++ Stand as you are able 1 32

Gathering: Preparing To Hear The Word

In Preparation for Worship Sentences of Scripture Rev. Chandler Stokes Opening Voluntary (A musical prayer offered on behalf of the people of God.) “Uyai mose” arr. John Bell “Alleluia, Praise” “Swingin, Sweet Chariot” Kirk Singers (see insert for all song texts) Sharing the Life of Westminster ++ Call to Worship One: Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; All: And you that have no money, come, buy and eat! One: Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. All: There is no admission charge. One: Our God is a God of grace and gift! All: May our God give us faith always to sing: Alleluia! One: Let every instrument be tuned for praise! ++ Hymn 641 “When in Our Music God Is Glorified” Engelberg

Call to Confession Kyle Nolan (Trusting that God is love, we express our lament, our brokenness, and our failings to God.) Prayer of Confession (unison)

Holy God, your gifts to us are unending. You give us life. You give us love. And you forgive−again and again and again. You show us an economy of grace, a world of giving and giving and giving. But we would prefer to keep the ledger balanced: to keep things even with other people and even with you. But we can't. It is all simply a gift, and it unsettles us. Forgive us for trying to control everything, including your grace. In your mercy, Lord, hear our prayer.

Silent Confession

Kyrie - Unison “Lord, Have Mercy” John Weaver

The Assurance of God's Grace

One: In a world that offers so many old lies and false stories, help us live into this truth: All: We are held by a love that we are not required to deserve. One: And nothing can separate us from that love of God. Nothing. All: O Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief! One: In the midst of our questions, doubts, and fears, we are bold to make our home in your new creation. All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven, we are accepted and everything is made new. Amen.

Response “Canta una canción” Victor C. Johnson ++The Summary of the Law and the Passing of the Peace (A sign of forgiveness and reconciliation.) One: Our Lord Jesus said: All: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. One: This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: All: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.” One: And to strengthen you in this way, may the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. All: And also with you.

Commissioning for the Youth Ministry Journey to Montreat Ministry of Music “Blessed Assurance” arr. Keith Hampton Soloists: Grace Biermacher, Lauren Fuller, Maria Schoon

“Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring” Johann Sebastian Bach

Blessings with Younger Disciples (Children three years old through second grade may finish their time of worship in the Centers. Children's Worship Leaders will shepherd them from the Sanctuary to their rooms. Parents may pick them up in their worship rooms following the service.) In the pews: May the Lord be with each of you as you worship and learn together. Children: And may the Lord be with you as you worship here. In the pews: Go in peace!

Ministry of Music “It's Quiet Uptown” Lin-Manuel Miranda Soloists: Kinsey Kutilek, Connor Satterlee, Grace Biermacher Kirk Singers

The Word

Introduction to the Scripture Reading

Prayer for Illumination Mark DeVries (We pray that the words of Scripture may be encountered as God’s Word.)

Scripture Reading Acts 8:18-25 New Testament p. 126 One: The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

Sermon How Can I Keep From Singing? Rev. Chandler Stokes

Responding To The Word

Response “How Can I Keep from Singing” arr. Ginger Littleton Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Jen Porter One: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up unto the Lord. One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give thanks and praise.

The Lord’s PrayerOur Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Offering

Receiving the Offering - Signing of the Friendship Register (Please sign the friendship pad and pass it down the pew. Thank you!)

Offertory “Fly Away Medley” arr. Mark Hayes Kirk Singers ++Doxology (means “words of glory”—they are a traditional expression of praise to God.)

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God all creatures here below;Praise God above, ye heavenly host;Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost!

++Prayer of Dedication Holy God, you give and give and give to us. Help us to receive your precious gifts and let them pour back out through our lives: your love, your grace, your peace. Guide us in the arts of giving and forgiving, of being loved and loving, and of serving you, rejoicing in the priceless gift of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Going Out To Be The Church

++Choral Benediction “Blessing” Katie Moran Burt ++Charge and Benediction Closing Voluntary (A musical prayer offered on behalf of the people of God.) “Toccata in Seven” John Rutter

Morning Worship at 10:00 A.M.

How Can I Keep from Singing?

The Kirk Singers' music this morning is a preview of the concerts they will be singing on the youth trip. When the choir performs on the trip, several members of the choir provide spoken commentary on the songs. The choir will be singing at various venues, including retirement communities in Cincinnati, Ohio; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Asheville, North Carolina. They will also be singing at Fountain City Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN, and at the variety show at the Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina. This year, twenty-four of the Kirk Singers are going on the trip.

Guests & Newcomers—Are you here for the first time, or are you relatively new to Westminster? There will be an opportunity to converse with the Senior Pastor

in the parlor—in the northeast corner of the building—following worship. It will be a time to ask questions, to talk about the worship service, and to engage

a member of the staff about the life of this church.

P A R T I C I P A N T S I N T O D A Y ’ S S E R V I C EPreacher ..............................................................................................Rev. Chandler StokesLiturgists .................................... Kyle Nolan, Minister for Youth and Their Families ........................................................................... Mark DeVries, Elder for Youth .......................................................................................................... Rev. Jen Porter Minister of Music ...................................................................................Helen Hofmeister

Music for Worship 10:00a - Kirk Singers Soloists: Grace Biermacher, Lauren Fuller, Maria Schoon, Kinsey Kutikek, Connor Satterlee Janlee Richter, Accompanist

USHERS - Team C 10:00 am: Doug and Joanie Dowling, John and Sue Porter, Keith Combs, Kari and Chris Fuller, Ann and James Jarvis, Kevin Larr, Ben and Sharon Vander Wilp, Rich Zimmerman GREETERS 10:00am: Atrium ..................................................................Eric and Tracy Lanning E. Narthex ......................................................................Suzanne McCune W. Narthex ............................................................................ Betty Webber NURSERY 10:00 am: .................................................. David or Leah Muir and Staff SUMMER WORSHIP CENTER FOR CHILDREN AGES 3- 2ND GRADE: During the summer months, we vary our curriculum to provide a time for children ages 3 through 2nd grade, to apply biblical concepts to daily life situations by reading excellent children’s illustrated books. The children will think and talk about how we should treat God’s creation, each other, people who have lives that are unfamiliar to us; and what we can do to share God’s love and beauty with others. We conclude our time together by lighting the Christ Candle and praying.

Please see the insert sheet for our weekly book selections and synopses.

WORSHIP & NURTURING CENTER (Combined)Center 1 - 10:00 am: - The Family Book by Todd ParrLeader ...................................................................................................................Katie PrinceGreeter ...............................................................................................................Julie Pelletier

FLOWERS - The flowers in the chancel today are given by Stephen Marshall in honor of Don Taylor and Nancy Marshall Taylor's 50th wedding anniversary here at Westminster on June 24, 1967.

How Can I Keep From Singing?

T h e T h i r d S u n d ay a f t e r P e n t e c o s t

J u n e 2 5 , 2 0 1 7 1 0 : 0 0 a . m .

Please remember in your prayers this week…

Our love and sympathy to the family of Betty Vaughan who died on Saturday, June 17. A memorial service was held at Porter Hills on Wednesday, June 21.

And to the family of Bill Schwab, who died on Sunday, June 18. A celebration of Bill's life was held on Friday, June 23 at Westminster. Our prayers especially are with his wife Nancy during this difficult time.

Seating in the Chapel - Each Sunday at 10:00a, we have seating available in our chapel. There is a video feed of the service, and bulletins available at the door. If the close quarters of a full service at 10:00a are uncomfortable for you, or you have a child who could use more room to roam, or any other reason, the chapel may be a place where you can find a quiet place to facilitate your attentiveness in worship. Also, it is air-conditioned.

W e l c o m e t o W e s t m i n s t e rIf you are new to Westminster, this information may help you get oriented.

First of all, if you have any questions, please feel free to talk to any of the ushers or greeters or staff members. It’s a pretty big church and not always easy to find your way around.

• Worshipbags(youngerchildren)andworshipfolders(olderchildren)areavailable on the bookshelf in the narthex, and contain age-appropriate materials to help children engage with what they're seeing and doing. • LARGEprintbulletins—mucheasierontheeyes. • Hearingdevicesarealsoavailable,aswellas: • T-loophearingassistance:setyourhearingaidto“T”

• Moreaboutchildren: We intend to be welcoming to all children. Please let us know how we are doing.ContactNancyGreidanus—nancyg@wpcgr.org. o All children are welcome to stay throughout the entire worship service. OR: o Nursery room is located down the hall to the right of the Parlor, which is in the northeast corner of the Gathering Place. Summertime nursery care is available from 9:45a - 11:30p (or 15 minutes after the conclusion of worship). o Nurturing Centers: Children ages 3 and 4 may leave the service after the time of Blessings for stories, songs, and free play. o Worship Centers: Children 4 years through second grade may also leave at the time of the Blessings to complete their worship in an interactive setting.

•Coffee Hour: Absolutely everyone is welcome, even if coffee is not your cup of tea!

47 Jefferson Ave. SE• Grand Rapids, MI 49503 • www.wpcgr.org • (616-456-1456)

Pentecost 2017Season of the Spirit

Ahead in Worship 10:00a The Season of Pentecost: Summer and The Spirit

July 2— The Fourth Sunday after PentecostThe Wisdom of Uncertainty

Rev. Chandler Stokes preachingWhy do we reduce holy things to simplicities?

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:22-28Music: Jeff Wilkinson, Tenor

July 9— The Fifth Sunday after PentecostRev. Jen Porter preaching

Music: Kate Huizenga, Soprano

Devotions for the Week of June 25 “May the God of JOURNEYS be with you, staying by your side, companioning you on the pathway, talking with you when you are lonely, carrying you when you feel abandoned, resting with you when you are weary. May this God be with you over each hill, under each obstacle, and in each fork in the road. With the blessing of companionship, may the God of JOURNEYS be with you. —Maxine Shonk, OP, Blessing Upon Blessing