WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
16TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
September 13, 2026
PRELUDE: Hear My Prayer, O Lord (in style of JS Bach) arr. Bo Kim
CALL TO WORSHIP: (from Psalm 103)
One: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me.
All: Bless God’s holy name.
One: God forgives. God heals. Gods transforms with steadfast love.
All: Bless God’s holy name.
OPENING HYMN: I Sing the Mighty Power of God Glory to God #32
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
All: Nurturing God, like a hen gathers her brood under her wings, you desire to gather your children. But we get tangled up in division and disagreement. We cling to rigid certainties and fail to listen to the experience of others. We walk away from conflict, rather than working through it. Forgive us – help us grow in faith, mature in relationship, and be transformed through your steadfast love. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE: (from James 5:15-16))
One: The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and restored to God’s path of mercy, justice, and peace.
All: Amen.
SUNG RESPONSE: I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me (verses 1-2) Glory to God #700
[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: Eternal God, open us to your Word read and proclaimed. Help us be receptive to the wisdom you offer.
All: Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 14:19-31 (pages 58-59) Romans 14:1-12 (pages 152-53)
CHORAL ANTHEM: “Blessed Assurance” Arr. R. P. Waters
MESSAGE: (Still) Crossing the Sea: The Next Three Years at WPC
MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Lord, Prepare Me Glory to God #701
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.
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION:
THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES/INVITATION TO GIVE:
One: We are inspired to be generous by a generous God. We are inspired to give by the greatest of givers. In gratitude to God, let us present our tithes and offerings.
OFFERTORY SOLO: To The Sky arr. C. Strommen
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Holy God, bless these gifts for your good use. May these tokens of our gratitude be of service in blessing the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing and sheltering those struggling to survive. Use these gifts to further Christ’s mission and ministry in a hurting world.
All: Amen.
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
GREAT THANKSGIVING
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION:
One: God incarnate, in these ordinary elements you have fed us with the body of the living Christ, that we might become the body of the living Christ. Increase in us faith, hope, and love, that we might be your friends, co-creators of a new world.
All: Amen.
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
CLOSING HYMN: #106 Glory to God Prepare the Way O Zion
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE: Largo from Sonata in c minor, BWV 526 a tribute to Martin Pasi
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.
- Installation Service For Pastor Jared, Sunday September 20, 4pm. You are invited to a special worship service, led by Heartland Presbytery, to install Pastor Jared in his new role as WPC’s Installed, Designated Pastor. Please plan to join us to celebrate this new chapter for our church. There will be a reception following in the Fellowship Hall.
- New Bible Study for the Fall: WPC will experiment with a new format for a mid-week Bible study and discussion group this Fall. The goal for the gatherings will be two-fold: First, to help persons become more skilled in understanding Scripture and better able to relate the Bible to daily life; and second: to learn from one another as we deepen our connections as a community. Please let Jared know if you are interested in participating. The three Bible Study dates in the Fall will be Wednesdays: Sept. 23, Oct. 21, and Nov. 18 (all 5:45-7pm).
- Book Club Discussion Group is reading The Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang in September. Book Club meets Sundays at 10 a.m. before church in the living room/library.
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, Sept. 13 3-6 p.m. MO Workers Center Art Build (Fellowship Room)
- Monday, Sept. 14 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Fellowship Room)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room) - Tuesday, Sept. 15 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
5:15 p.m. Session Meeting (Fellowship Room) - Wednesday, Sept. 16 8:00 p.m. Mission & Outreach Committee Meeting (Zoom)
- Thursday, Sept. 17 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, Sept. 18 12 noon WCA Brown Bag Concert Series: Mu Phi Epsilon (Sanctuary) Professional Music Fraternity 100th Anniversary
- Saturday, Sept. 19 8:30 a.m. Private Rental – Meeting (Living Room/Library)
10:00 a.m. WCA Board Meeting (Fellowship Room) - Sunday, Sept. 20 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)
12:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
4:00 p.m. Installation Service for Pastor Jared Witt (Sanctuary) Reception to Follow
LOOKING AHEAD:
- Wednesday, Sept. 23 5:45-7 p.m. Fall Bible Study (Location?)
- Wednesday, Sept. 30 7:00 p.m. Stewardship Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Election NEWS
Tuesday, September 8, the US Supreme Court rejected the Missouri Secretary of State’s request to overturn the redistricting map unanimous ruling made by the Missouri Supreme Court. This ruling allows the referendum on the redistricting to be on the November ballot. As the new map cannot be used until the voters have had their say, the old map will be in use for the November election.
Important Voting Information
Absentee Voting by Mail
- – To vote by mail, you may request an application for an Absentee Ballot once the application is available. Applications must be received by the second Wednesday prior to any election. Absentee Ballots will be mailed out to voters starting 6 weeks prior to any election.
- – Please note that all ballots must be notorized*, signed, and received by KCEB no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots received after the deadline will not be counted.
- – *Excludes those submitted by an incapacited or confined voter
Absentee Voting In Person
- – Absentee Voting With an Excuse begins 6 weeks prior to an election exclusively at KCEB’s Absentee Office at 4405 E. 50th Terr., which is in the same parking lot as the main KCEB Office.
- – No-Excuse Absentee Voting begins 2 weeks prior to any election at KCEB’s Absentee Office and select satellite poll locations across Kansas City.
Missouri allows Absentee Voting for those who meet at least ONE of the below:
- – You will be absent from your voting jurisdiction on Election Day
- – You are incapaciatated or confined due to illness or physical disaibility, orare caring for an incapacitated person and reside at the same address.
- – You are restricted by religious belief or practice
- – You are employed as any of the following:
- – A member of an election authority
- – A first responder
- – A healthcare worker
- – A member of law enforcement
- – You are incarcerated, but have retained all of your voting qualifications
- – You are in the Missouri SAFE At Home program
Last day to register for the November election is October 7.
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