These questions have prompted scientists, philosophers, and theologians at Church of the Servant to dig deeper together, and with the congregation, into issues in faith and science. Church of the Servant has received a grant from the John Templeton Foundation to foster dialogue between the Christian faith and modern science. Program activities include a series of public dialogues in October 2011, February 2012, October 2012, and February 2013.

For details about the upcoming events — along with a recommended reading list — see Faith and Science: A Dialogue. Or see the program’s Facebook page.

For sermons from 2011 – click here.

We also have sermons from other years.

2012 Sermons:

January 15, 2012, 8:30/11:00 AM - John 1:3-5; 8:12-18; 12:44-46; Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Rev. Jack Roeda - “I Am the Light of the World”

January 8, 2012, 8:30/11:00 AM – Genesis 1:1-5; John 6:32-40, 47, 51

Rev. Jack Roeda – “I Am the Bread of Life”

January 1, 2012, 10:00 AM – Isaiah 55; Galatians 4:4-7
Rev. Jack Roeda – “A Bargain”
Ordination of Resident Pastor Ruth Lemmen

PROCESSIONAL CAROL

The Babe of Bethlehem (from Southern Harmony, 1835)

Invocation

GATHERING CAROLS

On Jordan’s Bank

All Earth Is Waiting

FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3:8-15 God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.

Hear Dorothy Otte’s reading of Genesis 3

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

SECOND LESSON: Genesis 22:15-18 God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed.

O Abram, Look Up to the Sky (Jim Clemens, from A Field of Voices)

THIRD LESSON: Isaiah 9:2,6-7 Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah.

Before the Marvel of This Night (Vajda/Schalk, Augsburg Fortress)

FOURTH LESSON: Isaiah 11:1-9 The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.

Peace in the Valley (Thomas Dorsey; Chris Smit on vocals)

FIFTH LESSON: Isaiah 40:1-5 Isaiah speaks comfort.

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People

SIXTH LESSON: Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel salutes the virgin Mary.

In This Quiet Annunciation (Carlos Colón)

Mary, Mary (youth choir; Richard K. Avery and Donald S. Marsh/arranged by Michael Burkhardt)

SEVENTH LESSON: Luke 2:1-7 The birth of Jesus.

O Magnum Mysterium (Tomás Luis de Victoria)

EIGHTH LESSON: Luke 2:8-16 The shepherds go to the manger.

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly and  Angels We Have Heard on High

Benediction

Recessional

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Feel free to email with questions about where to find these arrangements. We’ve been holding Lessons & Carols services for a number of years; check out some past services: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007.

The judges evaluated 57 submissions from all over the world, with styles ranging from metrical to responsorial, from four-part to folk to free form, and voted Browning’s submission the best over all. The judges were looking for a song that was faithful to the Psalm text, but also creative and singable. Browning brings out the humble simplicity of Psalm 131 without being simplistic. “Help Me Have the Faith of a Child” is skillfully arranged for four-part singing and piano, and offers a number of ostinato options (a la Taizé). Further, the song’s Black Gospel style brings a fresh and less-frequently heard musical voice to the Church’s Psalm repertoire.

Carol Browning’s song will be premiered at Church of the Servant on January 29, 2012 during its 8:30 and 11am worship services.

Congratulations to Carol, and to all the composers who submitted such fine songs. We hope this music will serve Church of the Servant and many other congregations for years to come. Special thanks are due the contest judges who took the time to play through each submission carefully and discuss them gracefully.

Questions about this year’s contest or inquiries about future contests can be directed to Greg Scheer.

Many of you will remember in great detail the ways in which worship services on the Sunday after the attacks either providing a place for grief and belief simultaneously, or created a dissonance between faith and reality. Ten years later, we have another chance to understand national tragedy within the framework of our faith.

Providentially, our series on the Psalms of Ascents began that day with Psalm 120, a lament spoken by an immigrant living in a land of war. We not only heard a sermon on that scripture, but also sang the Psalm in the form of Bruce Benedict’s wistful “O God of Love” and the rigorous “In My Distress,” found in the Psalter Hymnal.

During communion, we turned again to the Psalms of lament, singing “By the Babylonian Rivers,” a setting of Psalm 137, which segued right into the quintessential global song of lament, “For the Troubles and the Suffering of the World,” from Brazil. We ended communion with “How Can I Keep from Singing?” This spritely song may not see like an obvious choice for such a service, but the setting we used cast the verses in a minor key, bringing out the text’s true theme: secure faith in a world of uncertainty.

Here is an MP3 recording of a father/daughter scripture reading from the September 4 worship service. Todd and Anya Kapitula have clearly taken great care rehearsing their readings. There’s something about the voice of a child reading the ethereal words of  John 1:1-13 that allows us to hear the words with fresh ears.

And isn’t that what reading scripture in worship is all about?

These questions have prompted scientists, philosophers, and theologians at Church of the Servant to dig deeper together, and with the congregation, into issues in faith and science. Church of the Servant has received a $30,000 grant from the Scientists in Congregations initiative, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, to foster dialogue between the Christian faith and modern science.

Program activities will include a series of public dialogues at Church of the Servant to be held in October 2011, February 2012, October 2012, and February 2013.

For details about the October 2011 events — along with a recommended reading list — see Faith and Science: A Dialogue. Or see the program’s Facebook page.