PRELUDE
“Two Psalm Preludes” (Set 1, No. 2, and Set 2, No. 2) 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. Gregg Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
AN ACT OF PRAISE
INTROIT
“Cast Thy Burden” Mendelssohn
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP The Rev. Gregg Neel
Friends, we gather today in the embrace of God’s love,
In the embrace of God’s mercy,
In the embrace of God’s power.
We gather to worship, to praise, to give thanks, to ask for help;
We gather to confess, to sing, to pray.
Embraced as we are, let us worship God.
*HYMN #85
“What Wondrous Love Is This” WONDROUS LOVE
(We will sing verse 2 a cappella.)
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
You and I make mistakes all the time. Few of them change the world, but more often than we would like, our mistakes hurt others, ourselves, and God. So we admit to God our shortcomings, our mistakes, and our sin. Trusting in God’s mercy and love, let us then make our confession, first in silent prayer.
*SILENT PRAYER
*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Remake our tools of war into tools of peace.
Help us to give up hating so that we have room to love.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Forgive us for seeking consolation without offering it in return;
Forgive us for seeking to be understood without understanding others;
Forgive us for wanting to be loved without loving others as well.
Lord, have mercy upon us,
And make us instruments of your peace. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Friends in Christ, God knows your heart and your desire to follow Jesus in the paths of peace. Know that you are indeed forgiven, and freed to love and serve. Together we proclaim the Good News:
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. 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
Matthew 5:43-48 (p. 5)
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN The Rev. Gregg Neel
ANTHEM
“Caritas et Amor” Z. Randall Stroope
Where there is charity and love, God is there.
With joy that is immense! Forever and ever. Alleluia.
SERMON The Rev. Beth Neel
“Where There Is Hatred, Let Me Sow Love”
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
*HYMN #374
“Lord, Make Us Servants of Your Peace” ALT. TUNE: O WALY WALY
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
(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.
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
“Make Me an Instrument” Craig Courtney
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
*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 #376
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” HYFRYDOL
*BENEDICTION The Rev. Beth Neel
*POSTLUDE
“Prelude and Fugue in d minor” J.S. Bach
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)