This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, May 30, 2010. Delivered by Alex Thornburg.
May 2010 Archives
THE FIRST LESSON John 16:12-15
THE SECOND LESSON Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
SERMON "Wisdom and Delight"
Worship Notes
Today is the first Sunday after Pentecost, which is also called Trinity Sunday. On Trinity Sunday, we celebrate the mystical experience of God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In the Presbyterian tradition, Trinity Sunday is the only date on which a particular doctrine is celebrated. As a visible symbol of the presence of the Holy Spirit, which we observe throughout the Pentecost season, the red cloth remains in the cross and on the communion table.
The music through which we worship today was chosen either specifically illumine the doctrine of the Trinity or is demonstrative of the number three. For example, the prelude is a setting of trio sonata composed by German organist J.S. Bach (1685-1750). In a trio sonata, three equal voices or melodies are played simultaneously (played by the left hand, right hand, and feet) throughout the piece. In this sense, a trio sonata can be considered a metaphor for the Trinity. The traditional Acclamation Hymn, or "Gloria Patri," is itself an expression of praise to God in each of the Trinitarian forms.
The choir's anthem, "God to Enfold Me," expresses the constant presence of God in our lives. This setting, particularly appropriate for Trinity Sunday, was composed in 2001 by Keith Smeltzer, a Seattle-based composer, teacher, and friend of Joe Chrisman. As we also consider the nature of wisdom, described in the Proverbs passage, we respond with a hymn that speaks to the "immortal, invisible" nature of our wise and loving God.
Our prayer response hymn this morning was written in 1972 by Jimmy Owens. Owens is a jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, teacher, and clinician who has played with Jazz legends such as Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Lionel Hampton. In this hymn, Owens sets a particular expression of praise for God as Father, Son, and Spirit.
As the service ends, we carry that love with us out into the world as we depart singing the beloved hymn of the trinity, "Holy, Holy, Holy." The postlude is a setting of variations on this hymn.
This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, May 23, 2010. Delivered by Kathleen Cook Owens.
THE FIRST LESSON Acts 1:1-11
THE SECOND LESSON Luke 24:44-53
SERMON "Resurrection Life: Being Witnesses and Blessings"
Worship Notes
Welcome to worship at Westminster on this Seventh Sunday of Easter, also called Ascension Sunday, in which we celebrate the ascension of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ascension Day actually occurs 40 days after Easter (May 13). However, like Westminster, other reformed congregations choose to observe ascension on the Sunday which follows Ascension Day, which is also the last Sunday in the liturgical season of Eastertide. Next Sunday (May 23) we begin the season Pentecost. The liturgical color for Eastertide is white.
On Ascension Sunday, we reflect on the beliefs we profess in the Nicene Creed and the Apostle's Creed, that Jesus not only rose again from the dead, but also "ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty." The music and liturgy through which we worship today is chosen to express this belief in the supremacy and sovereignty of Christ. Many of the hymns used in worship this morning use language that associates Christ as "king." For example, our gathering hymn proclaims that we "crown [Christ] Lord of all," while through the text of the sending hymn "crown him with many crowns." These references to Christ as King help remind us that Christ was both fully human and fully God
The central text for this morning is Luke's account of the ascension; both in Acts and the gospel. Our liturgy reflects his call to be messengers of the good news of God's love and forgiveness in the world and to all nations.
This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, May 9, 2010.
THE FIRST LESSON Acts 16:9-15
THE SECOND LESSON John 14:23-29
SERMON "Resurrection Life: The Peace of Making Our Home with God"
Worship Notes
Welcome to worship at Westminster on this Sixth Sunday of Easter in which we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The liturgical season of Eastertide continues for seven Sundays and concludes with our observance of Ascension Sunday (next Sunday May 16) before the season of Pentecost begins on May 23. The liturgical color for Eastertide is white.
In worship today, we reflect on what it means to live in God's word as a resurrection people. The music through which we worship today is chosen to reflect the centrality of God's word to our faith, our worship, and our lives as Christians. The choir anthem is by English organist and composer, Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924). A professor at both the University of Cambridge and the Royal College of Music, Stanford is perhaps most widely known for his influence on the subsequent generation of English musicians and composers. Stanford's students included Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Ireland, and Herbert Howells. In this anthem, Stanford demonstrates his skill at subtlety in composition as he creates an overwhelming sense of serenity and peace, which well illustrates the blessings found by following the "law" of the Lord.
The postlude is a passacaglia by G.F. Handel (1685-1759). The passacaglia form originated in Spain in the 17th Century and is characterized by a repeated melody that occurs most often in the bass part. Atop this repeated bass, the composer elaborates a series of variations or flourishes in the upper voices. This postlude was chosen today to illustrate musically the strong foundation of God's word (the bass part) upon which we are challenged to build our lives as Christians.
This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, May 2, 2010.
