Standing On Holy Ground 

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
12^th Sunday after Pentecost
August 16, 2026

PRELUDE:   How Firm a Foundation                                                                                 arr. L. Smith
CALL TO WORSHIP: 

One:         The God of our ancestors calls us to worship.
All:           Praise the Lord!
      One:         Let the hearts of all who seek the Lord rejoice.
All:           Let us worship God in gladness! 

OPENING HYMN:  #405               Glory to God                                                             Praise God for This Holy Ground
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD: 

All:           God of mercy, like the earliest disciples, and like people of faith before us,  we set our minds not on goodness and beauty and gratitude,  but instead on worries, cares, and possessions.  We doubt your loving care and grab for more than we need.  We doubt your loving purposes and shrink from opportunities to grow. Be patient with us. Help us to welcome your new life in our midst, Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:

One:         Jesus is the gentle face of God, turned towards us in love.  His life embodies forgiveness and the power to change.    By trusting in Jesus and his way, we find peace.
All:           Thanks be to God.

SUNG RESPONSE:  #406               Glory to God                                       We Are Standing On Holy Ground (Sing 2x)
[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:         Holy Spirit, who spoke to Moses from the burning bush, speak to us now in the reading and hearing of your word.
      All:           Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING:   Exodus 3:1-15 (page 48)           Romans 12:9–21 (pages 151-152)

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

MESSAGE:   Standing On Holy Ground                                                            Rev. Dr. Jared Witt
MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:  #408               Glory to God                                                                     There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:  #417               Glory to God                                                            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:          The apostle Paul encourages us: Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.  In that spirit we now return to God in our offerings a sign of our gratitude.

OFFERTORY:   Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness    H. Smart arr. R. Zimmerman                             Nico Caruso, tenor
PRAYER OF DEDICATION: 

One:          Holy God of holy ground, like Moses we question our fitness to be your people. Assure us with your presence. And bless these offerings that they might bear fruit in the world you love.
All:           Amen.

CLOSING HYMN:   409               Glory to God                                                                                                     God Is Here!
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE:   Holy Ground                                                                                       Arr. Mark 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 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) 

•      Today, Aug. 16                  3:00 p.m.         WCA Disability Pride Event:  Artist Talk & Fiber Art Workshop (Chapel & Fellowship Room)
  6:00 p.m.         WCA Jazz Concert Series: Brad Gregory Sextet (Fellowship Room)
•      Monday, Aug. 17               6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Fellowship Room)
  7:30 p.m.         Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
•      Tuesday, Aug. 18               4:30 p.m.         Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
•      Wednesday, Aug. 19         4:00 p.m.         Church Staff Planning Meeting (Library)
                                                  8:00 p.m.         Mission & Outreach Committee Meeting (Zoom)
•      Thursday, Aug. 20             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)
•      Friday, Aug. 21                  1:00 p.m.         MO Worker’s Center Meeting (Fellowship Room)
•      Saturday, Aug. 22              8:30 a.m.         Private Rental – Meeting (Living Room/Library)
  10:00 a.m.       Finucane Project – Rockhurst Students Service Project  Landscape Maintenance (Outside Church)
  10:00 a.m.       WCA Board Meeting (Fellowship Room)
  1:00 p.m.         Private Rental – Birthday Party (Fellowship Room)
•      Sunday, Aug. 23                6:30-9:00 a.m.  Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
  10:00 a.m.       Book Discussion Group
                                                  11:00 a.m.       Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
  Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)

LOOKING AHEAD:

•       Wednesday, Aug. 26         7:00 p.m.         Stewardship Committee Meeting (Zoom)
•      Friday, Aug. 28                  3:00 p.m.         WCA Disability Pride Event:  Art Exhibit Closing Reception (Chapel & Fellowship Room)
•      Saturday, Aug. 29              7:00 p.m.         KC English Dance (Westport Rising Room)