Faith as a Spirituality of Wholeness

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
PENTECOST SUNDAY
June 8, 2025

PRELUDE: The Holy Ghost Jigs Thomas Keesecker    (Lambillote/Veni Creator Spiritus/Trad. Irish)
CALL TO WORSHIP:

One: Friends, God’s Spirit gusts and circles, whips here and there at will, arrives and departs without asking. This is Mothering Spirit, who gives us birth.
All: But we’ve already been born once. Aren’t we too big now? How would we do that again?
One: If we want a new kind of life; if we want something fresh and different – a realm of sharing and justice, an ordering of life where everyone is valued, a way of being together marked by gladness and hope, we can only be birthed into it by God’s Spirit.
All: Yes! We’re willing to start all over again. Let us be reborn into the Living Mystery we name “God.”

OPENING HYMN: #301 Let Us Build a House (All Are Welcome)
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD:

All: Creator of the universe, we imagine that we are in familiar territory, that we know what to expect of this hour, that we will leave much the way that we came. Do not abandon us to our foolishness. In judgment, illumine our confusion. In mercy, bear us home – until we recognize your presence wherever evil is confronted, truth is spoken, and life is restored.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:

One: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, God’s mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning. In the name of the Lord, who is our hope, I declare that our sin is forgiven. May our mouths be filled with praise.
All: Thanks be to God!

SUNG RESPONSE: #591 Halle, Halle, Hallelujah!
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST:

One: The peace of Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Let’s share the peace of Christ with one another.

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Jeremiah 38:1-13   Acts 2:1-21

One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.

CHORAL ANTHEM: Walk through Life Pinkzebra
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

One: Open our hearts and minds by the power of your Spirit, Holy One,
All: that we might hear and receive the message you intend for us today. Amen.

MESSAGE: Faith as a Spirituality of Wholeness
CONFESSION: The Apostles’ Creed

All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, (continues) suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven; he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:  #291 Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
HONORING OUR GRADUATES: Aveline Sweeney
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:  #851 Come, Bring Your Burdens to God
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER:

Our Mother and 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.

THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES/INVITATION TO GIVE:

One: God’s Spirit is among us making all things new. Let us participate in this new creation by offering our gifts to God.
All: May God bless our giving.

OFFERTORY SOLO: The Lone, Wild Bird by Gwyneth Walker music based on Prospect from Southern Harmony    Sarah Baxter, mezzo-soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:

One: Generous God, you have blessed us with gifts to serve and share. May the offerings we present today be used to further your realm and build your beloved community.
All: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN:   #401  Here in This Place (Gather Us In)
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE:  Hope Thomas Keesecker

 

 

A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING!

• WELCOME! MEMBERS! NEWCOMERS! FRIENDS! We are so glad you could join us for worship today! VISITORS, please take a moment to let us know you were here by picking up an attendance card (in the pews) and filling out whatever information you would like to share with us.
• WELCOME FAMILIES! Children’s Sunday School will meet during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space. Children ages 5 through 11 are invited to meet with Martine and Rachel after the Passing of the Peace. They will rejoin their parents after the worship service ends. NURSERY care is also available upstairs. Parents are asked to fill out a brief registration form before church begins. (This form only needs to be filled out once).
• HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES & HEADPHONES available upon request. Talk to Deanna up in the front of the sanctuary at the livestream table if you would like to use one.
• WPC’s Session has chosen a CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY provided by HolyCow! Consulting. Members and friends of the congregation received an email with a link to the survey. If you haven’t already, please try and complete the survey TODAY. Paper copies are also available. Thanks!
• Please join us following today’s service, for a PENTECOST POTLUCK in the Fellowship hall (make sure to congratulate Ave on graduating!)
• Next Sunday, June 15 is FATHER’S DAY. If you’d like, bring in momentos (Men-mentos!) of your father(s) to put on display on a table in the back of the sanctuary.

MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:

• WESTPORT SHOWERS happens on Sunday mornings & Thursday nights. Items Needed for our CLOTHING CLOSET include: Sneakers, T-shirts, Underwear (Men’s Boxer Briefs), Socks, Women’s pants/shorts size 0-8, Men’s pants/shorts size 28-40, Bandaids, Sweatpants, Leggings, Belts, Backpacks, Body wash, Sports bras, & Washcloths.
• WESTPORT SHOWERS is looking for additional volunteers to help with Sunday mornings. With the increase in guests, we would like to have teams of 2 volunteers upstairs working together at the door and 2 downstairs working in the shower/laundry room each Sunday. You would be working with experienced volunteers who can train you in what is needed. If you would like to help, and are willing to volunteer 1 Sunday morning a month, reach out to Drew Irwin or Allison Rozga for more information.
• We are giving out lunches on Wednesdays in the RESOURCE CENTER and Sundays as part of WESTPORT SHOWERS. Food donations of bread, fruit, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.
• BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED: Westport Center for the Arts is seeking board members who are interested in helping us keep community arts alive in Westport. We are a volunteer board who meets monthly (usually on the 4th Saturday of the month at 10 am) to work on planning programming, fundraising, community partnerships, and marketing. With the recent loss of our board president, we need people who are willing to fill some leadership roles within the organization. Our programming includes Monthly Brown Bag Concerts, Independent Professional Theater, The Dancing Word (poetry & dance) and Visual Art Exhibits. If you have an interest in the arts or know anyone who may be interested in serving on the board, please contact us at admin@wcakc.org. Support from our community is needed to keep our organization thriving.

CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUPS:  Sunday Mornings

• 9:40 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm” lead by Jennifer White.
  Does it feel like everywhere you look the world is on fire? This weekly workshop will give you 1-5 minute tools to help deal with the stresses of our modern way of living.
• 10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group readings related to various topics including faith, art, culture, politics, earth care. Currently reading The Idiot, Novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK:  (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)

• Monday, Jun. 9 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
• 7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
• Tuesday, Jun. 10 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
• 5:30 p.m. Happy Hour Gathering – All Are Welcome (Brix, in the “speakeasy” lounge in the back, 4112 Pennsylvania Ave)
• 6:00 p.m. Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
• 6:00 p.m. Westport Center for the Arts – Visual Art Exhibits   “A Gathering of Artists” Hosted by Jan Jensen & Kevin Callahan (WCA Gallery/Chapel)
• 7:00 p.m. Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
• Wednesday, Jun. 11 10:00 a.m. Resource Center Open (Storefront)
• 11:00 a.m. Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
• Thursday, Jun. 12 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
• Saturday, Jun. 14 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
• Sunday, Jun. 15 FATHER’S DAY
• 8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
• Connection Hour Small Groups:
  9:40 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm”
  10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group
• 11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day (Sanctuary)
  Children’s Sunday School & Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Wednesday, Jun. 18 6:00 p.m. Christian Ed & Worship Meeting (Broadway Café)