Worship at Home for November 1, 2020
Due to the spread of Covid-19, we are taking a sabbatical from our normal Sunday morning gathering, but unity and community are more important than ever before in this season of uncertainty. To help facilitate this, we are providing an online service so that, one in heart, we can worship together even as we maintain distance out of love for our neighbors. This is designed to be used on your own or together as a family or community. We hope this resource is a blessing to you. Remember to check in on friends and neighbors with calls or text, especially the elderly among us and others who are particularly vulnerable. You can also check out the services from 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9. 8/16, 8/23, 8/31, 9/6, 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, and 10/25.
This Sunday, once again we are connecting as a church body using Zoom video chat. Here’s the schedule and instructions for joining in!
10-10:30 - Connect and informal checking in
10:30-11:00 - The Lord’s Supper, Prayers of the People, Joys and Concerns.
[**If you’re newer to Zoom or know that technology can be challenging, try signing on closer to 10:15 am so that we can have plenty of time to help you figure it out before Prayers of the People starts. Paula, who helped organize this, will help you!]
To join in the Zoom event on your computer,
THE EASIEST WAY
1. Go to www.zoom.com
2. Click on "Join a Meeting"
3. Enter meeting ID#: 629 486 4957 and Click "Join"
4. Follow prompts, including entering your name.
5. Here is a video tutorial that will take you through the steps, if you want to view this first: https://youtu.be/L5zzE-HGQko
NOT AS EASY, UNLESS YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE
1. Click on http://princeton.zoom.us/j/6294864957
2. Follow prompts, these can be a bit tricky if you've never used Zoom before.
To join in the Zoom event using your Smartphone/Iphone:
1. Download the Zoom Cloud Meeting app
2. Open the app.
2. Enter meeting ID#: 629 486 4957 and Click "Join"
3. Follow prompts, including entering your name
4. Here is a video tutorial that will take you through the steps, if you want to view this first: https://youtu.be/lO206_NezaY
To dial in by phone:
+1 (646) 558 8656 (New York--please note this may be a long-distance call if you are using a landline)
Then at the prompt, enter meeting ID#: 629 486 4957
NOTE: You do not need to create a Zoom account to sign into a meeting.
Opening Songs
Centering Song
Call to Worship
Come, let us celebrate the forgiving, reconciling love of God.
For once we were lost and felt so far away;
now we have been found and welcomed home.
Know that God’s love is lavished upon you forever.
We rejoice at the news of forgiveness and hope!
Come, let us celebrate and praise the God of Love.
Amen!
Hymns of Adoration
SEEKING THE SHALOM OF THE CITY
ANTIRACIST ADJUSTMENT FOR THE WEEK OF 11/1/2020
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8
RESOURCES FOR YOUR CONTINUED ANTIRACIST SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
Recap of books mentioned in this series:
“Waking Up White” by Debby Irving
“How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram Kendi
“White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo
“Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening” by Cynthia Bourgeault
“My Grandmother’s Hands” by Resmaa Menakem
“The Wisdom Way of Knowing” by Cynthia Bourgeault
For those interested in continuing with spiritual journaling using antiracist prompts:
“Me and White Supremacy” by Layla F. Saad
“Be Antiracist” Ibram Kendi’s new journal companion for his book mentioned above
Princeton Theological Seminary has established an Antiracist Formation Initiative following its slavery audit. The link to this effort is: https://antiracism.ptsem.edu/
In addition, the Seminary has compiled an extensive list of antiracist resources in various formats for children and adults.
https://antiracism.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Antiracism_Resources_20200922b.pdf
Earlier this year, the First United Methodist Church of Austin Texas (FUMC) offered a daily “Lenten Racism Interruption” series which is still available through the link below. This can serve as a personal daily antiracist devotion moving forward.
https://fumcaustin.org/spiritual-work-of-resisting-racism/
For those who are interested in a weekly offering, I will be sending an abridged form of the FUMC Austin series containing only three of its daily links each week for reflection and meditation for the remainder of 2020. (pjdeeney@hotmail.com to sign up)
Daily morning intention:
Open my heart Loving Presence so that I may feel your Divine guidance to greater awareness of racial inequity and to my antiracist role this day.
(submitted by Pat Deeney, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Trenton NJ)
Call to Confession and Reconciliation
Trusting the grace promised to us in Jesus Christ,
let us confess our sins before God and one another.
Merciful God,
we confess that we have strayed from your ways.
Like the Prodigal Son, we have wasted our inheritance.
You gave us the earth for our home,
but we squander its resources and hoard its bounty.
You gave us neighbors to love, but we pursue selfish ambitions.
You gave us the commandments that lead to human flourishing,
but we break tour law and forsake your love.
Forgive us our sin and bring us to repentance.
Draw our wandering hearts back to you
that we may find freedom in obedience to your love.
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.
(silent prayer)
Assurance of Pardon
As a parent welcomes home a wayward child,
so God embraces all who return in true repentance.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Prayer for Illumination
Sermon by Former Intern Chris Renshaw
Hymn of Response
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer
Prayers of the People happens each week on Zoom at 10:30am! Use the info at the top of the page to join us. If you missed it, stay tuned for next week’s Zoom info or reach out to Pastor Karen for info on how to join.
Our Father in heaven
Hallowed be Your name
Your kingdom come
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever
Amen.
Offering
Even as we are unable to gather for our Sunday morning worship services, many of the church’s expenses remain the same, and now more than ever we want to have the resources to bless the community around us. Your gracious donation will ensure that Westminster continues to Seek the Shalom of the Capital City of Trenton and beyond.
Westminster can receive donations via a simple text:
Text to 609-438-8828 the word “Give”
Westminster’s online giving number will respond asking how much you’d like to give, and steps to follow
Westminster can receive donations online:
Westminster can receive donations by check:
Westminster Presbyterian Church
PO Box 3719
Trenton, NJ 08629
Prayer of Dedication
Jesus, it is as people called and commissioned by you
And filled with your spirit
That we give generously
Not only our money, but our whole lives
Living sacrifices.
Amen.
Closing Song
Benediction
The Lord be with you
And also with you
La paz de Dios sea con-ti-go
Y tam-bien con-ti-go
Sa-wa-bona
Si-ko-na
Pyeong-hwa
Pyeong-hwa