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Prelude “Music for the Royal Fireworks HWV 351” G. F. Handel
“Fanfare for the Common Man” Aaron Copland
Greetings and Announcements Rev. Gregg Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
An Act of Praise
*Westminster Chimes
*Invitation to Worship Rev. Gregg Neel
(Freely adapted from Psalm 89, Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill)
All creation belongs to God.
If there is any “belonging” going on, it is we who belong to God.
In the Kin-dom of Heaven, captives are set free, those in need find shelter.
We are named “Beloved” by the God who is Heart of our Hearts.
Let us abandon ourselves into the hands of God.
*Hymn #3 “Womb of Life and Source of Being” raquel
Womb of life and source of being, home of every
restless heart, in your arms the worlds awakened;
you have loved us from the start. We, your children,
gather ’round you, at the table you prepare. Sharing
stories, tears, and laughter, we are nurtured by your care.
Word in fless, our brother Jesus, born to bring us
second birth, you have come to stand beside us,
knowing weakness, knowing earth. Priest who shares our
human struggles, Life of Life and Death of Death, risen
Christ, come stand among us, send the Spirit by your breath.
Brooding Spirit, move among us; be our partner,
be our friend. When our memory fails, remind us
whose we are, what we intend. Labor with us;
aid the birthing of the new world yet to be, free of
servant, lord, and master, free for love and unity.
Mother, Brother, holy Partner; Father, Spirit,
Only Son: we would praise your name forever,
one-in-three and three-in-one. We would share your
life, your passion, share you word of world made new, ever
singing, ever praising, one with all, and one with you.
*Invitation to Confession Rev. Gregg Neel
God is kind and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon God. In times of trouble, we can call upon God, confident that God will hear us. Let us confess our need, first in silence.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession
(Freely adapted from Psalm 89, Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill)
O Beloved, fears rise up within us; they confound and confuse us. We ignore that which needs our attention and freely spend our attention on what could better be abandoned into You. So distracted are we by our own priorities, we cannot see the needs of those around us. You, whose love is steadfast, fill us with strength, release us from our fear. Pour your Light into our souls, so that all that is hidden in darkness may come forth into awareness and we be reformed. This is our prayer. Amen.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
Do not be afraid. God is merciful and gracious, ever ready to forgive.
The Beloved is our Redeemer and Comforter. Thanks be to God!
*The Passing of the Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
An Act of Proclamation
The Scripture Reading Genesis 21:8-21 (p. 17) Rev. Eileen Parfrey
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Moments with Children Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Sermon “Freedom’s Just Another Word for ‘Nothing Left to Lose’” Rev. Eileen Parfrey
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
*Hymn #470 “There Is a Longing in Our Hearts” longing
Refrain
There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord, for
you to reveal yourself to us.
There is a longing in our hearts for love we
only find in you, our God.
For justice, for freedom, for mercy:
hear our prayer. In sorrow, in grief:
be near; hear our prayer, O God.
Refrain
For wisdom, for courage, for comfort:
hear our prayer. In weakness, in fear:
be near; hear our prayer, O God.
Refrain
For healing, for wholeness, for new life:
hear our prayer. In sickness, in death:
be near; hear our prayer, O God.
Refrain
Lord save us, take pity, Light in our
darkness. We call you; we wait:
be near; hear our prayer, O God.
Refrain
Sharing Joys & Concerns Rev. Gregg Neel
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.”
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, found in the pew rack, and place it in the offering plate. Thank you.)
Offertory Anthem “Give Me Jesus” James Hansen
Annika Bell, alto
*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.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
The Invitation to the Table Rev. Gregg Neel
The liturgy for the Lord’s Supper is adapted from Playing Hopscotch in Heaven by Thom Shuman.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving Revs. Gregg Neel and Eileen Parfrey May the God of Abraham and Sarah be with you.
And also with you.
There is no one like the God of Hagar and Ishmael.
And so we lift our hearts to God.
God will gladden the souls of all people.
We sing to the One who is always gracious.
There is none like you, Everlasting Grace. You gladdened the soul of all creation with unimaginable wonders. You showered us with these gifts and held hopes and dreams for us. But we sent all this away into the wilderness of forgetfulness, choosing to live in rebellion. Your words calling us back overflowed from the mouths of the prophets, but we continued in our willful ways. Seeking to unite us with you once more, you sent Jesus, to baptize us with your life. Therefore, we join in singing your praise, along with those who have gone before us, including Sandra Wagenius.
We sing the words of the eternal song:
Holy are you, Steadfast Love, and blessed is Jesus the Christ, our Savior. He could have remained with you, the Child of your heart, but he entered into life with his siblings. Longing to lead us out of despair’s deep desert, he willingly went to the grave, that we might be raised to life with you.
As we come to your Table of grace and hope, pour out your Spirit upon the gifts of this bread and cup, and upon your children gathered in your name. As we are nurtured by the Bread of Life, may we have no fear, but boldly go to serve those cast out by your world. As we are nourished with the wine of wonder, may we not keep your love and grace secret, but shout the good news of salvation for all, praying as our Brother Jesus taught us, saying,
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
Words of Institution
On the night before the Lord Jesus died, he took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way he took the cup, saying: This cup is the new covenant sealed with my life, given for you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.
Receiving the Bread and the Cup
(Today, the congregation is invited to come forward to receive communion. Someone will hand you a piece of bread, which you will eat. You may then move to the next person, who will hand you a cup of juice, which you will drink. As you return to your pew, you may put your cup in the basket. For those unable to come forward, a pastor will bring you the elements.)
Communion Anthem “Laudate Dominum from Vesperae solennes K.339” W. A. Mozart
Jean Mittelstaedt, soprano
Prayer After Communion Rev. Eileen Parfrey
We have been fed, Generous God. May we continue to hunger and thirst for You, may we become what we eat, for the sake of this world. Amen.
*Hymn #340 “This Is My Song” finlandia
This is my son, O God of all the nations,
a song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
but other hearts in other lands are beating
with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.
My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams on clover leave and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
So hear my song, O God of all the nations,
a song of peace for their land and for mine.
This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth’s kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done.
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
and hearts united learn to live as one.
So hear my prayer, O God of all the nations:
myself I give thee; let thy will be done.
*Benediction Rev. Eileen Parfrey
*Postlude “Finlandia Opus 26 No. 7” Jean Sibelius
You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart quietly.