Chimes Volume 2016, #4: The Community at Worship

The Volume 2016, #4 issue of Chimes is now available. In this issue: 

• Grace and Peace from Chandler Stokes
• Making Sense Out of Time
• Stories of Worship
• WPC Music By the Numbers
• Much more!

Chimes Volume 2015, #1: The People at Worship

The Volume 2015, #1 issue of Chimes is now available. In this issue: 

• The Changing Chimes
• Grace and Peace
• Worship Schedule
• The People at Worship
• We Just Can't Keep from Singing
• Much more!

Worship Schedule for June 2015

Freedom

June 7—The Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
Recognition of Graduates
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Galatians 5:1, 13-15
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore,
and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
                         -Galatians 5:1
 

Human

June 14—The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Commissioning Youth Mission Trips
Commissioning Camp Henry Staff
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
TBA
But sin is best understood under relational categories.
Under this framework, sin is simply 'a way of being for which God never intended humans to live.'
                       -Dr. Greg Love
 

Gospel

June 21—The Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rev. Jen Porter preaching on
Acts 17:16-34

Education

June 28—The Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Matthew 11:28-30
The word "education" comes from the Latin "educare" - to draw it out.

 

Worship Schedule for May 2015

Praxis Makes Perfect

May 3—The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Mark 12:28-37
There is no power out of the church that could sustain slavery [even] an hour,
if slavery were not sustained in the church.
                         -Frederick Douglas quoting Albert Barnes, 1852
Music: Stacey Tanner, Cello at 8:30a
Sanctuary Choir at 11:00a

MissionMatters

May 10—The Sixth Sunday of Easter
Community Service at CRC
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Mark 12:38-44
Westminster Presbyterian Church seeks to lead and serve by
Stewarding our resources, including those of time, money and Creation.
                       -Westminster Vision and Mission 2010
Music: Deb Eid and family at 8:30a
Sanctuary Choir at 11:00a

When in Our Music God is Glorified

May 17—The Seventh Sunday of Easter
Choir Recognition
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Revelation 4:1-11
"It protected us from hate," she wrote, "and literally nourished our souls."
                      -Alice Herz-Sommer on music in Terezin
Music: Sanctuary Choir at 8:30a & 11:00a

The Vulnerable Spirit

May 24—Pentecost
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Acts 2:1-21
The Spirit is wind and not wall. It is possiblility and not coercion.
It is opportunity and not threat.
         -Walter Brueggeman
Music: Sanctuary Choir at 10:00a

What the Spirit is Saying

May 31—Trinity Sunday
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Romans 8:12-17
When we cry, "Abba! Father!"it is that very Spirit
bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
-Romans 8:15-16
Music: Sanctuary Choir at 10:00a

Worship Schedule for April

Surely, Not I?

April 2—Maundy Thursday
Rev. Jen Porter preaching on
Mark 8:24-25

The Shape of Freedom

April 3—Good Friday
Community Service at CRC
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Exodus 23:24-34
Music: Chandler Stokes, baritone at 8:30a
The First Word: "Father, forgive them..."

Where Does it End?

April 5—Easter Sunday
The Resurrection of the Lord
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Mark 16:1-8

EASTER EYES

Looking at the World Anew

Seeing

April 12—The Second Sunday of Easter
Rev. Jen Porter preaching
The Sacrament of Baptism

In Whose Image?

April 19—The Third Sunday of Easter
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Mark 12:13-17

Say What?

April 26—The Third Sunday of Easter
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Mark 12:18-27

Community Good Friday Service

The 80th Community Good Friday service will be held at Central Reformed Church on Friday, April 3, from 12:00-2:00pm. The service will feature music from some of the finest soloists in the area, hymn singing and meditations on the Seven Last Words from the Cross.  Participating churches are Westminster Presbyterian, First United Methodist, LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed, First (Park) Congregational, Fountain Street, the Cathedral of St. Andrew, and Central Reformed.  A free-will offering will be taken for God's Kitchen.  All are welcome -- come when you can, leave when you must.

Holy Week Services

2015 Lent Worship Schedule

LENT 2015
The Grammar of Faith:
Covenant

February 18—Ash Wednesday
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Numbers 21:4-9
Quit Whining?

February 22—The First Sunday in Lent
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Genesis 9:8-17
Divine Heartbreak

March 1—The Second Sunday in Lent
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
John 12:20-33
Dying in Christ

March 8—The Third Sunday in Lent
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Exodus 20:1-17
The Shape of Freedom

March 15—The Fourth Sunday in Lent
The Children’s Musical

March 22—The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching on
Mark 14:53-72
Known

March 29—Palm-Passion Sunday
The Faure Requiem

Easter Season Communion Dates

The Worship Committee announces the Communion schedule for the next few months, through the Easter season.

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on these dates:
Sunday, February 8 (Youth Sunday) rather than February 1
Sunday, March 1
Thursday, April 2, Maundy Thursday, both at Porter Hills (3:00 p.m.) and in the Sanctuary (7:00 p.m.)
(not on Easter April 5)
Sunday, May 3
 

Worship Schedule for February

Body Language

What has Changed?

Leading from the Center

February 1– The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Ordination and Installation of Officers
Rev. David Baak preaching
Scripture: Deuteronomy 18.15-20 and Mark 1.21-28
Music: Westminster Men's Choir at 8:30a & 11:00a
Carol Choir at 11:00a

Youth Sunday - Rooted and Reaching

February 8 – The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
Youth Sunday
Music: Kirk Singers at 8:30a & 11:00a

To Lead What We Started Out Watching

February 15 - The Transfiguration of the Lord
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching
Scripture: Mark 9:2-9
Music: Midwinter THAW Concert
Westminster Winds

LENT 2015

Quit Whining?

February 18 – Ash Wednesday
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching
Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9
Music: Sanctuary Choir

Divine Heartbreak

February 22 – The First Sunday in Lent
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching
Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17
Music: Josh Leckrone, Baritone at 8:30a
Cherub and Sanctuary Choir at 11:00a
 

Worship Schedule for January

Body Language

What has Changed?

What Good is an Epiphany?

January 4– Epiphany Sunday
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12  
Music: Leslie Wilkinsion, Violin, and Andrew Wilkinson, Flute at 8:30a
Sanctuary Choir at 11:00a

In A Day

January 11 – The Baptism of the Lord
Rev. Jen Porter preaching
Scripture: Mark 1:4-11
Music: Viviana Kloostra, Soprano at 8:30a
Sanctuary Choir at 11:00a

Courtney Smith and MissionMatters

January 18 – The Second Sunday after Epiphany
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching
Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20
Music: Nancy Patterson, Mezzo-Soprano at 8:30a
Chapel Ringers and Sanctuary Choir at 11:00a

The Day You Actually Want to Hear From John the Baptist

January 25 – The Third Sunday after Epiphany
Rev. Tom Are, Jr. preaching
Scripture: Luke 3:7-17
Music: Westminster String Ensemble at 8:30 and 11:00a Sanctuary Choir at 11:00a Annual Meeting following the 11:00a service

Worship Schedule for December

Moving in the Darkness

December 7 – The 2^nd Sunday of Advent
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11
Music: John Nienhuis, baritone at 8:30a
Sanctuary Choir at 11:00a

The Light of Hope

December 14 – The 3^rd Sunday of Advent
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching
Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Music: Peter Falb, cello, and Karl Falb, violin at 8:30a
Cantus, Cherub, Carol Choirs, Chapel and Kirk
Singers, and Sanctuary Choirs at 11:00a

The Light of Love

December 21 – The 4^th Sunday of Advent
Rev. Chandler Stokes preaching
Scripture: Romans 16:25-27 and I Corinthians 13
Music: Westminster Winds at 8:30a and 11:00a
Sanctuary Choir at 11:00a

Christmas Eve, Sitting in Darkness

December 24 – The Nativity of the Lord
4:30p – Family Service Music: Children’s Choirs
Rev Chandler Stokes preaching at 8:00p and 11:00p
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7 and Matthew 4:12-23
Music: 8:00p Sanctuary Choir, Kirk Singers, and
Alumni, 11:00p – Leslie Wilkinson, violin, and
Andrew Wilkinson, flute

Revealed

December 28 – First Sunday After Christmas
Rev. Jen Porter preaching
Scripture: Luke 2:22-40
Music: Sarah and Kate Huizinga, sopranos at 11:00a

Worship Schedule for November

Worship Schedule for October

Stewardship: A Life Given By God (October 12-26)

October Worship 2014
Within our Series on Confirmation:

Confirmation: Questions for a Lifetime of Faith

We have a three-week section devoted to Stewardship—

Stewardship: A Life Given By God (October 12-26)

Some years ago the following short hymn text was commissioned by Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. Throughout this confirmation series, we are singing this as a response during the presentation of the offering. It is particularly appropriate to the stewardship section of the confirmation series. These words say what may of us feel to be the way that God has blessed us, as we return our gifts to God on Sunday morning:

For the life that you have given,
for the love in Christ made known,
with these fruits of time and labor,
with these gifts that are your own:
here we offer, Lord, our praises;
heart and mind and strength we bring;
give us grace to love and serve you, 
living what we pray and sing.

The devotions, which I prepared for the October Chimes are also closely linked to the stewardship theme. The October issue of Chimes is available here.