WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF EPIPHANY
January 26, 2025
(Video will be posted LIVE on the church’s FB page at 11am and then cross-posted here afterwards. 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 Adolphus Hailstork
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: Jesus comes to proclaim good news to us all!
All: Jesus releases those who are captive, gives sight to the blind, helps the oppressed, and declares the year of the Lord’s favor!
One: May we go and do likewise, offering hope to a hurting world.
All: And may it all begin with our worship of God.
OPENING HYMN: Come Quickly, Lord, to Rescue Me GTG#780
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:
All: Gracious God, we are far from the people you have called us to be. We are mired in self-centeredness, seeing things only in terms of how they relate to us and our happiness. Turn our hearts, bent as they are, out to the world around us. Make us more concerned with others, with their welfare and happiness, leaving our own concerns to you, O God. Help us live from our deepest identities as your beloved friends. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:
One: Hear the good news!
All: God’s promise to forgive is sure and everlasting.
One: Know you are forgiven and be at peace.
All: Amen.
SUNG RESPONSE: Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! GTG#591
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.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.
CHORAL ANTHEM: Creator, Open Our Hearts Andrew Birling
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
One: Loving God, may your Spirit be with us all, showing us your Word and your Way.
All: Amen.
MESSAGE: What Should a 21st Century Church Look Like? Rev. Jared Witt
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Live into Hope GTG#772
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Come, Bring Your Burdens to God GTG#851
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: All that we have, all that we are, is a gift from God. Let us in turn offer our gifts to God’s work in the world. Let us give our offering.
Offering link
OFFERTORY SOLO: The Lone, Wild Bird set by Gwyneth Walker Emma Witbolsfeugen, soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
One: Gracious God, whose love is so extravagant, we dedicate these gifts to you.
All: May they go to share your love and care with the world. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN (You may rise in Body or Spirit): In Christ There Is No East or West GTG#318
POSTLUDE: Gigue on LEANDER (sacred harp) set by James Boeringer
There’s nothing ’round this spacious earth
That suits my soul’s desire;
To boundless joy and solid mirth
My nobler thoughts aspire.
Oh, for the pinions of a dove
To mount the heav’nly road;
There shall I share my Savior’s love,
There shall I dwell with God.
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.
- 2025 PER CAPITA is $44.98 per member. This money helps support our denomination on the regional and national levels. The breakdown is: $10.84 to General Assembly, $3.15 to Synod of Mid-America, and $30.99 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!
MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:
- WINTER WEATHER CLOTHING DRIVE: Westport Showers is collecting coats, hats, gloves, warm socks, and boots. Look through your closets and see if you have any extra items you can donate.
- 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 Thursdays in the RESOURCE CENTER and Sundays as part of WESTPORT SHOWERS. Food donations of bread, fruit, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.
CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUPS:
Sunday Mornings
9:30 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm” led 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.
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK: (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
- Monday, Jan. 27
- 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
- 7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
- Tuesday, Jan. 28 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
- Wednesday, Jan. 29 7 p.m. Stewardship Committee Meeting (Online)
- Thursday, Jan. 30
- 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, Jan. 31 3-6 p.m. Bauer Memorial Service – (Sanctuary & Fellowship Room) Private Event Rental
- Saturday, Feb. 1 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
- Sunday, Feb. 2 GROUNDHOG DAY
- 8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
- Connection Hour Small Groups:
9:30 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm”
10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group - 11:00 a.m. Communion Worship Service (Sanctuary)
Children’s Sunday School & Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room) - 12:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Tuesday, Feb. 11 7 p.m. Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
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