PRELUDE
“Veni Creator Spiritus” Andrew Carter
“O Magnum Mysterium” Morton Lauridson/arr. MEB
(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.)
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The 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, Thy Light is Come!”
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP The Rev. Gregg Neel
Sing a new song!
Make a joyful noise!
Let the sea roar,
And let the sky shimmer.
Let the earth be glad,
Let the children run and roll.
Let the old laugh with deep wisdom.
Let the young listen, wide-eyed and wondering.
And let us worship God.
*HYMN #455, vv. 1,2,3
“All Creatures of Our God and King” LASST UNS ERFREUEN
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION The Rev. Beth Neel
To confess is to admit—to admit something that might make us feel guilty or ashamed or sad. To confess to God is to await—to await that word of grace, of forgiveness, of hope. Trusting in God’s mercy, let us make our confession.
*SILENT PRAYER
*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious and merciful God, you know us. You know our hearts, you know our thoughts, you know our actions. You know our successes and our failures, that which commends us and that which condemns us. We know ourselves, too; we know the good we have done, and we know how we have fallen short. We would know you better, so that the burden of sin would not weigh us down. We would know you better, so that the freedom of your mercy would enable us to fly. Forgive our sins, and restore us to wholeness, we pray. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Friends in Christ, let us proclaim the Good News:
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
And now we are freed to go out and love and serve.
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 The Rev. Beth Neel
Revelation 22:1-5
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN The Rev. Gregg Neel
THE SERMON IN SONG Morten Lauridsen
“Lux Aeterna”
Morten Lauridsen, a native of Beaverton, Oregon, finished writing the five-movement choral work, Lux Aeterna, in 1997, after the death of his mother. Much of the piece was written on the shores of the San Juan Islands, where he drew inspiration from the natural beauty and solitude. The piece is in five movements, all drawn from sacred Latin sources, each containing references to light and Christ as the light of the world. It is Neo-Renaissance in style, drawing from chant and uneven meter that illuminates the text. Lauridsen recently retired from a stellar teaching and composing career at the University of Southern California. Lux Aeterna has become a cherished major work in the choral lexicon and has been performed thousands of times in concert halls and church and cathedral sanctuaries all over the world.
I. INTROITUS
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
A hymn befits thee, O God in Zion, and to thee a vow shall be fulfilled in Jerusalem.
Hear my prayer, for unto thee all flesh shall come.
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
II. IN TE, DOMINE, SPERAVI
To deliver us, you became human, and did not disdain the Virgin’s womb.
Having blunted the sting of death, you opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
A light has risen in the darkness for the upright.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Let thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we have trusted in thee.
In thee, O Lord, I have trusted: let me never be confounded.
III. O NATA LUX
O born light of light, Jesus, redeemer of the world,
mercifully deem worthy and accept the praises and prayer of your supplicants.
Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh for the sake of the lost ones,
grant us to made members of your holy body.
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS
DEACONS TO BE ORDAINED OR INSTALLED:
Margo Salisbury and Rebecca Brown
ELDER TO BE ORDAINED OR INSTALLED:
Nancy Harlan Crean
INTRODUCTION The Rev. Gregg Neel
PRESENTATION OF THE PERSONS TO BE ORDAINED AND INSTALLED Jan Poujade, Clerk of Session
On behalf of the Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church, I now present those to be ordained and/or installed to the office of elder and deacon, and I invite these people to come forward at this time.
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS The Revs. Beth and Gregg Neel
Do you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you?
Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?
Will you fulfill your ministry in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture and continually guided by the confessions?
Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit?
Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?
Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?
Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?
(for elders)
Will you be a faithful elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in councils of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?
(for deacons)
Will you be a faithful deacon, teaching charity, urging concern, and directing the people’s help to the friendless and those in need, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?
QUESTIONS TO THE CONGREGATION Jan Poujade
Do we, the members of the church, accept these women as elders and deacons, chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to guide us in the way of Jesus Christ?
We do.
Do we agree to pray for them, to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church?
We do.
PRAYER OF ORDINATION AND LAYING ON OF HANDS The Rev. Beth Neel
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS The 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 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.
MOMENT FOR MISSION Janet Moore
Heifer International
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
“Lux Aeterna” Morten Lauridsen
IV. VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS
Come, Holy Spirit, send forth from heaven the ray of thy light.
Come, Father of the poor, come giver of gifts, come light of hearts.
Thou best of consolers, sweet guest of the soul,
Sweet refreshment. In labor, thou art rest;
In heat, the tempering; in grief, the consolation.
O Light most blessed, fill the inmost heart of all the faithful.
Without your grace there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful.
V. AGNUS DEI-LUX AETERNA
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
grant them rest everlasting.
May light eternal shine upon them, O Lord, in the company of thy Saints
forever and ever; for thou art merciful.
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them. Alleluia. Amen.
*DOXOLOGY – Hymn #592
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 #455, vv. 4,5,6
“All Creatures of Our God and King” LASST UNS ERFREUEN
*BENEDICTION The Rev. Beth Neel
*POSTLUDE
“Prelude on Joyful, Joyful” Ludwig van Beethoven; arr. Brenda Portman