Sermons
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.
Sermon: They Are Stronger Than Us
Rabbi Michael Schadick
Michael Schadick has been the rabbi of Temple Emanuel, one of Westminster’s interfaith partner congregations, since 2000. He received his ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1994 and his BA in Economics from Connecticut College in New London, CT. Before coming to Grand Rapids he served congregations in Orlando, Florida and in Plantation, Florida. Rabbi Schadick is an active participant in local interfaith activities and loves to spend time each summer on the faculty of the Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, WI.
Sermon: Come Upon You
Rev. Scott Hoezee
Rev. Scott Hoezee is the Director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary. He has served Christian Reformed congregations in Fremont MI and Grand Rapids and has been a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, NJ. He is the author of several books, including the just-published Why We Listen to Sermons.
Sermon: Majestically Backwards
Rev. Scott Hoezee
Rev. Scott Hoezee is the Director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary. He has served Christian Reformed congregations in Fremont MI and Grand Rapids and has been a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, NJ. He is the author of several books, including the just-published Why We Listen to Sermons.
Sermon: Can You Hear Me Now?
Rev. Denise Anderson
Rev. Denise Anderson is the Coordinator for racial and intercultural justice for the Presbyterian Mission Agency and was the Co-Moderator of the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (2016). She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and continued her studies at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C. She served as pastor of Unity Presbyterian Church in Temple Hills, Maryland and is a member of the NEXT Church strategy team.
Sermon: Where Do We Look?
Rev. Dr.Suzanne McDonald
Rev. Dr. Suzanne McDonald is Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at Western Theological Seminary in Holland. Born and raised in Australia, she studied in the United Kingdom and received her Ph.D from St. Andrews University. She also has taught at Westminster College, Cambridge and Calvin College and is the author of two books and several essays and articles, including John Knox for Armchair Theologians.
Sermon: A More Profound Alleluia
Kyle Kooyers
Sunday, May 19, 2019 | Two services at 8:30a and 11:00a | Join us as we welcome Kyle Kooyers to the pulpit. Kyle is a Candidate for Ordination in the PC(USA), a Westminster member, and a program manager for the Kaufman Interfaith Institute.
Sermon: A Great Multitude No One Could Count
Rev. Dr. Douglas J. Brouwer
Sunday, May 12, 2019 | Two services at 8:30a and 11:00a | We welcome back Rev. Dr. Douglas J. Brouwer as our guest preacher this Sunday. Dr. Brouwer has served a number of Presbyterian congregations and, most recently, the International Protestant Church in Zurich. Join us as he leads us in worship using Revelation 7:9-17 and John 10:22-30.
Sermon: The Mess That A Conversion Makes
Rev. Dr. Douglas J. Brouwer
Sunday, May 5, 2019 | Two services at 8:30a and 11:00a | Heritage Sunday with Communion | We welcome Rev. Dr. Douglas J. Brouwer as our guest preacher for this special service honoring and including our Fifty year and more members. Dr. Brouwer has served a number of Presbyterian congregations and, most recently, the International Protestant Church in Zurich. Join us as he leads us in worship using Acts 9.1-6 and “The Mess That A Conversion Makes.”