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Come Worship With Us Rev. Dr. Christopher K. Ponnuraj, Preaching First in Caring Mr. John Strybos, Music Director Roger Ohlsen, Soloist See the Order of Worship here (usually updated on Friday or Saturday) 
Our Friendship and Fellowship Coffee hour will be held in Bodge Lounge. Come, greet and share the joy of Christ’s love.
Looking forward to seeing you.
During the summer our Worship service will be held in our air conditioned Bodge Lounge adjacent to our Sanctuary. We will resume worshipping in the Sanctuary in September.
West Center WelcomesRev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj as our minister
and John Peter Strybos as our music director and organist. 
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This SundayOur Gospel text for this Sunday morning is from St. Mark 9:30-37. This is a very short passage, yet significant in the course of Jesus' ministry, particularly related to special instructions to his disciples. Jesus and his disciples are on a travelling mission to Capernaum, Jesus overheard the disciples carrying on a rather heady and cautious discussion of their own. When they arrived at the house Jesus asked the disciples what was the subject of their discussion on their way.
Obviously, the disciples were somewhat ashamed of themselves, for they met Jesus' question with an embarrassed silence. Apparently, Jesus suspected what had been the thrust of their secret debate and he broke the silence with this apt comment: in verses 35 we read "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." The issue here was not that the desire of greatness could be sinful in the eyes of God, but concerned something more basic - ambition. Ambition, however, can be neutral. It is good or bad depending upon what a person is ambitious for and why. Being ambitious for greatness for one's own or for greatness' sake can be destructive of the best within us and of our usefulness to others. Jesus took the concepts of "ambition" and "greatness" and put them into the framework of human conduct, and showed how this ambition to serve alone produces a type of greatness that claims our enthusiasm and contributes mightily to the common good. We read in verses 36 and 37 “And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." A simple gesture! Yet, often Jesus did this kind of thing. In so doing, he moved a critical matter from the realm of theory and into a living situation. Imagine the effect of putting an innocent little child in the midst of these complaining disciples! What would they see in a child? Plenty: no sifting of qualifications in an effort to be top class person; no struggle to name and rate one's own abilities; no score card listing of personal merits. Instead, the child portrayed humility and obedience, and did so unconsciously, an innocent freshness remote from well-worn arguments of these rustic men, and no hangover of guilt from things said and done in regretful yesterdays. Jesus "was calling upon these disciples to cherish and to keep if they could the childlike spirit and the childlike heart, the childlike way of looking at life, the childlike way of believing in life, the childlike way of wanting confidently for what life has to bring." To live with a childlike spirit will temper our every ambition and cleanse them from narrow concern for self. Chiefly, however, in conformity with Jesus' teaching and example, Christians will allow themselves to be absorbed into the community of a Kingdom where every one volunteers to be first in caring. If you would like to know more about how to be first in caring please join us in our worship at 11:00 AM. Please feel free to contact me at 917-743-1574 or ckponnuraj@gmail.com. Peace Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj Minister |
We are gathering feedback from you as to what worship experiences you have had these past few months, what inspired you, and what your needs from West Center are going forward. We really want to know what you think as to what West Center’s priorities should be in the coming months,so don’t be shy when we ask for your comments!
PLEASE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO MASK UP PROPERLY
AND PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING
-BE SAFE-
-BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER-
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer"
Romans 12:12
Stillspeaking
It's the shorter form of "God is still speaking," a campaign by the United Church of Christ to remind us that God still has a lot more to say. Since 2004, Stillspeaking has worked with thousands of UCC churches and individuals across the country to make religion relevant again and to extend an extravagant welcome to all--
because no matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey,
you're welcome here.
Here at West Center Congregational,
United Church of Christ.
It's the shorter form of "God is still speaking," a campaign by the United Church of Christ to remind us that God still has a lot more to say. Since 2004, Stillspeaking has worked with thousands of UCC churches and individuals across the country to make religion relevant again and to extend an extravagant welcome to all--
because no matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey,
you're welcome here.
Here at West Center Congregational,
United Church of Christ.
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Make a donation through your online banking service.
Make the donation to: West Center Congregational Church, UCC
101 Pondfield Road West Bronxville, NY 10708
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Contact us:
Church Office: 101 Pondfield Road West, Bronxville, NY 10708
Email: westcenterucc@verizon.net Phone: (914) 337-3829
Church Office: 101 Pondfield Road West, Bronxville, NY 10708
Email: westcenterucc@verizon.net Phone: (914) 337-3829