A Place to Love God and Neighbor...
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September 1, 2013
22nd Sunday in
Ordinary Time
9:30 am
Bulletin
Sermon:
Kingdom Etiquette
Rev. J. David Wiseman
Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-3; 15-16 Luke 14:1, 7-14 |
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Preparing for Worship
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 | Parable of the Banquet
"Go into the streets and the lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame."
Luke 14:21
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The Luke text presents us with the Parable of the Banquet where people are concerned about proper etiquette, who should be invited to the feast and where should the most important guests be seated. The hierarchical system of this world knows who should be at the top and who is relegated to the bottom and most of us like it that way. But Jesus comes along and flip flops that system, proclaiming a Kingdom Etiquette that challenges us to radically revamp who and what we value, presenting us with a Gospel that is at the very least inconvenient and at the very most radically disturbing.
We will celebrate Holy Communion on Sunday and will experience a patchwork quilt of wonderful music: hymns both old and new, a touch of Taiz�, an African response, a solo by Howard Sprout and another by Hart student Allyson Lunch plus a C�sar Franck setting of a Thomas Aquinas quote sung by our women's ensemble. A musical something for everyone. This will be our last service-in-the-round for summer at 9:30. Let us gather together.
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Save the Date: RALLY DAY!
Sunday, September 8
Celebratory Brunch at 9:15 a.m.
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Please Join Us on Rally Day for a
Celebration Brunch
Sunday, September 8th
9:15 - 10:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall
Everyone is Welcome!
Egg Dishes, Coffee and Tea Provided
Last Names A - G: Bring Fruit to Share
(fruit platter, fruit salad, plate of finger fruit)
Last Names H - S: Bring Breads to Share
(muffins, pastries, breads, donuts or bagels)
Last Names S - Z: Bring Juice to Share
(one large bottle)
At 9:45 a.m. children will be invited to leave brunch to
meet their church school teachers in their classrooms.
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CHAOS Fall Retreat in the Berkshires
September 13-15
| CHAOS in grades 6-12 are invited to kick-off the year and enjoy fellowship together with a retreat to Camp Becket in the Berkshires, September 13-15 in Becket, MA. Fun activities are planned including an outdoor challenge course and zip lines in beautiful Becket, MA. You can see photos and learn more by visiting www.bccymca.org. For those who had to rough it with camping this summer, important things will be available for this weekend including good food, running water, hot showers and great lodges where there will be heat, electricity and comfy beds. The cost is $160 which can be made out to Westminster Presbyterian Church with CHAOS Retreat in the memo line. A permission form is required so please have it completed and turned in with your check to the church office by Sunday, September 1. If you need a copy of the form or would like more information about the retreat, please contact Rev. gretchen at 860-521-6240 x21.
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Three Opportunities for Adult Education
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Sunday mornings at 9:30, there will be two five-week series. Living the Faith Through Vocaton will explore the places where our professional lives and our personal faith intersect. Presenters from the congregation will share how they came to do the work they do and how they have seen the hand of God present there. June Johnson will get us started September 15. Meet in the Covenant Room.
Forgiveness: Finding Peace Through Letting Go will include a video/discussion series based on a book by Adam Hamilton that explores forgiveness in our relationship to God, others and self. Meet in the Fireside Room.
Wednesday evenings at 7:00, starting September 25, Jeannene Wiseman will resume teaching the Lving the Questions series. This will be the third in a 3-part series but whether or not you attended last year, come along for this journey into progressive Christianity, thinking outside the box.
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Planning Ahead to Westminster Prime Time: Eat, Pray, Learn
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Once a month this fall, all ages will gather together for creative evening worship, special intergenerational Christian Education programs and breaking bread together. Here's the schedule:
4:30-5:15p.m.--worship in the chapel
5:15-6:15--Christian Education
6:15-6:45--a simple supper
September 29: John Boiano, guest leader: Community Building with a Beat
October 27: Daoud Nassar, Palestinian Farmer--Passionate about Peacemaking
November 24: Advent Workshop/Hanging of the Greens
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Organ and Piano Recital by Erik Eickhoff
Sunday, September 15 at 3:00 p.m.
All are Invited
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On Sunday, September 15 at 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary, Erik Eickhoff will present an organ and piano recital as the first event in the Music at Westminster series for the 2013/2014 season. The recital will feature music by Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, Dupre, Reger, and others. There will be a free will offering to support the music program at Westminster. Bring your friends. Plan to lose yourself, but find your soul, in an afternoon of beautiful music.
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Save the Date: Women's Retreat on Saturday, September 14
A MORNING WITH MAYA ANGELOU
Connecting with God through Sacred Stories
Facilitator: Jeannene Wiseman
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Join us for a morning of listening to this beloved storyteller on video as she awakens in us our own sacred stories. The explorations of our stories will include biblical themes relating to life's transitions. Emmanuel - God with us - is discovered in the experiences of our daily lives when we have the time to remember.
We will gather at the church at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 14 for coffee and stories, then have lunch at 11:45, closing with worship and departing at 1:00 p.m. Cost for lunch is $6. Please join us for a generative morning.
Sign up by calling Becky in the office at 860-521-6240. If you have any questions, call Elsie Harp at 860-521-4958 or Janet Stafford at 860-687-1656.
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 Prayers for Westminster Family and Friends
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If you have prayer concerns you'd like to share, please contact Becky Kimberly at the church office at 860-521-6240 or [email protected].
We pray for...
- Yvonne Smith who has been at Hartford Hospital for tests;
- Dorothy Eisele who is recuperating from a bad fall;
- Jacqueline Clement who broke her arm;
- Susan Power Trucksess who had foot surgery this week;
- Henry and Ruth Milan, friends of the congregation, who have been in declining health;
- John Mittan, former rector of St. James Episcopal Church, who has been seriously ill;
- Bunny Hallenbeck, who has begun treatment at Dana Farber in Boston;
- Bonnie and Richard Kanyar's extended family in Erie, PA; Richard's brother, father and mother are all facing some serious health concerns
- Linda Cozzolongo's brother Glenn Penner who has been diagnosed with a recurrence of leukemia;
- El and Elsie Harp's son Jeff who has been undergoing various tests;
- Susan Thomson's father who will soon begin radiation treatment;
- Members of the congregation who are in the adoption process;
- All those undergoing treatment for cancer;
- Those families experiencing the stress of unemployment and under-employment;
- The people of Syria during this time of upheaval and brutal violence and for our government as they discern the best way to aid the innocent civilians;
- The Pastor Nominating Committee as it continues its work;
- Youth of the church experiencing troubled times.
We grieve with...
- Marie Scott and family on the death of Gale "Scotty" Scott on August 23; a memorial service will be held at the Middle Road Facility in Farmington on Friday, September 6 at 10:30 a.m.;
- The family of one of Allan Amundsen's students named Jake whose mother died recently;
- The family of Bill Metzger, former WPC choir member who died recently;
- Cathie Benner and family following the death of her nephew Jeff, her sister's son, at the age of 40.
We continue to pray for...
Russ Cormier's mother; gretchen Sausville's father; Jean Filer, mother of Cindi Filer; Karen and Steve Wagner's friend Ramon; Jinny Smanik's nephew Jeff; Carol Barnes' mother Margaret Barnes; Natalie Lewis; Cliff Moss; Glenn Olson's brother Dan; the Wisemans' friend Carroll Slaymaker; Art Riihimaki's mother Rita; Karen Carlson; Mildred Skinner; Spurgeon Stokes; Vivian Phillips; Dot and Willard Fletcher; and all the friends and members of the congregation undergoing tests, treatments and surgeries.
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| Did you know Westminster has a Facebook page?
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