The Gift of Music and Service

WESTPORT RISING WORSHIP SERVICE
10^TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
July 28, 2024

The light of Christ comes to share and illumine our worship.

WORDS OF WELCOME                                            Pastor Susan Wesley Hartley
PRELUDE:   Prelude in Classic Style             Gordon Young
OPENING SCRIPTURE:   1 Corinthians 12: 4-14                                        Bob Russell, Liturgist
OPENING HYMN:   Called as Partners in Christ’s Service   GTG#761
RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP: (Psalm 149, 150) 

     Leader:     Hallelujah!! Sing to God a brand new song.
     People:    Praise God in the company of all who love God.
     Leader:     Let all celebrate our Creator, strike up the band and make great music.
     All:           And why? Because God delights in God’s people. Let every living, breathing creature praise God. Hallelujah!!

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:      Jesus, We Are Here   GTG#392
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:

Teach us, Ruler of the universe, to see people by the light of the faith we profess and sing, Deliver us from every evil that obstructs your saving purpose, and fulfill your promise to establish your kingdom of peace, in us and thru us and in all creation and cosmos. In Jesus name we sing and pray. Amen.

SILENT CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 

Beloved let us love one another, because love is from God and nothing can separate us from the love of God.  Jesus died that we might be forgiven and learn to forgive others. Amen. 

SUNG RESPONSE:  Goodness Is Stronger than Evil  GTG#750
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST:

     Pastor:      The grace, peace, love and joy of Jesus Christ be with you.
     People:    And also with you.
     Pastor:      Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.

CHORAL ANTHEM:  Come, Thou Font                                        American folk hymn, arranged by Jack Warren Burnham
UNISON PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

 Gracious God, illuminate these words by your Spirit that we might hear what you would have us hear and be who you would have us be, for the sake of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING:   1 Corinthians 12: 26-31; 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8a
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:  When in Our Music God is Glorified   GTG#641
MESSAGE:   The Gift of Music and Service                                  Pastor Susan Wesley Hartley
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:   We All Are One in Mission   GTG#733
WELCOMING, NEWS IN, AROUND, AND BEYOND THE COMMUNITY
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:   Come, Bring Your Burdens to God   GTG#851
JOYS AND CONCERNS, PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION,
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Our Father, Mother God, who art in heaven…)
THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES/INVITATION TO GIVE
OFFERTORY SOLO:   How Can I Keep from Singing?                  Robert Lowry, arr. Alan Bullard;    Emma Witbolsfeugen, soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
CLOSING HYMN:  Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples  GTG#757
BENEDICTION AND CHARGE TO THE CONGREGATION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE:     Come Sing, O Church, in Joy!   GTG#305
POSTLUDE:   Postlude on ENGELBERG                                                                       Kyle Johnson

The Light of Christ leads us out into Westport and the World.

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.
• Pastor Susan’s last Sunday leading our worship service will be August 4, and our new Interim Pastor, Jared Witt, will join her in co-leading the service. We will have a POTLUCK RECEPTION after church that Sunday to THANK SUSAN for leading us as Bridge Pastor and WELCOME JARED. If you would like to bring a salad or cold dish to share after the worship service, there is a sign-up sheet at the back of the Sanctuary.

MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:

• You’re invited to A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION Celebrating the completion of the storefront project and the work of Cherith Brook founders Jodi & Eric Garbision. Thursday, August 8. Dinner @ 5-6:30 p.m. Celebrations and storytelling @ 6:30-8 p.m. 3308 E 12th St. KCMO 64127. Please RSVP at: cherithbrookkcmo@gmail.com
• Bread, Buns, Fruit, Water, Meat, Peanut Butter, Cheese are always needed for our INTERRUPT HUNGER work. WESTPORT SHOWERS happens on Sundays & Thursday nights. Men’s boxer brief underwear needed. Men’s and Women’s tennis shoes, pants. Backpacks!
• 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.
• WEEKDAY LUNCH VOLUNTEERS. We could use a few more people to help with making and handing out weekday lunches. Please contact the church office for more information.
• Beginning this week the RESOURCE CENTER in the storefront will be open on Wednesdays & Thursdays instead of on Tuesdays & Thursdays. 

2024 MISSOURI VOTER INFORMATION – AUGUST 6 ELECTION
THE FOLLOWING OFFICES WILL BE ON THE BALLOT:
Governor                              Attorney General                           Lt. Governor            U.S. Senator   Secretary of State               Jackson County Prosecutor         Treasurer                  Jackson County Sheriff
All 163 seats of the house are up for election.
Find Your Local Election Authority here: Check your registration and polling place https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/localelectionauthority
Find Your District & Current Representatives here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default
Find Your Ballot at Vote411.org or the Secretary of State’s website

THERE ARE 2 BALLOT QUESTIONS:

Amendment 1: Property Exemption for Childcare Establishments: If passed, allows taxing jurisdictions to exempt childcare facilities from property tax. For individual or organizational providers using part of their property to provide such care, the amendment would authorize the assessing jurisdiction to exempt that portion of that property used for childcare. A child’s personal home could not be granted an exemption. SJR26
Amendment 4: Allow Legislature to Require a City to Increase Funding without State Reimbursement for a Police Force Established by State Board Measure. If passed, it would authorize the Missouri legislature to mandate increased funding by the City of Kansas City for the Kansas City Police Department without the provision of incremental funds from the State of Missouri . More complete description at LWVMO.org.

Go to https//www.youtube.com/@LWVKC/videos to find videos of candidate forums.

INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK:  (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
     Monday, July 29                 11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Front Door)
                                                4:30 p.m.         FREDitation – a centering prayer experience – 20 min (Chapel)
6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
                                                7:30 p.m.         Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
     Tuesday, July 30                11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Front Door)
                                                6:00 p.m.         Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
Wednesday, July 31           10:00 a.m.       Resource Center Open (Storefront)
                                                11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
                                                7:00 p.m.         Zoom Bible Study – contact church office for link (Online)  *meets every other week*
Thursday, August 1           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)
Friday, August 2                11:00 a.m.       Sack Lunches Distributed (Front Door)
11:30 a.m.       Voting Machines Delivered (Fellowship Room)
Saturday, August 3             8:30 a.m.         Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
     Sunday, August 4              8-9:30 a.m.      Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
11:00 a.m.       Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Children’s Sunday School (Upstairs Children’s Room)

LOOKING AHEAD:

      Tuesday, August 6                                     ELECTION DAY (Fellowship Room)
Wednesday, August 7       6:00 p.m.         Stewardship Meeting (Library)
Tuesday, August 13                                   Boy Scout Troop 60 – Blood Drive Eagle Scout Project (Fellowship Rm)