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Home / Featured

Bach for Lent: Mid-Week Musical Devotion

February 23, 2021 by Ashley Dunn-Jalenak 

Each Wednesday during Lent you are invited to spend some reflective time with organ music by J. S. Bach. Each week a video will be added here on the church website with a chorale prelude played on Westminster’s organ by our organist Jonathan Schakel. 

March 3, 2021

Devotion

This week’s chorale text takes us back to the early 16th century when Martin Luther was strengthening his ideas of reformation. During Lent of 1524, his sermons were centered on the sacrament of Holy Communion and he wrote this poem to provide an opportunity for his congregation to remember the concepts by singing them as hymns. The chorale tune is older still, being based on “Jesus Christus nostra salus” from 14th century Bohemia.

The first two stanzas provide an overview of Christ’s suffering and death “that we never should forget it” and of the presence of Christ in the “poor bread” and wine. The third and fourth stanzas remind us that the faith we bring to the table will allow us to receive food to feed our souls. But for me, the fifth stanza is the most important and something I had forgotten over the years of receiving Communion: that when we are fed we are both able and required to be food for our neighbors as God, through Christ and the sacrament, is food for us. 

Johann Sebastian Bach’s chorale preludes reminded his 18th century listeners of the hymns they were singing much as Jonathan’s preludes and postludes often draw on the hymns we sing during worship. BWV 665 states the four lines of the hymn tune just once in four long phrases. The tune is well hidden in the upper voices, but listen for each phrase in the lowest line, played in the pedals. The third long phrase makes the closest connection to the text’s first verse, portraying “his suffering sore and main” in chromatic (slithery) lines.  

Especially during this pandemic, let us draw inspiration from Martin Luther and J.S. Bach to be food for our neighbors and our communities.

— Jane Edmister Penner

Chorale
Johann Sebastian Bach
Jesus Christus, unser Heiland (BWV 665)


Christ Jesus, our Redeemer born,
Who from us did God’s anger turn,
Through His sufferings sore and main,
Did help us all out of hell-pain.

That we never should forget it,
Gave He us His flesh, to eat it,
Hid in poor bread, gift divine,
And, to drink, His blood in the wine.


Have this faith, and do not waver, 
‘Tis a food for every craver,
Each whose heart with sin oppressed,
Can no more for its anguish rest.


If such faith thy heart possesses,
And the same thy mouth confesses,
Fit guest then thou art indeed,
And so the food thy soul will feed.


But bear fruit, or lose thy labors:
Take thou heed and love thy neighbors;
That thou food to them may be,
As thy God does like for thee. 

— Martin Luther (1524), tr. Charles Sanford Terry (alt.)

February 24, 2021

Devotion
The chorale “Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott” (trans. “Have mercy, Lord, my God, for the sake of my tears”) paraphrases the penitential Psalm 51. In Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion the alto aria “Erbarm dich, mein Gott” echoes the psalm text to express the sorrow and regret Peter must have felt after denying Jesus three times. I think it also invites the listener to hear Psalm 51 with new ears. The psalm invites introspection and reflection on those times when we have betrayed our own values or gone back on our word. Indeed, we may tell ourselves and others that we would never do that or say that or walk back our deeply held convictions, but when the moment is at hand, what do we do? What do we say? Are we willing to admit our personal association with Jesus? Obviously, Peter fails. Before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, I am sure Peter had said many times that he would never betray Jesus, that he would always be his loyal friend. The text of the chorale gives voice to Peter’s heart-felt need for forgiveness and mercy: 

Have mercy on me, Lord my God,

Of kindness Thou hast ever more,

Cleanse my offenses with Thy blood,

I own my sin; it grieves me sore.

Are we like Peter? Do we have something we need to confess to God? Peter’s prayer of contrition encourages us that we, too, can seek forgiveness for what we have done or left undone.

Currently, I am reading To Live Woke by Rupert W. Nacoste. Nacoste’s insights reveal my blind spots, my naïve understandings about race, and my sin. As a 6’ 2”, deep voiced, white privileged, and culturally insulated male, I have much to learn and unlearn. Bach’s melodious tones and Psalm 51 shape my prayer of confession as a white male who has benefitted from the color of my skin:

I own my sin, it grieves me sore.

I’ve sinned against Thy whole command,

This truth confronts me constantly.

In this season of Lent, think about the sin of prejudice and how easily we are complicit in perpetuating racial violence, stereotypes and inequity. Have mercy, Lord, my God, for the sake of my tears as well as those times when I betray you by not acting or saying what is right and just. Amen.
-Ken Henry

Chorale
Johann Sebastian Bach
Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott (BWV 721)


Have mercy on me, Lord my God,
Of kindness Thou hast ever more,
Cleanse my offenses with Thy blood,
I own my sin, it grieves me sore.
I’ve sinned against Thy whole command,
This truth confronts me constantly;
Before Thee evil cannot stand,
And Thou art just to punish me.


Behold, Lord, I was born in sin,
In sin conceived with great distress,
Truth Thou desirest deep within,
Lay bare Thy wisdom’s graciousness.
With hyssop, Lord, asperge my flesh,
If washed by Thee, then I am pure,
More white than snow, more glad and fresh,
My bones rejoice to find their cure.


O Lord, view not my sin obscene;
Remove all my unrighteousness,
And make my heart within me clean,
A spirit new within me dress.
From out Thy presence cast me not,
Thy Holy Ghost do not decline,
Salvation’s joy, O Lord, allot,
And let the Spirit keep me Thine.
— E. Hegenwalt (1524), tr. Matthew Carver

Filed Under: Featured, Lent, Sermons, Session

Lent at Westminster 2021

January 20, 2021 by Westminster Presbyterian Church

Mid-Week Musical Devotion

Each Wednesday during Lent you are invited to spend some reflective time with organ music by J. S. Bach. Each week a video will be added below with a chorale prelude played on Westminster’s organ by our organist Jonathan Schakel. An email with a link to the video will also include the text of the chorale and a short devotional reflection by one of our pastors or church members. 

Sermon Series “And Jesus Said” – Over the course of Lent and Easter, Lynne, Dorothy, and Ken, through their preaching, will invite us to focus on the words of Jesus according to The Gospel of Matthew. What did Jesus actually say? What did he teach his disciples?  For seven Sundays, come and listen to Jesus speaking into the world’s need for healing, justice and resurrection. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (5:3)

Sunday Morning Prayer Gathering at 8:30 a.m. Every Sunday you are welcome to join Ken as well as other members of Westminster Presbyterian Church for a time of devotion, sharing, and prayer. Our meetings usually last about 45 minutes so you can attend other Adult Ed. and worship offerings on Sunday mornings. Prayers can be private or shared with the congregation. For a Zoom invitation, please contact Ken at .

Sunday Taizé Worship at 11:30 a.m. This meditative worship experience includes a time of singing, praying, and Scripture readings including music from the Taizé community in France. A Zoom hymn sing replaces the Taizé service on the last Sunday of each month. If you would like to receive the Zoom link for the service/hymn sing please contact Megan Sharp at .

Maundy Thursday Zoom Service – April 1 at 7:00 p.m. This service includes music, prayer, and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper as we remember Jesus’ gathering with his disciples in the upper room. The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word for “command” and refers to Jesus’ commandment to “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn. 13:34).  

Good Friday Zoom Service – April 2 at 7:00 p.m. This service includes a retelling of the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross with Scripture readings, songs, and prayers. Candles will be gradually extinguished following the traditional format of Tenebrae, and you are invited to use your own candle(s) at home.

Filed Under: Featured

Stories of Our Faith

October 16, 2020 by Westminster Presbyterian Church

While you stay at home in an effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, our church school offering for our youngest disciples has begun and is geared towards children preschool age through kindergarten, but fun for any age! Begin with a time to sing and move with Ms. Megan, following a story from their special Bible told by Pastor Lynne, Ms. Carolyn, Ms. Lucy and sometimes includes a fun craft from Ms. Penny! This pre-recorded lesson will be available on Sunday mornings through a link included in the worship email. Parents are invited to choose a time that best suits them and their child to watch together. We hope you’ll find hopeful and comforting messages, worship, and music in the videos below.  We are the church still, safely sequestered in our homes.

February 28, 2021 – 2nd Sunday of Lent

February 21, 2021 – 1st Sunday of Lent

February 14, 2021 – Transfiguration of the Lord

February 7, 2021 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany

January 31, 2021 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany

January 24, 2021 – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany

January 17, 2021 – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany

January 10, 2021 – Baptism of the Lord

January 3, 2021 – Epiphany Sunday

Filed Under: Featured

Songs of Comfort

May 14, 2020 by Kate Brinkley

In this time of social isolation, we all need words and music to uplift and comfort.  When we think of comforting songs, there are many that come to mind. The Westminster community is full of talented people. Some of them have sent us recordings of themselves performing music they find comforting. These selections are collected with love by our community of faith, for our community of faith. The photograph above was taken by Ron Evans, a Westminster member.  While we cannot gather in person to raise our voices in song, we can sing, and we can share our music as we share this experience of isolation. We are not alone. 

If you would like to submit a song to Songs of Comfort, please contact Megan at .

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Traditional African-American Spiritual; arr. Larry J. Long

Rejoice and Be Merry 

by J. Alban Hinton

Si tuvieras fe/If you only had faith 

traditional Caribbean

Keep Your Lamps

Traditional African-American Spiritual; arr. Andre Thomas

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Bird family

from Wyeth’s Repository of Sacred Music

How Can I Keep from Singing – Westminster Adult Choir

by Robert Lowry; arranged by Taylor Davis

Berceuse

by Gabriel Fauré

Spirit of the Living God

by Daniel Iverson

How Great Thou Art

Swedish Folk Melody

Whispering Hope

by Septimus Winner

Sicillienne

by Maria Theresia von Paradis

The Swan 

by Camille Saint Saëns

Sonata in G minor: Largo 

by Henry Eccles

Sonata no. 3: Largo 

by J. S. Bach

In the Garden

by C. Austin Miles

I Will Come to You

By David Haas

Be Thou My Vision

arr. David Abramsky

In Deepest Night

By David Schwoebel

What a Friend

by Charles Converse

Amazing Grace

by John Newton

Psalm 23

By John Michael Talbot

Son of God, Whose Heart Is Peace

Maori hymn

God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me

by Richard Colligan

On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand

Filed Under: Featured

Worship, Pray, and Sing with Us Online

March 23, 2020 by Kate Brinkley

While you stay at home in an effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, you’ll find hopeful and comforting messages, worship, and music in the videos below.  We are the church still, safely sequestered in our homes.

Worship Services

February 28, 2021 – 2nd Sunday of Lent

Bulletin

February 21, 2021 – 1st Sunday of Lent

Bulletin

February 14, 2021 – Transfiguration of the Lord

Bulletin

February 7, 2021 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany

Bulletin

January 31, 2021 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany

Bulletin

January 24, 2021 – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Bulletin

January 17, 2021 – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany

Bulletin

January 10, 2021 – Baptism of the Lord

Bulletin

January 3, 2021 – Epiphany Sunday

Bulletin

Filed Under: Featured, Lent, Sermons, Uncategorized, University, Mission & Outreach

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Welcome

Bach for Lent: Mid-Week Musical Devotion

February 23, 2021 By Ashley Dunn-Jalenak 

Each Wednesday during Lent you are invited to spend some reflective time with organ music by J. S. Bach. Each week a video will be added here on the church website with a chorale prelude played on Westminster’s organ by our organist Jonathan Schakel.  March 3, 2021 Devotion This week’s chorale text takes us back to […]

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