No matter who you are,
Or where you are on Life's Journey,
You are welcome here!
Center for Spiritual Growth and Renewal
At West Center Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, we believe that “God is still speaking, and we are still listening.” Our worship and community life is Bible-based and open to God’s continuing revelation through our hearts and minds and spirits. Our worship celebrations and sermons are based on the readings of the day from the Common Lectionary. The musical selections are carefully coordinated with these readings, church holidays and the theme of the day.
We are a friendly, welcoming and diverse congregation. We seek God’s guidance in our corporate life and welcome fellow pilgrims of good will, wherever they may be on their personal spiritual journey. We invite you to join us for worship and to join us in your spiritual quest as part of our community. See you in Church!
Dazzling Days
When I was preparing my sermon titles through Easter, I discovered something interesting. The Gospel reading for February 14th, which is the Sunday preceding Ash Wednesday, and the Gospel reading for April 4th, which is Easter Day, each have a rather unusual word in common. The word is “dazzling.” The Gospel reading for February 14th is the story of the Transfiguration. When Jesus goes up a mountain to pray with his disciples Peter, James and John, “The appearance of Jesus’ face changed and his clothes became dazzling white.” Suddenly Moses and Elijah appear and start talking to Jesus. (Luke 9:29-30))
The Gospel reading for Easter Day, April 4th, is of course the story of the Resurrection of Jesus. When the women come to the tomb to anoint his body for burial, they find that the stone has been rolled away, and they do not find his body. “Suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.” (Luke 24:1-4)
So both the beginning of Lent, the forty-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter, and the end of Lent are marked by something that is so unexpected that it takes your breath away, something so bright that you might have to shade your eyes, something so unusual that you never forget it.
And it is my hope that our Lenten days, from February 14 through April 4, or perhaps the beginning and ending of Lent, be marked also by something that dazzles us, that takes our breath away, with its brightness and wonder. The people in the Bible were not expecting to be dazzled, but they were expecting something because they were actively doing something.
So during Lent, may we live in expectation, being both introspective and extroverted, so that when we least expect it, whether we are climbing a mountain of difficulty or going into a cave of the unknown, we too might be dazzled. We can start by attending worship, a Bible study, a Lunch Bunch, a Lunch/Discussion, or we might even serve lunch at the Sharing Community in Yonkers. We never know where God will dazzle us!
Pastor John
Kids, Glorious Kids!
We hope that you will make every effort for your child(ren) to be with us this year. Our caring and creative Church School teachers are planning a program to stimulate and enrich each child’s spiritual growth, socialization and self-esteem. The instructional component is based on “Seasons of the Spirit,” a lectionary-based, inter-denominational curriculum, with the United Church of Christ as one of the curriculum partners. Our teachers add their own ideas, including crafts, to each session. The crafts relate to the Biblical stories of the life of Jesus and his role as teacher and healer in our own lives. Look for email updates if your email address is in the church directory. If you have children, or know someone who does, tell them about West Center Church, and invite them to come with their children to visit on a Sunday and get acquainted.
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