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(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.)
Prelude “Adagio from Oxford Symphony No. 16” Franz Joseph Haydn
“Voluntary on the Doxology” Henry Purcell
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
*Westminster Chimes
*Invitation to Worship Rev. Junha Kim
Come, let us worship the God of Life, who plants seeds of grace in hearts.
We come seeking the presence of the Holy Spirit.
God provides growth in our lives and in our community.
The Spirit gives us a rich harvest.
Love, joy, and peace.
Patience, kindness, and generosity.
Faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit.
Let us worship God together in truth and joy!
*Hymn #687 “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” st. anne
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:
Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood
Or Earth received its frame,
From everlasting thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in thy sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
*Invitation to Confession
Our sins are not to be hidden from God; they cannot be hidden from God. Rather, we bring them into the light and lay them on the table, trusting in the One who shaped us for goodness and who will transform our brokenness into wholeness. Let us confess, first in silence.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession
O Lord, you are our shepherd, and yet we want. We lie down when we could act, we stir the pot when we could offer peace, we wander tempting paths instead of following you. We see courage and comfort in earthly things rather than in you. We hate our enemies and refuse to break bread with them, we see scarcity even when you offer us abundance. We pray for forgiveness, for your goodness and mercy, so that we might dwell in You, in your grace, forever. Amen.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
Gathered as God’s people, we hear the good news: God has forgiven us, God has made us whole, God sends us to serve.
We will not wear jealousy or resentment, but put on the garments of kindness and generosity. We are forgiven by our God. Amen.
*The Passing of the Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Dedication of Gifts of the Spirit Banners in Honor of
Margi Brown’s Legacy
An Act of Proclamation
The Scripture Reading Galatians 5: 22-23 Rev. Gregg Neel
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Moments with Children Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Remembering the Life and Ministry of Margi Brown
Bill Scott and Caroline Greger
*Hymn #769 “For Everyone Born” for everyone born
vv. 1-2
For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For woman and man, a place at the table,
revising the roles, deciding the share,
with wisdom and grace, dividing the power,
for woman and man, a system that’s fair,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
Sermon “A Life Well Lived” Rev. Gregg Neel
*Hymn #769 “For Everyone Born” for everyone born
vv. 3,4, & 5
For young and for old, a place at the table,
a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
for young and for old, the right to belong,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For just and unjust, a place at the table,
abuser, abused, with need to forgive,
in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy,
for just and unjust, a new way to live,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For everyone born, a place at the table,
to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
An Act of Response
Sharing Joys & Concerns Rev. 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
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 “Divertimento from La Clemenza di Tito”
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Tami Fung, Stan Stanford, clarinets; and Rey Abolafia, bass clarinet
*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.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
The Invitation to the Table Rev. Junha Kim
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving Rev. Eileen Parfrey
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
We offer our thanks and praise, O God, for the glories of creation: for the black velvet of the night sky that allows the stars to twinkle, and the moon to glow; for the sun that peeks over the horizon and paints the sky as it sets. We offer our thanks and praise for the heavens and the inhabitants of Heaven, including Margi Brown and Ameen Ramzy, and for the cloud of witnesses. We on earth sing with them above as we sing together these words:
Blessed are you, Holy One, and blessed is your Son, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Born in the stillness of night, he knew the love of family and stranger alike. Threatened by evil, he fled to a distant land. Endowed with the Spirit, he taught about grace and forgiveness, and he healed the sick, and confronted the powerful. In humility and trust, he lay down his life that he might rise again and bring new life to the world. We pray together the Lord’s Prayer:
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.
Words of Institution
On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said to his friends, “This is my body, broken for you. Take it and eat it.”
In the same way, he took the cup, poured it, blessed it, and said, “This is the new covenant, sealed in my blood for the forgiveness of sin. Drink it, all of you.”
And to this very day, whenever we eat this bread and drink this wine, we are proclaiming the saving life, death, and resurrection of the Christ until he comes again. Come, the table is set; everything is ready.
Receiving the Bread and the Cup
(Today, the congregation is invited to come forward to receive communion. Someone will hand you a piece of bread, which you will eat. You may then move to the next person, who will hand you a cup of juice, which you will drink. As you return to your pew, you may put your cup in the basket. For those unable to come forward, a pastor will bring you the elements.)
Communion Anthem “Divertimento No. 5 for Three Clarinets”
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Tami Fung, Stan Stanford, clarinets; and Rey Abolafia, bass clarinet
Prayer After Communion The Rev. Eileen Parfrey
We have been filled with the wonder of your grace through the joy of this meal. Fed by holy bread, refreshed by covenant cup, we will share the fruits of the Spirit. Amen.
*Hymn #623 “I’ve Got Peace Like a River” peace like a river
I’ve got peace like a river;
I’ve got peace like a river;
I’ve got peace like a river, in my soul.
I’ve got river, in my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain;
I’ve got joy like a fountain;
I’ve got joy like a fountain, in my soul.
I’ve got fountain, in my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean;
I’ve got love like an ocean;
I’ve got love like an ocean, in my soul.
I’ve got ocean, in my soul.
*Benediction Rev. Gregg Neel
*Postlude “Polonaise for 3 Clarinets” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Tami Fung, Stan Stanford, clarinets; and Rey Abolafia, bass clarinet
These pieces were originally written for “basset horns” [essentially a clarinet in F with a lower 3rd extension.] Mozart was probably the first major composer to write music for clarinet and clarinet-like instruments, including a concerto, a quintet for clarinet and string quartet, a trio for clarinet, viola and piano, 5 or 6 divertimenti for three basset horns, and several nocturnes [“night pieces”] for basset horns and voices.
— Dr. Stan Stanford, Professor of Music, PSU, retired
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)
Remembering Margi Brown
Margi Brown had a wealth of knowledge about the PC(USA) and Presbytery, and she was also a Christian educator. She channeled all that knowledge and experience into action that made a difference in how effectively Westminster fulfilled its mission and outreach to the community and the greater world.
Margi joined Westminster in 1994 and was involved in countless ways over the years—as a deacon, as an elder, as a trustee, as a committee member, as an enthusiastic organizer and participant in church retreats, and so much more. Caroline Greger, chair for the Worship and Music Committee, explained, “Margi expressed her faith by serving wherever there was a need. She could be counted on to step up to usher; to be an active committee member; to organize, prepare, and serve communion; and to help wherever help was needed. She had a passion for justice and was a member of the Racial Justice Working Group at the time of her death. As a past chair of the Worship and Music Committee, she continued that work until the last with a fine attention to detail and Presbyterian polity. Margi was institutional memory in human form and could be depended upon to answer any question about how things are done. She was a true disciple and is greatly missed.”
