Westport Presbyterian Church—1st SUNDAY OF LENT Season of Self Examination! Taking Inventory!
Repentance! Making Amends! February 26, 2023, 11:00 am
(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: Kum Ba Yah—setting by Adolphus Hailstork
RESPONSIVE CALL TO RETURN TO OUR SOULS
Pastor: I don’t know how our ancestors walked their troubles and trials down.
People: I don’t know how they stood their ground.
Pastor: I don’t know how they survived Wars, Slavery, Depression, Sorrow.
People: But I do remember, that’s why I believe.
Pastor: My God calls me by the thunder and in the morning dew.
People: The Beauty of the universe knows my name! –
Pastor: Gave me a song to sing and sent me on my way!
People: I raise my voice for justice, peace and God’s enduring love – I believe.
–adapted from I Remember, I Believe by Bernice Johnson Reagon, co-founder of SNCC Singers (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee; she organized sit-ins and sit downs against racism) singer in Sweet Honey in the Rock ( a capella singing group), and Smithsonian Institution leader for many years.
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Listen, God Is Calling GtG#456
LENTEN CONFESSION OF WAYS WE FAIL TO FOLLOW THE JESUS WAY
Pastor: As Jesus followers, we give our hearts to the idea that Jesus is The Way. Lent, the forty days preceding Easter, is a time to walk The Way. Today we acknowledge these things to be true of our way: (ALL join in in repeating the following lines:
We have been blind. Now we would see. We have been lost. We desire to be found. We have been hurt. We desire healing. We have been estranged from those we love. We will find a way to reconciliation and walk it. Let me to die to my own worst impulses. I will be reborn. I have lived in exile from the best in me. I will gladly return. I have experienced some form of human bondage. I will be free of it.
I have sinned. I seek forgiveness of my sins. My heart has often been closed. I will open it. I have accepted mediocrity, lack of curiosity. I will go beyond the mind that I now have. Beginning today, by the light of Christ and in the company of my friends and fellows, I seek The Way. Amen.
SUNG BLESSED ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVING PRESENCE AMIDST PERSONAL TRIALS AND TROUBLES: Jesus Walked That Lonesome Valley
BIBLE READINGS: Job 1:1, 6-12Matthew 4:1-11 Josh Stark
ANTHEM: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross—setting by Marian Thomas —The Westport choir
PRAYER BEFORE SERMON
Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
Pastor: Be acceptable to you, O Lord
People: Our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen.
MESSAGE: The Devil Finds Work (title of James Baldwin novel)
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Jesus, Tempted in the Desert
WELCOMING
PRAYER: Merged Lenten Prayer, Matthew 25 Prayer, Lord’s Prayer
SUNG RESPONSE: Come, Bring Your Burdens to God GtG#851
OFFERTORY: Just As I Am, I Come—Mary McDonald, Luke Gilmore, tenor
Offering link
UNISON PRAYER DEDICATING OUR OFFERINGS TO GOD’S GREAT WORK AMONG US AND BEYOND US
May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses. May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those bound be free. May the powerless find power, and may people think of befriending one another. May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wilderness—the children, the aged, the unprotected–be guarded now and always. Amen
–Buddhist prayer
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Guide My Feet (1-6) GtG#741
BENEDICTION
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Goodness Is Stronger Than Evil (text by Desmond Tutu) #750 GtG
POSTLUDE: Listen, God Is Calling —Kenyan hymn, arr. Anne Krentz Organ
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS
• Celebration of Holy Communion next Sunday! (it tastes really good! Smile!)
· Sunday, March 12 Friendship Pot Luck Lunch and Conversation after worship. The recent Session/Congregation “Affinity Process” suggested some specific follow up discussions about what people hope to talk about and see happen this Spring and the rest of the year. This will be woven into the worship service and the pot luck table talk on Sunday, March 12.
· Rehearsals for the original Black History Play Only the Wounds and Weapons Have Changed by Jacqee Gafford and Scott Myers, have begun here. Opening night is Friday, March 17 at the Just Off Broadway Theater, 7:30 p.m. 9 performances. 1 Sunday matinee. Say WESTPORT at the box office to receive Buy 1, Get 1 Free tickets (you get two tickets for $20). Groups of 10–$75 total. ($7.50/ticket)
• #GoodTrouble KC met with the new KCPD police chief last week. We will meet again. We are discussing and thinking together about how to hire and promote more Black and Brown police officers, especially women, and how to achieve an audit that will change what the chief called “the good ol’ boy” culture in the KCPD. Due to the tragic death of the police officer James Muhlbauer and his K-9 dog Champ, the funeral caused our meeting with the Mayor to be moved to this Wednesday, March 1.
· We are involved with Steptoe Lives in an effort to honor and preserve WHAT remains of the historic Black Westport community of Steptoe. A major event now being planned is Juneteenth in Steptoe, on the Sunday afternoon, June 18, the day before the new national holiday. Events will be held in the neighborhood (parade), at the St. James Missionary Baptist Church (music and Dancing Word) and here at Westport Presby (film) Want to join in the effort? Stan Morgan & Rev Scott are participating so far.
· Still need all kinds of winter clothing for Westport Showers.
· Want to join folks here for a group visit after church one Sunday to a world class art exhibit coming to the Nelson-Atkins Aart Museum? The exhibit is—Alberto Giacometti: Toward the Ultimate Figure, opens on March 18. Sign up sheet on the back table for some Sunday after the opening. We need as many people who have memberships to sign up so you can bring someone who doesn’t have a membership. If we need some extra tickets, we can use “arts and spirituality” funds in the budget to supplement. We haven’t done this in some time. Sign up. It will be fun!
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