WELCOME to Westminster Church Online!

We are glad that you are here this morning. We hope this time of worship nurtures
your faith enlivens your spirit and engages your mind as we celebrate God’s
love and healing for the world with the resurrection of Christ, our Risen Lord.

Before you begin, remember to download and print the 01.31.21 – Bulletin
Then grab your Bible, a cup of tea or coffee, and prepare your heart for worship.

If this is your first Sunday with us, welcome! We’re glad you choose to worship with us.
Please take a moment to fill out the online Friendship Form and let us know.

We’d love to know you joined us. Please take a moment to fill out the Friendship Form found below.

READ THE SERMON

January 31, 2021 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany
Rev. Denise Clark-Jones

“BY WHOSE AUTHORITY?”

Moses prepared the children of Israel that after he was gone, God would continue to send prophets to lead them. These prophets would have authority because it would be God who sent them. However, he warned of two potential dangers. The first is that the people may not listen and heed the words of God’s prophets. The second is that false prophets may claim to speak in God’s name, but deliver a message that is their own, not God’s. In our gospel reading Mark begins, not with Jesus’ birth, but by establishing Jesus’ authority to speak for God; first, at his baptism, then with his first healing miracle. Jesus astonished the people gathered at the synagogue with his authoritative teaching and by healing a man possessed by demons. What the demons had rendered unholy was made holy again. Like the demonic voices in our gospel reading that spoke so loudly and forcefully, listening and heeding the evil voices of false prophets will lead us away from God. The question is: How do we discern who is speaking for God?

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JOIN US AT 11 AM THIS MORNING FOR SOME CONVERSATION

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/970970631
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Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth:
Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“As a newcomer to Westminster,  I’ve found it to be a most welcoming fellowship.  I look forward to going to services and events and find the warmth of the congregation to be most helpful to a newcomer to the entire area.  I find sermons challenging … music beautiful and well prepared … and a dignity in the worship that is all too lacking in most Protestant congregations.  Mix this with an open atmosphere where it is OK to question and still be seen as a good Christian, and I know I’ve found one important ‘home’ in Central Illinois.”