Sunday March 1, 2026 11:00 am Bold Blessings Bulletin Rev. Dr. Chris Ponnuraj, Preaching Mr. John Strybos, Music Director Guest Pianist, Jon Kilbonoff Choir: Eliza Bonet, J. J. Haight, Lauren Mitchell, Susie Reisinger 
Join us for our
Friendship and Fellowship Hour after 11:00 AM service in Bodge Lounge. All are welcome. 
Come and share the joy of Christ's love with us.
All are welcome! 
Join us for the next showing: March 21, 2026 Pot Luck dinner at 6 PM Movie at 7 PM
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The kingdom of God is God's rule over us. Rebirth into God's kingdom is a matter of moving from an orientation around the things of the world to the things of God. Only what God does for us will last. Jesus said as we read in Mark 16:16 "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved". This reorientation to and preview of God's kingdom begins in baptism. We are baptized "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
In baptism we are claimed as children of God and cleansed; claimed by the Father as his sons and daughters; cleansed by God for his service and witness. In baptism we begin to know the fullness of the eternal God. Baptism is spiritual rebirth. Baptism in the name of the Trinity is the planting of the seed of the kingdom of God. This seed grows toward harvest, when it is well nourished in the church and as well at home. Baptism is the time when we were adopted as God's son or daughter. We were made as the children of the creator God by water and the Spirit when we were baptized. We enter the kingdom of God by baptism. We began the process of being reoriented to God in baptism.
This reorientation continues and matures by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Especially during Lent, we must respond to what God has done for us by making decisions about the priority of worship, prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship in our lives. We must choose Christ over other options in life. After reorientation we will also learn to be Refocused and Renewed.
In baptism we are claimed as children of God and cleansed; claimed by the Father as his sons and daughters; cleansed by God for his service and witness. In baptism we begin to know the fullness of the eternal God. Baptism is spiritual rebirth. Baptism in the name of the Trinity is the planting of the seed of the kingdom of God. This seed grows toward harvest, when it is well nourished in the church and as well at home. Baptism is the time when we were adopted as God's son or daughter. We were made as the children of the creator God by water and the Spirit when we were baptized. We enter the kingdom of God by baptism. We began the process of being reoriented to God in baptism.
This reorientation continues and matures by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Especially during Lent, we must respond to what God has done for us by making decisions about the priority of worship, prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship in our lives. We must choose Christ over other options in life. After reorientation we will also learn to be Refocused and Renewed.
If you would like to know more about how to be
“Refocused” and how to be “Renewed”
please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
“Refocused” and how to be “Renewed”
please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
What do you need to do spiritually during the Lent? As Lent begins on Wednesday (02/18/2026), it is the time for reflection, for penitence and for self-examination. Now is the acceptable time. Search your own heart:
In what areas are you far from God?
Are there people from whom you need to seek forgiveness?
Are there people you need to forgive?
What needs to be made right in your life?
Let the ashes be your symbol of mourning those shortcomings and of repentance.
Have you been putting off God’s call to discipleship in some way?
Now is the acceptable time.
Make this Lenten season a time when you determine to make each day count. Resolve to follow some new path (for you) or renewed spiritual practice during the next six weeks, so that when you celebrate the resurrection, you will see that you have indeed changed between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.
Now is the time to renew your prayer and meditative practices. Perhaps there is a devotional book that you wanted to read for some time now. Pick it up and get started. Set aside five minutes a day for spiritual reading, meditation, and prayer. Maybe the time will grow into something longer, but it is best not to set goals that are so high they lead quickly to failure. For once, set a goal you know you can accomplish, and move ahead with joy, rather than with a sense of desperate obligation.
Now is the time to renew your practices of service in the name of Christ, where you have sensed the call to serve others? Is there a place where the hungry are fed, the poor are clothed, the homeless are housed, the aged are cared for, the young are attended to, the sick are made well? What is God calling you to do? Now is the time.
Now is the time to attend to the poverty in your own soul. It is the time for searching, for self-examining, for letting God into the chambers of your heart that you prefer to keep hidden. Where have you not received or offered forgiveness? Where have you been hurtful, critical? In what ways have you disappointed yourself and God?
Now is the time for change, for reconciliation. As the season of Lent returns this year, let it return to you as a new opportunity for growth. Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. Let now be the time for you to be renewed in your faith. Amen.
In what areas are you far from God?
Are there people from whom you need to seek forgiveness?
Are there people you need to forgive?
What needs to be made right in your life?
Let the ashes be your symbol of mourning those shortcomings and of repentance.
Have you been putting off God’s call to discipleship in some way?
Now is the acceptable time.
Make this Lenten season a time when you determine to make each day count. Resolve to follow some new path (for you) or renewed spiritual practice during the next six weeks, so that when you celebrate the resurrection, you will see that you have indeed changed between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.
Now is the time to renew your prayer and meditative practices. Perhaps there is a devotional book that you wanted to read for some time now. Pick it up and get started. Set aside five minutes a day for spiritual reading, meditation, and prayer. Maybe the time will grow into something longer, but it is best not to set goals that are so high they lead quickly to failure. For once, set a goal you know you can accomplish, and move ahead with joy, rather than with a sense of desperate obligation.
Now is the time to renew your practices of service in the name of Christ, where you have sensed the call to serve others? Is there a place where the hungry are fed, the poor are clothed, the homeless are housed, the aged are cared for, the young are attended to, the sick are made well? What is God calling you to do? Now is the time.
Now is the time to attend to the poverty in your own soul. It is the time for searching, for self-examining, for letting God into the chambers of your heart that you prefer to keep hidden. Where have you not received or offered forgiveness? Where have you been hurtful, critical? In what ways have you disappointed yourself and God?
Now is the time for change, for reconciliation. As the season of Lent returns this year, let it return to you as a new opportunity for growth. Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. Let now be the time for you to be renewed in your faith. Amen.
If you like to learn more,
please join us in our worship during Lent.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
~ All Year Long ~
Ongoing Food Collection
The Board of World Service collects
food donations for the
Yonkers Emergency Food Pantry,
which distributes them to families in Yonkers.
Non-perishable food can be brought to the church
any Sunday and left in the large basket
in the back of the Sanctuary.
Monetary donations are welcome, too;
checks can be written to West Center Congregational Church, noting "Yonkers Food Pantry"
on the memo line and can be left in the offering plate on Sunday.
When shopping, how about picking up a couple of things for the Food Pantry?
No matter what you can give, all donations are much appreciated!
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Contact us: Church Office: 101 Pondfield Road West, Bronxville, NY 10708 Email: [email protected] Phone: (914) 337-3829 |
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our Missions during these trying times!
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our Missions during these trying times!
View other ways to donate to West Center.