This Sunday’s Worship: February 14
(Sunday, February 14 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)
Scripture: II Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9
Hymns: God Is Here; Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me; Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Service Preview (Online):
Sermon: “Love Changes Everything” by Rev. James Reisner
Jesus goes up a mountain with three of his closest disciples. There he is transfigured – the Greek word is "metamorphosized." His appearance is radically transformed into bright light. A voice descends from heaven saying, “This is my beloved. Listen to him.”
Worship Video and Audio, February 7
Links to the video and audio of the online worship service held on Sunday, February 7th at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church are available.
This Sunday’s Worship: February 7
(Sunday, February 7 At 11 AM, Communion Service, Live-Streamed On Zoom)
Scripture: Isaiah 40:27-31; Mark 1:29-39
Hymns: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise; The Church of Christ in Every Age; God of Grace and God of Glory
Service Preview (Online):
Sermon: “Let Us Go On” by Rev. James Reisner
Jesus began his ministry in his hometown. As word got out, a great crowd gathered seeking healing and eager to hear from this new prophet. Jesus went out to a quiet place at night to seek some solitude and rest. Peter and the others found him and summoned him to return home, but Jesus said, “Let us go on.” They set out for other towns in the region.
Worship Video and Audio, January 31
Links to the video and audio of the online worship service held on Sunday, January 31st at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church are available.
This Sunday’s Worship: January 31
(Sunday, January 31 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)
Scripture: I Kings 3:5-15; Mark 1:21-28
Hymns: All Beautiful the March of Days; What a Friend We Have in Jesus; I Want to Be a Christian
Service Preview (Online):
Sermon: “What Have You to Do with Us, Jesus?” by Rev. James Reisner
In the first public act of his ministry, according to Mark, Jesus goes to the synagogue on the sabbath in Capernaum. There, an unclean spirit who is possessing a young man with epilepsy cries out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus?” In other words, "Leave me alone."
Worship Video and Audio, January 24
Links to the video and audio of the online worship service held on Sunday, January 24th at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church are available.
This Sunday’s Worship: January 24
(Sunday, January 24 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)
Scripture: Jonah 3:10-4:11; Ephesians 4:25-32
Hymns: Praise, My Soul, the God of Heaven; Inspired by Love and Anger; Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life
Sermon: “Angry Enough to Die” by Rev. James Reisner
We all know the beginning of the Book of Jonah – the whale and all that. The end of the book is a good read, too. When Jonah preaches “Repent or Die” in the streets of Ninevah the people believe him. They repent. And so God relents, and does not destroy the city. This makes Jonah angry – angry enough to die. He had preached destruction and now he wants to see it. He wants to be vindicated.
Worship Video and Audio, January 17
Links to the video and audio of the online worship service held on Sunday, January 17th at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church are available.
This Sunday’s Worship: January 17
(Sunday, January 10 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)
Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-18; John 1:43-50
Hymns: My Lord! What a Morning; I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me; Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing
Service Preview (Online):
This Sunday we will be celebrating the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and recommitting ourselves to the work of racial justice during these difficult times. Our worship will include two opportunities for small breakout discussions, first on the scriptures and then on our reactions to policing and white supremacy. There will also be an opportunity to take action in support of police reform during the current Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis.
Worship Video and Audio, January 10
Links to the video and audio of the online worship service held on Sunday, January 10th at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church are available.
This Sunday’s Worship: January 10
(Sunday, January 10 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)
Scripture: Romans 8:31-39; Mark 1:4-11
Hymns: All Creatures of Our God and KingShall We Gather at the RiverHow Firm a Foundation
Sermon: “Secure in Life’s Alarms” by Rev. James Reisner
The first Sunday after Epiphany is traditionally called The Baptism of our Lord. The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is another act of revealing (or epiphany) of who Jesus is. In Mark’s Gospel, the story of the baptism ends with a descending dove, and a voice resounding from heaven and declaring, “You are my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Worship Video and Audio, January 3
Links to the video and audio of the online worship service held on Sunday, January 3rd at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church are available.
This Sunday’s Worship: January 3
(Sunday, January 3 At 11 AM, Ephiphany Communion Service, Live-Streamed On Zoom)
Scripture: Psalm 72:1-7,10-14; Matthew 2:1-12
Hymns: We Three Kings of Orient Are; What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright; Sing of God Made Manifest
Sermon: “Wiser” by Rev. James Reisner
The Magi unwittingly bring Herod into the story of their pilgrimage to Bethlehem. While their motives are pure and their devotion enduring, the Magi’s naïvete regarding the intentions of the political powers leads to the atrocity of the slaughter of the innocents. Later, Jesus would teach his disciples to be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves. Part of being a follower of a star, or a rabbi, is gaining in wisdom as we travel along. Can we become wiser as to the ways of the world without succumbing to the temptations of lesser gods and baser instincts?
Adult Ed: Rethinking Public Safety
This year's heightened urgency about current policing in the US and its impact on people of color in our society and communities led a subgroup of the Committed Racial Mindfulness Ministry to begin meeting and working as TPPC Presbyterians for Police Transformation. On Tuesday, January 5, and Monday, January 11, 7:30-8:45, this group will lead an Adult Education class.
Worship Video and Audio, December 27
Links to the video and audio of the online worship service held on Sunday, December 27th at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church are now available.
This Sunday’s Worship: December 27
(Sunday, December 27 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)
Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40
Hymns: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; Go, Tell It on the Mountain; Away in the Manger; Good Christian Friends Rejoice
Sermon: “The Fullness of Time” by Rev. James Reisner
“We are all meant to be mothers of God. What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine [One] takes place unceasingly, but does not take place within myself? And, what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also full of grace? What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to the Son if I do not also give birth to him in my time and my culture? This, then, is the fullness of time: When the [Incarnate One] is begotten in us.” --Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)
Christmas at TPPC, 1944
For Christmas 1944, Takoma Park Presbyterian Church put out a pamphlet listing all the men and women from the church who were in the service. We provide this to remind us of another time when people were forced to spend Christmas far away from loved ones while the world was confronting a deadly, though very different, threat.
Worship Video and Audio, Christmas Eve
Links to the video and audio of the online worship service held on Christmas Eve at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church are now available.
Christmas Eve Worship: December 24
(Thursday, December 24 At 5 PM, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Live-Streamed On Zoom)
Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
Hymns: O Come, All Ye Faithful; Hark, the Herald Angels Sing; O Little Town of Bethlehem; Away in the Manger; Joy to the World; Silent Night
Christmas Meditation: “From Bedlam to Bethlehem” by Jim Reisner
TPPC celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ with a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols, with familiar songs, anthems, and the telling of the Christmas story.
Worship Video and Audio, December 20
Links to the video and audio of the online worship service held on Sunday, December 20th at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church are now available.