VIRTUAL WORSHIP AT WPC
Westminster Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles invites you to experience Virtual Sunday Worship. Please join us as we extend our Sunday Worship in a new way online. Scroll the page to participate in Virtual Sunday Worship today.
WELCOME
Opening Prayer:
Merciful God, there is no peace like the peace you give, for your gift of peace is the gift of yourself. Come, Lord Jesus. Come, Prince of Peace. Wrap us in your embrace, comfort us in our fear and sorrow, grant us courage and faith to trust you in every circumstance. May we abide in you that we might experience the peace that passes all our understanding. It is because we trust in your faithful promise to be ever with us that we are bold to ask this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Opening Praise:
“For Every Mountain” – Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers
“My God is Awesome” – Charles Jenkins
CHURCH NEWS & GIVING
Church News & Announcements:
Please continue to stay at home and stay safe.
“Stay-at-Home” Thursday Bible Studay:
Join Pastor Rhoden for our at home bible study Thursday’s at 12:30. Simply copy the link. Please understand that you will be on camera so use these helpful tips so that we can all have a good experience.
Tips for a Good Zoom Gathering:
- Click the Zoom link early to familiarize yourself with the controls and iron out any kinks. The default setting for when you join the gathering is for your video to be on and your audio muted. You can change these settings once you’ve joined the meeting.
- Take care to mute yourself when you are not speaking. This cuts down on feedback and background noise. The hosts have the power to mute and will use it from time to time when appropriate. Also, be sure to unmute yourself when you speak
- Use the chat feature to ask questions. This cuts down on interruptions and helps the flow of the meeting.
- Take note of the multiple ways you can switch screen views. You can choose between a “brady bunch” view of many people on your screen or a “presenter” view of the active speaker filling your screen.
Zoom is new to many of us, but together we’ll figure out some of the technology kinks and we’ll bear with one another as we get the hang of using it.
Zoom link for Thursday, Bible Study at 12:30p.m. :https://zoom.us/j/874967171?pwd=VUZONGdocEtIalplZ3lsNzZ2Tlk3dz09
Meeting ID: 874 967 171
Password: 333783
Prayers of the People:
[ezcol_1half]Oh God … we come together as a family – biological family, chosen family and collectively as the human race! We thank you for every single blessing that we have. Nothing we have (homes, food, health, freedom, ability to travel the world, etc) do we have on our own. You created us… you created the world around us … you have designed us that we can do and make choices (good and not so good) that allow us to experience the adventure of life. So we thank you.
We admit that we don’t always get it right. We don’t always say and do right by others, we don’t forgive others, we don’t love perfectly. In our own way we are trying, but acknowledge we don’t always get it right. We admit our shortcomings and because we acknowledge your power and sovereignty as creator, we humbly submit that truth and we will do better!
We ask, oh God, in this time of uncertainty, that you hear our requests and honor our earnest call. We ask for healing for those already impacted by the virus, we ask for comfort and peace for those whose loved ones have died as a result of the virus, we ask for protection, wisdom, and a supernatural fortified strength in the days ahead for healthcare workers and all caring for those who are ill, we ask for wisdom and clarity of mind and conversion (from any self-serving ways) for our government and global leaders so they keep the well being of the people they serve at the forefront of their minds as the make decisions.
[/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end] We ask that you touch the hearts of all of us so that fear diminishes and that love and patience and faith sustains us. We ask you to help us find new ways to love and appreciate one another as that’s how we will get through the days ahead. We ask for protection over those who live alone and for seniors who need help. We ask that you cover our biological family and our extended family and the entire human race… protect us from the ravages of the virus … help us to be informed with accurate information that we can make good decisions for our families. And we ask for an abundance of laughter and fun and memory making moments. Help us to continue to remain physically distant but socially connected and to find ways to help those in need during this challenging time as we are all in this
Lastly we pray healing over the entire earth… may we embrace the rest that is essential to our individual and collective healing and well being… not just our own but the healing and well-being of all of creation that you entrusted to us and for which you gave us responsibility. May we move forward in grace, justice, peace, faith, hope and love towards all!
In Jesus’ name Amen!
Prayer by Anja Williams
[/ezcol_1half_end]
Offering Song:
“Hallelujah!” – Soulful Messiah
Tithes and offerings:
Offertory Prayer:
Great and wondrous God, on this festive and joyous day, we bring gifts. As we celebrate with Jesus his great entrance into Jerusalem, please help us to remember his great and costly sacrifice. May we return his most generous love for us with our gifts of love, talents, time, finances, devotion and our service to all the world.
Amen.
SERMON MESSAGE
Sermonic Song:
“It Is Well With My Soul” – Wintley Phipps [Live]
Sermon:
~ Matthew 21:1-11 ~
“Hosanna”
By Rev. Carlton Rhoden
SCRIPTURE READING
PASTOR RHODEN’S SERMON
CLOSING SONG
“The Battle is Not Yours” – Yolanda Adams (Lyrics)
Closing Prayer:
And so it begins, we walk through this week
From palms now to passion, it’s Jesus we seek.
Each moment we walk through these days now with Jesus,
Is time to see people, the way Jesus … sees us.
To watch for the ones, who need hope, who need kindness.
Seeking the light, not the darkness that blinds us.
As you walk through these days, may the love you now know
Be spread to each person you meet on the go.
And may God who now blesses and keeps you in love
Whose face shines upon you with grace from above
Who looks on you with such joy and such favor,
This God, three in One gives you peace — life to savor.
Amen.
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.
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2230 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018.
We hope you enjoyed Virtual Sunday Worship.
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