Did you know that we have always been required to pay a membership fee, for each member on our role? We have never wanted to officially charge a membership fee, but I feel it is imperative that everyone knows that this is a true expense and if nothing else, we ask you to help us generate the income to meet that fixed expense. This membership fee helps us maintain the work of the wider church at the regional levels. The fee at present is $35.00
If you have children who have been confirmed and have never transferred their memberships, we are charged for their membership as well. For example, my own family... Bob and I and our two confirmed daughters equals 4 times the membership fee. It is not by household.
When I was called to be your full time minister last July, I agreed to provide the spiritual direction for this congregation and to help Westminster, through the appropriate action groups, to build a solid financial future. This is why I am writing to you all so that you will know the need. We mail close to 400 letters to folk who wish to be affiliated with Westminster United in some way or another. We need the financial support or the "on hands support" of each and every one of you. Our budget this year reflects the needs of a church that wants to grow and not decline. It takes time to grow and it takes financial support. I was having a conversation with a person at the arena the other day and we talked about how much money we spend in providing for the physical well being of our children e.g. hockey registration or the artistic well-being of our children e.g. music, dance, art lessons. We talked about the spiritual well being of our children and this person said..."I did not know how much it costs to staff and run programs for a church...people need to know that information because we assume the church will always be there!" "That is a nice thought" I said, "But that is not a true assumption".
Watch for your letter and please respond in some way. If you cannot give now but see yourself helping in the future please tell us! It is difficult to plan without a commitment of some kind. History has told us that in economic hard times people return to the church for spiritual comfort... we want to be alive and well to receive the seekers!
Minster of Music - Our Minster of Music search committee is actively working.
Thanks to Joan Borden for co-ordinating music through this time and for all the musicians who are helping out. Special thanks to Joy Bell and Kae Cartwright
On lighter note.....
On April 5th, Christians all over the world will celebrate
Palm Sunday, a day when we remember how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a colt and people spontaneously laid cloaks and palm branches before Him in honour of the one who they believed would be their new king. During this service, we will have a guest violinist and we will receive 4 youth through
Baptism and Confirmation.
In the evening, April, 5 at 7:00 p.m., Westminster will host an outstanding performance of professional actor Matthew Gibson as he recounts
the Gospel of Mark in the King James Version. This is a wonderful performance. Free Will offering. Bring your friends.
For those who wish to learn more about Jesus and the Easter Story, tune into Vision T.V.
Vision TV beginning this Monday at 10 pm. Will run "The Son and the Sacrifice" a two week series exploring the meaning of Easter. Please check out this website.
http://www.visiontv.ca/Programs/specials_easter2009.html The Lenten Study continues for the next 2 weeks on Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday at 7:30 p.m., we will remember the death of Jesus and reflect on the significance of this historic event. Mary Elizabeth Piercy, candidate for Diaconal Ministry, has provided excellent leadership with Rev. Sandra.
Easter Sunday we are invited to the farm of Steve Brown for an
Easter Sunrise service at 8:00 a.m. (pot-luck breakfast). It is a wonderful experience!
10:30 a.m. we will hold our
regular worship complete with the traditional live daffodil cross as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.
Farewell to Mary Elizabeth Piercy our Diaconal Ministry Student April 19thThe congregation will express their thanks to Mary Elizabeth Piercy for her work within our congregation this past school year. She has provided leadership in the Prayer Shawl Ministry, the Confirmation Classes, in worship and Lenten Study. Mary Elizabeth has shadowed Rev. Sandra in her pastoral care endeavours, completed course work, and spent time at Headwaters Health Care Centre, under the supervision of Rev. Barbara Moulton. Thanks to Cynthia Zander, Joan Brailey and Irwin Henderson for serving on her "Supervision Team"
Providing student placements for candidates for ministry is one of the wonderful things that Westminster can do for the greater work of the United Church. Rev. Sandra has enjoyed this supervisory role.
On 
