturday, Jan. 18                8:30 a.m.         Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
Sunday, Jan. 19                  8-9:30 a.m.      Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)

                        Connection Hour Small Groups:
9:30 a.m.         “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm”
10:00 a.m.       Book Discussion Group

11:00 a.m.       Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Children’s Sunday School (Upstairs Children’s Room)
12:15 p.m.       Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

 

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Monday, Jan. 20                                         MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY (Church Office Closed)
  • • 12 noon           Westport Center for the Arts’ Brown Bag Concert Series:  Doug Talley Quartet – A Concert to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Sanctuary)
    • 1 p.m.              WCA & Jan Jensen Artists presents Visual Art Exhibit featuring work by local Black artists. (Chapel)
• Saturday, Jan. 25               10 a.m.            Westport Center for the Arts Board Meeting (Fellowship Room)
  • • 2-4 p.m.           Westport Center for the Arts: Historic Steptoe Neighborhood
    • Photography Exhit: Opening Reception with Music & Storytelling (Fellowship Room)