The Grief in Emmaus

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF EASTERTIDE
April 19, 2026

PRELUDE:   Be Thou Exalted                                                                                                C. Nordman
CALL TO WORSHIP: 

One:          Friends of God, in the terrible story of Jesus’ death God delivers us and the whole world from the path of hatred and violence.
All:            Alleluia!
      One:          In his rising we are freed from death’s grip – from worry and from fear.
      All:            Alleluia!
      One:          During Easter we remember that we are people marked by courage and gladness.
All:            Alleluia! Thanks be to God!

OPENING HYMN:     The Mighty God with Power Speaks   GTG#13
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD: 

All:            Merciful God, even as we swim out deeper into the joy of Easter, we find ourselves wavering and unsteady, sometimes losing touch with the risen Christ in our midst. We find ourselves preoccupied with ourselves, forgetting your call to love our neighbors sacrificially. We turn away when surprising wisdom challenges our way of thinking, living defensively instead of with soft, curious, and open hearts. Show us again how to bear the newness of this resurrection faith, a faith that sees life and hope in the midst of death and destruction. Transform our hearts, filling us with the kind of love that spills into action that meets the world’s needs. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:

One:         In Acts 2:39, Peter says: “For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” Receive the good news, Children of God, you are forgiven and freed for lives of joy.
All:           Thanks be to God!

SUNG RESPONSE:Be Not Afraid (Sing 2x)  GTG#243
[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 Creator, reveal yourself to us in the reading and proclamation of your Word. Give us ears to hear your voice, eyes that see you among us, and hearts that are willing to follow where you lead. In the name of Jesus the Christ, we pray,
All:           Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING:   Luke 24: 13-35

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

CHORAL ANTHEM:   This Joyful Eastertide                                                              arr. R. Powell
MESSAGE:   The Grief in Emmaus – And in Kansas City                                      Bill Tammeus
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: The Risen Christ   GTG#257
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Christ Has Risen While Earth Slumbers (verse 1)   GTG#231
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE, BLESSINGS, AND THE LORD’S PRAYER: 

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:          Just as those who walked the road to Emmaus with the risen Christ, we too want our lives to be changed. And so we share the gifts we have been given by God. Gifts of time, talent, and treasure. Gifts that demonstrate the transformation we have experienced in Christ. With hearts filled with love, let us give generously.

OFFERTORY SOLO:   All Creatures of Our God and King, arr. D. Carter                                         Joshua Stark, baritone
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:

One:          Lord, we know that every good and perfect gift comes from you. We pray that the gifts of time, talent and treasure we have offered today will work for the good of the world, so that your love will be known not just in word but in action. In the name of the risen Christ, we pray,
All:           Amen. 

CLOSING HYMN: Let All Things Now Living   GTG#37
CHARGE AND BLESSING:

One:         Go from here in the joy of the resurrection.  May the grace of Jesus Christ our risen Lord, the love of God who raised him from the dead, and the power of the Holy Spirit who fills with world with new life bless you and keep you.
All:           Alleluia!

POSTLUDE:   Heavenly Sunlight                                                                                     arr. A. Davis

 

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.
• TODAY we welcome Bill Tammeus who is leading our worship service while pastor Jared is on vacation. Bill Tammeus is a former columnist for The Kansas City Star, where he worked full-time for almost 36 years. Since 2004 he has written the “Faith Matters” blog (https://substack.com/@billtammeus429970). He also writes columns for Flatland, KCPT-TV’s digital magazine, and, until recently, for The National Catholic Reporter and The Presbyterian Outlook, two publications for which he now writes occasional book reviews.
  A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Bill was a member of the Star staff that won the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. His many other awards include several from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the American Academy of Religion, in addition to receiving the 2005 Wilbur Award given annually to the best religion column in the country. His sixth book, The Value of Doubt: Why Unanswered Questions, Not Unquestioned Answers, Build Faith, was published in 2016. His latest book, Love, Loss and Endurance: A 9/11 Story of Resilience and Hope in an Age of Anxiety, was published in 2021.
  Bill is an elder at Second Presbyterian Church in Kansas City and past president of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. He’s married to Marcia Tammeus. Between them they have six children and eight grandchildren.
• 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. 

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 Fridays 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.
• Westport Presbyterian has become a member of the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and we are planning a Pre-Pride Vendor event on Saturday, May 23rd from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. as a fundraiser for Westport Showers. We are seeking Makers, Artists, and Authors to participate. $25 suggested donation to secure a vendor spot. This is a family friendly event. We will have a kids corner with crafts & activities. Author talks throughout the day. For more infomation visit: westportpresbyteiran.org/events/pre-pride

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

Monday, Apr. 20               6:30 p.m.         Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m.         Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, Apr. 21               4:30 p.m.         Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
     Thursday, Apr. 23             8:00 a.m.         Westport Regional Business League Conference (Fellowship Room)
5:30 p.m.         Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
Friday, Apr. 24                   11:00 a.m.       Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
-3:00 p.m.
11:30 a.m.       Children’s Mercy TIES Group (Fellowship Room)
Saturday, Apr. 25              8:30 a.m.         Private Rental – Meeting (Storefront)
10:00 a.m.       Westport Center for the Arts Board Meeting (Fellowship Room)
10:00 a.m.       Cub Scouts (Westport Rising Room)
2:00 p.m.         Westport Historical Society: Annual Membership Meeting (Fellowship Room)
-4:00 p.m.
     Sunday, Apr. 26                 8-9:30 a.m.      Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
Connection Hour Small Groups:
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)

LOOKING AHEAD:

Monday, Apr. 27               5:30 p.m.         MO Workers Center Meeting (Fellowship Room)
     Wednesday, Apr. 29          7:00 p.m.         Stewardship Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Saturday, May 2            9 a.m.-1 p.m.        Willow Woods CPR/First Aid Training (Basement)
9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.         AGO Organ Crawl (Sanctuary)
Sunday, May 3                   5:00 p.m.         Chili/Soup Potluck Dinner (Fellowship Room)
6:00 p.m.         Taizé Service (Sanctuary)

MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:  from Riva and the League of Women Voters 

• HB 3146: prevents courts from re-writing unfair ballot summary language. If court rules ballot language legally unfair or insufficient, it will have to be sent back to the Secretary of State for up to three additional tries, before the court could step in; shortens the timeframe for resolution of ballot language challenges, allowing the Secretary of State to run out the clock;  If the case is not completed by the deadline, original language will appear on the ballot; preventing courts from remedying language a court has found unlawful.
• HCSHJR 173: Opens the door to a 9% sales tax on everything from gas to car repairs and home maintenance at the behest of the legislature without citizen vote. This is the base sales tax with other local sales tax added on. Prevents future reinstatement of the income tax once eliminated.
• https://mobudget.org/hjr-173-174
• HCS HB 2384 (House bill now in the Senate): prohibit local control over green building standards by setting building codes statewide to the 2009 International Residential Code standards. The State of Missouri does not have a state wide building or energy code; this bill would overrule over 80 local jurisdictions that have already adopted energy codes that are beyond the 2009 code. The most recent International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) set of codes was published in 2024. MO cannot compete with codes that are over a decade behind. States including Nebraska, Louisiana, and Texas have adopted at least the 2015 IECC as a statewide standard.

MISSOURI BUDGET WOES

• The first-year cost of a House-passed proposal to eliminate the state income tax ballooned to $4.2 billion under revisions made in the state Senate.
  https://missouriindependent.com/2026/04/15/capital-gains-tax-refunds-hit-missouri-revenue-as-senate-tries-to-plug-budget-holes/?

SOME GOOD NEWS

• HBs 1908 and 2337  were signed by Governor Kehoe. Pregnancy cannot be used as a reason to impede dissolution of marriage.
• HB1871:  Expands no-excuse absentee voting; allows provisional voting for all elections.
• A health care bill that passed the House includes a provision to expand doula services for low-income women from six to 16 visits.
• Do you know any high school students who are going out of state for college?  LWV has new materials that will help them decide where and how to vote. If you would like some of these cards to put into graduation cards, please let me know. Missouri, Kansas and other states no longer allow student IDs to vote. They will have to vote by absentee ballot.