This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, July 31, 2011
July 2011 Archives
FIRST LESSON Matthew 14:13-21
THE SECOND LESSON Genesis 32:22-31
SERMON "The Blessing of Wrestling"
WORSHIP NOTES
Welcome to worship at Westminster on this, the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. At Westminster, we observe this liturgical season by measuring time after Pentecost. The Pentecost season began 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 passage, we read of Jacob's experience wrestling with God and consider what it means for us to wrestle with the questions of our faith. The music through which we worship today is chosen to express our faithfulness and perseverance in the face of that which is unknown, unexplained, unresolved, and unanswered.
The gathering hymn, "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise," expresses praise to God whom we cannot see, but that we know is ever present with us. The response hymn, "Christ of the Upward Way," reflects our prayer that we might have the faith necessary to respond to God's grace by following closely in the path of Christ. Finally, our sending hymn, "Fight the Good Fight" speaks of what it means to persevere as persons of faith.
The postlude this morning is the final movement of an organ suite by French composer, Leon Boellmann (1862-1897). During his short professional life, Boellmann was a teacher, composer, performer, and student of famed organist Eugene Gigout. As one listens to the development of this toccata, one can imagine the wrestling between Jacob (in the higher pitches) and God (in the lower pedal notes). As in today's scripture passage from Genesis, this musical struggle does not resolve as much as it simply ends with a blessing, which is represented by a final chord in a major key.
This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, July 24, 2011
THE FIRST LESSON Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
THE SECOND LESSON Genesis 29:15-28
SERMON "The Kingdom Swindle: God's Con Men"
WORSHIP NOTES
Welcome to worship at Westminster on this, the Sixth 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. The music through which we worship today is chosen to express our faithfulness in the midst of the unexpected and God's gift of courage to persevere. We are led in worship today by a choir of participants formed for just today's "Summer Sing Sunday."
Today we also commission nine members of our congregation for the Youth Mission Trip. This group will be traveling to the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota July 31-August 5. While in South Dakota, they will serve in ministry by helping with home projects (painting, yard work) and directing an afternoon program for children. The participants will also have opportunities to learn more about the community they are serving by seeing a dance troupe perform, going hiking on the reservation, and other educational opportunities. Please keep our mission trip participants in your prayers as they prepare to go and are on their journey. These participants are; Henry Johnson, Hannah Kwiatkowski, Phibi Miller, Bekah Smith, Evangeline Smith, Emma Thornburg, Aileen Zebrowski, Sandy Curran, and Alex Thornburg.
THE FIRST LESSON Isaiah 41:7-20
THE SECOND LESSON John 4:31-42
SERMON "First Impressions"
Do you not say, 'Four months more, then comes the harvest?'
But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. John 4:35
WORSHIP NOTES
Welcome to worship at Westminster on this, the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. At Westminster, we observe this liturgical season by measuring time after Pentecost. The Pentecost season began 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. In worship today, we reflect on first impressions and discover again how Jesus loved people just as they are and calls us to do the same.
We extend a warm Westminster welcome to guest preacher Scott D. Anderson. In addition to serving as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, Scott also currently serves Westminster as the coach of our Missional Transformation Team. Scott's work in Wisconsin is focused on strengthening the public policy witness of the Council and initiating a new area of ministry focused on equipping congregations to engage the mission field that is now at their doorstep. A member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Scott also currently chairs the General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Concerns for the Presbyterian Church (USA). Scott and his life partner of 20 years, Ian MacAllister, live in Madison. Scott is currently seeking to be re-ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament under constitutional changes recently adopted by the Presbyterian Church (USA).
We also extend a warm Westminster welcome to guest violist, Becky May. Becky earned her masters in viola performance from the University of Michigan. Active as a string instructor in Madison, Becky often performs as a soloist and collaborative player in the greater Madison area. Becky and her family attend Covenant Presbyterian Church. In worship today, Becky shares music by English violist, organist, and composer William Flackton (1709-1798).
This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, July 10, 2011
THE FIRST LESSON Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
THE SECOND LESSON Genesis 25:19-34
SERMON "What Do We Expect?"
WORSHIP NOTES
Isaac prayed to the Lord...
and the Lord granted his prayer...
Genesis 25:21
Welcome to worship at Westminster on this, the Fourth 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 discover how God remains faithful to us in unexpected and surprising ways. The music through which we worship today is chosen to illustrate God's faithfulness in the midst of the unexpected and inspire our own witness to God as a sign of our faithfulness.
Our gathering hymn, "Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above," proclaims the constancy of God's presence with us and care for us. The sung prayer for illumination today is "Open My Eyes," which articulates our desire to see and recognize God's work in us and through us. The response hymn, "Be Thou My Vision," is a particularly poignant prayer to keep focus on God and God's grace. As our worship ends, and our service out in the wider world begins, we sing "Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak," which connects our desire to look, listen, and be used by God in meaningful, purposeful, and faithful ways.
This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, July 3, 2011
