Alex's Weblog

THE PROPETIC LESSON Joel 2:21-27

THE GOSPEL LESSON Mathew 6:25-33

SERMON "Living Without Regret"

WORSHIP NOTES

In today's worship we celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday. The music and liturgy revolve around this most important of human activities -- giving thanks for the many gifts we receive from God. Our central text is taken from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount where he encourages his followers to live free from anxiety and worry.

As part of our response to God's gracious Word, you are encouraged to come forward and present yourself and your gifts of offerings, pledges, and groceries.

THE GOSPEL LESSON Mark 12:38-44

THE HEBREW SCRIPTURE Ruth 3:1-5,4:13-17

SERMON "The Story of Ruth"

WORSHIP NOTES

As is our tradition here at Westminster, we observe the second Sunday of November as Stewardship Sunday where we commit our time, talents, and treasures in service to God's kingdom.

Our worship today centers on the story of Ruth as an illustration of stewardship, faithfulness and God's constant care for us in the midst of our lives. We begin with words from 1 Corinthians reminding us of the source of all our gifts. We read from the gospel of Mark the story of the widow's mite as well as a portion of the book of Ruth. The Affirmation of Faith is taken from a section of the Confession of 1967 emphasizing our relationship to Creation and our Creator.

THE EPISTLE LESSON Hebrews 12:1-3

THE GOSPEL LESSON John 11:32-44

SERMON "Unbound"

WORSHIP NOTES

Welcome to worship at Westminster on this All Saints Sunday. The first Sunday in November is reserved for our remembrance and celebration of those who have gone from our lives and who have join the communion of saints with our Lord God in heaven.

The focus of this service is not on the experience of death and loss, but rather on the celebration of life and the witness to the resurrection. Those "saints" whom we remember by name in worship today are individuals from this congregation who have died since last All Saints Sunday in November 2011. As the name of each person is read aloud, a bell is tolled, and a family member or designee take light from the Christ Candle to light another candle, which is a visible reminder of the presence of the deceased who gather with us at the table for the communion of the saints. As we worship, we recall the ways in which we, like these individuals, live out our response to God's call upon our lives within this community and in mission to Christ's church and the wider world.

Communion today will be received by intinction. After coming forward to receive the elements, you may wish to step behind the communion table to light a candle in celebration of the memory of someone from your life who is now among the communion of saints.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, October 28, 2012

MP3 Download (5.97 MB)

RealAudio Download (3.51 MB)

THE WISDOM LESSON Job 42:1-6, 10-17

THE GOSPEL LESSON Mark 10:46-52

SERMON "Yelling for Mercy"

WORSHIP NOTES

Today we celebrate Reformation Sunday. It is a time when we reclaim our heritage and draw upon its strengths for our contemporary witness. Reformation Sunday is the last Sunday in October because that Sunday is the one closest to October 31, when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg. That dramatic event marked the beginning of a movement of reformation in the churches and set forth a spirit of reform that is at the heart of the gospel. Reformation Sunday is an important time for us to reclaim the great motto of the Reformation, Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda ("a church reformed and always being reformed") for the challenges of our life and witness today.

In our worship we are using a number of liturgical elements from Reformed churches around the world. The Prayer of Adoration and Prayer of Confession come from the Reformed Church in Germany while the Affirmation of Faith comes from South Africa.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, October 21, 2012

MP3 Download (6.73 MB)

RealAudio Download (3.96 MB)

THE GOSPEL SCRIPTURES Mark 10:35-45

THE EPISTLE LESSON Hebrews 5:1-10

SERMON "To be One"

WORSHIP NOTES

Our worship this morning revolves around the letter titled Hebrews. Most scholars believe this letter was written sometime in the second century and was directed at Jewish Christians who sought to understand themselves in light of Christ. Much of our liturgy is taken from this letter and the central text is from the fifth chapter of Hebrews. Our text wrestles with the role and nature of Jesus in atonement and salvation. There is a paradoxical use of language such as weakness, suffering, and obedience to describe perfection and salvation. This morning we welcome new members who have committed themselves to serve God in this world through our community. In recognizing these new members we remember our promises in baptism to serve them and their promises to serve Christ in the world.

This is the lesson and sermon from Sunday, October 14, 2012

MP3 Download (6.11 MB)

RealAudio Download (3.60 MB)

THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES Job 23:1-9,16-17

THE EPISTLE LESSON Hebrews 4:12-16

SERMON "A Living and Active Word"

Our worship this morning revolves around the letter titled Hebrews. Most scholars believe this letter was written sometime in the second century and was directed at Jewish Christians who sought to understand themselves in light of Christ. Much of our liturgy is taken from this letter and the central text is from the fourth chapter of Hebrews. The author of Hebrews reminds this early Christian community of how God's word is alive and active in our lives. In our Affirmation of Faith we are using portions of the Confession of 1967 to assert the importance of the word of God to our lives and faith.

THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES Job 1:1, 2:1-10

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12

SERMON "God's Family"

World Communion Sunday (originally called World Wide Communion Sunday) originated in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 1936, for the first time, the first Sunday in October was celebrated in Presbyterian churches in the United States and overseas. From the beginning, it was planned so that other denominations could make use of it and, after a few years, the idea spread beyond the Presbyterian Church. Today, thousands of churches all over the world are celebrating at the Lord's Table. This day is also when we collect the Peacemaking Offering intended to create and sustain peacemaking efforts both internationally and locally.

We will be taking communion by intinction this morning. Fostering a sense of the spirit of communion and community, you will remain seated as the bread and the cup are brought to the end of each aisle. You will be handed the bread first, and then you pass it on. Then you will dip the bread in the cup as it is held by your other neighbor. In the Presbyterian church we have an open table which means everyone is welcome to take communion no matter there denomination or creed.

The hymn "The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing" 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, September 30, 2012

MP3 Download (5.22 MB)

RealAudio Download (3.07 MB)

THE GOSPEL LESSON Mark 9:38-50

THE EPISTLE LESSON James 5:13-20

SERMON "Healing Each Other"

WORSHIP NOTES

The focus this morning centers on the words of James speaking to the community in need of healing and wholeness. Our tradition associates this letter with James, the brother of Jesus, who would have written in the first century. The letter is considered a form of wisdom writing especially directed at the early church community as they struggle to live out their faith. It is a moral exhortation addressing an intentional community with egalitarian and communitarian attitudes of solidarity, mercy, and compassion. Our particular passage this morning is concerned with the importance of prayer for each other as we all need healing in some form or another.

In response to God's word proclaimed, we will be incorporating an opportunity to pray for healing and wholeness. This service, which has long been a part of the Book of Common Worship, encourages each of us to experience healing by asking another person to pray with and for us. While the congregation sings familiar and beloved hymns of prayer, you are invited to come forward, articulate your need for healing and wholeness to just two other people (a pastor and elder/deacon), and receive the gift of God's grace as experienced through prayers offered on your behalf by others. This prayer may be for oneself, a loved one, or even a need in the world. Unlike when we share our joys and concerns aloud in the Prayers of the People on Sunday morning, the prayer is not shared with the whole community. The idea is for the worship community to show its support through its graceful presence and personal prayers.

The hymns "I Will Come to You," "Hear My Prayer, O God," and "Give Thanks to God Who Hears Our Cries" and are selections 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, September 23, 2012

MP3 Download (6.66 MB)

RealAudio Download (3.92 MB)

THE GOSPEL LESSON Mark 9:30-37

THE EPISTLE LESSON James 3:13-4:3

SERMON "True Wisdom"

WORSHIP NOYES

The focus this morning revolves around a number of verses from the third and fourth chapter of James. The tradition associates this letter with James, the brother of Jesus, who would have written in the first century. The letter is considered a form of wisdom writing especially directed at the early church community as they struggle to live out their faith. It is a moral exhortation addressing an intentional community with egalitarian and communitarian attitudes of solidarity, mercy, and compassion. Our particular passage this morning is concerned with the true wisdom that comes from above - a wisdom rooted in "deeds done in humility."

The choral prayer response "Hear My Prayer, O God," 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.