Worship at Home for
Blessed Resurrection Sunday
April 4, 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, 3/14/21, 3/21/21, and 3/28/21.
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
Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."
Christ is risen! We have seen the glory of God.
Hymns of Adoration
Seeking the Shalom of the City
ANTIRACIST ADJUSTMENT FOR THE WEEK OF 4/4/2021
In his book “How to be an Antiracist,” Dr. Ibram Kendi says that there is no neutrality in the racism struggle. The opposite of “racist” isn’t “not racist”. It is “antiracist”. He defines an antiracist as one who supports policies that reduce racial inequity and affirms that all racial groups are equal and that none need developing.
In addition, the Church wide Antiracism Policy of PC(USA) calls racism a spiritual problem. For white Christians, it names the most difficult spiritual challenge as addiction to power and privilege. To undertake this spiritual journey requires soul and heart work, a cultivation of inner self awareness and compassion for our shared humanity, as we embrace racial justice in action. We have been acculturated in a society that favors whiteness which has at its roots the colonization and control of indigenous peoples and of the bodies of stolen African peoples. We are called by our faith to take on the responsibility of changing this social construct and of addressing its destructive consequences.
Contemplative practices offer a way to observe our thoughts and subconscious biases and to be present with yourself, the world around you and the presence of the Divine. Centering prayer involves quieting one’s mind and listening deeply for the leading of the Spirit. It’s a practice of not reacting, not judging, not defending. It’s as easy or as difficult as being still and breathing. It’s an opportunity to release ourselves from the illusion of control. Journaling is a way to pay attention to your thoughts and behaviors as you write your observations during a regular predetermined amount of time.
Dr. Kendi’s journaling workbook “Be Anti-Racist” provides an opportunity to explore the racist policies and perspectives at work within the Christian community so that they can be recognized, addressed and changed.
Questions to sit with:
What historical and current policies contribute to the Presbyterian Church’s, (or your denomination’s), “whiteness”?
What would your congregation look like if antiracist power and policy predominated?
What is your antiracist policy evaluation compass?
How can you contribute to an antiracist future in your church?
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
The psalmist prayed: open to me the gates of righteousness, O Lord,
that I may enter through them and give thanks to you.
We give thanks that God has answered us, and has become our salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. With gratitude for God's life-giving love, let us confess our sin.
Almighty God,
in raising Jesus from the grave,
you shattered the power of sin and death.
We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear
bound by the ways that lead to death.
We overlook the poor and the hungry,
and pass by those who mourn;
we ignore the cries of the oppressed
and are indifferent to calls for peace;
we despise the weak,
and abuse the earth you made.
Forgive us, God of mercy.
Help us to trust your power
to change our lives and make us new,
that we may know the joy of life abundant
given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the word of the Lord:
I am about to create new heavens and a new earth:
the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.
Be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating;
I will rejoice and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard.
Friends, hear and believe the good news of the gospel:
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture: John 20:1-18
Sermon by Rev. John White
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