Westminster Presbyterian Church, Alexandria Va

Throughout the season of Lent, the sermons will feature the poems of George Herbert (1593-1633), a Welsh poet and Anglican priest who wrote between the Age of Shakespeare and the Age of Milton. Five poems, published in 1633 in The Temple, formed the basis of Ralph Vaughan Williams “Five Mystical Songs,” written between 1906 and 1911. The poems are “Easter,” “I Got Me Flowers,” “Love Bade Me Welcome,” “The Call,” and “Antiphon.” On Palm Sunday, the choir will present all five mystical songs. Today, using the second half of the poem “Easter,” Dr. Larry R. Hayward explores where we find beauty in our lives: in our relationships, in the midst of suffering and sacrifice, and in Christian doctrine. The Scripture lesson is Mark 14:3-9 (RSV).

Throughout the season of Lent, the sermons will feature the poems of George Herbert (1593-1633), a Welsh poet and Anglican priest who wrote between the Age of Shakespeare and the Age of Milton. Five poems, published in 1633 in The Temple, formed the basis of Ralph Vaughan Williams “Five Mystical Songs,” written between 1906 and 1911. The poems are “Easter,” “I Got Me Flowers,” “Love Bade Me Welcome,” “The Call,” and “Antiphon.” On Palm Sunday, the choir will present all five mystical songs. Today, using the poem “Easter,” Dr. Larry R. Hayward explores how we might embrace the cross as Christ embraced the cross, living our daily lives in the most ordinary way: serving others. The Scripture lesson is John 10:11-18.

On this Transfiguration Sunday, the Rev. Casey W. FitzGerald looks at this strange story--of a mysterious, wild, and holy mountaintop encounter--and wonders what is going on in the valley. Today's Scripture is Luke 9:28-36.

Today, Westminster ordains and installs this year's class of elders and deacons, our lay leaders of the church. Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward looks to God's call of Jeremiah to show us how we can serve not just Westminster, but our community, our city, our nation, and the world. Today's Scripture passage is Jeremiah 1:4-10.

On the day after a blizzard, Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward preaches on Psalm 19, a psalm that extols the beauty of nature.

This is not a story about abstaining from or having permission to consume wine; it is not a story about obeying or disobeying parents; it is not a story about consistency of voting record or campaign promises. Rather, it is a story about identity; timing, and abundance. Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward preaches today from John 2:1-11.

The first session of our Parenting Series explores how parents are the primary architects of the young brain. Learn how to give your children "brain food" and to communicate and connect! Beverly Tauke is a family counselor whose clinical focus revolves around providing people with strategies to achieve parenting success, integrating biblical concepts with current research and strategies for healthy living. She has her Masters of Social Work from The Catholic University of America and an M.A. in Communications. The next session of our series will be "Family Story Power" on February 14.

Rev. Patrick Hunnicutt explores how our experiences of the river—with each other and with God—echo the wonder, unity, and awe that Jesus experienced at his own baptism. Luke 3:21-23a.

"As human beings and as Christians, I believe we can be a significant part of the light shining in the darkness and the darkness not overcoming it. But participating in such light is more difficult to do if, as I am prone to do, we ignore the source of the light. If the light that shines in the darkness is Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the source of that light is God himself." Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward continues preaching from John 1:1-18.

Today, we look at what the one story of Jesus' childhood tells us about Jesus' sense of vocation and identity, and what that means for us. Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward preaches from Luke 2:41-52.

Nothing within the Christian faith denies the reality of darkness—but within this darkness, there is light. Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward preaches on Christmas Eve from John 1:1-5.

Of all the seasons of the year, there is something about Christmas that leads us to hope again, to believe in hope again, or at least to want to believe in hope again. For some of us, it is something as ordinary as baseball that can at least point to the hope that lies behind the promise of Christmas. Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward preaches today from Luke 1:39-45.

Rev. Patrick A. Hunnicutt asks, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" Today's Scripture lesson is Luke 3:7-18.

Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward preaches today from Luke 21:25-26. "Yet what Christ’s birth does mark is the beginning of a new generation in history – a generation of which we are part, a generation that lives between Christ’s birth and his promised return. We are the generation who have received the news of his birth and have heard his promise that our generation will continue until his return, until that day when God’s kingdom arrives in all its fullness, when God’s will for all of humanity will be done, when God’s redemption of the earth and its people will be completed."

Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward preaches from Psalm 8, exploring its celebration of the exalted role of humanity among all the creatures of the earth, especially in in light of this week's news of terrorist attacks around the world. Read: Emerson's Divinity School Address can be read at http://www.emersoncentral.com/divaddr.htm. Russell Moore, “Stop Pitting Security and Compassion Against Each Other in the Syrian Refugee Crisis,” The Washington Post 11/19/2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/11/19/stop-pitting-security-and-compassion-against-each-other-in-the-syrian-refugee-crisis/.

Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward preaches about the benefits of faith in the face of fearfulness. Today's Scripture lesson is Leviticus 26:36-37 and Psalm 1:1-3.

Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward concludes the fall sermon series, "Westminster at 75." As our 75th anniversary approaches, we have been taking a look at our past, present, and future of our congregation. Today, Dr. Hayward explains how the organizational changes in the challenge budget issued by our Session can benefit Westminster as we move forward into 2016. Today's Scripture lesson focuses on various verses: 1 Thessalonians 2:4; Galatians 2:7-10; 2 Timothy 1:14; 1 Peter 2:23; and Jude 1:3.

Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward continues the fall sermon series, "Westminster at 75." As our 75th anniversary approaches, we take a look at our past, present, and future as a congregation. Today, Dr. Hayward relates how the theology and liturgy of the Reformed tradition, the mainline church, and Westminster give us the tools, the permission, and the spiritual power to speak to events in this world and to search for, find, and live out our Christian faith. The Scripture lesson is Acts 17:16-18b, 22-34.

Following our first Dessert and Dialogue with Dr. Tom Insel from the National Institute of Mental Health, we are pleased to have other professionals from NIMH share their expertise with us. Dr. Jane Pearson is the Chair of the NIMH Suicide Research Consortium, leading the NIMH efforts to understanding the complicated challenge of preventing suicides. She helped us understand who is at risk and offered us some education and opportunities to know how to prevent pathways to self-destruction.

Rev. Casey W. FitzGerald continues the fall sermon series, "Westminster at 75." As our 75th anniversary approaches, we take a look at our past, present, and future as a congregation. Today's Scripture lesson is Matthew 28:16-20, and is read by Rev. Dr. George A. Pera, Pastor Emeritus.