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(Welcome to worship. Bold responses are spoken by the congregation.
Note that an * indicates when all are invited to rise in body or in spirit.)
Prelude “Kallo Folkdance” (Hungary) Zoltan Kodaly
“Hotaru Koi” (Japan) Folk song/ arr. Ogura
“O Sifuni Mungu” (Africa) Folk song/ arr. Maddux and Mwenebulongo Mulongoy
“Jabula Jesu” (Africa-Zulu) Folk song/ arr. Hatfield
“Arirang” (Korea) Folk song/ arr. Park
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 Rev. Junha Kim
광야를 방황하는 모든 이의 하나님이시여
God of all who wander in the wilderness,
We gather from east and west,
From north and south,
for we have been called to kinship.
It is a feature of humanity, God’s intention,
for us to need, to rely upon, and to yearn for one another.
이곳이 우리가 찾는 ‘고향’이 되기를 빕니다.
May we become the home we seek.
Let us worship God.
*Hymn #822 “Pues Si Vivimos” somos del señor
Pues si vivimos, para Él vivimos,
y si morimos, para Él morimos.
Sea que vivamos o que muramos,
somos del Señor, somos del Señor.
When we are living, it is in Christ Jesus,
and when we’re dying, it is in the Lord.
Both in our living and in our dying,
we belong to God; we belong to God.
En esta vida frutos hay que dar
y buenas obras hemos de ofrendar.
sea ya que demos o que recibamos,
somos del Señor, somos del Señor.
Through all our living, we our fruits must give.
Good works of service are for offering.
When we are giving, or when recieving,
we belong to God; we belong to God.
En la tristeza y en el dolor,
en la belleza y en el amor,
sea que suframos o que gocemos,
somos del Señor, somos del Señor.
‘Mid times of sorrow and in times of pain,
when sensing beauty or in love’s embrace,
whether we suffer, or sing rejoicing,
we belong to God; we belong to God.
En este mundo por doquier habrá
gente que llora y sin consolar.
Sea que ayudemos o que alimentemos,
somos del Señor, somos del Señor.
Across this wide world, we shall always find
those who are crying with no peace of mind,
but when we help them, or when we feed them,
we belong to God; we belong to God.
*Invitation to Confession Lilla Reiss
L’orgueil, la cupidité ou la colère peuvent faire obstacle à la Joie, à L’Amour ou à L’Espoir. Du coup, personne n’est heureux ! Lorsque nous demandons pardon à Dieu, nous nous effaçons pour laisser place à la Joie, à L’Amour et à L’Espoir ! Demandons à Dieu de nous aider à trouver le chemin, d’abord dans la prière silencieuse.
People can let pride, greed, or anger get in the way of Joy, Love, or Hope. So then, no one’s happy! When we ask God for forgiveness, we get out of the way so that Joy, Love, and Hope can blossom! Let us ask God for help to know the way, first in silent prayer.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer Rev. Eileen Parfrey
God of immeasurable grace, You gift us with unshakeable truths and unbreakable bonds. But we confess that we have lost faith in the possibilities of Your promise, in the life and ministry of Jesus. We have become numb to violence, to greed, and to selfishness, further separating Your people from the kin-dom. Restore our faith in Your truths, and equip us to rebuild our bonds to one another. Amen.
*Assurance of Forgiveness Steve Tarter
キリストにある者は皆、新しい被造物であり、キリストを通して、神、この世、そして他者との和解が成し遂げられました。古い人生は過ぎ去り、新しい人生が始まりました。あなたが赦されていることを知り、平安を保ち続けてください。
Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation, reconciled with God, the world, and another, through Christ. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
*The Passing of the Peace
キリストの平安があなたとともにありますように。
あなたにもありますように。
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
An Act of Proclamation
The Scripture Reading Matthew 21:33-46 (p. 24) Rev. Junha Kim
“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes’?
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Moments with Children Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Sermon “‘…the visual, the inspiration that made Lady sing the blues’” Rev. Junha Kim
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
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 “Bonse Aba” trad. Zambian; arr. Andrew Fischer
Ethan Reviere, soloist
All that sing have the right to be called the children of God.
*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. Junha Kim
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving Rev. Eileen Parfrey The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
God, we offer our gratitude and joy for the sustaining hope of Creation, eternal and boundless. Creation that provides life for our friends, our enemies, and those we fear; laughter and love found in every kind of home; sunsets and clear night skies for all to revere. So, we offer our gratitude for the eternalness of the heavens and the cloud of witnesses who sit beside You now. And we on earth join them, singing these words:
Blessed are you, Jesus, the cornerstone of heaven, whose life was threatened since birth, who was beaten and rejected, and who revealed to the World the cost for Life, so that Your people would be freed from paying it. Faithful in Your people, you call us to participate in creating and sustaining Life in the world. And so, we pray in one voice, in English or Spanish, the Lord’s Prayer, led by Christina Mata.
Prayer After Communion Rev. Eileen Parfrey
God of wholeness, Your grace is relentless in the pursuit of flourishing for Your Creation. Filled by the bread of life and faithful in the fulfilment of Your covenant, we accompany You through our daily life and in the world. We give you thanks. Amen.
*Hymn #769 “For Everyone Born” for everyone born
For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For woman and man, a place at the table,
revising the roles, deciding the share,
with wisdom and grace, dividing the power,
for woman and man, a system that’s fair,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For young and for old, a place at the table,
a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
for young and for old, the right to belong,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For just and unjust, a place at the table,
abuser, abused, with need to forgive,
in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy,
for just and unjust, a new way to live,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For everyone born, a place at the table,
to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
*Benediction Rev. Junha Kim
(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 “Hope for Resolution” Paul Caldwell & Sean Ivory
European Chant Melody “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” and
South African Freedom Song “Thula sizwe” (Zulu)
You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart quietly.