Westminster Loving God & Neighbour

There are a lot of exciting, challenging or surprising topics when it comes to faith – like loving our enemies, the apocalypse, self-sacrifice, or heaven and hell. “Abiding in Christ” isn’t usually on that list. And yet it is something he invites us to do on a daily basis. He says it is a part of our love toward him and also a source of joy (and especially in January, who doesn’t want that!) But what does it mean to “abide” in Christ? That’s what we’ll explore on Sunday with a look at John 15:1-17. There will be Sunday School ministry and nursery care. We will sing songs and hymns, lift up our prayers to God, enjoy fellowship, and be re-reminded of our union with Christ. The service is at 10:01 am in-person and online via YouTube.

Jesus taught his followers that they would be hated by the world. They should expect it. So should we. But what will that look like, and how should they (and we) respond? That’s what Pastor Ruttan will teach about on Sunday via John 15:18-16:4. But we need to be cautious. When it comes to these issues, oversimplification doesn’t help. We will also learn a new memory verse (1 John 4:4). There will be Sunday School ministry and nursery care. We will sing songs and hymns, lift up our prayers to God, enjoy fellowship, and be re-rooted in the Lord of life! The service is at 10:01 am in-person and online via YouTube.

Did you realize that right before his betrayal and torture in John 17 that Jesus prays for you? Yes, that’s right. He prayed for his disciples, and also “for those who will believe in me through their word…” Since we have come to faith through the words and writings of the apostles, that means us! On Sunday we will learn what he prays for us, and also how we might also pray for the things Jesus prays for. There will be Sunday School ministry (now divided into three age groups) and nursery care. We will sing and pray together, have fellowship, and draw near to God’s throne of grace. The service is at 10:01 am in-person and online via YouTube.

Please join us on Wednesday, February 22nd at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary for a youth-led Ash Wednesday service. Prepare your hearts for the Lenten season through prayers, lessons and songs organized by our Westminster Youth Group. If you want, there will be a time to come forward and receive the sign of the cross on your forehead with ashes. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join our team and help us raise money for this important January Outreach. With your help, we are aiming to raise $5000 for Youth Haven, an organization that supports and houses homeless youth in our community. We hope you can join our team or make a donation toward this important cause. Follow this link to join our team today!

Sunday is the first Sunday in Lent! It is a time of preparation and spiritual focus leading up to Easter. It is fitting, therefore, that our sermon series continues with Jesus being betrayed and handed over to the guards in the Garden of Gethsemane. We will explore John 18: 1-18 and what our own faith is like when it is under stress and duress. There will be Sunday School ministry (now divided into three age groups) and nursery care. We will sing and pray together, have fellowship, and reflect on the power of God. The service is at 10:01 am in-person and online via YouTube. After the service we will also have our annual meeting. (See separate announcement.) The worship service will conclude by 11:15am, there will be a 10 minute break, and then the meeting will begin at 11:30am for those who would like to stay and participate.

Sunday is the second Sunday in Lent – a time of preparation and spiritual focus leading up to Easter. We will celebrate the Sacrament of Communion. You will be given a small plastic cup with bread when you come in, and a small juice cup when you take your seat. We will celebrate the Sacrament right after the opening song (while our young people are still with us). (Please see the separate announcement about talking with young people about the meaning of Communion.) During the service we will explore Jesus’ trial in John 18. Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom “is not of this world.” What does that mean, and what does it mean for Christians today to belong to (and advocate for) a kingdom that is “not of this world”? There will be Sunday School ministry and nursery care. We will sing and pray together, have fellowship, and reflect on our almighty and sustaining God. The service is at 10:01 am in-person and online via YouTube.

Special note: On Sunday remember to “jump ahead” one hour with your clocks for Daylight Savings Time! Sunday is the third Sunday in Lent– a time of preparation and spiritual focus leading up to Easter. We will worship, pray and sing together. Pastor Ruttan will introduce our new memory verse for March. There will be Sunday School, nursery care, and fellowship time after the service. The sermon will be a bit different, and is a diversion from the current series on John’s Gospel. Pastor Ruttan will speak about how to get the most out of a sermon. It might seem strange, but listening to a sermon is a proactive art. When we prepare, watch for certain things, and respond in certain ways, God uses his "means of grace" (explanation on Sunday) including imperfect sermons to build up his people for their specific lives. After the service, we will have the quarterly Q and A Forum in the sanctuary. There will be a five minute break for those who want to grab a coffee or leave; then we will have the focum. The service is at 10:01 am in-person and online via YouTube.