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Prelude “Jubilation” Jason D. Payne
“This is My Father’s World–Spiritus” Trad. English Melody/
arr. Park Heesung
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 “Praise, Praise, Praise the Lord!” arr. Ralph Johnson
*Westminster Chimes
*Invitation to Worship Rev. Gregg Neel
In every moment, God is with us.
In every place, God is with us.
In those who teach us
and those who trouble us;
in those who surprise us,
and those who forgive us:
in every person, God is with us.
Let us worship God.
*Hymn #667 “When Morning Gilds the Skies” laudes domini
When morning gilds the sky,
my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer
to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss
My comfort still in this:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth’s wide circle round
in joyful notes resound:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let air and sea and sky
from depth to height reply:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, while life is mine,
my canticle divine:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this the eternal song through all the ages long:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
*Invitation to Confession Rev. Gregg Neel
As we stand before God, we think of all the ways we bicker with others, all those times we have not shown mercy and grace to those around us. Let us bow our hearts and confess our sin to God, first in silence.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession
It is never easy for us to confess, but deep down inside, we know that
graced, we have trouble being grace-full to others;
forgiven, we are eager to judge and punish all who hurt us;
freed, we find ways to put restrictions on people we fear.
Forgive us, forgiving God. You show mercy more often than we deserve; you pardon us more times than we can count. And why? Because we are the Lord’s –siblings of Jesus Christ. Amen.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
God’s hand of mercy is stretched out to us, making a way through all that threatens us, to touch us with grace and hope.
We stand before our God, singing praise to the One who turns our despair into joy, our fears into faith. 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 18:21-35 Rev. Gregg Neel
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Moments with Children Rev. Junha Kim
Anthem “When in Our Music God is Glorified” Charles Stanford
arr. Harriet Ziengenhals
When in our music God is glorified, and adoration leaves no room for pride,
It is as though the whole creation cried, Alleluia!
How often, making music we have found a new dimension in the world of sound,
As worship moved us to a more profound Alleluia!
So has the Church in liturgy and song, in faith and love, through centuries of wrong,
Borne witness to the truth in every tongue, Alleluia!
And did not Jesus sing a Psalm that night, when utmost evil strove against the light?
Then let us sing, for whom He won the fight, Alleluia!
Let every instrument be tuned for praise! Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!
And may God give us faith to sing always, Alleluia!
Sermon “When We Aren’t Forgiven” Rev. Gregg Neel
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
*Hymn #436 “God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us” o quanta qualia
God of compassion, in mercy befriend us,
giver of grace for our needs all-availing.
Wisdom and strength for each day ever send us,
patience untiring and courage unfailing.
Though we are lost, you have sought us and found us,
stilled our rude hearts with your word of consoling.
Wrap now your peace, like a mantle, around us,
guarding our thoughts and our passions controlling.
How shall we stray, with your hand to direct us,
you who the stars in their courses are guiding?
What shall we fear, with your power to protect us,
we who walk forth in your greatness confiding?
Sharing Joys & Concerns 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 The Safety Team Caroline Greger
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts
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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 “In Meeting We Are Blessed” Music: Troy Robertson
Text: R. Gatsnahos and John Donne
We are met together and in meeting we are blessed,
Peace in coming and in going, peace in labor and in rest.
Hold on dear brother; hold on dear sister; hold on to me.
We are met together and in meeting we are blessed,
Peace in coming and in going, peace in labor and in rest.
You’re not alone and you never more will be.
I will be with you and I will carry you with me.
Friendship endures and surely we will prove it’s not ourselves,
but our bodies that move.
Chorus.
*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 #468 “In My Life” lord, be glorified
*Benediction The Congregation
(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.”
*Postlude “Improvisation on Cwm Rhondda”
(God of Grace, and God of Glory)
Trad. Welsh Melody/ arr. Joshua Sobel
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)
Today’s liturgy is taken from https://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com/ by Thom Shuman.