Livestream is available here.
Prelude “Italian Concerto Mmt. 1, BWV 971” and “Prelude in C” J. S. Bach
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 “Over My Head” African-American spiritual
*Westminster Chimes
*Invitation to Worship Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Give thanks to God, for She is like a mother and a mystic,
Steadfast in love, enduring in presence, and faithful to her children.
Give thanks to God, for She is wisdom,
Creating new worlds, teaching us to play, standing up to injustice.
Give thanks to God, for She is like a sibling and a warrior,
Making all things new, by Her grace, by Her mercy.
Weaving baskets of safety and forging ways where there aren’t any.
Give thanks to God, for She is…
Dancing on the shores of victory, leading the beloved home.
Alleluia.
*Hymn #233 “The Day of Resurrection!” lancashire
The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad;
the passover of gladness,
the passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over,
with hymns of victory.
Our hearts be pure from evil,
that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal
of resurrection light;
and listening to his accents,
may hear, so calm and plain,
his own “All hail!” and, hearing,
may raise the victor strain.
Now let the heavens be joyful!
Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph,
and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen
their notes in gladness blend,
for Christ the Lord hath risen,
our joy that hath no end.
*Invitation to Confession Rev. Gregg Neel
We confess our sins most Sundays, but in Eastertide we confess our faith. So let us pray together in peace, first in silence.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession
For a world in which lands and people are not things to occupy but sacred blessings to love…
May it be so.
For a world in which calling God Mother or She is not scandalous or edgy but holy and true…
May it be so.
For a world in which no one is oppressed by violence and greed…
May it be so.
For a world in which everyone of us is free because, as Fannie Lou Hamer spoke out, “nobody’s free until everybody’s free”…
May it be so.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
We are forgiven and freed to free others.
Alleluia. Alleliua.
*The Passing of the Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
An Act of Proclamation
Moments with Children Amanda Smith
Anthem “Wade in the Water” African-American spiritual
Annika Bell, soloist arr. Moses Hogan
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children;
Wade in the water, God’s a gonna trouble the water.
See that host all dressed in white; the leader looks like an Israelite.
See that band all dressed in red. Well it looked like the band that Moses led.
Wade in the water. All God’s children in the water.
Oh children, God’s a gonna trouble the water!
The Scripture Reading
Exodus 15:2-8
The Lord is my strength and my might,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.
‘Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he cast into the sea;
his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
The floods covered them;
they went down into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power—
your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty you overthrew your adversaries;
you sent out your fury, it consumed them like stubble.
At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up,
the floods stood up in a heap;
the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
Exodus 15: 13-20
‘In your steadfast love you led the people whom you redeemed;
you guided them by your strength to your holy abode.
The peoples heard, they trembled;
pangs seized the inhabitants of Philistia.
Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed;
trembling seized the leaders of Moab;
all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.
Terror and dread fell upon them;
by the might of your arm, they became still as a stone
until your people, O Lord, passed by,
until the people whom you acquired passed by.
You brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your own possession,
the place, O Lord, that you made your abode,
the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established.
The Lord will reign for ever and ever.’
When the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his chariot drivers went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.
Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Song & Dance” Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
*Hymn #234 “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain” st. kevin
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth Israel
into joy from sadness;
loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke
Jacob’s sons and daughters,
led them with unmoistened foot
through the Red Sea waters.
‘Tis the spring of souls today;
Christ hath burst His prison,
and from three days’ sleep in death
as a sun hath risen;
all the winter of our sins,
long and dark, is flying
from His light, to whom we give
laud and praise undying.
Now the queen of seasons, bright
with the day of splendor,
with the royal feast of feasts,
comes its joy to render;
comes to glad Jerusalem,
who with true affection
welcomes in unwearied strains
Jesus’ resurrection,
Neither might the gates of death,
nor the tomb’s dark portal,
nor the watchers, nor the seal
hold Thee as a mortal;
but today amidst the twelve
Thou didst stand, bestowing
that Thy peace which evermore
passeth human knowing.
“Alleluia!” now we cry
to our King immortal,
who, triumphant, burst the bars
of the tomb’s dark portal;
“Alleluia!” with the Son,
God the Father praising,
“Alleluia!” yet again
to the Spirit raising.
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.
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 “O Love” Elaine Hagenberg
O Love, that will not let me go,I rest my weary soul in thee;I give thee back the life I owe,That in thy ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.O Joy, that seeks me through the pain,I cannot close my heart to thee:I trace the rainbow through the rain,and feel the promise is not vain that morn shall tearless be.O Love, that will not let me go.
*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 #65 “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” cwm rhondda
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty.
Hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more;
feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield;
be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.
*Benediction Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
*Postlude “Sinfonia in D BWV 29” J. S. Bach
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)
Liturgy adapted from: In the Beginning Were the Women, Claire K. McKeever-Burgett, Chalice Press, 2025.