WHPC Weekly Update                        July 22, 2016

 
This Sunday, July 24
 
Come By Here (New Healing)
Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 5:1-5  

Mark Ramsey       
 
8:15
Traditional Worship in the Chapel
9:30
Contemporary Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30
Coffee and Fellowship in the Parlor
11:00
Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary

Urgent Need for IHN Overnight Hosts!
IHN (Interfaith Hospitality Network) families arrive this Sunday and will be with us through August 6.  We still need TWELVE overnight hosts. If you can help, please contact Nancy Pickett today!
Session Discussions  
This Sunday is the final week to participate in the Session Discussions. Following each Worship service, in room 205.

Session has engaged in deep discussions for the last six months about ministry needs going forward, and (together with ministry teams, staff and volunteers) has identified several needs regarding Sunday mornings.
We need to connect as a Church Family.
  • Children and youth, of a particular age, need the connection of being together in one place at one time on Sunday morning.
  • We need to experience special events together as a family: special Sundays, baptisms, ordinations, confirmation, graduations, etc.
  • The strength of our church currently exists in sub-groups. We need to experience that same connection in our worship.
We need to increase engagement and consistency in Sunday Morning Education.
  • Our children need to form relationships with their teachers, and that is not happening.  Recruiting teachers for two separate Children's education hours is unfeasible and has created shortage of teachers, resulting in a lack of consistent adults in our children's lives.
  • We need to increase interest in, and quality of, Adult Education. The current Adult Education schedule severely restricts the ability to add content which will address that need - such as pastor led classes and short term special classes.
We need to increase the energy and vibrancy of worship.
  • For a service to feel full and vibrant, we need to be at 50% capacity or better. Our sanctuary seats 700 and our current average attendance is 250 (approx. 35% capacity).
  • We need to increase attendance and help young families. Having an earlier finish time, 11:30 vs noon, will address that need.
  • Children and youth energize worship and, through consistently engaging in worship, they learn to be life-long worshipers.
  • Multiple generations in worship leadership brings vibrancy.
  • Worshiping together gives us a sense of the "whole" of the church and energizes church life.
Session has determined a process of discernment around these needs.
  • Hold discussions with the congregation, in July, about these needs and a possible experiment addressing these needs.
  • After feedback and discussion, provided that no better alternative to meet these needs arises, run the experimental new schedule from September 18 - December 18
  • Gather constant feedback during this experiment and make changes as necessary
  • Fully evaluate this experiment before moving forward or making permanent changes
Session has suggested the following Sunday morning experiment.
8:15
Worship in the Chapel
9:15 - 10:15
Education for All Ages
10:30
Worship in the Sanctuary

Family News

Elder/Deacon Recommendations
The Congregational Nominating Team is seeking your recommendations for Elders and Deacons to serve beginning Spring 2017.  Submit your recommendation here.  Paper forms are located in the Narthex and the WHPC Office.  The deadline for submittal is Sunday, August 21. 

This Sunday in the Parlor - Zambia Mission Team   
Come learn about the team's recent mission trip.

Free Breakfast Tacos this Sunday! 
Want to know more about Austin Pilgrimage?  Stop by, chat with us and snag a breakfast taco. Outside the Narthex on the terrace. 

Children's Ministry Child Care Staff Opportunities
WHPC is seeking loving, responsible caregivers for our nursery and toddler rooms.  Primary opportunities are for Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings and periodic weekday mornings, with additional opportunities for other evenings, weekends, holidays and special events. Previous experience with children and a high school or equivalent diploma are required.  A satisfactory background check and training are required pursuant to our Child and Youth Safety Policy.  Hourly wage is based on experience.  Submit completed applications to Judy Crochet.
 
New Fall Schedule for Children's Choir and Children's Handbells!
The Children's Music Ministry is excited to announce a big schedule change for the Fall!  Starting Sunday, August 21, the Children's Choir will meet on Sundays right after the last worship service (and not on Wednesday afternoons).  We will be meeting at the same time as our Youth Choir, so there will be some fun opportunities to combine all our kids for multi-age singing and activities.  Children's Handbells will meet on Wednesday nights right before the Wednesday night meal.  Make a note of this change in your calendar and stay tuned to the eNews for more details to come.

Sunday Morning Schedule for Children (K-5th)
For the remainder of the Summer (through August 14), Sunday School for Children Kindergarten through 5th Grade will be offered at 11 a.m. only.  Parents are encouraged to worship as a family at 9:30.  Childcare for Infants through Pre-K is available at 9:30 and 11.
Who wants to go on a mission trip that doesn't require a passport or a long expensive airplane ride?
 
We are looking for volunteers to show the love of Christ to the children at El Buen Pastor Early Childhood Development Center. This is a unique chance to minister to an extremely lovable small group of kids in East Austin. VBS takes place in the Fellowship Hall of El Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church next door to the Child Development Center at 1208 Willow Street.  Volunteers are needed to help with games, crafts, music, snacks, movie and small groups. You can work any amount of days. It's a great opportunity for parents to serve with their school-aged children or teens and service hours will be given. Potions are open to middle school, high school, and college students. Dates are August 1-5th, Monday through Friday, from 8am-11:30.  
 
Contact Gale Vittorini for more information
Want to join an incredible team of volunteers who are making a difference in the lives of children and youth?

We want to know kids, so kids can know God. 

"Regardless of the style or size of your church, your greatest asset to building faith in the next generation is not your Bible study, worship band, facilities, or budget.The most valuable resources you have to help people see God are the people in your church who know God."

We believe that children and students need to know that they are loved and that they belong before they can really enter into wrestling with abstract concepts like faith, hope, identity, and meaning.

So, we want to give each child and student -a person and a place.

Are you someone who is willing to be that person and help them find that place?  If so, we are looking for adults who are willing to show up weekly in the life of children and teens to make an impact in their lives. (You just might be impacted as well!)

To learn more about how you can be a consistent adult in a child's life, contact Kyle Bender- kyleb@whpc.org

Here are just a few reasons why kids need consistent adults:
  • Preschoolers need a consistent adult because they can be terrified by unfamiliar faces.
  • Elementary kids need a consistent adult because they will tell anything to a stranger.  Imagine the impact a consistent adult can have.
  • Middle schoolers need a consistent adult because nothing else in their life is consistent.
  • High schoolers need a consistent adult because they only trust people who will show up consistently.
Join an incredible and growing team of adults and make a difference in the lives of children and students! Ages 19 - 119 welcome!
Austin Pilgrimage 42
Feeling kind of stuck in life?  Not sure if God hears your prayers?  Want to learn how to deepen your faith?  Austin Pilgrimage is a lay-led retreat where you will be  inspired, challenged and equipped to live the Christian life.  Join us in the Hill Country September 15 - 18.  Check it out here or contact Kent Redding

GriefShare Fall Session
A new 13-week session of GriefShare begins August 11.  Learn more about GriefShare here or contact Carolyn Strickland.
Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN)
IHN families will be here this Sunday, July 24 - August 6.  Still need TWELVE overnight hosts.  Contact Nancy Pickett.
 
VBS at El Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church
August 1-5, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
If you would like to be part of the WHPC El Buen VBS Team, contact Gayle Vittorini.
To learn more about the mission and ministry of WHPC, visit whpc.org.
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