Livestream is available at Westminster Presbyterian Church – Sunday Worship, March 10, 2024 (vidflex.tv)
PRELUDE
“Adagio from Oxford Symphony No. 16” Franz Josef Haydn
“The Swan of Tuonela, Op. 22, No. 2” Jean Sibelius
(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
“Jesus Shall Reign” John Hatton
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
To know the warmth of love,
To have the assurance that someone cares,
To be confident of our worth,
To be bold to love in return,
To be washed over with grace,
To be accepted as we are:
This is to know a bit of God.
Then let us worship our God.
*HYMN #482
“Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty” LOBE DEN HERREN
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION The Rev. Gregg Neel
God is gracious and merciful and knows our needs even before they reach our lips. Still, we engage in confession, admitting to God all that rests uneasily in our hearts. Confident of God’s love, let us make our confession, first in silent prayer.
*SILENT PRAYER
*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, we open our hearts to you this day, and offer the truth of our lives:
The fear that stifles our creativity,
The prejudice that binds us in hate,
The ignorance that trips us up,
The doubt that plagues us.
Help us, we pray, that we will
Find courage in unlikely places,
See the world with new and gracious eyes,
Move to those places where love is needed,
Have faith that you are with us.
This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News: we are forgiven! We are set free to go out into the world and be the loving, gracious, hopeful people of God! 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 21:18-22 (p. 23)
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
ANTHEM
“Faith is the Bird that Feels the Light” Elizabeth Alexander
Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.
SERMON The Rev. Beth Neel
“Where There Is Doubt, Faith”
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
*HYMN #399
“We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight” DUNLAP’S CREEK
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS The 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 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
“How Firm a Foundation” early American hymn;arr. John Rutter
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent Word.
What more can he say than to you he has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus has fled?
Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go, the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow.
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes.
That soul, through all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never, forsake.
*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 #540
“God Be with You Till We Meet Again” RANDOLPH
*BENEDICTION The Rev. Beth Neel
*POSTLUDE
“Improvisation on Te Deum” Charles Tournemire,
transcribed by Maurice DuRufle