April 7, 2024 – Westminster Presbyterian

Livestream is available at Westminster Presbyterian Church – Sunday Worship, April 7, 2024 (vidflex.tv)

PRELUDE
“Carillon for a Joyful Day” George Frederick McKay

“Master Tallis’s Testament” Herbert Howells

(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. Beth Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

AN ACT OF PRAISE

INTROIT
“Over My Head” trad. African-American

*WESTMINSTER CHIMES

*INVITATION TO WORSHIP The Rev. Gregg Neel
We hear the Divine Voice,
Who speaks peace be with us;
We sense the Divine Breath,
Who breathes life into all things;
We know the Divine Word,
Who sustains all creation;
And so, in faith and expectation, in wonder and celebration, we gather to remember holy mysteries:
Open our minds to believe what we cannot explain;
Open our hearts to hope for what we cannot see;
Let us worship God.

*HYMN #108
“Christ Is Alive!” TRURO

*INVITATION TO CONFESSION The Rev. Beth Neel
Resurrection is not what we expect in our world. On the face of things, life seems to be under threat… our earth is grieving, our nations are at war, and the light of our hope easily grows dim. So, let us confess our fears together, first in silent prayer.

*SILENT PRAYER

*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Forgive us and all who have failed to honor and preserve life in all its diversity and glory. Forgive us and all who have allowed relationships to become less important than riches or recognition. Forgive us and all who continue to exalt our needs and desires over those of others, and who are prepared to harm others to prove it. Forgive us and all who have grown blind to all the signs of resurrection that beckon us still. Resurrect us today, O Lord, and make us agents of Your life wherever dying and grief hold sway. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Friends, hear the Good News: the harm that we have done is never the last thing. God’s love bewilderingly breaks through all barriers, and in that love we are bold to say:
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Alleluia! Amen.

*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
Friends, it is not an insignificant peace, not a half-hearted peace, but the peace of Christ that is with you.
And also with you.

AN ACT OF PROCLAMATION

THE SCRIPTURE READING The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
John 20:19-31
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN Eliz Roser

SERMON The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
“Still Easter”

A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION

AN ACT OF RESPONSE

*HYMN #316
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God” TRENTHAM

SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS AND PASTORAL PRAYER 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.”)

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 “In Meeting We Are Blessed” Music by Troy Robertson
Text by R. Gatsnahos

We are met together and in meeting we are blessed. and John Donne
Peace in coming and in going, peace in labor and in rest.
Hold on, dear brother! Hold on, dear sister! Hold on to me.
We are met together and in meeting we are blessed.
Peace in coming and in going, peace in labor and in rest.
You’re not alone and you never more will be.
I will be with you and I will carry you with me.
Friendship endures and surely we will prove it’s not selves but our bodies that move.
We are met together and in meeting we are blessed.
Peace in coming and in going, peace in labor and in rest.
Hold on, dear brother! Hold on, dear sister! Hold on.

*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.

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

THE INVITATION TO THE TABLE The Rev. Beth Neel

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Rev. Gregg Neel
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

And so, we lift up our hearts, and we lift up our voices and we offer thanksgiving and adoration to the Creator of all. Blessed are you, Sovereign of the Universe, for from seeds sown into the earth you have given us the gift of bread to feed and nourish us.

And at Jesus’ last meal with his friends, before facing the cross, our Lord took bread, blessed it, and broke it. Then he passed it among them saying:
This is my body, given for you.
Take and eat, and do this to remember me.

And at Jesus’ last meal with his friends, our Lord took the cup and blessed it. Then he passed it among them saying:
This is my blood shed for you.
Take and drink, and do this to remember me.

And now we come to your table again, Jesus,
Mindful of how you lived in community,
Mindful of how you died to injustice,
Mindful of how you lived again, so that we and creation could be filled with the life abundant;
Mindful that we cannot earn or purchase this privilege, but that it is your grace which beckons us to this peace, and your grace which ensures that all creation may be one and whole.
May your Spirit work in these fruits of earth,
so that they may become for us a sharing in Christ’s body and blood.
May your Spirit work in us, we who are children of earth,
so that we may be transformed into Christ’s body,
carrying his life, his care, and his salvation to all creation.

And hear us as we are bold to say together the prayer that Jesus taught…

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.

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 MUSIC
“Let Us Break Bread Together” arr. William Hall

Let us break bread together on our knees. When I fall on my knees
with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together on our knees. When I fall on my knees
with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us praise God together on our knees. When I fall on my knees
with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us break bread together on our knees. When I fall on my knees
with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION The Rev. Beth Neel
Let’s celebrate this irrepressible life; let’s open our hearts to the joy and wonder of infinite possibility, of unquenched hope, of eternal resurrection. In all our diversity, in all our individuality, as we have shared this meal, we are one in Christ.
Alleluia. Amen.

*HYMN #399
“We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight” DUNLAP’S CREEK

*BENEDICTION The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves

*POSTLUDE
“Toccata on Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” Arr. Diane Bish
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)