May 2012 Archives

TRINITY SUNDAY

THE PSALM LESSON Psalm 29

THE GOSPEL LESSON John 3:1-17

SERMON "The Missional Trinity: Being Sent"

John 3:17

WORSHIP NOTES

Today is Trinity Sunday reminding us of the mystery of God in three persons yet one. Our central text is the famous passage from John 3 involving a conversation between Jesus and a Jewish leader named Nicodemus. We will be focusing this morning on the Missional nature of the Trinity and the nature of being sent out into the world. We also will be recognizing and sending our High School graduates who begin a new phase of their lives.

We will be taking communion by intinction this morning where you are invited to come forward to take a piece of bread and dip it into the cup. In this way we emphasize our sense of community and commitment as we approach the table. In the Presbyterian Church, we affirm an open table where all are welcome who feel called by God's Spirit.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, May 27, 2012

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THE PROPHETIC LESSON Ezekiel 37:1-14

SERMON "Living Fire"

WORSHIP NOTES

We celebrate the Day of Pentecost this Sunday marking the gift of the Holy Spirit to the disciples and the birth of the church. We begin our worship hearing the familiar story of that day through a reading of the Acts of the Apostles. Our Call to Worship is taken from our central text this morning, Ezekiel 37. In this vision of a prophet, we have the intriguing image of dry bones brought to life through God's Spirit. The Hebrew word for Spirit is Ruach also meaning breath and wind. The Litany for Pentecost reminds us that this Ruach has been present since creation and continues among us as disciples.

We will be taking communion by intinction this morning where you are invited to come forward to take a piece of bread and dip it into the cup. In this way we emphasize our sense of community and commitment as we approach the table. In the Presbyterian Church, we affirm an open table where all are welcome who feel called by God's Spirit.

The hymn "As the Wind Song," which we sing as a response to prayer, is a selection from the new denominational hymnal of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The new hymnal, which will be called Glory to God, has been in development since 2004 and is expected to be finalized for publication in fall 2013. As part of a program called "Many Voices, One Song," Westminster will use specific hymns from Glory to God in our worship services on selected dates throughout 2012.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, May 20, 2012

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This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, May 13, 2012

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THE FIRST LESSON 1 John 5:1-6

THE SECOND LESSON John 15:9-17

SERMON "Jesus' Facebook"

WORSHIP NOTES

This is the sixth Sunday of the Easter season and we focus on some of the final instructions Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper. The gospel of John, the last of the four canonical gospels, has a number of sections in which Jesus gives talks to his disciples. The farewell discourse we read from today began in Chapter 13 with Jesus washing the disciples feet and ends with Jesus praying for the disciples in Chapter 17. Our particular text emphasizes the nature of the relationship between Jesus, God, and the disciples as characterized by love. There is a provocative assertion by Jesus that we are more than simple servants but in fact, are intimate friends with him.

We open our worship with words of greeting and a Call to Worship incorporating the Psalm for the Day (Psalm 98). In celebrating the resurrection in Easter, we will not be focusing on confessional elements in our worship but instead using an Easter litany. The Affirmation of Faith is taken from a portion of The Brief Statement of Faith, a confession highlighting the shared beliefs of all Presbyterians.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, May 6, 2012

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THE FIRST LESSON 1 John 4:7-21

THE SECOND LESSON John 15:1-8

SERMON "The Human Connection"

WORSHIP NOTES

Our worship on this the fifth Sunday of the Easter season focuses on the metaphorical text from the gospel of John where Jesus calls himself the vine and his disciples the branches. Part of this text is reflected in the Call to Worship. We continue to open with the ancient words of greeting in the church announcing the truth of resurrection as well as using an Easter Litany rather than our normal Prayer of Confession. For this season we have moved our welcome and announcements to follow the Passing of the Peace.

We begin by processing in with the Easter hymn, "Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna". The hymn following the sermon we will sing "Abide in Me, The Master Said; the true and living vine; my life shall be, the master said, poured out for you as wine." Following the Lord's supper we sing the communion hymn "Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ", reminding ourselves of bearing fruit in a world of doubt.

We will be communion this morning sitting in the pews reflecting the personal nature of today's text call to remain in Christ. In the Presbyterian church, we understand the Lord's Table to be open to all who seek to follow Jesus.