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Painting of St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh by Jack Robinson
(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.)
In honor of Reformation Sunday, the liturgy is taken from the Book of Common Worship.
We are pleased to welcome our Bagpiper, Lisa Saunders, again this year.
Prelude “Scenes from the Scottish Highlands” Granville Bantock
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 “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” Philip Nicolai
*Westminster Chimes
*Invitation to Worship Rev. Gregg Neel
With what shall we come before the Holy One,
and bow ourselves before God on High?
God has shown us what is good.
What does the Lord require of us,
but to do justice,
and love kindness,
and to walk humbly with our God.
Processional “Highland Cathedral”
(Bagpiper leads followed by the Pastors and Choir)
*Hymn #275 “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” ein’ feste burg
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing.
Our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe.
His craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he.
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure.
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also.
The body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever.
*Invitation to Confession Rev. Junha Kim
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God, first in silence.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help amend what we are, and direct what shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
Here the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only, Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
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 Matthew 22:34-46 Rev. Gregg Neel
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet”‘?
If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Moments with Children Rev. Junha Kim
Anthem “Loch Lomond” arr. Jonathan Quick
Ethan Reviere, solo
Oh, ye’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low road and I’ll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and me true love will never meet again, on the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
‘Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen, on the steep, steep sides of Ben Lomond,
Where deep in purple hue the Highland hills we view, and the moon coming out in the gloaming.
Oh, ye’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low road and I’ll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and me true love will never meet again, on the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
The wee birdies sing and the wildflowers spring and in sunshine the waters be sleeping,
But the broken heart will ken nae second spring again, and the world knows not how we are grieving.
Chorus.
Sermon “Living and Giving for Jesus” Rev. Gregg Neel
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
Honoring the Music Ministry of Teresa Wilhelmi
Sharing Joys & Concerns 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.”)
Joys today include hearing from Rev. Mary Beene, stewardship officer for the West (PCUSA.)
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, Ar n-Athair, a tha air nèamh,
hallowed be thy name. air a naomhachadh le d’ainm.
Thy kingdom come, Thigeadh do rioghachd,
Thy will be done, Deantar do thoil,
on earth as it is in heaven. air talamh mar a tha e air nèamh.
Give us this day our daily bread, Thoir dhuinn an-diugh ar n-aran làitheil,
and forgive us our debts, agus maith dhuinn ar fiachan,
as we forgive our debtors. mar a mhaitheas sinn d’ar luchd-fiach.
Lead us not into temptation, Na leig sinn ann am buaireadh,
but deliver us from evil, ach saor sinn o olc,
for Thine is the kingdom, oir is leatsa an rìoghachd,
and the power, and the glory, agus an cumhachd, agus a’ ghlòir,
forever. Amen. gu bràth. Amen.
Community Moment “Sustaining Westminster” Peggy Woolf
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 “Amazing Grace” trad. arr. Stephen Hatfield
Lisa Saunders, bagpipes
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fear relieved.
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun,
The hour, the hour I first believed, was blind, was so blind but now I see.
*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 #35 “Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty” lobe den herren
2nd Verse A cappella
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
Come, all ye hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
shelters thee under his wings, and so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been granted in what he ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly for aye we adore him.
*Benediction
(We will be using the song “From This House” provided by Music Makes Community in
September and October. It is a call and response song. This benediction encourages us to serve outside the walls of Westminster.)
“From this house to the world we will go hand in hand.
The way of peace, the way of freedom, the way of hope.”
Recessional “Over the Sea to Skye”
Lisa Sunders, bagpipes
Please immediately follow the piper out the doors and around the block to the Harvest Festival in the parking lot
*Postlude “Fingal’s Cave from The Hebrides” Felix Mendelssohn