Worship at Home for July 19, 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, and 7/12.

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 - Prayers of the People, and 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 (Psalm 139:1-6)

O LORD, you have searched me and known me. 

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. 

You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 

Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely. 

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.


Hymns of Adoration


Seeking the Shalom of the City

The Jewish Family and Children Services Mobile Food Pantry is not slowing down for the summer! Recent distribution stops include new partners like Westminster Presbyterian Church and returning ones like Capital Area YMCA and Better Beginnings Child Development Center. Their mobile pantry has been on the road for 6 months and has served over 6,000 individuals. Over the past few months, as need has grown, so has their incredible network of partners. With new and sustaining connections, they are able to reach more in need here in Mercer.

Also, we pray that God continue to bless the efforts of the Westminster/Capital Area YMCA partnership as we help distribute 480 breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday to now over 200 youth 18 years and younger.

Also during this time, we encourage you to pray for friends and family, neighbors, our city, our country, and the world. Particularly keep in mind those who are most vulnerable during this time: the elderly and immuno-compromised who are particularly vulnerable to infection, the poor who are particularly vulnerable economically as daycares and businesses close, and those without healthcare coverage.

Pray also for all our healthcare workers who face a daunting task ahead and who place themselves in harm’s way in love and service to their community.

Prayers for Westminster nurses Rachel and Chiquera, and corrections officer Latipha; all three are caring for people with COVID 19.

Finally, take a moment to listen for the voice of God. How is God inviting you to seek the shalom of the city in light of the spreading corona virus? Perhaps there is someone who God is calling you to check in on, perhaps a text or call with encouragement for someone who is suffering, perhaps a donation to an organization on the front lines. Listen for God’s invitation and make plans to respond in love and obedience.


Call to Confession and Reconciliation

We read in Romans that all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. We seek to be led by the Spirit to the God who created and loves us. Even before a word is on our tongues, God knows it, and welcomes our honest confession and true repentance with forgiveness and the promise of new life. Let us then with the confidence of the children of God confess our sin to God.

Lord of all, we are quick to judge others, certain we know what is weed and what is wheat around us, even as we fail to see within us that which does not bear good fruit. We confirm our biases, listen only to those who agree with us and assume your will equates with our own. We confess that we do not like to acknowledge the many ways we fail to follow your commandment to love you and our neighbors. Forgive us, we pray, for forgetting that everyone is created in your image and therefore worthy of our compassion. In your mercy, amend what we are and shape us into the people you call us to be. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

(Silent prayer)

 

Assurance of Pardon

Friends, the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. We need not fear God’s judgment but rather rejoice in the Lord’s saving grace that frees and transforms us. 

Believe the good news, in Jesus Christ we are forgiven! 


Prayer for Illumination


Scripture Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon: Wheat and Weeds


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.

  1. 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

  2. Westminster can receive donations online:

  3. 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