Sin as a Refusal to Grow Up

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
14^th Sunday after Pentecost
August 30, 2026

PRELUDE:   Lighten the Darkness                                                                                   arr. H. Willan
CALL TO WORSHIP:

One:         Come, let us worship our God, for there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Parent of all,     who is above all and through all and in all.
All:           We come with humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love.

OPENING HYMN:  #316               Glory to God                                    Where Charity and Love Prevail (verses 1-3, 5)
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD: 

All:           God, you have called us to live lives worthy of the calling we have received. But we confess to you and each other that we have not always spoken the truth in love; we have not always made every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Forgive us, and by your grace, help us to grow in every way into him who is our head, Jesus Christ. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:

One:         The promise of faith is that whoever turns to Jesus Christ will never lack forgiveness nor nourishment in God’s grace. This is the promise of joy and of peace that enables us to mature and flourish.
All:           Thanks be to God!

SUNG RESPONSE:  #519               Glory to God                                                You Are My Strength When I Am Weak
[Time with Young Disciples]
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:         Divine Light, shine on this reading that their wisdom may speak again to us today. Shine on our hearts that we might know how to respond.  
All:           Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING:   Ephesians 4:1-16

One:         May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All:           Thanks be to God. 

MESSAGE:   Before the Fall: Sin as a Refusal to Grow Up                          Rev. Dr. Jared Witt
MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:    Glory to God #314                      Christ, Be Our Light (verses 1-2, 5)
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:  Glory to God #417       Lord Jesus, Think on Me (verse 1)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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:          With gratitude for all God has given us, let us return our offerings to God.

OFFERTORY:   Thou Art God         by Lionel Bourne                             Emma WitbolsFeugen, soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:

One:          Generous God, we offer our gifts to you, grateful for all you have given us, and grateful for the chance to give to others. Build up your church through these offerings, that we might be a place where your goodness is seen, practiced, and shared.
All:           Amen.

CLOSING HYMN:  Glory to God  #435                                                       There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
CHARGE AND BLESSING

One:         Friends, we have been called to be people of good news. May the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you today and always.  Go in peace.

POSTLUDE:   Higher Ground                                                                                          arr. M. Hayes

 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 will meet during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space. Children are invited to remain in the service until the “Time for Young Disciples” and then go upstairs for the remainder of the service.
• 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.
• CHILDREN’S CHOIR PRACTICE: Kids that want to sing with the choir are invited to join Renee in the front of the sanctuary on Sunday mornings from 10:00-10:25 a.m.

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

• Monday, Aug. 31               9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m         Heartland Presby Ecumenical Leaders Gathering (Fellowship Room)
  6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Fellowship Room)
  7:30 p.m.         Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
• Tuesday, Sept. 1                 4:30 p.m.         Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
• Thursday, Sept. 3               11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.        Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed (Fellowship Room)
  5:30 p.m.         Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
• Saturday, Sept. 5                8:30 a.m.         Private Rental – Meeting (Living Room/Library)     
• Sunday, Sept. 6                  6:30-9:00 a.m.  Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
  10:00 a.m.       Book Discussion Group
  10:00 a.m.       Children’s Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
  11:00 a.m.       Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
  Children’s Sunday School/Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
  After worship        Hot Dogs & Uno (Stay for lunch and to play games after church)

LOOKING AHEAD:

•      Monday, Sept. 7                                         LABOR DAY HOLIDAY (Church Office Closed)
•      Tuesday, Sept. 8                 5:15 p.m.         Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
•      Sunday, Sept. 13                                        Choir Resumes – Welcome Back Singers!
•      Friday, Sept. 18                  12 noon           WCA Brown Bag Concert Series: Mu Phi Epsilon (Sanctuary)
  Professional Music Fraternity 100th Anniversary

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.