January 18, 2026 ALL THAT WE ARE
The gospel reading for this Sunday is from St. John 1: 29 - 42. John the gospel writer reveals to us three important things for us to follow: 1. To be a witness and to tell others that Jesus came to take away the sins of this world, 2. Jesus is the Only Son of God and 3. Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit.
We find John the Baptist playing a particular role. John the Baptist was viewed by many as the top spiritual leader of his time. John the Baptist knew his true role was that of supporting Jesus who was the Son of God and a true spiritual leader. John the Baptist knew that Jesus had been born to play a certain role in the life of Israel and the world. John the Baptist tells us in this passage that there was one who was coming after him and will outrank him.
In our passage we can also see another important personality John the disciple of Jesus and writer of John Gospel. History tells us that this person would later on be called the "disciple whom Jesus loved". Our writer at no time focuses on himself. Like John the Baptist John the evangelist (disciple of Jesus) understands that Jesus must be the focus. Both of them understand that Jesus outranks them. They understand that their role is that of being a witness for Jesus.
Both the Evangelist and the Baptizer saw their role (their mission) in life to be a witness for Jesus. They saw their mission in life to tell others what they had experienced in Jesus. It was their desire to never be the center of attention but instead to make sure that they were doing all they could do to make Jesus the center of attention. They wanted people to know and experience Jesus.
The role they played here at the Jordan River and in the writing of this Gospel is the same role that you and I are called to play. More than anything else in this life we are called to play the role of being a witness for Jesus Christ. We are called to testify about who Jesus is and what He has done in our lives and is able to do in the lives of others.
We must always remember that it is very easy to forget our mission. It's easy to forget that our main role as Christians in this life is to be a witness for Jesus. It's easy to be tempted to take our eyes off of Jesus and put them on ourselves or our own desired programs and agendas. It is easy for us to even think that the Church is for us and our needs, instead of lifting up the name of Jesus in praise and worship. It's even easy to fool ourselves into thinking that we get to choose where we want to go to church. Where we go should be solely our choice. That we get to pick a place where we like the music, where the programs meet our needs and where we like a particular pastor/preacher. And then when we get unhappy or upset we can simply walk away. The truth is Jesus should be leading us to the place that He wants us to serve.
At times, even as a connected body of Christ, we forget that our role is that of witnessing about and for Jesus. At times we get the misguided idea that our main job is constructing some building or fellowship hall. We get the idea that we have to be busy doing something but so often that something has very little to do with true witnessing. To learn more please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The gospel reading for this Sunday is from St. John 1: 29 - 42. John the gospel writer reveals to us three important things for us to follow: 1. To be a witness and to tell others that Jesus came to take away the sins of this world, 2. Jesus is the Only Son of God and 3. Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit.
We find John the Baptist playing a particular role. John the Baptist was viewed by many as the top spiritual leader of his time. John the Baptist knew his true role was that of supporting Jesus who was the Son of God and a true spiritual leader. John the Baptist knew that Jesus had been born to play a certain role in the life of Israel and the world. John the Baptist tells us in this passage that there was one who was coming after him and will outrank him.
In our passage we can also see another important personality John the disciple of Jesus and writer of John Gospel. History tells us that this person would later on be called the "disciple whom Jesus loved". Our writer at no time focuses on himself. Like John the Baptist John the evangelist (disciple of Jesus) understands that Jesus must be the focus. Both of them understand that Jesus outranks them. They understand that their role is that of being a witness for Jesus.
Both the Evangelist and the Baptizer saw their role (their mission) in life to be a witness for Jesus. They saw their mission in life to tell others what they had experienced in Jesus. It was their desire to never be the center of attention but instead to make sure that they were doing all they could do to make Jesus the center of attention. They wanted people to know and experience Jesus.
The role they played here at the Jordan River and in the writing of this Gospel is the same role that you and I are called to play. More than anything else in this life we are called to play the role of being a witness for Jesus Christ. We are called to testify about who Jesus is and what He has done in our lives and is able to do in the lives of others.
We must always remember that it is very easy to forget our mission. It's easy to forget that our main role as Christians in this life is to be a witness for Jesus. It's easy to be tempted to take our eyes off of Jesus and put them on ourselves or our own desired programs and agendas. It is easy for us to even think that the Church is for us and our needs, instead of lifting up the name of Jesus in praise and worship. It's even easy to fool ourselves into thinking that we get to choose where we want to go to church. Where we go should be solely our choice. That we get to pick a place where we like the music, where the programs meet our needs and where we like a particular pastor/preacher. And then when we get unhappy or upset we can simply walk away. The truth is Jesus should be leading us to the place that He wants us to serve.
At times, even as a connected body of Christ, we forget that our role is that of witnessing about and for Jesus. At times we get the misguided idea that our main job is constructing some building or fellowship hall. We get the idea that we have to be busy doing something but so often that something has very little to do with true witnessing. To learn more please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
January 11, 2026 POSSIBILITIES UNFOLDING
On this First Sunday after Epiphany, we got to recollect one of the most important Sacrament of our church, the Baptism. Our Baptism is a beginning in our faith. It is the desire to see the world differently, to see each other differently, and even to see ourselves differently. Baptism is a fresh start, not a destination. Baptism calls into question our previous lives, and repentance. Baptism is not a trial-free membership of our faith journey, but a rite of initiation into a way of life in which Jesus promised there would be trials.
In our gospel lesson for this Sunday, St. Matthew 3:13-17, we read about the baptism of Jesus. Jesus' baptism serves as a model for our baptism. For Jesus, baptism represents the beginning of his ministry. While some ultimate questions may have been answered when he was with John the Baptist in the Jordan River, the baptism of Jesus is one of our favorite stories of the gospel. We love to hear how the heavens opened, to imagine the dove descending, and to hear God's blessing on the Son.
First, Baptism is about beginning anew. It is a fresh start, even when we are comfortable and satisfied with our old lives. Paul said in Romans 6:4, "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life”. We emerge from baptism to walk "in newness of life”. There are two ways to make something new. We can start with nothing and make something new, or we can start with what we already have and make that new. Baptism transforms our lives, and we think, speak, live, and act in ways that represent to the world the image of Christ.
Baptism transforms stinginess into generosity, narrow- mindedness into thoughtful consideration, and prejudice into love. Baptism transforms our fear of one another into a desire for true community, our suspicious motives into open, honest dialogue, and our hesitancy into boldness. Baptism transforms groups of people into churches, gatherings of individuals into a family of brothers and sisters, and church services into times of worship. Does all that happen when we are baptized? No, but those are the kinds of things that happen through our lives as we continue to be open to what our baptism means to us.
The Christian life at its best is an ongoing transformation in which we continue to be shaped by the presence of Christ within us. In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul discusses many of the implications of baptism, we are shown what this new life looks like. We are urged to lead a life worthy of our calling, and then we are told that such a life entails humility, gentleness, and patience. We are to bear with one another in love and are to make every effort to maintain unity in the body.
Let us think for a moment who among us has mastered humility, gentleness, and patience in our relationships with our sisters and brothers? We know the kind of trouble that is caused by thinking of ourselves too highly and not regarding others with the kind of appreciation they are due, but true humility is not something very many people spend their days trying to achieve.
We know the problems created by bulldozing our way through every meeting and every conversation, but it seems to get our point across, and our agenda passed more effectively than being gentle. We know that some things simply are not going to happen on our schedule and that some things may never happen, but being patient seems too much like not doing anything.
In short, humility, gentleness, and patience are sometimes in short supply, but not so among those who are engaged in this lifelong process of growth. Our Baptism reminds us we are continually about the business of deepening our spiritual lives by being transformed by the newness which guarantees Christ's presence in our lives . To learn more please join us in worship with us on Sundays at 11: 00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
On this First Sunday after Epiphany, we got to recollect one of the most important Sacrament of our church, the Baptism. Our Baptism is a beginning in our faith. It is the desire to see the world differently, to see each other differently, and even to see ourselves differently. Baptism is a fresh start, not a destination. Baptism calls into question our previous lives, and repentance. Baptism is not a trial-free membership of our faith journey, but a rite of initiation into a way of life in which Jesus promised there would be trials.
In our gospel lesson for this Sunday, St. Matthew 3:13-17, we read about the baptism of Jesus. Jesus' baptism serves as a model for our baptism. For Jesus, baptism represents the beginning of his ministry. While some ultimate questions may have been answered when he was with John the Baptist in the Jordan River, the baptism of Jesus is one of our favorite stories of the gospel. We love to hear how the heavens opened, to imagine the dove descending, and to hear God's blessing on the Son.
First, Baptism is about beginning anew. It is a fresh start, even when we are comfortable and satisfied with our old lives. Paul said in Romans 6:4, "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life”. We emerge from baptism to walk "in newness of life”. There are two ways to make something new. We can start with nothing and make something new, or we can start with what we already have and make that new. Baptism transforms our lives, and we think, speak, live, and act in ways that represent to the world the image of Christ.
Baptism transforms stinginess into generosity, narrow- mindedness into thoughtful consideration, and prejudice into love. Baptism transforms our fear of one another into a desire for true community, our suspicious motives into open, honest dialogue, and our hesitancy into boldness. Baptism transforms groups of people into churches, gatherings of individuals into a family of brothers and sisters, and church services into times of worship. Does all that happen when we are baptized? No, but those are the kinds of things that happen through our lives as we continue to be open to what our baptism means to us.
The Christian life at its best is an ongoing transformation in which we continue to be shaped by the presence of Christ within us. In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul discusses many of the implications of baptism, we are shown what this new life looks like. We are urged to lead a life worthy of our calling, and then we are told that such a life entails humility, gentleness, and patience. We are to bear with one another in love and are to make every effort to maintain unity in the body.
Let us think for a moment who among us has mastered humility, gentleness, and patience in our relationships with our sisters and brothers? We know the kind of trouble that is caused by thinking of ourselves too highly and not regarding others with the kind of appreciation they are due, but true humility is not something very many people spend their days trying to achieve.
We know the problems created by bulldozing our way through every meeting and every conversation, but it seems to get our point across, and our agenda passed more effectively than being gentle. We know that some things simply are not going to happen on our schedule and that some things may never happen, but being patient seems too much like not doing anything.
In short, humility, gentleness, and patience are sometimes in short supply, but not so among those who are engaged in this lifelong process of growth. Our Baptism reminds us we are continually about the business of deepening our spiritual lives by being transformed by the newness which guarantees Christ's presence in our lives . To learn more please join us in worship with us on Sundays at 11: 00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
January 4, 2026 ANOTHER ROAD
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ on behalf of the Church council, my family and I wish all the members and friends a Happy and Healthy New Year 2026.
We have already listed our New Year resolutions, how we are going to follow and practice our decisions is a big challenge for us? This Sunday's gospel passage helps us to keep our New Year resolutions in order.
On this Epiphany Sunday, we see the promise fulfilled in the story of the Wise men. The Wise men are our examples of discernment. They believed the promise from Isaiah 60:1"Arise, shine, for your light has come." They saw the star and followed it. They went first to Jerusalem, where they were disappointed. The newborn king was not in the capital city.
Epiphany is the Gentile feast of faith. We celebrate not only the faith of the Gentiles, as symbolized by the Wise men; we also celebrate the mission to the Gentiles. But who are the Gentiles today, now that the church is a Gentile church? The Gentiles are the ones on the outside looking in, the ones who are powerless, the ones who are shunned and scorned. If our light has come, it is a light to be shared, not hidden.
We are to stand in solidarity with people who are poor, powerless, and excluded, to dispel the thick darkness, which covers their lives. We are to fulfill our baptismal promise as we read in Matthews 5:16: "Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven."
Nowhere is the truth of Epiphany more evident than in the Eucharist. We gather around the Lord's Table as members of the same body of Christ, heirs together of the promises of the gospel. We see the faces of our fellow Christians, and we see the light of Christ.
The festival of the Epiphany of Our Lord is a celebration that has reminded Christians since the second century that the light has already reached us. The light has already come in Jesus Christ. His light has vanquished the dark nightmares in our souls. "Arise, shine;" declares Isaiah, "for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you". Nightmares exist. Evil lurks around darkened corners of our lives, "but the Lord will arise upon you and his glory will appear over you". Did you catch the language of both Christmas and Easter here? The Light has come. The Glory of the Lord has risen.
It is no coincidence that early Christians selected this text to be read on Epiphany Day, the day on which the appearance of the Light of Christ is celebrated. The Light, born in Bethlehem, rises and shines brilliantly from the empty tomb outside Jerusalem. Epiphany, the Day of Light, connects birth, passion, and resurrection in the Church year. The Light has reached us. The Light shines in our lives today and every day of this New Year 2026, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ on behalf of the Church council, my family and I wish all the members and friends a Happy and Healthy New Year 2026.
We have already listed our New Year resolutions, how we are going to follow and practice our decisions is a big challenge for us? This Sunday's gospel passage helps us to keep our New Year resolutions in order.
On this Epiphany Sunday, we see the promise fulfilled in the story of the Wise men. The Wise men are our examples of discernment. They believed the promise from Isaiah 60:1"Arise, shine, for your light has come." They saw the star and followed it. They went first to Jerusalem, where they were disappointed. The newborn king was not in the capital city.
Epiphany is the Gentile feast of faith. We celebrate not only the faith of the Gentiles, as symbolized by the Wise men; we also celebrate the mission to the Gentiles. But who are the Gentiles today, now that the church is a Gentile church? The Gentiles are the ones on the outside looking in, the ones who are powerless, the ones who are shunned and scorned. If our light has come, it is a light to be shared, not hidden.
We are to stand in solidarity with people who are poor, powerless, and excluded, to dispel the thick darkness, which covers their lives. We are to fulfill our baptismal promise as we read in Matthews 5:16: "Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven."
Nowhere is the truth of Epiphany more evident than in the Eucharist. We gather around the Lord's Table as members of the same body of Christ, heirs together of the promises of the gospel. We see the faces of our fellow Christians, and we see the light of Christ.
The festival of the Epiphany of Our Lord is a celebration that has reminded Christians since the second century that the light has already reached us. The light has already come in Jesus Christ. His light has vanquished the dark nightmares in our souls. "Arise, shine;" declares Isaiah, "for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you". Nightmares exist. Evil lurks around darkened corners of our lives, "but the Lord will arise upon you and his glory will appear over you". Did you catch the language of both Christmas and Easter here? The Light has come. The Glory of the Lord has risen.
It is no coincidence that early Christians selected this text to be read on Epiphany Day, the day on which the appearance of the Light of Christ is celebrated. The Light, born in Bethlehem, rises and shines brilliantly from the empty tomb outside Jerusalem. Epiphany, the Day of Light, connects birth, passion, and resurrection in the Church year. The Light has reached us. The Light shines in our lives today and every day of this New Year 2026, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708