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A Warm Welcome to All! We seek to be an inclusive church,

and to show love and compassion in many ways. If you are a visitor, we invite you to worship with us often

and to consider joining our congregation.

If you’d like to become more connected, please contact Pastors Scott Paczkowski or Jan Scott at 274-1534.

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Order of WorshipE L S J 3, 2021

Gathering the Community of Faith

PRELUDE Variations on How Great Our Joy Music: German carol Juli Bey - Organ Arr. Jeff ery Blersch WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Scott Paczkowski

Please let us know you are worshiping with us by fi lling out the “Attendance Form,”

found on the livestream page.

Celebrating God’s Presence

CALL TO WORSHIP (Isa. 60, Mt. 2) Bob Eddy One: Arise; shine, for your light has come! All: We are called out of our darkness into light. One: Lift up your eyes and look around. All: We rejoice in the gift of light. One: Come let us worship the God of light and joy and peace. All: We come to kneel at the cradle of the babe, the light

incarnate.

*OPENING HYMN #66 We Three Kings (vs. 1, 2, 5) (Music on pgs. 8-9 of worship bulletin.) By: John Henry Hopkins, Jr.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Isa. 60, Psa. 72, Mt. 2) Ever patient God, we are a people who live in thick darkness. We stumble around, bombarded by news of war and poverty, famine and death, injustice and oppression. The maelstrom of things and issues and people of the dark, can overwhelm and paralyze us. Help us to be people of the light, shining your light of righteousness, peace, and joy into all the dark places of our lives and world. Unlock the mystery and glory of the babe born in Bethlehem. Turn our aimless wandering into a journey. Of purpose guided by your star. Let the light break into our lives and our world, and transform us into people of the light. Amen.

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*DECLARATION OF PARDON (Isa. 60, Mt. 2) One: As certain as the dawn follows the night, so is the promise of God’s forgiveness and love for us all. All: Arise and Shine. Follow the star. One: Find the light of the world born in Bethlehem… All: and be transformed from darkness into light. *SUNG RESPONSE #63 As With Gladness Men of Old (vs. 4) Music: Conrad Kocher Text: William Chatterton Dix

Holy Jesus, every day Keep us in the narrow way;And, when earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls at lastWhere they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE When the pastor says, “God of Mercy,” please respond with, “Hear our prayer.”

Dedicating Our Lives and Off erings

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING

OFFERTORY The Snow Lay on the Ground Music: traditional Irish carol Juli Bey - Harp Arr. Ray Pool *OFFERTORY RESPONSE #592 Doxology OLD 100TH (Music on pg. 10 of worship bulletin.)

Join with the Westminster Virtual Choir.

Praise God, from whom all blessings fl ow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Proclaiming God’s Word

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Jeremiah 31:7-14 (NRSV) Bob Eddy

For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, “Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel.”

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See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my fi rstborn.

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a fl ock.” For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the fl ock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will give the priests their fi ll of fatness, and my people shall be satisfi ed with my bounty, says the Lord.

ANTHEM We Have Seen His Star By: Everett Titcomb Westminster Choral Scholars NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Ephesians 1:3-14 (NRSV) Scott Paczkowski

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good

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pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the fi rst to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

SERMON “Why Bother?” Scott Paczkowski

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION The Invitation The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving/The Lord’s Prayer Sharing the Bread and the Cup: Please partake of the bread when you are ready. When you receive the cup, please hold it so that all may partake together. Communion Music Meditation Go, Tell It on the Mountain Music: African-American Spiritual Juli Bey - Piano Arr. Hugh S. Livingston Jr. Prayer after Communion

Sending the Faithful into God’s World

*CLOSING HYMN #68 What Star is This, with Beams So Bright (vs. 1, 2, 4) (Music on pg. 11 of worship bulletin.) Music: Trier ms., 15th Cent. Text: Charles Coffi n

*BENEDICTION (Isa. 60, Mt. 2) Scott Paczkowski One: Arise, and go forth to shine for all the world to see. All: We go to spread the good news of light and love, righteousness and justice. One: Go now and follow the star that will guide you on your journey this week, this year, and forever. All: As the Magi of old, we go forth in trust and excitement, transformed in the presence of the child of light. One: May the blessing of the God of light rest upon you and fi ll you with light. All: Amen.

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*CHORAL AMEN DANISH AMEN (Westminster Virtual Choir 1st time, Congregation 2nd time)

POSTLUDE Procession on “We Three Kings” Music: John H. Hopkins, Jr. Juli Bey - Organ Arr. John Barr

* All who are able, please stand.

Participating in Worship this morning…Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski, Senior Pastor Scott@westpres.orgRev. Dr. Bill Ekhardt, Associate Pastor, Chief of Staff Bill@westpres.orgRev. Jan Scott, Associate Pastor, Pastoral Care JScott@westpres.orgAaron Schultz, Director of Music and Art ASchultz@westpres.orgJuli Bey, Organ, Piano and Harp Juli@westpres.orgBob Eddy, LiturgistWestminster Choral Scholars: Lauren Bailey, Claudia Sloat, Krister Strandskov, Everett ReedWestminster Virtual ChoirDrew Robertson, Youth Director - Media Engineer DRobertson@westpres.orgLaura Sherlock, Communications & Children’s CE Director - Media Engineer LSherlock@westpres.orgLance Routson, Greg Shane and Austin Shane - Media EngineersWestminster Chancel Guild

Church Music/Streaming LicensesCCLI: #11161622CCS: #12829

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- continued, next page

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We Three Kings of Orient Are - continued

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* Or “God.”

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4114 Allison Ave • Des Moines, Iowa 50310www.westpres.org • 515-274-1534

WE ARE WESTMINSTER...We Worship with Tradition ٠ We Connect as a Church Family

We Engage in Mission ٠ We Raise 21st Century DisciplesINCLUSIVITY STATEMENT

We welcome all persons as participants in our congregation, regardless of age, race, gender, marital status, physical condition, gender identity, sexual orientation,

ethnic background, economic status, or any other human condition.

Westminster AnnouncementsPrayer Requests - If you have a prayer request that you’d like to share with your church family, please select the Prayer Request button on the website’s livestream worship page, or contact Susan Denton at sdenton@westpres.org.

Daily Devotion - Each weekday, Pastor Scott posts a daily online devotion. If you wish to receive Pastor Scott’s Daily Devotion by email, please contact Susan in the church offi ce, sdenton@westpres.org or 274-1534.

Fine Arts Series Mini Concert - Recently a new mini Westminster Fine Arts Concert was released on Facebook and YouTube, featuring classical guitarist An Tran. He performs a mixed program of his classical guitar repertoire, including music from his newest album, “Stay, My Beloved.”

WPC Youth, Grades 6-12, meet virtually, Wednesdays and Sundays. They are encouraged to be themselves, ask questions and to be appreciated for who they are and where they are in their faith lives. If you’d like to be included in their text massages, please send WPC YOUTH to 474747. Please reply with your fi rst and last name. If you have other questions, please contact Drew Robertson at DRobertson@westpres.org.

How Can I Contribute My Off ering or Pay My Pledge? ● Mail - Westminster Church, 4114 Allison Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310-3398 ● Online - At www.westpres.org/donate ● Text - WPCDSM to 73256. ● Call the Church Offi ce - 515-274-1534 for credit card or ACH contribution, ask for Ruth Bloxham, accountant. Thank You!