Westminster Presbyterian Church, Alexandria VA

In a prophetic tale with an overabundance of the absurd, how do we stay focused on the sometimes startling, sometimes challenging, always absurd grace of God? Rev. Whitney Fauntleroy preaches on Jonah 3:1-5, 10.

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael is stuck: stuck in himself, stuck in his own ignorance, stuck in his own constricted view of reality. But when he is told to “come and see,” his willingness to go leads him to Jesus. And Christ’s seeing, and Christ’s knowing, change everything for Nathanael. Rev. Patrick Hunnicutt preaches on John 1:43-51.

With WPC Elder David Roden. Explore why Paul’s letter to the Romans became the key motivation for the reformation. Why do some modern theologians believe the reformers misread Paul? What did Paul say and what was Paul doing in this important letter? Discover how you might interpret Romans differently. Part 1 of 3.

Whatever children and youth experience from hearing, seeing, interacting with adults – in the kitchen, in the hallways, at the water fountain, in the classroom, in the sanctuary, in the choir loft – whatever they experience from us shapes their faith, for good or for ill. We are all Simeons and Annas. Rev. Dr. Larry R. Hayward preaches from Luke 2:21-40.

Matthew, Luke, and John, each writing thirty to sixty years after the death of Christ, have introduced us to Jesus with words carefully chosen and beautifully written. In contrast, Mark’s words are informative. They are important. But they are not particularly poetic or beautiful. Instead, Mark calls us to get to work, “immediately.” The kingdom of God is near. The business of life is at hand. It...

though the stories that Christian churches across the world recite, sing, and tell this night are about a particular birth of a particular person in the midst of a particular people at a particular time and place in history – namely, Jesus Christ, born as a free, Jewish male, in first century Palestine – the significance of his birth transcends the time and place and gender and race and legal stan...

Our sermons this Advent are drawn from the opening to each of the four gospels in the New Testament. We heard the beginning of Matthew three weeks ago; the beginning of Luke last Sunday. Today, we focus on the opening of John’s Gospel. Both Matthew and Luke begin their stories of Jesus with his conception and birth, not an illogical place to begin. As we will see next Sunday, Mark begins with Jesu...

With a passion for portraits and faith, artist and elder at Georgetown Presbyterian Cynthia Farrell Johnson talks about the series of portraits she created and why it’s important to her. Her faith formation and her art has continued her journey toward fuller faith and service.

Preaching her last sermon at Westminster, Rev. Casey FitzGerald leaves us with three thoughts: 1) Do not be afraid--fear is the wrong story; 2) Surround yourself with Elizabeths--those who would name for you how God is working in your life. Be Elizabeths--do not withhold your joy in naming the way you see God working in the world; and 3) Learn and tell the stories, that, like Mary, you might recal...

A longtime and favorite lecturer at Westminster, Dr. Tony Tambasco taught theology at Georgetown University for 35 years, specializing in biblical studies and ethics. December 10: “The Spirit of Advent.” Look at biblical characters related to the Advent liturgical cycle to understand our own Spirit-filled call to mission.

A longtime and favorite lecturer at Westminster, Dr. Tony Tambasco taught theology at Georgetown University for 35 years, specializing in biblical studies and ethics. December 3: "Responding in Faith to the Advents of the Lord.” Discuss the past, present, and future comings of Christ and the spiritual life that arises from these. December 10: “The Spirit of Advent.” Look at biblical characters rel...

Matthew: a gospel whose opening words would not necessarily win a prize for catching our attention. But by putting the account of Christ’s birth right after the family tree, Matthew shows us how it is connected to the broad passage of time and humanity that has come before—and how we might see the new life born in our midst. Patrick Hunnicutt begins a series of Advent sermons exploring how the gos...

"I realize that in the past couple of years, in the midst of our national divisiveness, I have been trying to emphasize two things at the heart of the Christian faith: That every human being is created in the image of God and is therefore a child of God, and that the steadfast love of the Lord is given to every human being. But our text for this Reign of Christ Sunday exceeds in emphasis even thes...

As we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Dr. Bruce Douglass, Director, Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington and Associate Professor, Georgetown University, returns to look at those 16th Century reformations. What is its enduring legacy? How does it impact us and the world we live in today? Fourth in a four-part series.

As we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Dr. Bruce Douglass, Director, Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington and Associate Professor, Georgetown University, returns to look at those 16th Century reformations. What is its enduring legacy? How does it impact us and the world we live in today? Third in a four-part series.

In this sermon, we probe two fundamental questions that appear to be at the center of this imaginatively truth-telling parable: who is God, and how do we live joyfully with this God and with all who share in God's life both now and in the age to come? Patrick Hunnicutt preaches on Matthew 25:14-30.

As we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Dr. Bruce Douglass, Director, Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington and Associate Professor, Georgetown University, returns to look at those 16th Century reformations. What is its enduring legacy? How does it impact us and the world we live in today? Second in a four-part series.

Following a tradition that began in 1982, Westminster remembers those who have given their lives in service to our nation. Several choral anthems, were offered to mark this Remembrance Sunday, with Dr. Larry Hayward offering reflections on each.

As we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Dr. Bruce Douglass, Director, Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington and Associate Professor, Georgetown University, returns to look at those 16th Century reformations. What is its enduring legacy? How does it impact us and the world we live in today? First in a four-part series.

I wish I could say that every wave returns to the sea before it does damage, that every storm is stilled before it becomes destructive, that every disease is stopped short before it claims its first victim. I wish I could say that that every international crisis will end before the words are spoken that cannot be taken back, before the first sword is drawn, the first bomb dropped. But you know tha...

Hear a panel of voices presenting our shared work and ministry providing shelter and opportunity to vulnerable children in Moi’s Bridge, Kenya. Rev. Patrick Hunnicutt and others talk about their recent trip and specifics of how we can further support our Kenyan brothers and sisters and to grow in faith through our work with them.

Like many Protestant congregations around the world, we at Westminster are acknowledging the 500th anniversary of the Reformation today. In this sermon, Larry Hayward shares what the Reformation has come to mean to him, a Presbyterian pastor in the twenty-first century. “I hope what you glean from this sermon will help you understand our church, our Reformed tradition, and most of all, where your...

John Lewis, U.S. Representative & Civil Rights Activist, is one of the “Big Six” leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. He was a Freedom Rider, spoke at the 1963 March on Washington, and led the walk that became known as “Bloody Sunday.” John has continued to fight for people’s rights since joining Congress in 1987 and received the Medal of Freedom in 2011. Fred Upton, U.S. Representative, joined C...

Is there a place for a church like Westminster: with worship rooted in tradition centuries old, with thoughtful preaching and teaching, with acceptance of and respect for a variety of people’s individual religious experiences and the differing moral viewpoints which grow out of those experiences? Will there be a place in the world for the values and practices we at Westminster hold dear and have e...

Dr. Sally Satel is an American Enterprise Institute resident scholar, a psychiatrist and a lecturer whose research areas include domestic drug policy, psychological impact of war & disasters, political trends in medicine and transplant policy. Her outstanding speaking style conveys the essential facts and stories of those caught in the web of addiction.