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(Welcome to worship today. Bold responses are spoken by the congregation. Note that an * indicates when all are invited to rise in body or in spirit.)
Prelude Greensleeves (“What Child is This?”) arr. R. Vaughn Williams
“Rejoice! The Lord Cometh” Veni Emmanuel,
arr. Stanley Saxton
Greetings and Announcements Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
An Act of Praise
Introit “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” arr. Karen Roth
Sharon Ross and Sherry Symington, bell tree
Allison de Boer, Karen Gerber, Dennis Hodge, and Leigh Wood, singing bells
*Westminster Chimes
Candle of Joy
This Advent will be a season of song, and as we prepare to light the Advent candles,
we will sing a verse each week of a song written by our own John Goff.
*Invitation to Worship and Candle Lighting From Matthew 11
Michael and Pan Moore
Naree and Aaron Reiss
Lilla and Emrie Reiss
When John heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent friends to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Jesus said, “Go and say the blind receive sight,
the deaf hear, and good news is proclaimed to the poor.”
Jesus then spoke about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? Someone in fine clothes? No, men in fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.
Then what did you go to see? A prophet?
Yes, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.
And so, we prepare for joy.
(The first three candles are lit.)
*Hymn #104 “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” valet will ich dir geben
O Lord, how shall I meet You,
how welcome You aright?
Your people long to greet You,
my Hope, my heart’s delight!
O, kindle, Lord most holy,
Your lamp within my breast
to do in spirit lowly
all that may please You best.
Love caused Your incarnation;
love brought You down to me.
Your thirst for my salvation procured my liberty.
O, love beyond all telling,
that led You to embrace in love, all love excelling,
our lost and fallen race.
You come, O Lord, with gladness, in mercy and goodwill,
to bring an end to sadness and and bid our fears be still.
In patient expectation we live for that great day
when your renewed creation your glory shall display.
*Invitation to Confession Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. First in silence and then together continuing in our praying the words of the Gospel of Matthew.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession From Matthew 11
Jesus asked: To what can I compare this generation?
They are like those who sit in the marketplaces and call out to others:
We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.
But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
Whoever has ears, let them hear. We hear and we prepare for the joy of forgiveness, the assurance that justice is coming and God is with us.
Amen.
*The Passing of the Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Moments with Children and Reception of New Members
Introduction Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
Presentation Jan Poujade, Clerk
On behalf of the Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church, it is my joy to present the following people to be received as new members: Abigail Chipley and Dan Fahrbach, Wendy and Ken Cleveland, Nancy Freyer, Emma and Eliot Reasoner, Judy Rice, and Ken and Tricia Waineo.
Confident of God’s grace at work in us, do we, the congregation, promise to nurture these new members by our words and deeds, encouraging them to know and follow Christ, and to be faithful disciples? If so please respond, we do.
Congregation: We do!
Questions Rev. Gregg Neel
Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?
I do.
Who is your Lord and Savior?
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying his word and showing his love?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you be faithful members of this congregation, share in its worship and ministry through your prayers and gifts, your study and service, and so fulfill your calling to be a disciple of Christ?
I will, with God’s help.
The Welcome Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
Our prayer for these new members is that this may be a place of hope and peace. And so, we welcome them to this congregation as we say together:
Congregation: Welcome to this joy!
Anthem “Cradled All Lowly” Charles Gounod
arr. Fred A. Merrett
Westminster Concert Bells
An Act of Proclamation
The Scripture Reading Isaiah 35 (p. 663) Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Car’mel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weak hands
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.”
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp;
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Resistant Joy”
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
Honoring Leslie Lehmann
Sharing Joys & Concerns Rev. Eileen Parfrey
(At the conclusion of spoken joys, let us pray together, “Thanks be to you, O God.”
For concerns, let us make them our own by praying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer
Our 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.
Community Moment Christmas Joy
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts
(Text 73256 the word WESTPRESPDX to give using your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply.
If you’re new to Westminster, please let us know by filling out a pink visitor card and dropping it in the offering plate. Thank you.)
Offertory Anthem “The Newborn King” arr. Julie Turner
Westminster Concert Bells
*Doxology – Hymn #606
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
-OR-
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Hymn #134 “Joy to the World” antioch
Joy to the world; the Lord is come;Let Earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
And heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns;
Our mortal songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.
*Benediction Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
*Postlude “Fantasia on In Dulci Jubilo” J.S. Bach
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)
New Members Being Presented Today
Abigail Chipley and Dan Fahrbach have two children, Willa (age 19), and Silas (age 17). Abigail is a writer who has worked in magazine publishing, freelance food writing and recipe development, and assisting teens with college applications. She’s an avid home cook and loves being outdoors, birding, hiking, and camping. Dan is now retired after a career in publishing. He has worked with AGE+, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting older Oregonians, especially in rural places. His background includes missionary years in Libya and Beirut, which gave him a taste for Mediterranean foods and a homesickness for oleander bushes.
Wendy and Ken Cleveland recently moved from Texas to Portland. They adopted their sons from Mariupol, Ukraine, in 2002 and are passionate about Ukrainian independence. Wendy is an attorney/compliance manager, and Ken is a CPA who has been a controller for several different companies over his career. They’re looking forward to friendship “with like-minded souls” and being a part of a church family where they can learn and grow in faith.
Nancy Freyer grew up in Southeast Portland and was raised Presbyterian. She attended Whitworth University in Spokane and has taught elementary school in Brookings, Oregon. She became disabled in 2012, “with all its challenges and gratitudes.” She enjoys crafting, volunteering at the Center for Positive Aging, and reading. She looks forward to attending Westminster’s adult education classes and to finding ways to be involved here.
Emma and Eliot Reasoner have lived in Portland for four years and recently welcomed their first child, Joni. They live in Multnomah Village with their dog, Margot. Emma grew up in a small town in Maine before moving to the West Coast to attend Azusa Pacific University, where she studied English literature and ethnic studies. Growing up in a bicultural family is a defining experience for Emma and shapes the way she sees the world and approaches a life of faith. Eliot grew up the child of Baptist missionaries in Tokyo, Japan. He enjoys reading and teaching literature to high school students. Some of his favorite pastimes include walking with Emma, playing with Joni, playing basketball, and listening to music.
Judy and Roger Rice joined the Peace Corps shortly after they were married and served in Afghanistan. Judy worked in healthcare marketing most of her career, at medical centers, a children’s hospital, and a cancer center. She retired as health marketing director at AARP Services in Washington, D.C. Roger is a retired Presbyterian minister, environmental advocate, ceramic artist, and retired marriage and family therapist. The two are parents of two adult boys and grandparents of two grandsons. Judy served on committees at her last church and was active in mission projects, including traveling to Honduras five times on church mission trips. She’s also a music lover who has sung in choirs most of her life. Roger’s hobbies include hiking, speed walking, gardening, biking, writing poetry, and singing in the church choir. The couple lives in Multnomah Village with their dog, Brodie.
Ken and Tricia Waineo have two children, Seth (age 18) and Kathryn (age 15). Although the couple has called Portland home for many years now, each has a background that includes living in a variety of places. Between the two of them, they’ve experienced life in places as diverse as Michigan, Japan, Southern California, San Francisco, and Chicago. Tricia and Ken both enjoy traveling and reading. Tricia also enjoys skiing, while Ken loves to hike, snowboard, and fly fish.