“Where Faith and Life Connect”

The Order of Worship September 4, 2016

10:00 A.M.

TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

THE CHURCH GATHERS ...

Welcome to Westminster Church! We are a family of Christians gathered from many

traditions and neighborhoods, worshiping here with the goal of connecting faith and life. If

you are a visitor, we pray you will feel welcome and blessed by our worship. We invite you to

consider making Westminster your church home. Please let us have your contact information

so we may be in touch.

Children are welcome in worship here. A nursery is available during the entire service.

When the prelude begins let us quietly prepare for the worship of almighty God.

PRELUDE Canzona Franz Tunder

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

CALL TO WORSHIP Barbara Adamcik

Leader: We need your presence on the long road, Lord.

The road between fear and hope,

People: the road between the place where all is lost

And the place of resurrection.

Leader: Like the disciples walking the road to Emmaus,

People: we are in need of your company!

Leader: Jesus, stand among us, in your risen presence.

People: Come, let us worship our Lord!

TO PRAISE AND CONFESS ...

*HYMN NO. 459 (blue hymnal) Father, We Praise Thee Christe Sanctorum

*CALL TO CONFESSION

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

Searching God, we are so attached to our possessions,

we have trouble sharing them.

We are so connected to our pleasures

that we cannot feel the pain of those around us.

We are so stuck in ourselves,

we neglect to see we are surrounded by Your boundless gifts.

Most merciful God,

loosen us from the grip of the world,

so we may feel your healing touch.

Sever us from our sin,

so your Spirit might bind us to you.

Reshape us, redeem us, renew us,

so we may take up our crosses

and follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

*RESPONSE Take, O Take Me as I Am John L. Bell

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Leader: Friends, believe the Good News!

People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

*RESPONSE Celtic Alleluia (sing twice) Fintan O’Carroll

TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S WORD AND RESPOND ...

SCRIPTURE READING Psalm 139

A TIME WITH THE CHILDREN J.P. Mackay

Children age 4 through 2nd grade are invited to go downstairs and participate in

Children’s Worship.

SCRIPTURE READING Luke 24:13-32

SERMON “Living in Emmaus” Rev. Gradye Parsons

*HYMN NO. 391 (blue hymnal) Take My Life Hendon

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Unison)

In forming his people and sending them into the world Jesus called

individuals to be disciples. They were to share the joy of his companionship,

to understand and obey his teachings, and to follow him in life and death. We

confess that Christians today are called to discipleship. Life shared with

Christ and shaped by Christ is God’s undeserved gift to each of us. It is also

God’s demand upon every one of us, never perfectly fulfilled by any of us.

Forgiven by God and supported by brothers and sisters, we strive to become

more faithful and effective in our daily practice of the Christian life.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE ... The Lord’s Prayer

During the Prayers of the People there will be a time of silence. You are invited to use

this time for personal reflection, confession, thanksgiving, and prayer.

THE OFFERING

Please sign and pass the Friendship Register found on the pew nearest the center

aisle.

Though many of us contribute electronically or by a check in the mail, your holding and

passing the offering plate is an act of blessing and dedication to our life together in Jesus

Christ.

OFFERTORY ANTHEM Let There Be Life in This House Peter Sykes

(The congregation is invited to stand and join the choir in singing the fourth verse.)

Let there be life in this house, poured from the riches of God; treasure in so

many vessels of clay, given for sharing, not hiding away: Let there be life in

this house!

Let there be life in this house, tender and truthful and real; life of belonging,

respected and free, honored for all God declares us to be: Let there be life in

this house!

Let there be life in this house, life of the Spirit and fire; sisters and brothers

new-born from above, daring to love because we have been loved: Let there

be life in this house!

Let there be life in this house, life of the Body divine, kindly and passionate,

earthy and odd, we are the Church, beloved of God: Let there be life in this

house!

Kate Layzer

*AT THE PRESENTATION Doxology No. 514 (red hymnal) Old Hundredth

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

TO GO FORTH AND SERVE ...

*HYMN NO. 415 (blue hymnal) Come, Labor On Ora Labora

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 586 (blue hymnal) Amen

Danish melody

*POSTLUDE Prelude in F Georg Böhm

*Indicates standing.

NOW THE SERVICE BEGINS

* * * * * * * * * *

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR TODAY

PASTORAL CARE ELDERS FOR THE WEEK: Leigh Dunlap and Michael Yates

CARE TEAM COORDINATOR FOR : Judy Jorden and Sue Byerly

LARGE PRINT HYMNALS AND HEARING DEVICES are available from ushers.

SERVING TODAY

GREETERS: Bud and Carolyn Cunningham

CHILDREN’S WORSHIP: Nursery Staff

LITURGIST: Barbara Adamcik

MINISTRY OF MUSIC: Summer Choir

LEMONADE FELLOWSHIP: Manrod family

SENIOR USHER: Sue Caradine

USHERS: Tom and Georgann Byerley, Suzanne Graham, Bill Holt, Hap McSween

WELCOME TO THE PULPIT Rev. Gradye Parsons while Rev. Dr. Buran Phillips is

on vacation.

FLOWERS IN THE SANCTUARY are given in memory of our mothers who had

September and October birthdays, Geneva Rawe and Delma Garrison by Rick and

Janice Rawe.

THIS MORNING’S OFFERTORY ANTHEM is by Boston-based keyboardist Peter

Sykes, a recitalist on Musica Organi’s 2011-2012 season here at Westminster. During

his visit he graciously shared with me a number of his choral works and hymns,

including this morning’s hymn. In addition to his career as a keyboardist, he serves

as Director of Music at First Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the author

of this morning’s anthem text, Kate Layzer, serves as Minister of Outreach and

Director of the Friday Café, “a gathering space for housed and unhoused neighbors

to mingle and get acquainted,” quoting from the church’s website.

Peter Van Eenam

SHARE THE BOUNTY: Thank You for making our Westminster summer garden

and Bounty Table such a success again. The Bounty Table includes organic produce

from our Westminster garden and that which you have brought in to share from

your home gardens. Your contributions to Family Promise at the Bounty Table have

totaled well over $400 this summer! With the extreme heat and the end of the

summer season, our summer produce from the Westminster garden has come to an

end. However, we will keep the Bounty Table up for a time as your home gardens

may still have some offerings to share. Please stop by and enjoy the goodness from

God’s earth.

DISCOVER WESTMINSTER: Is your calendar marked? Are you ready for things to

get busy at Westminster? Discover Westminster is coming September 11! On that day,

we return to two worship services at 9:00 and 11:00 with an education hour in

between. From 10:00-11:00 that day, all the Ministry Teams of our congregation will

have display tables set up in the Schilling Gallery. You'll have an opportunity to

travel around the Wonderful World of Westminster during that time to explore all

we have to offer - education for all ages, missions, drama, worship and music,

fellowship opportunities, ways to connect with other members, caring for each other

and the world, and much more! Join us that morning, visit with friends, and

DISCOVER WESTMINSTER!

FAITH AND LIFE CLASS: On September 18th, we will begin a study in the

McKinnon Room entitled FACE to Faith. We will consider the mystery of faith, why

it matters, why it persists, and look for ways in which we can reach out to people of

different faith experiences in an attempt to find common ground. We will see and

hear videos by Scott Alexander, Wendell Berry, Brenè Brown, Parker Palmer, Eugene

Peterson and others, as we seek to put a face to faith. Each class will begin with a

music video by Indiana folk singer and author Carrie Newcomer, including ‘Room at

The Table’ for the first class. As Brenè Brown said, “Faith is a place of mystery…”

Come join us for a seat at the table.

UPDATED HABITAT NEWS

The Westminster Habitat build will be here soon, and we are looking for more

volunteers for Blitz Day Saturday Sept 17th. There will be two sessions - morning

and afternoon. The site is just off North Broadway near Whittle Springs School. To

sign up for this day, or the other opportunities, just follow the link below and pick

your slots. For more info please contact Jay Schmid at wpc.habitat@gmail.com or 865

254-2444. Thanks for your support. This is a great way to share our blessings with the

community. Sign up at http://bit.ly/2borAab

SEPTEMBER 17 Blitz Day Need 30 AM and 30 PM volunteers

SEPTEMBER 24 Interior walls/ roof need 24 volunteers

OCTOBER 1 Vinyl siding need 20 volunteers

OCTOBER 22 Inside painting need 10 volunteers

OCTOBER 29 Trim and cabinets need 14 volunteers

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH6500 Northshore Drive, Knoxville TN 37919

Telephone (865) 584-3957 Fax (865) 584-8840

E-mail westminsterpres@comcast.net

www.wpcknox.org

Rev. Dr. Buran Phillips, Pastor

Rev. John Linton Muntz, Parish Associate

Peter Van Eenam, Organist and Choirmaster

Barbara Adamcik, Director of Youth and Connectional Ministries

Angela Grobe, Director of Children’s Ministries

Mary Boyd, Education Coordinator

Renee Wiesehuegel, Office Manager/Bookkeeper

Sandra Williams, Administrative Assistant

Rev. Friedrich Schilling, Jr., Pastor Emeritus

Debbie Bendy, Abbey Editor

THE CONGREGATION IS CORDIALLY INVITED to a

potluck dinner on Sunday evening, September 18, at 6:00,

hosted by the Fellowship and Worship, Music, and the

Arts Ministry Teams. At 7:00, following dinner, we will be

treated to a harp recital by Cindy Hicks of the Knoxville

Symphony Orchestra. She is a wonderful musician,

having played at Westminster on a number of memorable

occasions, such as our production of Amahl and the Night Visitors, Leonard Bernstein’s

Chichester Psalms, and most recently for our singing of the Rutter Requiem. I do hope

you’ll join us for a fun and lovely evening of great music! A nursery will be

provided.

Peter Van Eenam

SAVE THE DATE:

September 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Regular worship schedule begins (9 and 11am)

September 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Discover Westminster during 10 am Sunday School

September 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WWW (Wednesdays With Westminster) begins

September 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Habitat Blitz Day

September 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BLT (Bible Lunch Theology) begins

October 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oktoberfest

October 2.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Youth Christmas Play Try-Outs

October 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breakfast in the Smokies at Metcalf Bottoms

October 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trunk or Treat Festival

THE SESSION

Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019

Phil Barnette Leigh Dunlap Debbie Babelay

Bitsy Ingram Steve Hoadley Daniel Collins

William Milam JP Mackay Terry Crow

Bryan Powell Linda Van Beke Cindy Pearman

Brenda Seip Michael Yates Jay Schmid

Youth Elder: Tolson Bell

Clerk of Session: Georgann Byerley

TRUSTEES

Larry Ridley Paul Jorden Alice Mercer