Miss Katherine Lee Bates was in Colorado Springs and had just returned from a visit to Pike’s Peak. She said, “It was there, as I was looking out over the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under the ample skies, that the opening lines formed themselves in my mind.”
We’ve heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but I’ve never seen the picture that paints as pretty a scene of this great country as do these words:
O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plane.
But as we celebrate the birth of our country, filled with thanksgiving for our freedom, we cannot neglect the way the dreams and hopes for justice and mercy and humility have not always been open to all our citizens.
We Christians, more than any I think, should be attuned to the final words of that first verse:
God shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood
. If we would claim God’s grace for America the beautiful, we cannot be content when our land is stained by pain and sorrow, people worn out by life’s difficulties and injustices.
Let us celebrate the beauty of our freedom and bring to life the words on the Liberty Bell: “…proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants thereof.” (Leviticus 25:8)
Grace and peace,
Bruce Lancaster
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Peace and Justice Summer Seminar Series
Welcoming the Stranger: A Look at Immigration in the U.S.
Sundays, July 12 - 26
10:00 - 10:45 a.m.
Zoom
Meeting ID: 871 4362 3141
Password: 696023
What is the current state of immigration in the U.S.? How did we get to this point? How does COVID-19 affect immigrants? How can we be of help? What does Jesus say about all of this?
These are just some of the questions surrounding the issue of immigration and our connection to it. This month, join us for a series of seminars addressing these and related questions.
Read more
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Blood Drive
Sunday, July 19
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
While limited walk-ins are welcome, participants are advised to preregister, using sponsor code G0010171, in order to secure a time slot. Registration is easily done online at
www.vitalant.org
or by calling Candy Kottyan at 412-860-3534.
Read more
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Westminster Organ Summer 2020
Sundays, through July 26
4:00 p.m.
This year marks the tenth season of Westminster’s series of free summer organ concerts. Although the concerts will be available online only this year, you can expect the same great music displaying the endless variety of organ sounds.
This week we welcome
Bradley Fitch
from Christ United Methodist Church.
All organists donate their time and talent. A freewill offering defrays their expenses. Please consider donating to the freewill offering using the donate button below.
Read more about upcoming concerts
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Honoring Our Graduates
We would like to recognize the achievements of our Westminster graduates! If you are celebrating someone in your family, please send the following information to
Laura Ecklin
by Monday, July 6
.
- Graduate Name
- High School/College/University
- Degree Received
- Area of Study
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Peace and Justice Film Review
Join a Discussion of the Films
Selma
and
Just Mercy
Tuesday, July 7
7:00 p.m.
Zoom
Peace and Justice is coordinating a discussion of two important films:
Selma
, focusing on events leading up to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and
Just Mercy
, which looks at attorney Bryan Stevenson’s work to defend those wrongly condemned or unable to afford representation. A number of streaming services, including YouTube, Amazon Prime, and GooglePlay, are offering free viewing of these films throughout the month of June.
Read more
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Donations Needed for Food to Go Bags
Many children rely on school breakfast and lunch as their only meals of the day. When school is out for the summer, we can help fill the void. Westminster's goal is to provide one take home bag each week for 200 food insecure children through their local churches in July and part of August. You can help by
donating online
, by text, or by sending a check to the church.
Read more here
.
Face Masks Available
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Church Schedule
The church office will be open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please enter through the gallery entrance and sign in. All visitors must wear a mask and we ask that you do not visit if you are not feeling well. If you are coming to visit a particular staff person, please call first at 412-835-6630 to ensure they are in the office on the day you wish to visit.
Stay Connected Online
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While we are not currently gathering in our church building, the work of our church goes on, thanks to our members, our many volunteers, and our staff. Your giving ensures that our church remains financially healthy.
There are many ways to give to Westminster, all of which are secure through our online giving partner, ACS Technologies. Choose the method with which you feel most comfortable.
Read more
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Bridge Friday Jam
Friday, July 3
6:00 p.m.
Tune in for a live worship jam! Jason will be singing songs typically found at the Bridge, and folks can participate in the live chat as well! Visit our
YouTube
page for more information.
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Bridge Worship Service
Sunday, July 5
9:45 a.m.
The Bridge is meeting for worship via Zoom! Join us for a time of worship, prayer, and teaching. Use the link below to join in!
Lord's Supper
As part of our service, you will be invited to participate in the Lord’s Supper from home. Please have bread and wine or juice on hand.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 812 4687 8044
Password: 987554
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Sanctuary Worship Service
Sunday, July 5
11:00 a.m.
Prelude
Processional on
Lift High the Cross
Donald Busarow
Jim Burns, organist
Today's Hymn
In Christ There Is No East or West
In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find; his service is the golden cord close binding humankind.
Join hands, disciples of the faith, whate’er your race may be. All children of the living God are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west; in him meet south and north. All Christly souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth.
Sermon
Repairing the Crack in the Liberty Bell
Leviticus 25:8-12
Bruce Lancaster
Anthem
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Christine Hestwood, soloist
Lord's Supper
As part of our service, you will be invited to participate in the Lord’s Supper from home. Please have bread and wine or juice on hand.
Postlude
Allegro Marziale
Frank Bridge
Jim Burns, organist
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Last Week's Video Worship
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Contact Us
Westminster Presbyterian Church
2040 Washington Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15241
412-835-6630
Interim Senior Pastor, Head of Staff
Associate Pastor for Congregational Care
Associate Pastor for the Bridge, Youth & Media
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