WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
February 22, 2026
PRELUDE: My Shepherd Will Supply My Need arr. A. David
CALL TO WORSHIP: (from Psalm 32)
One: The steadfast love of God surrounds us always — even in the wilderness!
All: Thanks be to God!
One: The steadfast love of God surrounds us always — even in our wandering!
All: Thanks be to God! Let us be glad and worship!
OPENING HYMN: Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom GTG#174
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
All: Merciful God, you know all about our troubles. Your Son was tested in the wilderness, tempted by the distorting powers of the age. We confess how easily and often we give in to these distortions. Yet, you forgive us and remind us there is nothing we can do to lose your love. Holy God, turn our lives back to you and the path to which you have called us. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:
One: Hear and receive the good news: In Jesus Christ, we have been forgiven! Know this and be at peace.
All: Amen.
SUNG RESPONSE: In My Life (verses 1-2) GTG#468
[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: Still-speaking God, guide us by your Word and Spirit that we might hear, and by hearing, grow in faith and love.
All: Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Matthew 4:1-11
One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.
CHORAL ANTHEM: Steal Away arr. Eicker Featured Soloists: Reese Capps & Nico Caruso
MESSAGE: The Lenten Path Rev. Dr. Jared Witt
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: (from A Brief Statement of Faith)
All: In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom and peace. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Lord, Who throughout These Forty Days (verses 1, 3, 4) GTG#166
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Kum ba Yah (verses 1, 4) GTG#472
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: God is generous and calls us to offer our time, talents and resources back to God, the giver. God has modeled this generosity by giving us God’s very own life. Love and gratitude lead us to give abundantly.
OFFERTORY SOLO: There is a Balm in Gilead arr. M. Hayes Nico Caruso, tenor
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Take these, our gifts, as we offer them today, O God. Use them for your glory and kin-dom’s expansion. May these gifts go toward freeing the captives, feeding the hungry, comforting the lonely, and healing the world. As Christ’s body, use us to repair the wounded places in our community.
All: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice GTG#163
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE: Postlude on O Waly Waly arr. R. Haan
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 usually meets during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space, but is on break. Children are invited to remain in the service until the “Time for Young Disciples” and then they can go play in the upstairs children’s room.
- 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.
- 2026 PER CAPITA is $45.91 per church member. This money helps support our denomination on the regional and national levels. The breakdown is: $11.26 to General Assembly, $3.15 to Synod of Mid-America, and $31.50 to Heartland Presbytery. If you would like to help out the church by paying your own Per Capita, make your check out to Westport Presbyterian Church or place money in a pew envelope and include “per Capita” on the memo line. Thank You!
- 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.
CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUP: Sunday Mornings
10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group readings related to various topics including faith, art, culture, politics, earth care. Currently reading Search: A Novel, by Michelle Huneven.
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 are always needed.
- WINTER WEATHER CLOTHING DRIVE: Through the cold weather months Westport Showers will be collecting coats, hats, gloves, warm socks, shoes and boots. Look through your closets and see if you have any extra items you can donate.
- BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED & PAID PART-TIME POSTITIONS AVAILABLE: Westport Center for the Arts, an non-profit organization founded by our church that has dedicated itself to bringing free art exhibits, concerts, dance performances, etc. to the neighborhood, has several positions that need filling. They need a board president to set a meeting agenda and keep track of who is doing what, and they are looking to fill several paid positions: Photographer, Grant Writer, Visual Arts Program Director. If interested, email [email protected] or speak with Josh Stark or Deanna Capps.
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK: (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
- Monday, Feb. 23 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room) - Tuesday, Feb. 24 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
- Thursday, Feb. 26 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non-conforming people (Basement)
- Friday, Feb. 27 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
11:30 a.m. Children’s Mercy TIES Group (Fellowship Room) - Saturday, Feb. 28 8:30 a.m. Private Rental – Meeting (Storefront)
10:00 a.m. Westport Center for the Arts Board Meeting (Fellowship Room) - Sunday, Mar. 1 SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
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)
Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
12:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
LOOKING AHEAD:
- Saturday, Mar. 7 5:45-7:30 p.m. Iftar Gathering/Ramadan Fast Breaking Dinner with the Dialogue Institute of Kansas City Second Pres, Rolling Hills Pres & Westport Pres (at Second Presbyterian Church, 318 E 55th St, KCMO)
7:00 p.m. KC English Dance (Westport Rising Room)
MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
from Riva and the League of Women Voters
Update on possible ICE detention center in Kansas City
The Kansas City Council has approved a five-year ban on non-municipal detention facilities. A Kansas City firm that owns a 920,000-square-foot warehouse in the area was considering a contract with ICE. Jackson County and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas are also considering similar bans. Cities have both rights and limitations in regards to stopping federal projects, so expect to see litigation.
Update on bill to remove sales tax on groceries
The lowest income families spend about 25% of their income on food vs 5% for wealthier families. However, mayors, county commissioners and other local representatives are against removing sales tax on food as these taxes fund their police and fire departments, road repairs, trash and recycling, etc. It could result in the loss of over $1 billion to local funding. A bill may be introduced to remove only the state’s food tax which is 1%, while leaving local taxes intact. 33 other states do not have a sales tax on food.
To reach out to your legislators, go to senate.mo.gov (the MO senate home page), scroll down right side of page until Legislator Lookup. Click on this, fill out your address and it will show you your elected officials for your area.
RAMADAN FAST BREAKING DINNER:
Join us along with our friends from the Dialogue Institute – RSVP through Eventbrite using the QR link above, or use the sign-up sheet at the back of the sanctuary and we will register you.
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