PRELUDE
“Simple Gifts from Appalachian Spring” and “Fanfare for the Common Man” Aaron Copland
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Gregg Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
AN ACT OF PRAISE
INTROIT
“We Gather Together” trad. arr. Kremser
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP Rev. Eileen Parfrey
O give thanks to God for all the goodness we are shown! God’s steadfast love endures forever!
We come from the east and west, the north and the south, to give God thanks and praise!
We once were a wandering people, hungry and thirsty in a desert land.
We cried to God to deliver us, and we were led to a new land rich in promise and harvest.
We give thanks for God’s steadfast love! God quenches the thirsty, fills the hungry, and leads from the desert to a harvest home.
*HYMN #263
“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!” CORONATION
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all!
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all!
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all!
Hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all!
Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball
To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all!
To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all!
O that with yonder sacred throng we at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all!
We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all!
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION Rev. Eileen Parfrey
While there are many with power in our worldꟷpower to hurt us, power to hire or fire us, power to cause us painꟷonly God has the power to forgive us and make us new people. Let us confess how we fear the power of the world, and welcome the power of God’s grace, first in silence.
*SILENT PRAYER
*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
The choices we make, Mighty God, reveal who we are. Choosing the lies of the world, your Word has not been on our lips. Choosing independent and isolated lives, we do not reflect your Spirit in our actions towards others. Choosing to exalt the powerful of our day, we are unable to follow the One whose weakness gives us life.
Forgive us, God who became weak for our sake. Do not turn your face from us, but help us to face ourselves honestly. Free us from our captivity, so we may faithfully follow Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior.
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Shout for joy, children of God! The God who was and is and is to come loves you, forgives you, and renews you.
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 Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves, Junha Kim & Eliz Roser
John 18:33-38
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
ANTHEM
“Caritas et Amor” Z. Randall Stroope
Where there is charity and love, God is there.
Alleluia to God.
Joy! Joy that is immense!
The love of Christ has gathered us together
Both now and evermore. Alleluia, Amen.
SERMON Rev. Gregg Neel
“What Is Truth”
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS
INTRODUCTION Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
PRESENTATION Jan Poujade, Clerk of Sesion
On behalf of the session of Westminster Presbyterian Church, it is my joy to present the following people to be received as new members: John and Katherine Essick, Polly Holbrook, Karl and Samantha Kaiser, Linda MacIntyre, Nancee Pangares, and Dixee Partee.
Confident of God’s grace at work in us, do we, the congregation, promise to nurture these new members by our words and deeds, encouraging them to know and follow Christ, and to be faithful disciples? If so please respond, we do.
Congregation: We do!
QUESTIONS Rev. Gregg Neel
Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?
I do.
Who is your Lord and Savior?
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying his word and showing his love?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you be faithful members of this congregation, share in its worship and ministry through your prayers and gifts, your study and service, and so fulfill your calling to be a disciple of Christ?
I will, with God’s help.
THE WELCOME Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
Our prayer for these new members is that this may be a place of friendship and nurture, welcome and hope. And so, we welcome this to this congregation as we say together:
Congregation: Welcome, friends, to this family of faith!
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS Junha Kim
(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.
MINUTE FOR MISSION Mission & Service Committee
Angel Tree
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
“The Final Harvest” Jonathan Strommen Campbell
Come, ye thankful people, come; raise the song of harvest home.
All be safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.
God, our maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied.
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
For the Lord our God shall come and shall take his harvest home;
from his field shall in that day all offenses purge away;
give his angels charge at last in the the fire the tares to cast,
but the fruitful ears to store in his garner evermore,
Even so, Lord, quickly come to thy final harvest home.
Gather then thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin.
There, forever purified, in thy garner to abide.
Come, with all thine angels, come, raise the glorious harvest home!
Alleluia. Amen.
*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 #643
“Now Thank We All Our God” NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT
Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices;
Who, from our mothers’ arms, hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in God’s grace, and guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills in this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God, who reigns in highest heaven,
To Father and to Son and Spirit now be given:
The one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore,
The God who was, and is, and shall be evermore.
*BENEDICTION Rev. Gregg Neel
*POSTLUDE
“Nun Danket Alle Gott” J. S. Bach