June 2011 Archives

THE FIRST LESSON Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

THE SECOND LESSON Genesis 24:34-38, 58-67

SERMON "Hesed"

WORSHIP NOTES

Welcome to worship at Westminster on this, the Third Sunday after Pentecost. At Westminster , we observe this liturgical season by measuring time after Pentecost. The Pentecost season began on June 12 and will continue until Rally Day in September, when Westminster will observe the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. The liturgical color for this season is red.

Throughout the Pentecost season, the lectionary passages read in worship will include some familiar Bible stories from the Old Testament. In today's scripture passage from Genesis, we read of God's faithfulness to us in all things. The music through which we worship today is chosen to illustrate God's faithfulness to us and inspire our own witness to God as a sign of our faithfulness.

At the heart of our worship today is the story of a servant who goes to find a wife for his Master's son Isaac. It may seem a simple enough story yet in this narrative, we catch a glimpse of how God works in and through our lives. God is always faithful! We open with the psalm of the day ascribing praise to God for the compassion and mercy we experience each and everyday. The opening hymn reminds us of this faithfulness as we sing "God of our life, through all the circling years, We trust in Thee; In all the past, through all our hopes and fears, Thy hand we see." In the final hymn we are reminded that wherever we may wander, wherever we may be, we are certain of God's loving care.

This morning we will be partaking in communion through intinction. You are invited to come forward and take a piece of bread and dip it into the cup. If you are unable to come forward, one of the Pastors will come to you with bread and cup. In the Presbyterian Church, all who desire God's grace are invited to share in this feast of God's love and be transformed for our ministry and mission in the world.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, June 26, 2011

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THE FIRST LESSON Matthew 10:40-42

THE SECOND LESSON Genesis 22:1-14

SERMON "Irrational Stories"

WORSHIP NOTES

Welcome to worship at Westminster on this, the Second Sunday after Pentecost. At Westminster, we observe this liturgical season by measuring time after Pentecost. The Pentecost season began on June 12 and will continue until Rally Day in September, when Westminster will observe the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. The liturgical color for this season is red.

Throughout the Pentecost season, the lectionary passages read in worship will include some familiar Bible stories from the Old Testament. In today's scripture passage from Genesis, we read God's call for Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as sign of his faithfulness. The music through which we worship today is chosen to amplify the spirit of Abraham's trust in God as a model for our own faithfulness. This music also reminds us that all that we are, and all that we have, are gifts from God.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, June 19, 2011

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THE FIRST LESSON Matthew 28:16-20

THE SECOND LESSON Genesis 1:1-2:4

SERMON "God's Storytelling"

WORSHIP NOTES

Today is the first Sunday after Pentecost, which is also called Trinity Sunday. At Westminster, we observe this liturgical season by measuring time after Pentecost. The Pentecost season began last Sunday (June 12) and will continue until Rally Day in September, when Westminster will observe the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. Throughout the Pentecost season, the lectionary passages read in worship will include some familiar Bible stories from the Old Testament.

On this Trinity Sunday, today 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.

Much of 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 Acclamation Hymn, or "Gloria Patri," is itself an expression of praise to God in each of the Trinitarian forms. Similarly, the benediction response hymn is a "threefold amen."

The offertory is a setting of Psalm 8, which is the Psalm of the day also used in the Call to Worship. This setting is composed by Westminster's own Priscilla White. 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.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, June 12, 2011

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THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Acts 2:5-13

SERMON "The Ghost of Pentecost Past"

Worship Notes

Welcome to worship at Westminster on Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is so named because it is observed 50 days after Easter Sunday. Pentecost is often described as the "birthday of the church" and celebrates God's gift of the Holy Spirit. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red and common liturgical symbols for Pentecost include the flame, the dove, and the wind. The liturgical season of Pentecost is observed at Westminster until the Ordinary season begins on Rally Day in September.

As today we reflect on the roots of the church and the work of the Holy Spirit among us, we do so in two particularly celebratory ways. First, in keeping with the reformed Presbyterian tradition that all aspects of our church's life are outgrowths of worship, this entire worship service also functions as a congregational meeting in which we lift up the life and ministry of Westminster's former pastor, Vern Forsberg and, in consultation with the Committee on Ministry of the John Knox Presbytery, take action to bestow upon him the title of Pastor Emeritus. Although Pastor Forsberg retains ordination for life as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament, his designation as a Pastor Emeritus is honorary and, therefore, creates no pastoral authority or duty with respect to this congregation.

Second, as the worships service ends, we move to Fellowship Hall where we will convene a "Celebration of the Past" in which we share remembrances of the ways in which God has worked through and among us as Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The music through which we worship God this morning expresses our connection to God, both individually and communally, through the Holy Spirit. The offertory anthem is an African American Spiritual by Moses Hogan (1957-2003). This piece was commissioned by and composed in 2002 especially for the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Concert Choir

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, June 5, 2011

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THE PSALM READING Psalm 139:1-18

THE FIRST LESSON Luke 24:44-53

THE SECOND LESSON Ephesians 1:15-23

SERMON "The Hope to Which We Are Called"

Worship Notes

Welcome to worship at Westminster! Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, the final week in the Easter season. Over the last six weeks we have heard stories of Jesus' resurrection and his resurrection appearances. As we heard these stories of resurrection we reflected in worship on how we encounter and recognize the risen Christ in our midst. Today, we hear about the last of Christ's resurrection appearances until he comes again, when he blesses his disciples and then ascends into heaven. This is our opportunity to recognize the presence of Christ in a new form, risen and ascended who dwells fully with God. Next Sunday, June 12, we will celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church.

In this final week of the Easter season we will also recognize three new members in our congregation. Our confirmation class will be joining the church as adult members today. In the Presbyterian tradition, we baptize children as infants, with promises given by their parents and the congregations that baptize them to raise the children to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. Today, we will ask Phibi Miller, Bekah Smith, and Emma Thornburg to confirm their baptism by claiming Christ as their Lord and Savior for themselves. In preparation for confirmation these three young women have taken part in a nine-month course of Bible study and education about the church and theology. Today as we recognize Christ's ascension and the ongoing journey of all his disciples, we invite these young women to step forward and profess their own faith in the resurrected Christ. It is a time for all of us to reflect on how we continue to live out our commitment as Christ's disciples and to recognize the resurrected Christ in the world around us.

As part of the confirmation journey and education about worship, the confirmation students assisted in putting together this worship service and will assist in the worship leadership. The Psalm reading is a text that was central to our fall retreat and is a favorite text for all three women. The hymn "Here I Am, Lord" is one that they felt spoke to their confirmation journey and this opportunity to claim their faith as their own. The Affirmation of Faith is a combined statement written by the students drawing from their individual Statements of Faith. The first acts of these new members will be leading the congregation in the prayers of the people and serving communion. There will be a reception following worship to celebrate our new members.