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Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 25, 2025 10:30 a.m.
(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.)
Prelude
“Appalachian Spring Suite, Fanfare for the Common Man”
Aaron Copland
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
“Over My Head”
trad. African-American spiritual
*Westminster Chimes
*Invitation to Worship
Eliz Roser
Here, those who wander find a home,
those who wonder discover words of hope.
We gather because we have
heard God’s whispers of grace.
Here, we discover promises are kept,
that shattered hearts are made whole.
We gather because we are invited
by Jesus to come and receive a welcome.
Here, those who are afraid to step into living waters
are filled with the courage to jump in feet first.
We gather because the Spirit pulls us to our feet,
meeting us in words, at the table, in community.
*Hymn #385
“All People That on Earth Do Dwell”
old hundredth
All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell. Come ye before him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed; without our aide he did us make; we are his folk; he doth us feed, and for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise; approach with joy his courts unto; praise, laud, and bless his name always, for it is seemly so to do.
For why? The Lord our God is good; his mercy is forever sure; his truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.
*Invitation to Confession
Rebecca Brown
We need God’s mercy but are hesitant to ask, we often ignore God’s words of healing, we often feel stuck at the edge of grace. Yet God comes to ask, simply asking if we want to be made whole. Let us bring our lives to God in these moments, that we might step into the waters of life. Let us confess, first in silence.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession
You invite us to get up, Holy God, but too often we stay where we have always been. We seem to want clearer signs but then ignore them, stronger voices but then do not listen, for someone to act, but then turn away. Grace is offered to us without reservation, but we cannot bring ourselves to believe it is meant for us.
Forgive us. Keep calling to us until we listen and in listening, get to our feet to walk into your beloved community, and to speak of love and grace and justice, just as Jesus gives us the words to offer to others. Amen.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
Listen, friends. The One who gathered Moses to grace, the One who invited others to be whole, the One who opened hearts in unexpected places is the One who pours mercy out upon you this day.
God’s grace stirs still waters, God’s hope swaddles the suffering, God’s love calls us to walk into the world. Thanks be to God! We are made whole! 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
Acts 16:9-15 (page 136)
The Rev. Gregg Neel
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Moments with Children
Eliz Roser
Anthem
“Comfort, Comfort, Now My People”
Tom Trenney
“Comfort, comfort now my people; tell of peace!” So says our God.
“Comfort those who sit in darkness mourning under sorrow’s load.
To my people now proclaim that my pardon waits for them!
Tell them that their sins I cover, and their warfare now is over.”
For the herald’s voice is crying in the desert far and near,
calling us to true repentance, since the reign of God is here.
O that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God away.
Let the valleys rise in meeting and the hills bow down in greeting.
Straight shall be what long was crooked, and the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble, as benefits God’s holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord now on earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token that God’s word is never broken.
Sermon
“A Vision, A Business Woman, and the Holy Spirit”
The Rev. Gregg Neel
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
*Hymn #401
“Here in This Place”
gather us in
Here in this place the new light is streaming; now is the darkness vanished away; see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day. Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, the blind and the lame; call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face. We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race. Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong; give us a heart, so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song.
Here we will take the wine and the water; here we will take the bread of new birth. Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth. Give us to drink the wine of compassion; give us to eat the bread that is you; nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are
true.
Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light years away: here in this place the new light is shining; now is the kingdom, and now is the day. Gather us in and hold us forever; gather us in and make us your own; gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
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 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.
Community Moment
Pentecost Offering
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
“First Romance from Three Romances for Oboe and Piano”
Robert Schumann
Eleanor Price, oboe; Ben Price, piano
*Doxology – Hymn #606
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 #450
“Be Thou My Vision”
slane
vv. 1 & 2
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that thou art; thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true Word; I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord; thou my soul’s shelter, and thou my high tower; raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise; thou, mine inheritance, now and always; thou and thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
*Benediction
The Rev. Gregg Neel
*Postlude
“Toccata for Organ”
John Weaver