WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF PENTECOST
July 20, 2025
PRELUDE: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Bradley Sowash
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: God calls us here to worship.
We carry many worries and are distracted by many things,
but here, in this time and place, we are invited to set them aside, to be fully present.
Let’s pause and take a deep breath. We remember who we are:
All: We are the body of Christ.
One: We remember whose we are:
All: We are God’s beloved children.
One: We remember our chief purpose:
All: To glorify and enjoy God forever.
One: Let us worship God!
*OPENING HYMN (You may rise in Body or Spirit):
#693 Glory to God Though I May Speak
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
All: Holy Mystery, Mender of our lives, we are pulled in many different directions.
We are distracted by the news, quick to point fingers and pass judgment,
but reluctant to examine the ways we benefit from the injustice in our world.
We are distracted by our fears.
We fear the loss of health, safety, and financial security.
Instead of proclaiming your abundance, we operate from a mindset of scarcity.
We are distracted by our tasks, by calendars that shape our priorities.
We confess that distraction is easier than discipleship. Forgive us.
Help us discern and choose the better path as we seek to follow Christ. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:
One: The good news is that we are God’s beloved children, adopted into God’s new family in Jesus Christ. Let us live into this good news by changing our lives!
All: Yes! Thanks be to God.
SUNG RESPONSE:
#591 Glory to God Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! (refrain, sing twice)
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: God of Wisdom, still our hearts and silence our distractions so that we can be fully present to your Word. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, let us hear what you have to say to us today, and give us the courage to listen and respond to your call.
All: Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Amos 8:1-12
Colossians 1:15-28
One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: Visualizing Vibrance Rev. Jared Witt
*CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:
#372 Glory to God O for a World
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:
#851 Glory to God Come, Bring Your Burdens to God
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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: In Christ, we have received gifts beyond compare. We offer our gifts with joy and gratitude. Freely we have received; now freely let us give.
OFFERTORY SOLO: For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry Benjamin Britten
(from Rejoice in the Lamb)
Nico Caruso, tenor
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Abundant God, we give thanks for your grace and provision in our lives. Use these gifts to meet the physical and spiritual needs of our community and the world. May they witness to your love and care for all people, as we offer our time and energy to do the same.
All: Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN (You may rise in Body or Spirit):
#815 Glory to God Give to the Winds Thy Fears
*CHARGE AND BLESSING
*POSTLUDE: Balletto del granduca Sweelinck
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). There will be no Children’s Sunday School in July. Children’s Sunday School usually meets during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space.
HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES & HEADPHONES available upon request. Talk to Deanna up in the front of the sanctuary at the livestream table if you would like to use one.
CHOIR is on break for the summer. There will be no choir practice after church.
Following today’s worship service, everyone is invited to join us for a Potluck Gathering in the Fellowship Hall.
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 once a week in the RESOURCE CENTER and Sundays as part of WESTPORT SHOWERS. Food donations of bread, fruit, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.
The Resource Center is now open on Fridays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Ella Hinson is the new director (thank you Kate for all your good work!!)
BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED: Westport Center for the Arts is seeking board members who are interested in helping us keep community arts alive in Westport. We are a volunteer board who meets monthly (usually on the 4th Saturday of the month at 10 am) to work on planning programming, fundraising, community partnerships, and marketing. With the recent loss of our board president, we need people who are willing to fill some leadership roles within the organization. Our programming includes Monthly Brown Bag Concerts, Independent Professional Theater, The Dancing Word (poetry & dance) and Visual Art Exhibits. If you have an interest in the arts or know anyone who may be interested in serving on the board, please contact us at admin@wcakc.org. Support from our community is needed to keep our organization thriving.
CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUPS:
Sunday Mornings
9:40 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm” lead by Jennifer White.
Does it feel like everywhere you look the world is on fire? This weekly workshop will give you 1-5 minute tools to help deal with the stresses of our modern way of living.
10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group readings related to various topics including faith, art, culture, politics, earth care. Currently reading The Idiot, Novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK:
(All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
Monday, Jul. 21 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, Jul. 22 6:00 p.m. Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
Wednesday, Jul. 23 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
6:30 p.m. Stewardship Meeting (online)
8:00 p.m. Mission & Outreach Meeting (zoom)
Thursday, Jul. 24 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
Saturday, Jul. 26 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
Sunday, Jul. 27 8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
Connection Hour Small Groups:
9:40 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm”
10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group
11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Wednesday, Jul. 30 6:00 p.m. Choir Party with Westport Pres & Ward Parkway Pres (at Westport
Pres) Anyone who has ever participated in a choir is welcome to join us!
We will enjoy pizza, games & hymn singing.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR UPDATE:
from Riva and the League of Women Voters
Gov. Mike Kehoe signed into law that bans child marriage from age 16 (15 with parental permission) to 18, blocks enforcement of non-disclosure agreements in child sexual abuse cases and prohibits the state from seizing the federal survivor benefits of kids in the foster care system. The new law takes effect Aug. 28.
Non-disclosure agreements are common in civil actions, but critics fear their use in child sexual abuse cases may silence victims by preventing them from speaking about their experiences and protect perpetrators from exposure, leaving them free to abuse others.
He also signed The Crown Act which prohibits “discrimination based on the person’s hair texture or protective hairstyle. It applies to both public schools and private schools that receive taxpayer funding.
SB160 which prohibits colleges and universities from taking adverse action against student groups that discriminate based on their political or religious beliefs and provides legal immunity to those who seek medical assistance for hazing victims was also signed into law.
In addition, a bill that establishes a fund to pay for hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans with a traumatic brain injury and facing post-traumatic stress disorder to help prevent suicide and opioid addiction is now signed.
Local laws prohibiting landlords from discriminating against tenants who receive public assistance are now unenforceable under legislation signed Monday by Gov. Mike Kehoe. Kansas City, Columbia, St. Louis, Webster Groves and Clayton have protections on the books that make it illegal for landlords to discriminate based solely on the fact of renters’ lawful sources of income, including Section 8, veterans’ benefits and Social Security.
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