PRELUDE
“Prelude, Fugue and Chaconne in C” Bux WV 137 Dietrich Buxtehude
(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
“Morning Hymn” Joseph Clokey
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
A time set apart,
A time to come together;
A space filled with silence,
A space filled with song;
Hearts seeking solace,
Hearts overflowing with joy:
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it, and let us worship God.
*HYMN #483
“Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above” MIT FREUDEN ZART
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION The Rev. Gregg Neel
With our heads bowed and our hearts held high, let us bring to God all that is in our hearts, the whole of our lives. We offer the confession of who we are, awaiting God’s mercy and love.
*SILENT PRAYER
*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, You sent Your Son Jesus to be our peace, and yet we know so much strife and war, in the world, in our communities, in our churches, and within ourselves. Untie the knots of envy and disappointment that dwell in our hearts. Loosen our grasp on worldly things, that we might open our hands to holy things. Turn us around to You, and make us whole, we pray. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Friends in Christ, the mercies of God are from everlasting to everlasting. Let us then proclaim the Good News:
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Alleluia! Amen.
*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
Mark 1:29-39
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN Eliz Roser, Interim Director of Children’s Ministries
SERMON The Rev. Beth Neel
“Why Jesus?”
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
*HYMN #391, VV 1, 2, 6
“Take My Life” HENDON
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS AND PASTORAL PRAYER 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.”)
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
“Cantate Domino” Karl Jenkins
Alleluia. Sing to the Lord a new song. Rejoice in the Lord, all ye people on earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness. Alleluia.
Sing and exult and sing psalms to the King of Kings. Alleluia!
*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. Gregg Neel
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Rev. Eileen Parfrey
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.
In the morning, Creator God, you took creation and flung it to the far corners of chaos, naming the stars twinkling in the night, shaping deserted places for prayers,
feeding all the creatures in the fields. You longed to walk with those created in your image, so we would not grow weary, but we listened to other voices that were not yours. You sent the prophets, who cried out, “Haven’t you been listening; don’t you
realize what God is trying to do for you?” but we continued to delight in all which opposed you. So, having created all things, you became the one thing we needed,
our Savior.
Therefore we praise you, and join our voices with the angels and archangels and all the company of Heaven, and our friend Sheryl Wiley, who has gone from us to you. We join our voices to those of the faithful as they sing of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, great God, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son. He became weak, so the power of the world would be shattered; he became poor, so we might be filled with the riches of your grace; he went to that deserted place we call the grave, so death might be knocked off its pedestal, as you breathed new life into him.
And now, here is that bread, which though broken, can strengthen the powerless; here is that cup, which though emptied, can fill the weary with hope. Pour out your Spirit not only on these gifts, but upon your children gathered around the table.
And when the day comes, gather with all your children around the Feast of the Lamb. We will join hands and dance around the table, singing your praise forever and ever: God our Creator, Christ our Servant, Spirit of Newness, God in Community, Holy in One. Hear us now as we are bold to say together the prayer which Christ 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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
On the night before the Lord Jesus died, he took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way he took the cup, saying: This cup is the new covenant sealed with my life, given for you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.
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
“Alleluia” Ralph Manuel
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION The Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Gracious God, we give you thanks for this holy meal and the nourishment it provides our souls. Sated with your love, we go out into your world, to heal, to help, to hope. Amen.
*HYMN #507, VV 1, 4, 5
“I Come with Joy” DOVE OF PEACE
*BENEDICTION The Rev. Beth Neel
*POSTLUDE
“Gugue Fugue” BuxWV 174 Dietrich Buxtehude
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)