January 2011 Archives

GOSPEL READING Matthew 5:1-12

EPISTLE READING 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

SERMON "Called to Foolishness: Being Fools for Christ"

Worship Notes

Welcome to Worship at Westminster on this the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany. Like Westminster, many reformed congregations began to observe a season of Epiphany on January 2 and continue the Epiphany season 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.

In worship today, and throughout the Epiphany season, we will reflect on what it means to be called by God. The scriptural basis for our consideration of God's call on our lives is the text of 1 Corinthians. In today's passage, we recognize the wisdom of God and consider what it means to be "foolish" for the cross of Christ.

The music through which we worship today is chosen to illumine the wisdom of God and emphasize our humility. Our opening hymn, "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" sings of God whose ways are not always known to us, but whose wisdom is infinite. Our closing hymn today is "God of Grace, God of Glory," which is based on the Welsh tune CWM Rhondda, and through its text we pray that God might grant us wisdom and courage for the facing of every task set before us.

We affirm our faith today through the text of the Belhar Confession, which was written in 1982 and first adopted as a statement of faith by the Dutch Reformed Mission Church in South Africa in 1986. In 2010, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, USA (PCUSA) voted to incorporate this confession, which expresses unity as both a gift and an obligation of the church, into its Book of Confessions and has asked each presbytery to cast an affirmative or negative vote by June 2011. A comprehensive study resource about the Belhar Confession is available at www.pcusa.org/get/resources/resource/1843.

GOSPEL READING Matthew 4:12-23

EPISTLE READING 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

SERMON "Called to Proclamation"

Worship Notes

Welcome to Worship at Westminster on this the Third Sunday after Epiphany. Like Westminster, many reformed congregations began to observe a season of Epiphany on January 2 and continue the Epiphany season 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.

In worship today, and throughout the Epiphany season, we will reflect on what it means to be called by God. The scriptural basis for our consideration of God's call on our lives is the text of 1 Corinthians. In today's passage, we consider what it means to be called to proclaim our Christianity and the story of our faith to the world.

The music through which we worship today is chosen to proclaim the story of our faith. In response to God's word proclaimed, we sing the great gospel hymn, "Blessed Assurance." Through this text, we proclaim, "This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long!" Our closing hymn today is a missional hymn of proclamation, "We've a Story to Tell to the Nations."

THE PROPHETIC LESSON Isaiah 42:1-9

THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 3:13-17

SERMON "Baptized in Water, Sealed by the Spirit"

Worship Notes

Welcome to Worship at Westminster on this the Second Sunday after Epiphany, which is also called "Baptism of the Lord" Sunday in the liturgical calendar. Like Westminster, many reformed congregations began to observe a season of Epiphany on January 2 and continue the Epiphany season 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.

The flow of our worship experience today begins with reflection on John's baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan, moves next to our annual reaffirmation of our own baptismal vows, and concludes with the act of ordination and installation of church officers. This movement reflects God's acts through Holy Spirit, which calls us all to ministries of grace and unites us in one baptism through God's name.

The music through which we worship today is chosen to reaffirm those baptismal covenants and give voice to God's call upon our lives. During the act of Reaffirmation of Baptism, you will be invited to come forward down the center aisle, place your hand in the font, and withdraw a stone, which will serve as a visible symbol and reminder of your baptism throughout the coming year.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, January 2, 2011

MP3 Download (5.82 MB)