We invite all, and we are invited!
How We Worship at Westminster- Fall 2021
We are excited to inform you that Westminster Presbyterian Church has begun worshipping again in person: 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. And yet, as we navigate worship in these challenging times, we also want you to know what to expect when you step inside the sanctuary doors on Sunday mornings. Here’s what we’re doing to keep you safe:
- All participants in worship will be required to wear masks in the sanctuary at all times. Disposable masks will be available.
- When pastors lead worship from the pulpit or from behind the table, for the sake of preaching and public liturgies, they will temporarily remove their masks.
- We are learning to pass the peace using American Sign Language.
- If you feel uncomfortable during worship, please feel free to move to another pew to ensure social distancing.
- Pastors will be wearing masks at the doors following the services.
- In the next few months, the 11:00 service will be live-streamed.
- Our live-streamed service will be taped and the recording will be made available on our YouTube channel on Monday.
- When taking communion, you may choose to unmask temporarily or take the elements home.
- Drive-Thru communion will be served from 10:00-10:30 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month in the Rugby Road parking lot.
We continue to learn how to be the Church during a pandemic. Thanks for your support and prayers during this time of discerning how we come together to worship God. — The Worship Committee
Click here to enjoy our How We Worship video promo:
Songs of Comfort
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
Worship, Pray, and Sing with Us
Worship Services
October 17, 2021 – 21st Sunday after Pentecost
October 10, 2021 – 20th Sunday after Pentecost
October 3, 2021 – 19th Sunday after Pentecost
September 26, 2021 – 18th Sunday after Pentecost
September 19, 2021 – 17th Sunday after Pentecost
September 12, 2021 – 16th Sunday after Pentecost
September 5, 2021 – 15th Sunday after Pentecost
We Recognize a Crisis
Christian faith is being used to persecute and marginalize transgender and nonbinary people across this country. We recognize the systemic harm that is being done in the name of Christianity, and we are actively seeking to improve our practice of faith and not contribute to the dysphoria for our transgender siblings.
As a church community, we welcome all people regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. We believe that trans women and girls are female and trans men and boys are male, and that God loves them as such. We aspire to create an affirming space where transgender and nonbinary people feel welcome and loved and where intersectional diversity is normalized and embraced.
We recognize that the mental health and well-being of our transgender and nonbinary siblings is negatively affected by the rejection and bias of other Christian faith communities. There is an urgency to take action now to establish physical and emotional safety as well as safety within the Christian faith.
Our goal is to create a space that will not burden or add to dysphoria but will be accepting and affirming — a space where transgender and nonbinary people can thrive and flourish as an integral part of the beautiful, diverse, whole body of Christ.
Our family is pretty queer! That is to say, we have three young people in our immediate and extended family that identify as LGBTQIA. Talk of global injustices had pretty much always been part of our conversations at home and we tried ‘to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God,’ at least most of the time. The continued targeting of LGBTQIA persons in our country causes me great concern. Shootings, attacks, and even political wrangling over where a person can go to the restroom fill the daily lives of queer people. Marriage equality is wonderful, but serious issues still remain for further equality. Healthcare for spouses and housing discrimination are just two. Our presence at Cville PRIDE is one of the ways Westminster shows up in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. It celebrates an openness and support for our gay, trans, and nonbinary friends. It shows our community that as a place of faith, we can support marginalized persons. It helps us to get to know our siblings and is just plain fun! This church has provided our family with a church home for more than 15 years. Love and comfort both come from here. And acceptance. My hope is that all people can know this kind of comfort.”
— Laura Young, Westminster Peace, Justice, and Inclusion Division member