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Weekly News Friday, October 25, 2013
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Worship
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Sunday, October 27th
Pastor Dries preaching, as we welcome our College of Wooster students' families in worship and host them at a reception after worship.
Sunday, November 3rd
All Saints Sunday with
Pastor Dries preaching.
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Children's Education
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 Westminster's Habitat workday is this upcoming Saturday! There will be work for everyone, of all ability levels, and lunch provided. If you are interested in helping, please sign up so we know to look for you! This Sunday Evangeline will not be in Sunday School. Janelle Collier will be stepping in and talking about All Saints Sunday which we will celebrate November 3rd.
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November Social Justice Potluck
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The next Social Justice Potluck will be on November 3rd after 10:45am worship. This month's program will be College of Wooster senior Emily Cherney who is majoring in Religious Studies and Communication Studies. She will be presenting about her experiences working with and interviewing Palestinian refugees at Aida Refugee Camp (located outside of Bethlehem, West Bank) and will explain how this shaped her Independent Study. A main dish will be provided. We ask members of the congregation to bring fruit, salad or dessert to round out the table. RSVP through Sign Up Genius or to Carly Jones at cjones@wooster.edu.
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Wanted: Food Storage Containers
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The Deacons are looking for food storage container donations (gently used or new) as we look to further our food ministry by donating leftovers to those in need. Donations can be placed in the back of Mackey Kitchen on the round table.
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Message from Dries
|  Thank you, Westminster members and friends, as your response to our Pursuing Fruitfulness campaign has been tremendous! With your help we have reached the challenge set forth to you by Session. I am very happy to report that we have raised $20,000.00 in total with $5,000.00 for our contribution to the Habitat Ecumenical Build and $15,000.00 for our Mackey Re-imagining Project. But just as gratifying is your response to our signup for the Westminster Habitat workday this coming Saturday, October 26th where we are joining our efforts with that of other area churches in providing a home for Heidi Dellafave and her family. It is not too late to join other members and friends of Westminster on Saturday. See the article below for more information. Just a reminder that I will not be at the workday as I will be attending the Synod of the Covenant meeting in Maumee, OH.
In a very real way my absence at the workday is a good reminder for us as a church, as we will celebrate Reformation Sunday this weekend, that we as Presbyterians believe in the "ministry of all believers" (see johnvest.com). With this belief, we proclaim that "being a minister" is not only for "pastors", but that all our members and visitors are responsible to respond to God's call and minister, making a difference in the world.
This coming Sunday, October 27 we will welcome our College of Wooster students' families in worship and extend our hospitality to them by sharing lunch together (heavy hors d'oeuvres provided by the Deacons and Natalie & Linda from Local Roots).
Blessings and see you on Sunday,
Dries |
Westminster's Habitat Work Day
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Saturday, Oct. 26th from 9am-3pm is Westminster's Workday at the Habitat Ecumenical Build! We need everybody to join in and help however you can!
We will be working inside the house to put in the insulation. This is a non-skilled job that everyone can help with. If you are planning on helping please contact Carly in the Church Office, or you can use Sign Up Genius, but feel free to come on over even if you haven't signed up. Help at the site, help transport students, help provide lunch, or come take photos! The siding and roofing are up. Let's see how we can help, both inside and out!
Anyone volunteering must have filled out a Volunteer Form for Habitat. Many folks filled these out on Oct. 1st when Heidi Dellafave came to Westminster to speak. There will also be forms available at the site.
We've supported this project monetarily; it's time to put our hands together. See you at the 2343 Mechanicsburg Rd. building site on Saturday, October 26th!
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All Saints Sunday, November 3rd: Remembering That Great Cloud of Witnesses
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 On Sunday, November 3rd we will be celebrating All Saints Day, a time to remember Christians of every time and place, honoring those who lived faithfully and shared their faith with us. During morning worship we will recognize and celebrate "all the saints who from their labors rest". We invite you to bring a photo(s) to worship of a loved one(s) (friend/family/educator/mentor) who has died, encouraged you in life, and whom you want to remember and honor. The pictures will be displayed in Mackey Hall during worship on Nov. 3rd, thus being a very real presence in our remembrances.
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Support our church partners in Cuba! Urge steps toward normalization of US-Cuba relations!
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Earlier this week, Stated Clerk, Rev. Gradye Parsons, joined twenty-one U.S. religious leaders in a letter to President Barack Obama urging "concrete action to pursue a path toward improved relations with Cuba."
The faith leaders are calling on President Obama to initiate direct, high-level dialogue with the Cuban government; remove Cuba from the United States' list of state sponsors of terrorism; and exercise his executive authority to lift all restrictions on purposeful people-to-people travel between the United States and Cuba.
Click here to send a message in support of our Cuban church partners today!
Click here to read the full letter.
The letter backs a similar appeal from Cuban religious leaders to the president last May. A delegation from the Cuban Council of Churches - led by its president, the Rev. Joel Dopico, pastor of Varadero Presbyterian Church and stated clerk of Matanzas Presbytery of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba - will visit administration and congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. Nov. 20-21.
The letter praised the president for issuing a directive in 2011 to lift restrictions for religious and academic travel to Cuba, and to allow licensed people-to-people cultural travel. That move has strengthened relationships with church partners in Cuba and parallels a time of robust growth for Cuban churches, which has occurred alongside movement within Cuba to increase economic prosperity and political rights.
Please contact President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and your members of congress and urge them to support these changes in US policy toward Cuba. Click here to send a message today!
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Celebration of the life of Evelyn Camp Craig
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The life of Evelyn Camp Craig will be celebrated with a reception at the Wooster Inn on Saturday, November 9, following a family graveside committal service. Evelyn was 104 years old when she died on August 13. Her son Rob, who has recently retired, was under the care of Westminster's Session as he prepared for ministry. Three generations of Scott and Rob Craig's family will be in Wooster for the weekend. Others who remember Evelyn and Bill, or have other connections with the Craig family are invited to come to the Inn anytime between 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to share in visiting and refreshments. Reservations would be helpful. Rob may be reached afternoons and evenings at 812-764-0494.
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Presbyterian Church (USA) Weekly Blogs:
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What's happening at Westminster this week?
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All events can also be found on our website
www.wpcwooster.org
We hope to see you there!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge
9:45am - Children's Education in the Sunday School Room
10:45am - Worship in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries Preaching
12:00pm - College of Wooster Family Weekend Reception
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
7:00pm - Choir Practice in Mackey Hall
Thursday, October 31, 2013
7:00pm - Dance Group in Mackey Hall
Sunday, November 3, 2013
9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge
9:45am - Children's Education in the Sunday School Room
10:45am - All Saints Sunday Worship in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries Preaching
12:00pm - Social Justice Potluck in Mackey Hall
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"We are an Intentionally Inclusive Church"
Westminster Presbyterian Church embraces the "house" metaphor for our community as we worship at the Westminster Church House and have a strong sense of hospitality and desire to be a welcoming and inclusive church for all. We endeavor to give voice to a "progressive" expression of Christianity that emphasizes among other things:
- intellectual integrity in matters of faith;
- acceptance of all people regardless of race, creed, age, cultural background, or sexual orientation;
- openness toward the value of other religious traditions;
- a strong commitment to social justice, peacemaking, and the care of our planet.
Sincerely,
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Andries J. Coetzee
Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church
353 East Pine Street, Wooster, OH 44691
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