Worship at Home for
March 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, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28, 3/7, and 3/14/21.
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
Leader: I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
All: I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Leader: Happy are they whose hope is in the Lord their God; who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; who keeps promises forever;
All: Who gives justice to those who are oppressed and food to those who hunger. The Lord sets the captive free.
Leader: The Lord cares for the stranger; the Lord sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked.
All: The Lord shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, through all generations!
Hymns of Adoration
Seeking the Shalom of the City
ANTIRACIST ADJUSTMENT FOR THE WEEK of 3/14/2021
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8
Systemic racism permeates our institutions. European Americans originally, intentionally and legally structured every one of their United States institutions to serve white society advantageously without accountability to people of color. Institutions give form and function to the white cultural values and norms that undergird United States society. By dehumanizing people of color, white people were able to consolidate and control resources for themselves while employing the race construct to exploit poor whites, people of color and other marginalized groups in society.
What is systemic racism in America? - Bing video
What are some limiting values shaping white institutions? Unfortunately, embedded oppression and misuse of power have lead to a focus on self-preservation through a consolidation of control and hierarchical accountability. The upper echelon often manages information from a “need-to-know” basis. Budgets tend to reflect finite resources and a scarcity mentality. Competition and individual achievement are nurtured. Either/or thinking fosters rigid ways of being and the myth that it is efficient for everyone to be the same.
In order to cultivate space for anti-racist accountability, values need to be transformed. For example, as the Church looks to be changed into a fully inclusive institution, it will move along a continuum to its ultimate goal. Its values will shift to both/and thinking with an outward focus on effective action. There will be a spirit of cooperation and collaboration at work which nurtures individual creativity. Transparent communication and a world view of abundant resources will foster responsible use of power and assets. In addition, there is a commitment to dismantle racism in the wider community and to build clear lines of accountability to racially oppressed communities. Diversity becomes an institutionalized asset.
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
Scripture tells us that every nation and all peoples will stand before the throne of glory of our Alpha and Omega, Jesus Christ, shepherd of all. Seeking mercy, let us boldly come before the throne of grace. Let us confess our sins against God and neighbor.
God of glory and righteousness, we confess that we do not live as citizens of your kindom. We give allegiance to worldly thrones. We ignore the neediest in our midst. We discount our own worth. We forsake your just rule and the rules of your kindom. Take from us the spirit of isolation, greed, lust for power and false pride. Give us instead the spirit of interdependency, generosity, humility and love. In all things grant us time for amendment of life that we may serve you all the length of our days. Through Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Beloved in Christ, you are blessed by God to inherit the kindom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. By the power of the Holy Spirit you are refashioned every day to live according to God’s reign, in the freedom of Christ Jesus. Friends, know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sermon by Alexandra “Lexi” Aligarbes:
“The Days are Surely Coming”
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