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Weekly News Friday, March 21, 2014
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Children's Education
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 We are hoping that you will join us on April 6th at 9:00am in the Sunday School room to color eggs and decorate baskets for our homebound members. It is open to anyone who wants to join in, so parents and grandparents bring your kids/grand-kids. Baskets will be delivered after the service that Sunday. Please let Evangeline or Beth know if you plan to help deliver so they have adequate transportation for the event.
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Our Family Labels
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The Benevolence Committee asks you to scour your cupboards for Our Family labels and bring them to the box in the narthex of the church (underneath the wooden bench of the coat rack). We will trim or remove them, count them, package them, and send them off. All money raised goes to help others achieve a better life.
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Women's Bible Study
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Just a reminder that the March Women's Bible Study will be March 25th. All are welcome to join us, even if you have not made it to a class this year.
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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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Bed & Breakfast Program
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Our website is receiving requests for hospitality for the last weekend in April (26, 27, 28) due to a College of Wooster event for accepted students who have not committed to attending the College and for graduation weekend, May 10, 11, 12, 13. Please contact Linda Barbu, bed and breakfast coordinator, if you can commit to hosting visitors for either or both of these times.
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Christian Science Program Offering
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Reflection of the Week
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This week I am on my third BorderLinks delegation to explore immigration policies and practice along the US/Mexico border. My first experience was around 2006, and I returned again in 2012. One of the most striking changes has taken place over these past eight years is the increase in militarization at the border. This change in U.S. policy was the topic of a book discussion by Todd Miller who just released his book, Border Patrol Nation Dispatches from the Front Lines of Homeland Security.
In an published article in NACLA (North American Congress on Latin America ) Todd published the following blog entry Border Patrol Agents Train for War on the U.S.-Mexico Border (March 12, 2014);
"In desert camouflage and combat helmets, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents kneel behind a white truck. One agent has his pistol aimed at an unseen enemy. Another has a semi-automatic assault rifle. In the distance stretches the brown desert landscape, the mountains, the expansive sky.
At first glance, the agents are alert and ready as if in combat theater in the Middle-East. At the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, and in the context of the persistent 30-year push of Mexico-U.S. border militarization, maybe this isn't so far off. This CBP special response team-that in its training unleashes "torrents of fire"-is part of the United States' largest federal law enforcement agency. With more than 60,000 agents, the Department of Homeland Security's CBP has become a daunting domestic army." ...>>>
Beth and I will be in worship on Sunday as we will join in a Service of Wholeness. Looking forward to see you on Sunday!
Blessings,
Dries
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Lent @ Westminster
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March
23: Third Sunday in Lent
10:45am Violence against Ourselves
Service of Wholeness with Pastor Dries leading worship
30: Fourth Sunday in Lent
10:45am Violence against Women
Rev. Dr. Linda Morgan Clement preaching
April
6: Fifth Sunday in Lent
10:45am Violence and Immigration
The Westminster delegation to BorderLinks will lead worship
12:00pm Social Justice Potluck focusing on Immigration and the experiences of the Westminster BorderLinks delegation.
13: Palm Sunday
10:45am Liturgy of the Palms
The Gomes Choir will share their energy and music during a worship service that will mark the beginning of Holy Week.
7:00pm Cantate Singers will be presenting a program of evening songs, including the Mozart Vespers, with a chamber orchestra.
17: Maundy Thursday
6:00pm Monthly Vegan Meal
7:00pm Communion Service in The Meeting Place
18: Good Friday
Meditative Service at 6:00pm
20: Easter Sunday
Sunrise Worship & Brunch (times to be announced)
10:45am Easter Service with Communion
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Adult Education
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 Adult Education for Sunday, March 23, 2014
Attendees at Adult Education this coming Sunday plan to discuss Chapter 19 entitled "Compassion" in the book "Living the Questions - The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity" by David M. Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy. The authors claim that the essence of Jesus of Nazareth's ministry might be distilled down into one word: compassion. But has this been the practice and belief of Christianity over the centuries? Rather, has it not been more about confession of the correct theology or of Jesus as my Lord and Savior?
You need not to have read the chapter to participate in the discussion.
Last Sunday's Adult Discussion covered the topic of prayer and reviewed the different kinds of prayer such as petitions and proceeded on to prayer as a personal conversation with God.
Two more Chapters remain in "Living the Questions....," which we plan to discuss during the following two Sundays, March 30 and April 6. Following the completion of our reading of this book, we plan to begin reading a book by Prof. Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer entitled "Authentic Hope: It's the End of the World as We Know It but Soft Landings Are Possible". We will be reading this in preparation for Professor Nelson-Pallmeyer's visit here on May 17 and 18. These books have been ordered.
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| Vegan Meal - March 27th |
 Westminster Presbyterian Church invites you to our monthly Vegan Potluck (typically the third Thursday of the month- we have delayed it this month due to The College spring break) on Thursday, March 27, at 6:00 p.m. in Mackey Hall, 353 E. Pine Street. This meal is a great opportunity for WPC 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). This month's program will be presented by Grace Gamble, Camille Boufford, and Nanako Ito, College of Wooster first-year students. They will be talking to us about the cookbook they created for their First Year Seminar, You are What You Eat. Please RSVP through Sign Up Genius, to Carly in the Church Office, or on the Sign Up board in the back of Mackey Hall.
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Habitat Update
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Small Churches Can Help Too!
By: Shelley Peterson
Westminster Presbyterian has a long history with Habitat, but we had not been involved for quite awhile. When we heard about the Ecumenical Build, there were certainly those who felt our membership was too small
(and generally too advanced in age) to take part. So our first step was to invite Jane DalPra, then director of Habitat, to come speak at one of our Social Justice potlucks in June to give us an overview of how Habitat
works and what the Build would involve. She and John Muskopf, chair of Church Relations for Habitat at that time, were upbeat and informative, emphasizing that age did not matter and any amount of volunteerism and/or monetary support would be very appreciated.
Once our Session voted in favor of participation in the project and set a monetary goal for our contribution, we set about fund-raising. We did one small fund-raiser - a Rubber Ducky Race (similar to the Cub Scouts Raingutter Regatta), and one larger fund-raiser - a Habitat Auction. Between these two successful events, plus other donations from both members and friends of Westminster, we were able to contribute $5000 to the project.
To keep our congregation informed and involved after the groundbreaking in July, we shared progress reports during announcements in our church service or printed these in our weekly online newsletter. We invited Heidi Dellafave to our September Social Justice potluck so everyone could meet her and her family. Both she and Beth Weaver, then interim director of Habitat spoke, sharing their excitement about the new house. During our church service that day, Heather Veney,chairman of Habitat's board and a member of our church, did a Minute for Mission, thanking us for our commitment to the project and explaining the need for potential volunteers to fill out the required volunteer forms. We set up a table in the back of the sanctuary and provided forms and pens, and announced our planned congregational workday as Saturday,October 26th.
When that day rolled around, it was a chilly one. A combination of sixty members and friends of Westminster, COW students and a few volunteers from First Presbyterian made this a very successful work day! We had some folks working at the house itself, as well as some painting trim at the Habitat office. Our members provided a great lunch and some of the students even helped clean in the ReStore. We all felt that we'd made the right decision to jump in and be a part of this project, and we're looking forward to the day that Heidi can move in!
Ecumenical Update: Beth Weaver
The Ecumenical house has slowed down through these cold winter months. We have though, finally gotten the
rough in wiring complete and inspected which allowed Holmes-Wayne Electric to get into the house and get our
electric going. We now are able to have heaters running to provide heat throughout the house (the well insulated
house I might add!). The garage drywall has been hung and we plan on getting the man door in between the garage and the house this week. It's at that point when we can hire the drywall finishers to come and complete the sheet rock process. We also need a bit of a thaw out in the weather in order to have the basement floor poured. We hope the weather breaks soon and we will push to get back to a point when our wonderful volunteers can get back to building and finishing Heidi's house.
If you have any ideas or suggestions for us and the Ecumenical Build please call me at 330 749-7458.
Thank you for being a part of this wonderful example of Churches working together to bring glory to God and stability and dignity to Heidi and her family. God Bless you all, Beth Click here to see more updates from Habitat in their newsletter. Page 1 Page 2
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| Health Kits |
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Brushing teeth is a daily routine most of us take for granted--but not seven-year-old Mohammed, who has been living in a tent city where water can be scarce. After the October 2005 earthquake that flattened Mohammed's hometown, CWS provided refugees with shelter, water, sanitation, schooling, CWS Health and School Kits, and medicine. Photo: Annie Griffiths for CWS
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As part of Westminster's response to our Lenten call to "Overcome Violence: The Power and Promise of Peace", we ask you to participate in our yearly Church World Service Hygiene Kit collection.
Please consider purchasing hand towels, nail clippers, wide tooth combs, and toothbrushes (individually packaged) to complete hygiene kits for Church World Service Gifts of the Heart. These are a component of the Presbyterian Church's disaster assistance helping those who are victims of war, natural disasters or economic injustice. Clean hands, teeth and face can bring some normalcy to a disrupted life. Church World Service is a partner organization of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
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CAMO Fundraiser
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Central American Medical outreach is hosting its 9th annual Golf Scramble at the Pines Golf Club in Orrville on Saturday June 21st.
CAMO is a non-denomination, faith-based nonprofit that provides humanitarian aid to the people of Honduras. For more information about CAMO or the golf outing, please visit www.CAMO.org or call our office at 330-683-5956. Please join us for a great day of golf for a great cause!
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Green Tip of the Week
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Water Pollution
One of the most serious hazards that pollutes lakes, rivers and oceans is the careless disposal of plastic debris: plastic bags, six-pack rings, fishing line and food wrappings. Many people don't realize how hazardous this trash can be. Here are five steps that you can take to keep plastics out of the water:
- On your boat, stow plastic trash and old fishing gear for proper disposal on land. Secure trash bags to a fixture on the boat (so that they are not accidentally washed overboard), and make sure all trash finds its way there. Dispose of trash at the dock.
- Use reusable items such as washable dinnerware to minimize the amount of plastic waste that you generate.
- Dispose of old fishing line properly. Lost line can be lethal to fish, sea turtles, birds and other marine animals.
- Clean up after picnics and beach outings.Dispose of all waste in trash receptacles to prevent debris, especially plastics, from blowing into the water from the beach.
- Break or cut the loops of plastic six-pack rings before disposing of them to ensure that if the rings blow into the water, it will not entangle an animal.
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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, March 23, 2014
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge
9:45am - Children's Sunday School in the Sunday School room
10:45am - Worship in Mackey Hall, Service of Wholeness, Pastor Dries preaching
12:00pm - Deacons' Meeting in the back of the Mackey Kitchen
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
8:30am- UKirk's Agape Latte in Old Main 10:00am - Women's Bible Study in The Lounge
12:00pm - Personnel Committee Meeting in the Pastor's Study
7:00pm - Session Meeting in the Lounge Wednesday, March 26, 2014 10:00am - CAMO Volunteering (meet in WPC parking lot at 9:30am for carpool)
7:00pm - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall Thursday, March 27, 2014 6:00pm - Vegan Meal in Mackey Hall
6:30pm - Dance Group in the Sunday School Room Sunday, March 30, 2014 9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
9:45am - Children's Education in the Sunday School Room 10:45am - Worship in Mackey Hall, Rev. Dr. Linda Morgan-Clement will be the guest preacher
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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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