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Celebrate with the Westminster Child Development Center!
It's almost time to celebrate! The Westminster Child Development Center will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this year! Mark your calendars for Friday, September 27, 5-7p for the celebration! We look forward to celebrating with dinner and family-friendly activities!
Sermon: A Blessed Limp
Rev. Doug Van Doren
We welcome our guest preacher, the Rev. Doug Van Doren. Doug was pastor of Plymouth United Church of Christ for forty years, retiring in 2018. He has chaired and served on many local boards including the Grand Rapids Urban League and Planned Parenthood of West Michigan and was co-founder of Concerned Clergy of West Michigan. Doug has served regional and national settings of the United Church of Christ and chaired the committee that brought all the mission efforts of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) together under a Common Global Ministries Board. He is married to Colleen Mahon-Van Doren and have two sons, Camilo (deceased) and Aidan. Doug is also an internationally recognized sea kayaker and sea kayak instructor. Rev. Van Doren will preach on September 15, 22, and 29.
Sermon: With Intention
Rev. Jen Porter
The Word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Come, go down to the potter’s house and there I will let you hear my words.” God uses the very real things of this world to speak to us, things like bread and water and light. This week, hands working to form clay. We begin again this week, stepping into this program year. We do so with intention. This Sunday, we acknowledge our commitment to grow in our faith, acknowledging all who will offer themselves teaching and leading every age of discipleship. Come, to hear God’s words. Jeremiah 18:1-11.
Sermon: Road Trip
Rev. David Baak
There are two kinds of road trips…one that wanders and one that has a straight line focus—and each has its rewards; each has its challenges; each is a metaphor for life whether our own or that of our faith community. Jeremiah 2:4-13.
Sermon: Fleshing Out our Future
Rev. Paula Anema Sohl
Rev. Paula Anema Sohl is a United Church of Christ minister from Ashland, Oregon. She has travelled a long road to ministry since attending Calvin College in the 1970’s, including the writing of a book with her best Calvin buddy (Resurrecting Eve: Women of Faith Challenge the Fundamentalist Agenda) while a Presbyterian layperson, and finishing seminary. She completed her MDiv at Pacific School of Religion in 2011 and has been a resident of Ashland most of the past 24 years. She is passionate about justice and liberation and her work in the church has always involved kids. She loves their energy and their wisdom. She is happy incorporating music, dance, ritual, and manual arts into all facets of her ministry.
Sermon: NEWSFLASH: Jesus Does Not Bring Peace
Rev. Jen Porter
Some of Jesus' words puzzle us, especially when he says he has not come to create peace, rather division. This Sunday, Rev. Jen will preach from Luke 12:49-56. In the light of Christ within, we find with Matthew Fox that, 'we were made for something cosmic and will not fit peacefully into anything much smaller.' Our response and our growth in Christ's light takes many different forms. This Sunday, we send Hannah Nelson into her year of service in Colombia with the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer program. 10:00a, everyone is welcome.
Sermon: Learn to Do Good
Rev. Jeremy Bork
This week's lectionary reading from the book of Isaiah is a strong rebuke from God directed at those who worship religiously but ignore the most vulnerable among them. Rather than disregarding surrounding systems of violence, inhospitality, and inequity in order to worship God, God would rather have people who seek justice for all. Join us in worship at 10:00am as we each reflect on our part in learning to do good.
Sermon: Leveled
Rev. Sarah Juist
We welcome the Rev. Sarah Juist as our guest preacher this Sunday, reflecting on “Leveled” and Luke 6.17-26. Sarah is the pastor of Hanover Presbyterian Church in Hanover, Ohio, where she has served since 2017. She grew up in Fulton, Illinois and holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and the Master of Divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. She served this congregation in 2016-2017 as Interim Minister for Christian Education and Family Ministries.
Sermon: Unraveled by Curiosity
Rev. Julie Emery
The Rev. Julie Emery has been serving as the minister/head of staff of another Westminster: Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Hartford, CT since October 2014. Before her call to Connecticut, the land of “steady habits”, Rev. Emery served churches in New Hampshire and New York. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from the University of Michigan and her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2004.
Sermon: Impossible, more or less…
Kyle Nolan
Kyle Nolan, Minister for Mission and Faith Formation at Westminster Presbyterian Church will preaching on Mark 10:13-30.
Sermon: Falling Upwards
Rev. Linda Knieriemen
We welcome the Rev. Linda Knieriemen as guest preacher on July 14. Linda is the Senior Pastor/Head of Staff at First Presbyterian Church in Holland. A 1990 graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, she served as associate pastor here at Westminster between 1995 and 2005. She has served in several denominational roles and held positions with the Synod of the Covenant and Madison Ave (NY) Presbyterian Church. She is married to David Walter.
Sermon: All Is Not Lost
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Weenink
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Weenink has served as the Interim Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Pittsford, NY since November, 2017. He was Senior Pastor and Head of Staff at First Presbyterian Church, Bay City, MI for 19 years and had served several other Presbyterian congregations. He has preached here at Westminster a number of times and early in his ministry he served as program staff at Camp Henry.