Worship at Home for November 8, 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, 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, and 11/1.
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 - The Lord’s Supper, Prayers of the People, 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
We follow Christ,
Who says take up your cross.
We follow Christ,
Who bids us come and offer our lives.
We follow Christ,
Who summons us to new life.
Come, let us worship our Creator.
Hymns of Adoration
SEEKING THE SHALOM OF THE CITY
ANTIRACIST ADJUSTMENT FOR THE WEEK of 11/8/2020
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8
(Excerpts from the First United Methodist Church of Austin Lenten “Racism Interruption” Series)
Three selections from the daily Lenten “Racism Interruptions” series will be provided each week for ongoing prayer and meditation. I have arbitrarily listed them on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule. You are free of course to view them in whatever manner speaks to you. (With your cursor on the day’s selection, depress the Ctrl key and click to follow the link which will open in the Chrome browser.) Obviously we will not be posting our reflections to the FUMC Facebook Group. Please feel free to forward any thoughts to me at the email listed below. Blessings as you continue your antiracism spiritual practice.
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Daily morning intention:
Open my heart Loving Presence so that I may feel your Divine guidance to greater awareness of racial inequity and to my antiracist role this day.
(submitted by Pat Deeney, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Trenton NJ, pjdeeney@hotmail.com)
Adebisi “Bisi” A. Shofu
Moderator Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Northeast
Adebisi Shofu was formally installed on Friday October 30th 2020 as the Moderator Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Northeast (PWSNE), which covers the Atlantic States, State of New York and the State of New Jersey, by Jyungin (Jenny) Lee the National Moderator of Presbyterian Women. The installation took place at the Triennial Gathering of PWSNE via Zoom. The theme for the gathering was “Empowered To Serve” drawn from 1 Peter 4:10.
Adebisi (who is commonly referred to as Bisi) is the Director of Adebisi A. Shofu Foundation, whose goal is to provide healthcare clinics, educational chances, library access and technological opportunities to the underserved. She runs a Market Research consulting business working with Non-Profits and other businesses.
She serves as a guest preacher to congregations. She serves on the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee (REAC) of the Office of the General Assembly and serves as liaison to the General Assembly Committee on Representation (GACOR). Adebisi represented New Brunswick Presbytery as a Commissioner to the 2008 General Assembly. She has served on other commissions for the General Assembly.
Adebisi is a PDA Disaster Preparedness Trainer whose responsibility is to educate churches and congregations on how to plan ahead to mitigate disaster. She graduated from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, New Jersey with a Master of Divinity (MDiv.) Degree.
The “Election Defenders” served as an additional means to assist voters at the polls and to deter potential violence on Election Day.
Westminster's Election Defenders Crew:
Sunyoung Yang, A-Team Leader
Peter Crooke
Paula Alekson
Cherry Oakley
Rev. Karen Hernandez-Granzen
Call to Confession and Reconciliation
You asked for my hands,
that you might use them for your purpose.
I gave them for a moment, then withdrew them,
for the work was hard.
You asked for my mouth
to speak out against injustice.
I gave you a whisper that I might not be accused.
You asked for my eyes
to see the pain of poverty.
I closed them, for I did not want to see.
You asked for my life,
that you might work through me.
I gave a small part, that I might not get too involved.
Lord, forgive my calculated efforts to serve you—
only when it is convenient for me to do so,
only in those places where it is safe to do so,
and only with those who make it easy to do so.
Father, forgive me,
renew me, send me out
as a usable instrument,
that I might take seriously
the meaning of your cross. Amen.
adapted from The Worship Sourcebook, ©2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources
Assurance of Pardon
Friends, hear the good news: Jesus calls us follow him, and he will not lead us astray. His path is one of forgiveness and renewal. Know that you are forgiven, and so you are ready to go out and serve. Alleluia! Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture: Mark 8:34-35 NIV
The Way of the Cross
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Sermon: The Gift of Trust
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.
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, 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