|
Weekly News Friday, May 2, 2014
|
|
|
|
Get Involved
|
Help 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.
|
|
Collier to Preach May 4th
|
Dries will be officiating at a wedding in San Francisco on Saturday, May 3rd. He and Beth will be out of the office from Thursday, May 1 through Wednesday, May 7. Rev. Jim Collier will be preaching on Sunday, May 4th and will also be available for pastoral care concerns during Dries' absence.
|
|
College of Wooster Baccalaureate and Parking
|
Baccalaureate, a farewell worship service for the members of the Class of 2014, will be held in McGaw Chapel on Sunday, May 11 at 10:00 a.m. Family and friends of graduating seniors, as well as the entire College of Wooster community, are invited to attend. Click here to find out more about the service and this year's speakers.
Due to The College of Wooster Baccalaureate, parking will be a challenge next Sunday. Please allow extra time as you might have to park away from the Church House. See this challenge as an opportunity to make a difference in our environment by walking, biking, or carpooling to worship.
|
|
Summer Worship Time
|
 Mark your calendars! Starting Sunday, May 25th, Westminster will move to a 10:00am worship time for the summer months.
|
Speaking of Movies
by Richard Figge
|
 Wes Anderson's
The Grand Budapest Hotel
is a heartbreakingly funny, sweet, gentle film. It may be his best work thus far. That's a capsule review. Let me not get ahead of myself.
|
|
Hymns for summer worship
|
 This summer we are inviting you to suggest your favorite hymns or new ones you would like to learn for inclusion in the summer worship services. Please list up to three hymns, from our new Presbyterian Hymnal and place this sheet in the offering basket, return it to the church office, or e-mail it to Carly. We encourage you also to give a reason t he hymn is one of your favorites. At each service this summer, we will include at least one hymn chosen from those submitted. Thanks for your participation. -Dries
|
|
|
|
Reflection of the Week
| This week I am very thankful for the ministry of the Rev. Jim Collier among us. Jim will be preaching on Sunday while Beth and I will be in San Francisco where I will be officiating at the wedding of a friend. I will be back in the office next Thursday, May 8th and will lead worship and preach on May 11th.
 When it comes to worship and the liturgy we use to express ourselves as a community of faith we have made a lot of changes during these past years to be more intentional as a peacemaking people. As pastor, I really appreciate your openness in embracing the new and realize that change always comes with a sense of loss and grief. I know that these time honored words and liturgy have given us comfort over the years and connect us with the great cloud of witnesses that has gone before us.
This Sunday Jim will lead us in a more traditional Presbyterian service which promises to give expression to some of the traditional language and elements of worship within our Reformed faith. As a community of faith that is open and welcoming, we embrace these differences as we know that the divine is more fully known in our diversity.
We will be with you in spirit on Sunday!
Blessings, Dries |
|
May Social Justice Potluck
|
On May 4, 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 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!
This month College of Wooster seniors Carolyn Hockey and Devin Johns will be sharing with us their journey toward a denominational year of service following graduation (see a preview below).
RSVP through Sign Up Genius, on the sign up board in the back of Mackey after Worship, or to Carly Jones in the church office.
|
May Social Justice Speakers
| |
My service story began each summer growing up when I went with my youth group on urban mission trips. Now, this summer I am returning to Broad Street Ministry in Philadelphia to lead urban youth mission trips. It's only fitting that I spend the summer where my service story began just before I embark on my biggest journey yet. In September, I will begin serving as a PCUSA Young Adult Volunteer in Zambia. I'm so excited to live, learn, and serve in a vibrant new community. The Church of Central Africa Presbytery runs thirty community schools for students who have lost parents to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I will have the pleasure of teaching these children English and engaging with  them in an after-school program aimed to help them heal through the trauma of losing family members. While it is frightening and difficult to leave behind my family and community in Wooster and back home in Erie, I cannot wait to meet and grow to love my host family and new community in Lusaka. My service story may very well have ended years ago if I didn't have the inspirational, supportive, and loving faith community of Westminster. I will carry all that Westminster has taught me about the world, myself, and God to Philly, to Zambia, and to wherever my service story leads me in the future.
Devin Johns, College of Wooster Class of '14
 The Young Adult Service Corps brings young adults into the life of the worldwide Anglican Communion and into the daily work of a local community. Starting in the fall, I will be serving a YASC year in Burundi. My commitment to service and the connection of service to my faith has really developed through my time as a member of Westminster, especially through trips to  Israel/Palestine and Philadelphia. Westminster has been my church home the last few years because of our common commitment to service. It has given me a community as committed to social justice and faith as I am, a community that I have not experienced elsewhere in college and have needed in order to grow and feel supported in my faith journey. My time with Westminster has been essential to my spiritual growth the last few years and to my decision to commit to a year of service next year.
Carolyn Hockey, College of Wooster Class of '14
|
|
Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk in Wooster
|
 The Interfaith Justice Committee of Wooster, OH and several local churches are collaborating to sponsor the Akron Area Interfaith Council Hunger Walk in Wooster on Sunday, May 4. Proceeds go directly to the Akron Area Regional Food Bank, which supports many food programs in Wayne County.
Our Walk will originate at Trinity United Church of Christ on North and Buckeye Streets in downtown Wooster. Registration begins at 2:00 p.m. and the Walk begins at 3:00. Please join in, as walkers, helpers, or spectators, but if you cannot, please consider supporting the Food Bank by contributing to one of the walkers. If you want to walk, just come and register; if you wish to help, please contact Elaine Strawn at the Unitarian Universalist Church; if you wish to donate, bring donations to the registration site, give your contribution to a walker, or send it directly to the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adult Education
|
The Adult Education class will continue its discussion of Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer's book
Authentic Hope: It's the End of the World as We Know It but Soft Landings Are Possible this Sunday May 4, 2014. The discussion will begin as usual at 9:30 and run to 10:30 in the lounge.
This week's discussion will cover Chapter 2, Ecological Economics: Healing Our Fragile Earth. Nelson-Pallmeyer's thesis is that our current exploitation of the Earth's natural resources to meet human needs is unsustainable and we need to pursue a new path to secure these needs. He rejects the belief that inventive and creative Capitalism and its profit motive will surmount the current challenges to solve the problems of sustainability he describes. Is Nelson-Pallmeyer a foolish prophet of hope as opposed to the many Cassandras of the present day who see the world as we have known it coming to an end without a hopeful vision for the future? Or is the economic reality of today our salvation for the future?
|
|
Children's Education
|
It has been such a pleasure and privilege to work with all your kids this year. I learned so much from each of them, and I appreciate your efforts in bringing them to Sunday School!
We will not have Sunday School this week due to final exams and end of the year madness. Look for an email from Beth about an end of the year Sunday School get together on May 18th. Again, thank you for this opportunity. It was an honor.
- Evangeline Smith
|
|
Thank You Westminster!
|
The Benevolences Committee of the Mission Cohort is thrilled to report that our recent collection to support the 75th Habitat House was very successful! Our current total is just over $600!
If anyone else still wishes to contribute, there are several ways to do so. The easiest would be placing a check in this Sunday's offering plate, made out to Westminster, with Habitat written in the memo. Another way would be to drop off a check to Carly this week in the church house office, or pick up a pre-stamped donation envelope from her and send a check directly to Habitat. Lastly, one can go to www.waynehabitat.org and simply click on the Donate button!
Thank you for your generosity and support for this milestone in our community!
|
|
Drum Circle Invitation
|
 "Make A Joyful Sound: A Drum Circle Experience"
is open to our extended community.
Nancy Miller, Drum Circle Facilitator from Perrysville
will provide drums and other percussion instruments for this FREE event.
No previous music experience is required and ALL ages are invited to join in the fun.
Bring your family, friends and neighbors!
Milton Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall (downstairs)
250 North Street, Rittman, Ohio 44270
Saturday, May 3rd, 10am - 12noon.
For more information, call the church office: M-F 9am -1pm 330-925-2651
or Donna Robertson home:330-927-2746
This event is sponsored by the Milton Presbyterian Women
|
Green Tip of the Week
|
Green Pet Care
Every spring and summer, fleas and ticks cause misery to people and animals. On pets, they can spread disease and parasitic infections. Then, once they're bored with frolicking in fur, they may decide to feast on you! Ouch! How do you get rid of them - without harming your pet, your family or the planet? Here are some tips:
- Most commercial flea and tick sprays contain carbaryl, which works by attacking pests' nervous systems. But carbaryl also can harm developing fetuses in both animals and humans.
- Fortunately, there are less-toxic alternatives. For example, some pesticides contain pyrethrin, a natural ingredient made from chrysanthemums. It works just as well, though it still should be used with care.
- Many pesticides don't affect insects' eggs and larvae, which represent 95% of the flea population. That may require a kind of pesticide called a "growth regulator." They keep eggs from becoming adults.
- Another way to keep fleas off pets is to add garlic and brewer's yeast to pets' meals, which makes pets taste bad to bugs. Many such products are sold in pet supply stores. But pets may need to take these remedies for several weeks before they work.
- Don't overlook the basics. Keep your pet clean. Use a fine-toothed flea comb on your pet to remove existing fleas. And don't forget to dust and vacuum regularly. Fleas simply hate clean homes.
Taken from earthshare.org.
|
Presbyterian Church (USA) Weekly Blogs:
| |
|
|
What's happening at Westminster this week?
|
All events can also be found on our website
www.wpcwooster.org
We hope to see you there!
Sunday, May 4, 2014
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge
10:45am - Worship Service in Mackey Hall, Jim Collier preaching
12:00pm - May Social Justice Potluck in Mackey Hall
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 7:45am - Men's Breakfast at Downtown Buehler's
Wednesday, May 7, 2014 8:00am - Mission Committee Meeting at the Greenleaf
7:00pm - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
Thursday, May 8, 2014
6:30pm - Dance Group in Mackey Hall
Sunday, May 11, 2014
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
9:30am - Adult Education in the Lounge
10:00am - College of Wooster Baccalaureate Service in McGaw Chapel
10:45am - Worship Service in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries preaching
|
|
"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,
|
|
Andries J. Coetzee
Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church
353 East Pine Street, Wooster, OH 44691
|
|
|
|
|
