PRELUDE
“Sonata in F” William Boyce
“Water Music” (selections) G. F. Handel
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Rev. Gregg Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
THANK YOU JOHN GLADEN Debbie Glaze
AN ACT OF PRAISE
INTROIT
“O Lord, Our God How Excellent” Fred R. Anderson
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
Rejoice in our God always!
Again, I say, rejoice!
For God has gathered us together
from all the corners of the earth
to be present now,
and to know the joyful unity
of being one with Christ.
Rejoice in our God always!
Again, I say, rejoice.
*HYMN #612
“We Praise You, O God” KREMSER
We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
We bless your holy name; glad praises we sing.
We worship you, God of our fathers and mothers;
Through trial and tempest our guide you have been.
When perils o’er take us, you will not forsake us,
And with your help, O Lord, our struggles we win.
With voices united our praises we offer
And gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise.
With you, Lord, beside us, your strong arm will guide us.
To you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise!
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION Jun Kim
We read in today’s epistle lection from the book of James, “Anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” (from James 5:15-16) So then, let us make our confession before God and each other, first in silent prayer.
*SILENT PRAYER
*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, our Redeemer, Creator,
you call us to offer our praises with voices united,
and to raise our songs of thanksgiving with gladness.
We confess, however, that grumbling often springs to our lips
more readily than gratitude,
and we find ourselves unwilling to unite our voices
with those whose songs are different from our own.
Too often, we sing as we live –
as if pleasing ourselves were more important than pleasing you.
Forgive us.
Cleanse our hearts of all that stifles your voice within us.
Join our songs with those of your whole Church
so that in all we sing, speak, or do, we may act to your glory, not our own.
Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS Jun Kim
Friends in Christ, let us proclaim the Good News:
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
And now we are freed to go out and love and serve.
Thanks be to God.
*SUNG RESPONSE #447
“We Are Forgiven” WE ARE FORGIVEN
We are forgiven. We are forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.
We are forgiven. We are forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
AN ACT OF PROCLAMATION
FIRST READING (SUNG) #61
“Your Law, O Lord, Is Perfect” (Psalm 19) CHRISTUS, DER IST MEIN LEBEN
Your law, O Lord, is perfect, the simple making wise;
How pure are your commandments, enlightening my eyes!
More to be sought than riches, your words are my soul’s wealth;
Their taste is sweet like honey, imparting life and health.
My strength and my redeemer, law giver and true light,
My words and meditations make worthy in your sight.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN Dr. Mary Louise Bringle
Learning to sign “Taste and See” (Refrain only from #520)
SECOND LESSON Dr. Mary Louise Bringle
James 5:7-18
ANTHEM
“Kyrie” Rene Clausen
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, grant us peace.
Adonai, Amen.
SERMON Dr. Mary Louise Bringle
“Cheerful or Not, Here We Sing!”
(Hymn within the sermon, #808, “When Memory Fades,” FINLANDIA)
When memory fades and recognition falters,
When eyes we love grow dim, and minds, confused,
Speak to our souls of love that never alters;
Speak to our hearts by pain and fear abused.
O God of life and healing peace, empower us
With patient courage, by your grace infused.
As frailness grows and youthful strengths diminish
In weary arms that worked their earnest fill,
Your aging servants labor now to finish
Their earthly tasks, as fits your mystery’s will.
We grieve their waning, yet rejoice believing
Your arms, unwearied, shall uphold us still.
Within your Spirit, goodness lives unfading.
The past and future mingle into one.
All joys remain, unshadowed light pervading.
No valued deed will ever be undone.
Your mind enfolds all finite acts and offerings.
Held in your heart, our deathless life is won!
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
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 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
Peacemaking Offering/WeShine
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 Christina Mata, Grace Skinner, Ethan Reviere, John Gladen, soloists
“The Heavens Are Telling” Franz Josef Haydn, from The Creation
The heavens are telling the glory of God.
The wonder of his work displays the firmament.
The day that is coming speaks to the day,
The night that is gone to following night.
The heavens are telling the glory of God.
The wonder of his work displays the firmament.
In all the lands resounds the word,
never unperceived, never understood.
The heavens are telling the glory of God.
The wonder of his work displays the firmament.
*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.
SENDING GREGG OFF ON SABBATICAL Lindsey, Jun and the Congregation
We bring before you, Holy One, our brother in Christ, our pastor and friend, Gregg Neel. We send him on sabbatical with our earnest prayers, asking your blessing upon him and upon this congregation that he serves.
Lindsey: May this sabbatical be for Gregg a time of adventure and discovery. May his travels be life giving.
Guide his steps, O God. May he know your accompanying presence on his time away.
Jun: May Gregg enjoy, in these weeks away: a release from responsibilities, a child-like curiosity, and a thorough refreshment of body, mind, and spirit.
Amen.
*HYMN #821
“My Life Flows On” HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING
My life flows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the clear, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
What though my joys and comforts die? I know my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his! How can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
*BENEDICTION The Rev. Gregg Neel
*POSTLUDE
“Contra Dance No. 1” Ludwig van Beethoven