PRELUDE
“Adagietto from Symphony No. 5” Gustav Mahler
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
AN ACT OF PRAISE
INTROIT
“Praise, Praise, Praise the Lord” trad. African-American
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
Adapted from Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill, 127
Unless You, O Divine Creator, build the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless you watch over the city, the watchers stay awake in vain.
For it is in cooperating with You from morn to evening, eating the bread of your Word,
It is in cooperating with you, that we rest in peace throughout the night.
Reverence the sacred gift of life that nourishes all.
Let us worship this generous God!
*HYMN #5
“God the Sculptor of Mountains” JENNINGS-HOUSTON
God the sculptor of the mountains, God the miller of the sand,
God the jeweler of the heavens, God the potter of the land:
You are womb of all creation; we are formless; shape us now.
God the nuisance of the Pharaoh, God the cleaver of the sea,
God the pillar in the darkness, God the beacon of the free:
You are fount of all deliverance; we are aimless; lead us now.
God the dresser of the vineyard, God the planter of the wheat,
God the reaper of the harvest, God the source of all we eat:
You are host at every table; we are hungry; feed us now.
God the unexpected infant, God the calm, determined youth,
God the table turning prophet, God the resurrected truth:
You are present every moment; we are searching; meet us now.
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
We bring our flawed lives to God, not so much to be made perfect, but to be whole. Let us confess our sins to God, trusting the One who builds joy from our despair.
*SILENT PRAYER
*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Bountiful Love, our self-focus causes us to imagine how poor we are. We are convinced that we don’t have enough: enough honor, enough respect, enough recognition, enough to live on. And so, in our poverty, we cannot trust you, we cannot see the emptiness of others, we cannot help but cling to more than we need. Forgive us, Bestower of Blessings. Tell us we can be more loving; whisper to us of how we can be more compassionate; sing to us of how we can serve others—all in the name of Jesus Christ.
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Adapted from Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill, Psalm 50
All who surrender to the love of the Great Mystery, whose hearts are merciful and kind, will go in beauty and walk with grace. Believe the good news!
Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Alleluia!
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
AN ACT OF PROCLAMATION
THE SCRIPTURE READING Rev. Eileen Parfrey
1 Kings 17:8-16, Mark 12:38-44
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN Rev. Eileen Parfrey
ANTHEM
“Love Divine” Howard Goodall; text by Charles Wesley
Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling, All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation, Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast,
Let us all in thee inherit, Let us find that second rest.
Take away our power of sinning, Alpha and Omega be,
End of faith as its beginning, Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, almighty to deliver, Let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never, Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing; Serve thee as thy hosts above;
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing, Glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation; Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation, Perfectly restored in thee;
Changed from glory into glory, Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise!
SERMON Rev. Eileen Parfrey
“What to Do at the End of Your Rope”
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
*HYMN #316
“Where Charity and Love Prevail” TWENTY-FOURTH
Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found;
Brought here together by Christ’s love we thus are bound.
Let us recall that in our midst dwells Christ, God’s holy Son.
As members of each body joined, in him we are made one.
Let strife among us be unknown; let all contentions cease.
Be God’s the glory that we seek; be his our only peace.
Let us forgive each other’s faults as we our own confess,
That we may love each other well in Christian gentleness.
Love can exclude no race or creed if honored be God’s name;
Our common life embraces all whose Maker is the same.
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS 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 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.
MINUTE FOR MISSION Mission and Service Committee
Thanksgiving Food Drive
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
“Song of Triumph” Dale Grotenhuis
Great and marvelous, marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty, Just and true are all your ways;
You, O Lord, over all are King.
Who will not fear you, who will not fear you, O Lord,
And bring great glory to your name?
For you alone are holy, are holy. Alleluia!
All nations shall come and worship before you,
For your mighty and holy acts have been revealed.
Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
*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 #340
“This Is My Song” FINLANDIA
This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.
My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
So hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.
This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth’s kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come, on earth thy will be done.
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
And hearts united learn to live as one.
So hear my prayer, O God of all nations:
Myself I give thee; let thy will be done.
*BENEDICTION Rev. Eileen Parfrey
*POSTLUDE
“Toccata” John Weaver