Westminster United Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Westminster United Presbyterian Church, 115 North Mercer Avenue, New Brighton, PA 15066, 724.846.7433, Mr. Jordan Rimmer.


Bob’s thoughts:

This church was very welcoming and some who met us before the service greeted us by name during the Passing of the Peace of Christ. Often at churches many life stories are offered but little listening is done. Coming to Christ is the best thing that ever happened to me, so I can easily understand and encourage someone to share their faith walk. However, as a stranger, being regaled with stories of sporting events and logistics was a little odd.

I don’t think I have ever been in a public place that was so devoid of signage. A gentleman offered to show us Fellowship Hall and I found a restroom nearby.

The Sanctuary has a neat appearance: a pine-paneled ceiling between manufactured arch joists and an impressive large aluminum cross in front with the design repeated on the ceiling light figures. The Chancel area is one of the largest I’ve seen, and on each window sill sits a wood carving of the Presbyterian Church emblem.

I enjoyed watching some children near us and observing their parents’ efforts to contain them brought back some now-pleasant memories of our children in church.

The message was based on the Transfiguration of Christ as related in Luke 9. Seminary students seem to have a tendency to bend slightly or state Scripture less-than-accurately, and it takes away from the message.

A common thread of the sermon that Transformers (the toys) always are cars/ trucks/ buildings or whatever and they can change into something else but are still what they were, but that God is always God. The disciples may have seen and known the human Jesus, but He was still God. We sometimes try to hang on to the high points, or mountaintop experiences, with God and forget that whether we are at a high or low point, He is there with us.

I was reminded of a low time in my life when I felt very connected with God and how much I missed that close presence later when it wasn’t as necessary. When He has brought you through something you may no longer need Him to hold your hand constantly, but you can trust He is still there watching over.

Jan’s thoughts:

This was a very friendly church: probably half the congregation greeted us, introduced themselves and chatted, and one gentleman thoughtfully took the time to give us a brief tour of the building prior to worship. This was helpful as I don’t believe I saw a directional sign anywhere. They also made a special effort to make sure we felt welcome at the fellowship time following the service.

The Sanctuary features a high wooden ceiling and only yellow stained glass. The very deep Chancel is particularly striking with its stone work, and on the rear wall a large metal cross is hung in front of a royal blue curtain. The indirect lighting was just right.

The bulletin features clip art and various fonts to create visual interest, although some items could be spaced differently to utilize white space more efficiently.

The music was mostly very traditional, such as “How Great Thou Art” (which I love and haven’t sung in a while), “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty,” and “Lead On, O King Eternal,” all good choices for Transfiguration Sunday.

From all indications, Mr. Rimmer is currently a student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, but I know nothing more about how he came to be serving this church. The sermon was entitled “Jesus: More than Meets the Eye,” and was based on the report of Jesus’ transfiguration in Luke 9:28-36. He compared Christ’s transfiguration with the Transformers – an imaginative comparison, I thought. I agreed with many of his statements, such as, “God is not tame or predictable,” “Fear of the Lord is appropriate,” and “Life doesn’t happen on the mountaintop.” All accurate in my opinion. However, there were two points in particular with which I had a problem.

At one point he mentioned that the high places were built to supposedly bring people closer to God, but did not mention that God despised the high places and wanted them destroyed because they were created to enable idol worship. An important point, I thought.

When speaking of God’s voice heard from the cloud by Peter and John while on the mountain with Jesus during His transfiguration, he kept referring to “what the cloud says.” This bothered me since it was not the cloud speaking, it was Almighty God Himself, and I felt a respectful reminder of that would be appropriate.