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Weekly News Friday, January 31, 2014
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Get Involved
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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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Adult Education
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 January 19 through February 9
A four week emphasis on "Criminal Justice"
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Men's Breakfast
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 Join us for the Men's Breakfast this coming Tuesday, February 4 at the Downtown Buehler's at 7:45am. Hope to see you there!
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New Hymnal Offering
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There will be inserts in your bulletin on Sunday for you to donate a copy of the new hymnal, In Memory of/In Honor of a loved one. If you are not in worship and would like to donate, please contact the church office.
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Message from Dries
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This coming Sunday, February 2nd, we will start using the new Presbyterian Hymnal, "Glory to God" in worship. At its January meeting on Saturday, January 25th, Session unanimously decided to start using the hymnal with the following stipulations.
- To add a page to Appendix 2, "A Statement on Language" to clarify the use of the term "God's Covenant with Israel" within the context of the twenty-first century and from a desire to follow the Way of Jesus of Nazareth and give voice to his prophetic pursuit of justice, peace, and reconciliation.
- To add a label to the Content Page referring to the page added.
- To ask the Israel Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to assist in writing the statement.
- To examine the new congregational study from the PC (USA) Israel Palestine Mission Network, "Zionism Unsettled," at a time to be determined.
- To give people in the congregation the opportunity to take with them the old hymnals they purchased in honor/memory of a loved one.
- To give members/visitors the opportunity to purchase new hymnals in honor/memory of a loved one.
- That the money raised from sponsoring a hymnal be used to pay for the sheet that will be added.
As a Session, we would like to extend our deep appreciation to all of you who provided feedback, whether it was written or verbal. At Westminster, we believe in the power of conversation and being in community with one another, even in the midst of potential conflict.
Just a reminder that we will gather for the Annual Meeting of our Congregation after worship on Sunday, a service in which we will celebrate community and the power of transformation.
See you on Sunday,
Dries
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Annual Meeting of the Congregation
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 Join us for the Annual Meeting of the Congregation on Sunday, February 2nd after worship. In the introduction to the report Pastor Dries wrote, "Archbishop Desmond Tutu tells the story of the Church of Sant'Egidio in Rome, home of an extraordinary community of laypeople devoted to working for the poor.'In this church there is an old crucifix that portrays Christ without arms. When asked about its importance to the community, it was told that it shows how God relies on us to do God's work in the world. Without us, God has no eyes; without us, God has no ears; without us, God has no arms or hands. God relies on us.' (Tutu, Desmond (2011). God Is Not a Christian: And Other Provocations. Harper Collins, Inc. Kindle Edition).
In the narrative to follow a picture will emerge of how Westminster gave expression to the presence of Jesus of Nazareth in the world this past year. Although our cohorts worked independently on their narratives, it is amazing how all three embraced the house metaphor, seeing Westminster as a place where radical hospitality is practiced, giving expression to our vision to be "Intentionally Inclusive." Continue reading the full report in PDF before Sunday.
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Souper Bowl of Caring
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 Westminster's "Souper Bowl of Caring" collection will benefit the Trinity UCC Breakfast Program. Each weekday, Trinity serves a free hot breakfast in Fellowship Hall to anyone in the Wooster community. The menu features a weekly schedule of eggs, toast, pancakes, bacon, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal, donuts and other goodies. On an average morning, they serve approximately 60 guests. The Breakfast Program is operated by a dedicated staff of volunteers, including College of Wooster students and some of our own members. Our Sunday School children will collect your money. Help support this worthwhile local mission.
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Children's Education
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Last week we talked about what it means to be close to God and when we have each experienced that feeling. This week talk to your family about things that we can do every day or throughout the week that help us feel closer to God and we will continue the conversation in Sunday School. We will also look at the scripture reading for this Sunday, Matthew 5:1-12 or the Beatitudes.
See you at 9:45 in Sunday School! Evangeline Smith
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Israel Palestine Peace
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 Call on Congress to Act for Peace in Israel and Palestine!
January 2014
This month, tell Congress to call for a complete halt to all settlement activity as a show of support for a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
Click here to send a message today!
Organizations in the Faith Forum on Middle East Policy are sending out action alerts monthly, focusing on different issues so that members of Congress hear consistently that their constituents support a just and lasting resolution to the Palestinian and Israeli conflict. It is hoped that through a diversity and concentration of many voices, the message will be heard in Congress that U.S. citizens want justice and peace for all in the region.
The U.S. State Department under the leadership of Secretary of State, John Kerry, is working with Israeli and Palestinian officials to develop a framework agreement for peace within the nine-month period set for negotiations that ends in April.
Days after Secretary Kerry's latest visit to the region, Israel's Housing Ministry issued tenders for more than 1,800 housing units in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. And according to the Israeli peace advocacy group, Peace Now, Israel has issued tenders for 5,349 units east of the 1967 borders since the negotiations started.
Settlement construction anywhere in the occupied Palestinian territories undermines the prospects for peace, and in East Jerusalem, in particular, changing the facts on the ground while negotiations have not yet resolved the status of Jerusalem - which both peoples look to as their capital - only serves to erode confidence in the peace process.
Tell your members of Congress that you want them to support Secretary Kerry's efforts by holding Israel accountable for its actions during this important time of negotiations. Ask them to call for a complete halt to all settlement activity in support of just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
Click here to send a message today!
There are now more than 500,000 Israeli settlers living the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Continued settlement expansion is harming prospects for a peaceful resolution.
Contact your Senators and Representative and ask them to demand a halt to all settlement activity now.
Click here to send a message today!
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Green Tip of the Week
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Keep Warm This Winter
Adding a sweater and keeping your thermostat set a couple degrees cooler are smart ways to save some energy. But there are many ways to save energy that will conserve resources and save you money.
- Install a programmable thermostat. Being able to turn down the heat for large chunks of time, such as at night or while at work, can make a difference in your overall energy consumption. Consider turning off the heat to rooms that are not heavily used -- you'd be surprised how much even these small steps can help to reduce utility bills. Learn how to button up your home here.
- Perform regular maintenance. If you have a forced air furnace, make sure to clean or change the furnace filter about once a month. Most furnaces will need to be professionally cleaned and tuned once a year.
- Insulate your home. The best way to quickly save energy is by installing good insulation. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends an R-49 rating for attics. Visit www.energy.gov to learn more about these ratings.
- Plug leaks and holes. In addition to insulating your attic and walls, another easy energy saving step is to winterize windows and doors by caulking and weather stripping. Feel for cool air around windows, electrical receptacles and pipe and wire entry points and learn how to block drafts.
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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, February 2, 2014
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
Souper Bowl of Caring Collection will be taken following worship.
12:00pm - Annual Meeting of the Congregation in Mackey Hall
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
7:45am - Men's Breakfast at Downtown Buehler's
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
8:00am - Mission Committee Meeting at Green Leaf Restaurant
7:00pm - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
Thursday, February 6, 2014
6:30pm - Dance Group in Mackey Hall
Friday, February 7 - Sunday, February 9, 2014
UKirk Retreat at Camp Wanakee
Sunday, February 9, 2014
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge
10:45am - Worship in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries Preaching
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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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