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Prelude “Three Dances from Henry VIII” Edward German
- Morris Dance 2. Shepherd’s Dance 3. Torch Dance
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
Introit “Arise, Your Light is Come” William Walter
*Westminster Chimes
*Invitation to Worship Claire McKeever-Burgett
Why do we come into this place?
We seek compassion and love.
Are we ready to hear from the Divine?
With open hearts, we are ready.
Beloved of the Holy One, may we have ears not only to hear, but also to truly listen.
May we have hearts that not only open, but also transform.
That we might become Christ’s body in the world, loving and serving until there are no more who are hungry, weary, and worn. Amen.
*Hymn #475 “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” nettleton
Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above;
praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
mount of God’s unchanging love!
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I’m come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
*Invitation to Confession Rev. Eileen Parfrey
What do you carry that you need to lay down? What are you holding onto that you can let go? Together, in the company of one another and the Spirit and Wisdom of the Living, Loving God, let us confess that which burdens our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits, so that our lives might become a little more whole, compassionate, and free.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession Inspired by Psalm 25
We pray with the psalmist: To You, Holy One, we lift up our souls. In the secret,
hidden places where shame likes to live, we trust You to heal us, love us, and forgive us. Though we are prone to fear, teach us to love. Though we are tempted to lie, teach us to tell the truth. Though we are seduced by money, politics, and power, lead us in your everlasting way of compassion. Mindful of your mercy, Holy One, and of your steadfast love that endures forever, we pray that you remember us, heal us, and forgive us. Amen.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
Hear the good news, beloved ones of the Holy: God’s steadfast love endures forever. God’s mercy overflows. You are loved. You are forgiven. Be at peace.
*The Passing of the Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
An Act of Proclamation
The Scripture Reading Matthew 21:23-32 Claire McKeever-Burgett
When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven’, he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not ‘; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir ‘; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Moments with Children Rev. Junha Kim
Anthem “The Last Words of David” Randall Thompson
2 Samuel 23: 3, 4
He that ruleth over men must be just; ruling in the fear of God.
And he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth,
Even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass
springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
Alleluia.
Sermon “Beloved: There’s More to the Story” Claire McKeever-Burgett
A Parable of Compassion and Love
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
*Hymn #366 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” hyfrydol
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion;
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast;
let us all in thee inherit;
let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver;
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
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.”)
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 World Communion Sunday Rev. Junha Kim
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts
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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 “When at Creation’s Dawn There Was No Sound”
James E. Clemens
When at creation’s dawn there was no sound,
God hummed a brooding song of birth profound;
the symphony of nature all around. Alleluia.
For every sound comes from the Maker’s hand;
the cleansing rush of river, drift of sand.
Each scraping insect sings across the land, Alleluia.
That music stirs in us through day and night,
a unity of soul and body’s light,
through which our breath and voice rise into flight. Alleluia.
So let our songs now echo nature’s praise.
All strings and cords in sweet vibration raise
to glorify our God through all our days. Alleluia!
*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 #435 “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” in babilone
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea;
there’s a kindness in God’s justice which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than up in heaven.
There is no place where earth’s failings have such kindly judgement given.
For the love of God is broader than the measures of mind;
and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful, we would gladly trust God’s Word,
and our lives reflect thanksgiving for the goodness of our Lord.
*Benediction Claire McKeever-Burgett
(We will be using the song “From This House” provided by Music Makes Community in September and October. It is a call and response song. This benediction encourages us to serve outside the walls of Westminster.)
“From this house to the world we will go hand in hand.
The way of peace, the way of freedom, the way of hope.”
*Postlude “Toccata and Fugue in F” Dietrich Buxtehude
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)