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Weekly News Friday, December 13, 2013
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Dec. Hospitality Sign Up
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Be a part of Westminster's Radical Hospitality! Sign up to be a Sunday morning greeter, to provide flowers, or bring goodies for fellowship time after worship. If you are interested in helping, please sign up through Sign Up Genius, on the sign up board to the right of the name tags in the back of Mackey Hall, or by contacting Carly Jones (330-263-2398) in the church office.
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Congregational Meeting
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Session has called a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 22nd following worship for the purpose of electing Elders and Deacons for the Class of 2016.
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Advocacy Training Weekend
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Advocacy Training Weekend MARCH 21-24, 2014 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Many types of violence afflict our world. Come to the Advocacy Training Weekend to address the causes of that violence and to seek hopeful solutions. Training will kickoff March 21, 2014 with Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day for Presbyterians. Learning will continue with our ecumenical sisters and brothers during Ecumenical Advocacy Days the remainder of the weekend. Click here for more information.
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Message from Dries
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This week we are inviting our readers to include Westminster in your year-end giving. Through our Weekly News we reach many people beyond the membership of Westminster. As a small congregation our members make this resource available to all through their giving and commitment to:
- 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.
If you enjoy receiving and reading the Weekly News, I invite you to consider a donation to help make this resource possible through giving online.
Westminster is excited as we have partnered with the The Presbyterian Foundation to receive online donations. To make a donation is easy. Just follow this link to our profile page where you will find the electronic donation form on the Presbyterian Mission Exchange site. After you have made your donation, you will receive a confirmation e-mail of your gift for tax purposes.
"Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal"
As you might have noticed for the past month, we have been  printing the hymns we sing during worship in the bulletin and projecting them on our screen under our OneLicense.net subscription. It was with great excitement and joy that we received our new Presbyterian hymnals, Glory To God, at the beginning of October. While looking through it, I discovered that the second section of the hymnal (hymns 49 to 81) has the heading, "God's Covenant with Israel". For a church like Westminster who sees its calling as that of peacemaking, this is challenging for several reasons. In my sermon on Sunday based on Matthew 11:2-11, we will explore the different nuances of the wording of this heading in our hymnal and how it impacts our relationship with a wider community, including Palestinian Christians and Jews.
My hope is that my sermon will be part of a discussion at Westminster as to how and if we will continue to use the new hymnals during worship. After worship on Sunday, I will post my sermon on Westminster's Blog to include all our readers of the Weekly News.
Advent Blessings and see you in worship,
Dries
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December CAMO Work Day
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 Last month our regular volunteer day at CAMO was cancelled due to bad driving conditions (and it was the day before Thanksgiving to boot!). This month's regular 4th Wed. falls on Christmas Day; therefore, we have moved our day to Wednesday, December 18th from 10am-12noon.
If you know CAMO, then you know Operation Manager, Claudia Caballero. Claudia, who has attended services at Westminster and coordinated our volunteer time at CAMO, has resigned her position in order to attend graduate school. Come say "gracias and adios" to Claudia. All are invited to join us for Westminster's monthly volunteer time at Central American Medical Outreach (322 Westwood Avenue, Orrville). Those who would like to carpool can meet at the Church House at 9:30am. Please let Beth know if you will be able to join us this month. Celebrate this season of giving by making a difference in the life of a stranger.
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Ways to share the Christmas Spirit this Advent Season
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 7th Annual Bethlehem Prayer Service
In Bethlehem, Palestinian Christians continue to bear witness to their faith this Christmas, as they have done for generations. Once again, let us join our voices with theirs in seeking and offering hope for a better future. Prayers, readings, and hymns alternate between Washington, DC and Bethlehem via the Internet, bringing together people of different lands, languages, and ethnic backgrounds in celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace.
A joint simultaneous service with the people of Bethlehem at the
Washington National Cathedral
Washington, DC 20016-5098
Saturday, December 21st, 2013
10:00 AM EST in Washington, DC
Join live on-line at www.nationalcathedral.org.
2) Olive oil soap is still available from Linda Barbu. Purchasing this soap will make a difference in the lives  of the villagers of Zababdeh, Palestine, who makes this soap by hand. Westminster also offers olive oil for purchase in partnership with Import Peace and Caanan Fair Trade. Canaan Fair Trade uses the fair trade concept to empower marginalized Palestinian rural communities caught in conflict so they can sustain their livelihoods and culture. They have built direct working relationships with these communities, paying sustainable prices for their agricultural products to ensure fair wages for labor along the supply chain. Please talk to Don Gordon if you would like to purchase olive oil.
3) Westminster is supporting the Hope Fund by preparing and selling our
Famous Italian Soup. As those cold November winds chill our fingers and toes, let's warm our bodies and hearts by sipping soup and helping to make life better for those preparing to enter the work force. Any day is a soup day! Order form are available on Sunday mornings before and after worship.
4) H
elp extend the Table on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is a time of togetherness and hospitality. At Westminster we do practice extravagant hospitality and the Deacons are asking for your help to make it possible. We are looking for 5-10 people to supply two dozen cookies or brownies and a few people to bring a savory item to share. Please sign-up on Sunday on the name-tag board in the back of Mackey Hall or you may notify Carly in the church office.
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Children's Education
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This week we will begin a month without Evangeline as she travels home to enjoy the holidays with her family. She will be missed, but we thank her for her enthusiasm and leadership in our Children's Sunday School program and look forward to her return in January.
This Sunday, Dec. 15, our resident painter and poet, Joe Hartzler, will work with our children to create a Christmas masterpiece on the window at the top of the stairs. Those of you who were with us last year will remember the fun of creating a scene depicting the birth of Jesus. What new creation awaits us this Sunday? Come and see!
Next week on Dec. 22nd, the 4th Sunday in Advent, all children are invited to participate in worship. Please let me know how you would like to help lead worship on this last Sunday before Christmas. Whether it is by singing, playing an instrument, reading, lighting the candles, or collecting the offering, we will find a part for you. Let your light shine!
Blessings to all this holy season!
Hope to see you on Sunday at 9:45,
Beth
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Worship at 10:45
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Sunday, December 15
Third Sunday in Advent with Pastor Dries preaching.
Sunday, December 22
Fourth Sunday in Advent with Pastor Dries sharing a meditation. Children will participate in worship, and you are invited to stay for the Congregational Meeting following worship for the purpose of electing Elders and Deacons for the Class of 2016.
Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24 Our Christmas Eve Worship will be a Service of Lessons and Carols at 7:00pm. Communion will be celebrated. Pastor Dries will share a short meditation. We invite all to stay after worship for a time of fellowship arranged by our Deacons.
Sunday, December 29 We invite you to join us in worship for an intimate gathering in Mackey Hall to celebrate the birth of Christ with Scripture, Carols, and a Christmas Story.
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Christmas Poinsettia Orders
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 As in the past we will decorate Mackey Hall with poinsettias that congregation members purchase in memory or in honor of loved ones. We will be ordering a maximum of 20 poinsettias, but will print all dedications in the bulletin. Any additional funds will be donated to People-to-People ministries.
Please download the order form in PDF and return it with a check made out to Westminster with the word "poinsettia" in the memo line to Carly Jones by Sunday, December 15th.
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Thanks to the Westminster Bell Ringer Volunteers!
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Many thanks to those intrepid bell ringers who manned the Salvation Army kettle at downtown Buehler's until Wooster's first big snowstorm shut the kettles down at 5:00 PM.
John Veney Lemoine Peart Barbara Tartir
Greg Peterson Shelley Peterson Sue Coleman
Linda Barbu Ferenc and Candy Relle
Someone sleeps warm because of you.
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Thank You from the Office of Interfaith Campus Ministry
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The weekend of November 1st, Westminster supported a group of students from the Office of Interfaith Campus Ministry at The College of Wooster to attend the annual meeting of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians by providing rides to and from Cleveland where they took the Megabus to Chicago and also by providing snacks for the trip, and a gift certificate for one of their lunches. Here are their Thanks Yous!
  
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Ruth MacKenzie's 95th Birthday Celebration
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Christmas Joy Offering
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 Supporting Past, Present, and Future Leaders
Whether providing financial assistance to current and former church workers and their families or providing opportunities for deserving students to attend Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools, your generous gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will shine the One True Light of Christ's love. Westminster's collection of the offering will be on Sunday, December 22nd at the 10:45am worship service.
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Alternative Giving Through the Presbyterian Church (USA)
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Green Tip of the Week
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Produce.
Farmers' markets may seem more prevalent during the summer and fall seasons, but many markets move indoors during the winter months or farmers sell their organic produce through larger grocery stores. This means that much of your holiday meal can be found locally and in season thanks to local growers.
The Organic Turkey.
Sadly, almost all mass produced turkeys in America are raised in a factory or farm under poor, crowded conditions that involve overfeeding with the aim of producing larger birds, faster.
Vegetarian Thanksgiving feasts are always an option, and we're not just talking tofurkey - check out delicious vegetarian menus from Gourmet. But if you're not willing to face a meatless holiday, consider purchasing a Heritage turkey or an organic turkey.
Festive Beverages.
Last, but definitely not least, you can even make environmentally responsible choices when buying alcohol. Technically, beverages can't be certified as organic because more than 60% of their content is water, but there are many breweries and wineries adhering to organic, environmentally-conscious standards when producing their products.
Check out more Green Holiday Ideas at earthshare.org
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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, December 15, 2013
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge
9:45am - Children's Education in Sunday School Room
10:45am - Worship in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries Preaching
12:00pm - Deacon Meeting in Mackey Kitchen
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
9:30am - Carpool to CAMO for monthly volunteer time
7:00pm - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
Thursday, December 19, 2013
7:00pm - Dance Group in Mackey Hall
Sunday, December 22, 2013
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge
9:45am - Children's Education in Sunday School Room
10:45am - Worship in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries Preaching
12:00pm - Congregational Meeting 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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