Worship at Home for
February 21, 2021
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, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 11/29, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20, 12/27, 1/3, 1/10, 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, and 2/14.
Prayers of the People on Zoom at 10:30am!
To join in the Zoom event by online 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
or
NOT AS EASY, UNLESS YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE and A ZOOM ACCOUNT
1. Click on https://princeton.zoom.us/j/6294864957
2. Follow prompts, these can be a bit tricky if you've never used Zoom before.
or
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
or
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
One: There is good news for those who are beaten down by systems of oppression.
Many: Now is the acceptable time. This is the day of salvation.
One: There is a Word for those who face discrimination, racial profiling, and neighborhood redlining.
Many: Now is the acceptable time. This is the day of salvation.
One: There is hope for those who are unemployed or underemployed.
Many: Now is the acceptable time. This is the day of salvation.
All: Holy Spirit, Come! Let justice roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream!
Written by The Rev. Junius Dotson, General Secretary of the United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN.
Hymns of Adoration
Seeking the Shalom of the City
ANTIRACIST ADJUSTMENT FOR THE WEEK of 2/21/2021
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8
In our efforts to differentiate ourselves from the other, we have developed numerous social identity groups. Male/Female seems to have been around from the beginning, as noted in the creation story told in the Hebrew scripture Genesis, while race is a fairly new identity established in the United States. For other visual cues, we can utilize age, ability, and body size. Class, education, employment, sexual orientation, citizenship and religion are trickier unless of course the individual is clothed for example in a nun’s habit, turban or hijab. We also consciously or unconsciously rank individuals within each identity group and position the groups based on their status within our culture. For example, rich white men hold most positions of power and control our country’s cultural narrative and priorities. What about the experiences of poor black women? What can their voices teach us?
Our “othering” and ranking allows us to dismiss, disrespect and disregard the lived realities of many. How can we expand our social justice lens to address the dynamics of discrimination on multiple levels? Intersectionality deals with the interconnected nature of social categorization. By engaging people in this multifaceted way, we can start to appreciate the unique insights gained from their vantage points. In the following TED talk, Kimberle Crenshaw explains how she coined the term and its importance in clarifying how discriminatory policies come together in the lives of our neighbors.
Kimberlé Crenshaw: The urgency of intersectionality | TED Talk
What are some strategies for addressing the multiple forms of structural discrimination that are at work within our society? Awareness of the potential for multiple barriers to be at play within a person’s experience is a beginning step. Discrimination may be due to their multiple social identities such as race, gender and immigration status, but discrimination could also be unique to the intersection of those identities. Deep listening to each story will help to untangle the complexity of these threads.
As you settle your body after this week’s offering, remember to pay attention to the sensations that arise in your body and to where they are located. Do you feel agitation, constriction, release, pressure, energy, numbness, relaxation, warmth, coolness, softness, tightness? Accept any discomfort and notice when it changes. Stay present with your experiences of ambiguity and uncertainty. No judgment or analysis, just observe and then move your body to release any remaining energy if needed. (“My Grandmother’s Hands “ page 168)
Please feel free to forward any thoughts to me at the email listed below or by requesting to join the private Facebook group Antiracist Adjustments with the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1819196591561542/?ref=share .
Blessings as you continue your antiracism spiritual practice. (submitted by Pat Deeney, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Trenton NJ, pjdeeney@hotmail.com)
Call to Confession and Reconciliation
O God of justice, miracles, and mighty deeds, we lift, up to you those who have been silenced by hardship, affliction, and injustice. Forgive us for not speaking up for the least of those among us. We confess that we have not exercised our influence and position to change things. Grant us the courage to be agents of change and instruments of justice. Empower us with the will and the desire to see your kingdom manifest on earth as it is already done in heaven. In Jesus' Name, we pray, Amen.
Written by The Rev. Junius Dotson, General Secretary of the United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN.
Assurance of Pardon
Indeed, you are a God of justice! We know that through you we are forgiven. We can be bold in our efforts for change, and we can continue to share the grace of forgiveness with ourselves and our neighbors. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Reading by
Lexi Aligarbes
Sermon by Bisi Shofu
Hymn of Response
The Lord’s Prayer
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, we hear your voice calling us
To love
To serve
To give
These gifts are our response to your call
Keep our hearts and ears open to continue to listen
Today and every day
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