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Weekly News Friday, February 14, 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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New Hymnal Offering
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Envelopes are available in Mackey Hall for you to donate a copy of the new hymnal, In Memory of/In Honor of a loved one for $15.00. If you are not in worship and would like to donate, please contact the church office.
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Children's Education
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I hope you all enjoyed Scout Sunday last week! The UKirk retreat was wonderful. You'll get to hear all about it on Sunday, as UKirk leads worship!
This week in Sunday School we are going to dissect Sunday's scripture reading, Psalm 139:1-18.
I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday. Evangeline Smith
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Message from Beth
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This picture was taken just last night in the Western Cape of South Africa. It fills my heart with gladness, as I know the deep joy Dries' visit has brought to him and his family. And there's no better example of that place of love and sharing than around the braai (grill)! Dries has spent countless hours under the tutelage of his father, perfecting his technique, becoming one with the meat, pondering life... Zen and the Art of the South African Braai! It's their national pastime, but something even deeper to the Coetzee family. Thank you, Westminster, for so generously encouraging this opportunity for them to reunite, rest, and renew the ties that bind.
Our UKirk retreat last weekend was all we hoped for and more. Come meet some of our UKirk students and learn more about who we are this Sunday in worship. I'm really looking forward to seeing you at church!
Blessings,
Beth
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Boy Scout Cake Auction
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 Westminster is invited to join our Boy Scout Troop 61 on Tuesday, February 25th at 6pm in Mackey Hall (auction starting at 6:30 sharp) for the Boy Scout Cake Auction. Money raised through the auction will be used for camp scholarships for each boy. Half of what is earned will be donated back to Westminster for your own events and scholarships. The theme is "Camping" and each boy is required to make one cake based on this theme. So join us on the 25th and bring your sweet tooth! |
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March Social Justice Potluck
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On March 2nd, we will host our monthly Social Justice Potluck. Join us as we "extend the table". Local chef Linda Pattin will again provide the main dish.  We invite you to bring a salad or dessert to round out the table. Students needn't bring food, just come!
The speaker for the March Social Justice Potluck will be College of Wooster junior Teresa Butel who will be presenting on her I.S. topic "Refugee Identity Crisis in the Middle East". The current hot topic about the Middle East is the refugee crisis sparked by the continuing Syrian war. While studying abroad in Jordan last semester, Teresa was confronted by this reality every day. Teresa's research was inspired by a comment made during a lecture on Palestinian refugees: "If Israelis make a claim to a homeland based on biblical recordings from centuries past, how can they not expect Palestinians to do the same based on recent memory?" Teresa's presentation will compare factors that impact the formation and maintenance of refugee identity in Palestinian and Syrian refugee communities living in the city of Amman, Jordan.
RSVP through Sign Up Genius, to Carly in the church office, or the sign up board in the back of Mackey Hall.
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Ash Wednesday Service
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In what has now become an annual tradition, you are invited to attend a joint Ash Wednesday potluck and service between First and Westminster Presbyterian Churches on Wednesday, March 5. Each year one of our churches hosts the service and this year the service will take place at Westminster.
At 6:00pm we will gather in The Meeting Place for a potluck in which we will share our abundance with one another. Please bring enough food for your family and others who might join us (dishes and eating utensils will be provided).
At 7:00pm we will gather in Mackey Hall for a meditative worship service entitled "Overcome Violence: The Power and Promise of Peace." During the service you will be invited through mindfulness, prayer, reflection, and the imposition of ashes to become more aware of our culture of violence and how we contribute to it through word and deed. As we begin our Lenten journey, accompanying Jesus as he carries the cross of nonviolent resistance, we will be invited to participate in a "Lenten Fast from Violence" as we work to bring about his kin-dom of justice and peace.
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February Vegan Meal
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Join Westminster for our monthly Vegan Potluck (third Thursday of most months) on Thursday, February 20, at 6:00 p.m. in Mackey Hall. This meal is a great opportunity for Westminster members, Wooster community members, and College of Wooster students to enjoy delicious food and good fellowship while learning more about sustainable living. Just bring a pot-luck dish containing no meat, dairy, or eggs (no need for students to bring a dish, but always welcome).
Come early at 4:45 for "Cooking with Natalie" as she will be doing a demonstration of Thai tofu tacos/lettuce wraps.
Program: Come hear College of Wooster first years, Elizabeth Burroughs and Chrissy O'Grady talk about "WWOOF-ing," (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms: Linking volunteers with organic farms and growers). The goal of the organization is to provide an environment where a visitor can live on a farm (for as long as they want to) and help with the daily farm work. The hosting farms and the visitors do not exchange money but exchange services.
RSVP through Sign Up Genius, after worship on the sign up board in the back of Mackey Hall by the nametags, or to Carly in the Church office.
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Green Tip of the Week
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Hopeless romantics love it. Cynics despise it. No one can avoid it -- Valentine's Day is here! Whatever your feelings are about the holiday, take the opportunity to show appreciation for the one who loves you unconditionally: Mother Nature.
- Give Eco-Friendly Chocolate.
- Send an eCard.
- Buy Local Flowers.
- Ditch Dirty Gold. Did you know that the manufacture of an average gold ring creates more than 20 tons of mining waste? Yikes!
- Love Your Honey (Bees). Bees are in trouble.
- Let Nature Inspire Your Valentines.
- Love Your Local Bank.
- Rethink Generosity. The Acumen Fund is re-branding Valentine's Day as "Generosity Day". On February 14, people are encouraged to practice simple acts of kindness.
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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 16, 2014 9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall 9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge9:45am- Children's Education in the Sunday School room 10:45am - Worship in Mackey Hall, UKirk will be leading worship Tuesday, February 18, 2014 10:00am - Mission Cohort Meeting in The Lounge
2:00pm - Congregational Life Cohort Meeting in the Pastor's Study Wednesday, February 19, 2014 7:00pm - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall Thursday, February 20, 2014 6:00pm - Vegan Potluck in Mackey Hall
6:30pm - Dance Group in The Meeting Place Sunday, February 23, 2014 9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall 9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge9:45am- Children's Education in the Sunday School room 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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