Worship at Home for the
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Happy Mothering Day to All the Women of Westminster
Guest Preacher: Elder Bisi Shofu
May 9, 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, 3/28/21, 4/4/21, 4/11/21, 4/18/21, 4/25/21, and 5/2/21.
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
Opening Prayer
Loving God,
Our hearts are heavy
When we think of all who suffer
We pray for those who can’t breathe
Suffering from Covid-19
Or the smothering oppression of white supremacy
We lift up the family and community of George Floyd
Words fail us.
How long, O Lord?
Through tears, we pray even for his murderers
As you prayed for yours.
O Lord,
Heal
Convict
Comfort
Forgive
Transform
Without your love, we are lost.
Amen
Centering Song
Call to Worship
O sing to the Lord a new song,
for God has done marvelous things.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before God.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the Lord,
for God is coming to judge the earth.
The Lord will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity
Hymns of Adoration
Seeking the Shalom of the City
ANTIRACIST ADJUSTMENT FOR THE WEEK OF 5/9/2021
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8
Matthew 13:16-17 (NRSV)
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
Visio Divina is translated as “divine seeing”. It is related to the prayer form Lectio Divina (divine reading), but instead of Scripture, this form of prayer uses visual elements to allow the Divine to speak into your heart through the image. Utilized throughout the centuries, this prayer practice is more prevalent in Eastern Orthodox communities where icons are often found.
The following short videos offer opportunities to deepen your listening practice around black experiences using both Lectio Dvina and Visio Divina.
Poem “I Didn’t Tell You” by Norma Johnson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UVIgjuovt8
How do you feel after looking at the speaker and hearing her poem? What are the speaker’s deeper feelings, desires, wants and needs? What sensations do you notice within your own body?
Pedestrian interactions with Jacksonville, Florida police
Walking while black - Bing video
How do you feel after seeing the video? What deeper feelings, desires, wants and needs are not expressed by the speakers? What sensations do you notice within your own body?
As you settle your body today, 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
God’s mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. It is new every morning. Great is God’s faithfulness. Knowing that we will find mercy in the presence of our God, we have courage to confess our sins before God and each other. Let us pray together.
Merciful God: We confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. Indeed, because we have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have failed to be a people fully obedient to these commands; we have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love. (silence for further confession of sin) Gracious God; Command what you will and give what you command Give us the love that you require of us. Fill our whole heart with love for you that becomes a wholehearted love for our neighbor. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
The Scripture announces that this is a true saying and is to be universally accepted: Christ came into the world to save sinners. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Friends, in Christ you are forgiven. Know this and be at peace.
Prayer for Illumination
Sermon by Elder Bisi Shofu
Hymn of Response
Confession of Faith (from Belhar Confession)
We believe in one holy, universal Christian church, the communion of saints called from the entire human family. We believe … that this unity of the people of God must be manifested and be active in a variety of ways; in that we love one another; that we experience, practice and pursue community with one another; that we are obligated to give ourselves willingly and joyfully to be of benefit and blessing to one another.
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
Without your love, Lord, we are nothing. Without your giving, we have received nothing. Without your gifts, we have nothing. Receive back these gifts of our love, that you may be always all to us. May our love for you and our neighbors reveal our gratitude.
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