Welcome Message
HELLO! WELCOME TO WPC
from Pastor Carlton Rhoden – Get Sermon
Westminster Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles invites you to experience Virtual Worship. Scroll the page to participate in Virtual Sunday Worship and join us on Sunday’s at noon for the Fellowship Coffee Hour on Zoom. Today is also Communion Sunday. In preparation, grab your cup and bread to participate in communion with us today. See you soon.
Shhh, Virtual Worship is Starting
Opening Prayer:
God be all glory, the One who visits us in three persons, the Holy Trinity of hope and love. For there is no place which is without you, O God, and no time when you are not there. For you are the beginning and the end, the source of all that is in the wonder of universal life. And yet, you take us by the hand and lead us, as the life of Christ walks our human way and shows us that life is stronger than death. In the Holy Spirit, we are gifted, again and again, and are called onward toward a future in which we are surrounded with love and grace. We praise and worship you, O God, for there is no other God like yous.
Amen.
Opening Praise:
“Praise You In This Storm” – Casting Crowns
CHURCH NEWS & GIVING
Announcements:
SURVEY | Attending Worship at WPC In-Person (COVID-19):
How do you feel about your safety?
“Stay-at-Home” Thursday Bible Study:
Please join the video conference online.
Bible Study:
Please join Pastor Rhoden for our weekly virtual Bible Study Thursday at 12:30.
Prayer Meeting:
Please join us for the Wednesday prayer meeting at 4:30pm via conference call.
Phone: (701) 802-5077 – Access Code: 3183682
Fellowship Coffee Hour:
Fellowship with Westminster Family Sunday at 12:00, let’s join one another for a check in and fellowship following the morning virtual worship service via zoom.
Join the Fellowship Coffee Hour – Zoom Meeting – GET DETAILS: CLICK HERE
Prayers of the People:
God of holy hospitality, you make the world your neighborhood. Opening yourself to all, you care for those in special need, of body, mind or soul. As those who long to re-create your beloved community, we discover many neighbors, far and near, many in great need.
Today we remember neighbors near and far, those around the corner and those around the world. We lift up those in our community and those around the world who are injured or sick, who long for your healing…whose disagreements bring discord … whose differences keep them from seeing their common humanity … For all of our neighbors, Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Jesus our Host, you tell us that the door is open to anyone who knocks. You invite us to gather around your table to share the meal that you have prepared. Help us to live as neighbors with all those who eat with us, and with all those who long to eat. Teach us also to create a new community with those who eat in other houses, around other tables. Unite us with brothers and sisters everywhere, as neighbors of yours, and ours. We pray in your name.
Amen!
Offertory Prayer:
Source of life, may the works of our hands bring you honor. May the life we live reflect the risen Word of life. May the service we offer be inspired by the Breath of life.
Amen.
Offering Song:
“Strong God” – Kirk Franklin
Tithes and offerings:
SERMON MESSAGE
Sermonic Songs:
“We Need You Right Now Lord” – Donny Hathaway
Sermon:
“Get Your Knee Off Of My Neck”
By Pastor Carlton Rhoden
PASTOR CARLTON RHODEN SERMON
Did you miss any of the Virtual Worship today? If so, Click Here and start from the top.
And we’d love to here your thoughts. Leave a comment below for our moderator to approve.
COMMUNION
“He Looked Beyond My Faults (And Saw My Needs)” – Dottie Rambo
Call to Confession:
We know that we have not lived according to God’s desires for us. The brokenness in the world, and the sin and despair in our hearts, threaten to consume us as a mighty flood. Yet God is our hope and our firm foundation. Let us confess our sin before our gracious God.
Prayer of Confession:
Creating God, in love you moved over the waters of chaos and separated sea from dry land. And yet, we cling tightly to rigid boundaries of our own making. You claim us in the waters of baptism and declare us dead to sin and alive in Christ. But too often we deny that call, conforming ourselves to the whims of culture. At Pentecost, you released your wild and transforming spirit to flow through church and world. But we want to tame that wildness, channeling your spirit through banks of ordered safety. Transform us, we pray. Soften the unyielding edges of our hearts. Loosen our grip on “the way it’s always been” and prepare us for the joy of “the way it still can be,” through Jesus Christ.
Assurance of Pardon:
Friends, hear this good news. Jesus Christ is our ark! His power is unequaled, his grace is unrestrained, his strength is steadfast, and his embrace is sufficient to carry all that we are and hope to be. Friends, believe the good news! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Communion:
CLOSING SONG
“God Is Good” – Jonathan McReynolds
Closing Prayer:
Let your lives witness to Christ’s love.
Let your words bring reconciliation.
Let your thoughts be of peace.
Let your touch bring healing.
Let your actions count for justice.
Be a sign of hope and a beacon of joy.
Go and may God’s blessing go with you.
Amen.
We hope you enjoyed Virtual Sunday Worship.
ADD YOUR COMMENTS BELOW, SHARE THE WORSHIP,
& JOIN US FOR COFFEE HOUR on ZOOM at NOON on SUNDAY, June 7th.
MEET PASTOR RHODEN
Rev. Carlton A. Rhoden
Westminster Presbyterian Church / Los Angeles
Rev. Carlton A. Rhoden became the Pastor/Head of Staff of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in April, of 2014. Rev. Rhoden comes with a wealth of experience, having formerly served as Senior Minister of the First Baptist of Los Angeles from 2006 until 2013. Rev. Rhoden earned a Masters of Divinity from the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley California in 2005. Upon graduation Rev. Rhoden was awarded “The J. Alfred Smith Sr. Award for Outstanding Ministry in the Black Church”. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Divinity School Summer Leadership Program class of 2005. Rev. Rhoden received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work with a minor in African American Studies from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 1999. While at Stockton, Rev. Rhoden was a member of the Men’s Basketball team, a member of Student Government, and pledged Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
He is also active in community organization, most recently with Oakland Community Organizations. He is nationally recognized for his expertise in this field and has provided advice and consulting for community organization groups from coast to coast.
Carlton is married to Nikki Thomas-Rhoden. Nikki holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. They have two children, CJ and Maya. Nikki is a Social Worker who has a great concern for children in need. She is a graduate of Richard Stockton College of N.J. (B.A.), and a Master’s of Public Administration from Cal State Hayward. She is currently employed at Penny Lane Centers as a Site Director of Wrap Around. She is devoted to her family and the ministry of Westminster Presbyterian Church Los Angeles. Most importantly she is the best wife and mother a man and his children (Maya and C.J.) can have.
WOOW !!!! DYNAMIC
Pastor,
In the list of courageous civil right leaders in my personal life, you now stand amongst that group.
Your letter was real and heartfelt, and delivered in that same real and heartfelt manner. Just as
we see Christ speaking, his words bit at apprpriate times, but the love and concern for their souls
was key. So I heard in you. Thank you for “telling it like it is” in love. My prayer is …and I believe
it will beanswered, is that your message will be received in the same Light.
Pastor Thank you for restoring my confidence that words in the midst of crisis, can matter. Your message has the power to force the listener to recognize that they are active participants on one side or the other. There is no neutral ground. Your prophet role along with pastor and preacher is anointed. I continue to thank God for you.
Thank you for the challenge put out there to fellow clergy in a Matthew 25:45 way. WE ARE in constant times of the “least of these” which we represent in America. Powerful, daring message!
Rev. Rhoden, I hear you and I felt your pain. I’m praying for a better America!