December 2010 Archives

THE PROPHETIC LESSON Isaiah 60:1-6

THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 2:1-12

SERMON "Transformation as Pilgrimage"

Worship Notes

Today is Epiphany Sunday, a day set aside for celebrating the "shining forth" or revelation of God to humankind in the person of Jesus Christ. Both Eastern and Western churches observe Epiphany, however the specific date of the celebration varies with each tradition. In the Western church, Epiphany is observed twelve days after Christmas (January 6). Like Westminster, many reformed congregations choose to observe Epiphany on the first Sunday following the first Saturday in January and continue to observe a liturgical season of Epiphany until Transfiguration Sunday (March 6), which is the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday (March 9) and the start of the Lenten season. Because Easter is observed later in 2011 (April 24), the Epiphany season is a longer liturgical season than it has been in recent years. The liturgical color for the season of Epiphany is white.

"Light" is the common liturgical symbol for Epiphany. In worship today, we read in scripture of the appearance of the light of Christ in the form of the Christmas star, which is illustrated beautifully on the bulletin cover and which led the three wise men to Bethlehem. During our processional hymn, we will sing together of the wise men as the choir and worship leaders follow the light of Christ, symbolized by the Christ Candle, into the sanctuary. As we sing, our own three wise men will bring forward their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

As we respond to God's Word, we will gather around the Lord's Table to share in the sacrament of Holy Communion, which is open to all who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Communion today will be received by intinction. The music during the time of communion is a setting of the carol "O Morning Star, So Fair and Bright," the text of which appears in our hymnal. As our worship concludes, we depart to go tell it on the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere that Jesus Christ is born.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, December 26, 2010.

MP3 Download (5.92 MB)

This is the lesson and sermon from Christmas Eve, December 24, 2010.

MP3 Download (3.92 MB)

THE PROPHETIC LESSON Isaiah 35:1-10

THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 11:2-11

SERMON "Transformation of Joy: Changing the World"

Worship Notes

Welcome to worship at Westminster on this the Third Sunday of Advent. The liturgical color for Advent is blue and that color appears not only the paraments on the communion table and lectern, but also in the choir stoles and in three of the four candles in the Advent wreath.

The season of Advent is a time of anticipation, expectation, and preparation. By observing a season of Advent, we have the opportunity to reflect on just how much our world waits with eager longing for the coming of the Messiah. During Advent, our worship cultivates a sense of mystery as we "wait for the Lord" with anticipation of the coming Light. The season of Advent is always measured by the four Sundays preceding Christmas Day. Each week represents the passage of 1,000 years to total the 4,000 years believed to have elapsed between the time of Adam and Eve and the birth of Jesus Christ. We use an Advent wreath as a symbol of our progression through this season as we prepare to move from a world immersed in darkness into a world of light filled with the hope, peace, joy, and love found in Christ.

In worship today, we focus on the joy with which we wait for the Lord. The hymns and service music through which we worship today reflect this spirit of joy amidst the darkness of the world. To symbolize that we have reached the half-way point in our Advent journey from darkness to light, today we light the pink candle, which is also called the "Gaudete" or joy candle, in the Advent wreath.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, December 5, 2010.

MP3 Download (5.75 MB)

THE PROPHETIC LESSON Isaiah 11:1-10

THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 3:1-12

SERMON "The Transformation of Peace: Letting Go"

Worship Notes

Welcome to worship at Westminster on this the Second Sunday of Advent. The liturgical color for Advent is blue and that color appears not only the paraments on the communion table and lectern, but also in the choir stoles and in three of the four candles in the Advent wreath.

The season of Advent is a time of anticipation, expectation, and preparation. By observing a season of Advent, we have the opportunity to reflect on just how much our world waits with eager longing for the coming of the Messiah. During Advent, our worship cultivates a sense of mystery as we "wait for the Lord" with anticipation of the coming Light. The season of Advent is always measured by the four Sundays preceding Christmas Day. Each week represents the passage of 1,000 years to total the 4,000 years believed to have elapsed between the time of Adam and Eve and the birth of Jesus Christ. We use an Advent wreath as a symbol of our progression through this season as we prepare to move from a world immersed in darkness into a world of light filled with the hope, peace, joy, and love found in Christ.

In worship today, we focus on the peace with which we wait for the Lord. The hymns and service music through which we worship today reflect this hope for peace. As a sign of the peace we extend to one another in Christ, we will respond to God's Word today by uniting together around the Lord's Table to participate in Holy Communion.