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Weekly News Friday, April 4, 2014
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Get Involved
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Joe Hartzler will be the April Hospitality Coordinator. To help Joe make Westminster the warm and inviting place we are called to be, 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 t he 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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One Great Hour of Sharing
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 On Easter Sunday, April 20th we will be collecting donations for One Great Hour of Sharing. Since 1949 Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God's love with our neighbors-in-need around the world. Your generous gifts to this Special Offering help provide relief those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry, and assist in helping to empower the poor and oppressed.
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Reflection of the Week
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Westminster's BorderLinks delegation 2014. Picture taken by Rebecca Lipps
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This week we invite you to join us for worship at 10:45am and then the Social Justice Potluck following worship as Westminster's delegation to BorderLinks will share our images from the US/Mexico Border. Of interest is a special series by NPR's Steve Inskeep entitled: Borderland: Dispatches from the U.S.-Mexico Boundary. As they drove 2,428 miles and moved from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, Inskeep shares:
"We crossed deserts, plains and mountains. But all the while, we were living in Borderland - zigzagging across the frontier between Mexico and the United States.
We were seeking stories of people, goods and culture that cross the border. Heavily fortified though it is, the border remains the place where two nations meet, trade, clash and influence one another. It's a place to see history - how the United States spread across the West, into lands that once belonged to Mexico - and a place to glimpse both nations' emerging futures. We meant to explore big issues like immigration, crime and business through the personal stories of people who cross."
If you would like to see more pictures of our delegation's time in the borderlands, taken by College of Wooster student Rebecca Lipps, click here.
I am looking forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday!
Blessings,
Dries
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Lent @ Westminster
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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 present 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
6:00pm Meditative Service
20: Easter Sunday
6:30am Sunrise Worship at Oak Hill Park pavilion
9:00am Brunch in The Meeting Place
10:45am Easter Service with Communion
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Habitat Build Update
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 Ecumenical Build Update from Habitat: "Walls are primed and we will be painting on Saturday. Next week we will begin hanging cabinets. Things should start to move quickly now. Please contact Joanne Leaman or myself to plan a group work day. Thanks and take care."
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 April Social Justice Potluck
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On April 6, we will host our monthly Social Justice Potluck. Join us on this first Sunday of the month, Communion Sunday at noon, as we "extend the table".
Local Chef Linda Patten 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 program for April's potluck will be presented by the 2014 WPC BorderLinks delegation. This group of eight College of Wooster Students will share with us their experience and what they brought back from their trip to the US/Mexico border during Spring Break. 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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Children's Education
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This Sunday, April 6th, Sunday School will be dedicated to Westminster's annual tradition of delivering Easter baskets to our home-bound members. Under the faithful direction of Ferenc and Candy Relle, all children are invited to join us at 9am in the Sunday School room to color eggs and decorate baskets for our home-bound members. All materials will be provided. Please RSVP to Beth or myself if you plan to help deliver baskets after church so that we have adequate transportation for the event. Come one! Come all!
All children and grandchildren (and children-at-heart) are welcome!
See you Sunday!
Evangeline
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Adult Education
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 Adult Education for Sunday, April 6, 2014
In Adult Education this coming Sunday we will be discussing Chapter 21 in the book "Living the Questions - The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity" by David M. Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy. The chapter, which is the final chapter of the book, is entitled "Embracing Mystery."
In the chapter, the authors emphasize the profound and enduring importance of mystery in religion. This mystery is deeply awe inspiring and leads us to seek beyond ourselves for the reality that has given rise to what we call our world. We become aware of this reality in the experience we have of God. It is a reality that lies beyond our confessional creeds and articulated theologies and leads us to embrace our world with reverence and divine love for all that is.
If you wish to learn more and to contribute to this understanding, please attend Adult Education this Sunday, beginning at 9:30 AM in the Church House lounge.
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Next Book for Adult Education & Upcoming Speaker
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 On Sunday April 16 we will begin discussing the book, Authentic Hope: It's the End of the World as We Know It but Soft Landings Are Possible by Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer during Adult Education. "The world and nation we've known are coming to an end. It s not that we don't have a future, but the future we do have will differ radically from what we have come to experience as normal. Financial meltdowns, failed wars, melting ice caps, protracted unemployment, the end of cheap oil, and unprecedented droughts, floods, and heat waves all point to one central reality: Like it or not, it is all but certain that both as individuals and as a nation our futures will be marked by disruption and discontinuity. Although this is a scary thought, Authentic Hope builds on a more positive premise: that we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to shape the quality of our future. Whether events five, ten, or thirty years from now play out according to our worst fears or our better selves will be determined by many factors, including our capacity honestly to face problems, to envision and embody alternatives, and to cultivate and sustain hope (amazon.com)."
We have four more copies available for $18.00, but you can order it yourself at your preferred bookstore, and it is also available on Kindle for $9.99 and Nook for $10.99.
Save The Dates: May 17th & 18th
 | | Jack Nelson Pallmeyer |
We are inviting you to join your Westminster family and the community on Saturday, May 17th & and Sunday, May 18th to spend time with author Jack Nelson Pallmeyer. Jack is Associate Professor of Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College where he majored in Political Science. Jack did his theological training at Union Theological Seminary in New York City where he received a Master of Divinity degree. Jack is an activist academic whose life and work are focused on addressing the political, economic, faith, and foreign policy dimensions of hunger and poverty.
Jack is one of the founders of the Minnesota Arms Spending Alternatives Project (mnasap.org), a grassroots initiative to build a state-wide movement to shift federal spending priorities from militarization and war to meeting essential needs.
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Easter Flowers
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 As we prepare for Easter, we will be collecting donations for the Daffodils, Tulips, Royal Geraniums, and of course Easter Lilies which will compliment our sanctuary Easter Sunday. If you are interested in donating a flower in memory/in honor of a loved one, please fill out the Flower Order Form and return to the church office or place in the offering plate during worship before Sunday, April 13th. All additional money raised will be given to People to People ministries.
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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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Clemency for Arthur Tyler
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 Arthur Tyler will be executed on May 28, 2014 unless the Governor intervenes. The co-defendant in this case, Leroy Head, confessed no less than eleven times that he killed the victim, Sander Leach. Today Leroy Head is a free man while Mr. Tyler awaits the death penalty. The clemency phase is Mr. Tyler's last chance to receive a fair sentence. In a case so riddled with doubt and inconsistencies, the Governor would be more than justified to ensure the integrity of our criminal justice system by commuting Mr. Tyler's sentence. Write Governor Kasich today and urge him to grant clemency for Arthur Tyler.
Get involved & write Gov. Kasich Read the full story
From the Synod of the Covenant
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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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Spring Cleaning
Traditional cleansers based on natural products often clean just as effectively as commercial concoctions that contain fast-acting chemicals. Consider the following recipes for low-polluting alternatives:
- For counter tops, cupboards, and walls: dip a cloth in warm water, add a little dish soap and baking soda (the baking soda acts as a soft abrasive to remove tough spots and light scratches).
- Drain cleaners: Mix together 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup salt, and � cup cream of tartar. Pour � cup of this mixture into the drain, followed by a pot of boiling water. Reserve the rest of the mixture for future needs.
- Air fresheners: First, get rid of the source of bad odors. Check refrigerators and trash cans for rotting foods; look under and around furniture for any items your pets may have unexpectedly left behind. Clear out cooking smells using the stove exhaust fan, then open windows and let fresh air in. Simmer a small amount of cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves on the stove to give your home a pleasant fragrance. Freshly cut flowers can also make a room smell like spring.
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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, April 6, 20149:00am - Children's Education in the Sunday School Room, Easter Basket preparation 9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge 9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall 10:45am - Worship in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries will be the preaching 12:00pm - Social Justice Potluck in Mackey Hall, BorderLinks delegation presenting Tuesday, April 8, 2014 10:00 am - Women's Bible Study in The Lounge Wednesday, April 9, 2014
7:00pm - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall Thursday, April 10, 2014
6:30pm - Dance Group in Mackey Hall Sunday, April 13, 2014 - Palm Sunday 9:30am - Adult Education in The Lounge
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
9:45am - Sunday School in the Sunday School Room
10:45am - Worship featuring the Gomes Choir in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries preaching
7:00pm - Cantate Singers Concert 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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