|
Weekly News Friday, November 14, 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 sheet in Mackey Hall, or by contacting Carly Jones 330-263-2398) in the church office.
|
|
Worship At Westminster
|
Sunday, November 16, 2014
10:45am Worship service. Stewardship Commitment Sunday with Pastor Dries preaching.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
10:45am Worship service. Pastor Dries preaching.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
10:45am Worship service. First Sunday of Advent with Pastor Dries preaching.
|
|
Non- Discrimination Campaign
|
 Many LGBTQ Ohioans live and work in fear that their sexual orientation or gender identity will cost them their home and their job. Imagine the relief The Equal Housing and Employment Act could give to LGBTQ Ohioans. Ohio has waited long enough for this law, let's do all we can in the coming weeks to ensure LGBTQ people do not have to wait and worry any longer. In order to broaden and deepen our faith-based educational efforts with Ohio decision-makers, Equality Ohio has announced FAITH WEEK, November 17-21. The eyes of lawmakers will be turned to the faith community to find out what people of faith think about this legislation.
Here are ways in which you can make a difference:
1) Write a hand written letter to Ron Amstutz, State Representative for the 1st District of the Ohio House of Representatives, and return it to the Church Office by Sunday, November 16th. See example here.2) Write a letter to the editor of The Daily Record. With just 250 words, you can demonstrate how much Presbyterians support equal protections for LGBTQ people in the state of Ohio.
3) Join Pastor Dries on Tuesday, November 18 in Columbus at 10:00am to attend the Faith Week Press Conference, Rally at the Statehouse and meeting with our State Representative, Ron Amstutz.
|
|
|
|
Reflection of the Week
|
 This coming Sunday, November 16, is Stewardship Commitment Sunday. As we prayerfully consider our financial commitment this coming weekend to the ministry of Westminster, I want you to keep in mind that turning in your pledge card and making your financial commitment is a symbolic action of a commitment much deeper and broader.
The commitment I am talking about, and that Stewardship represents, is a willingness to respond to the transforming ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. This transformation Jesus talked about, and lived, asks from us a commitment to journey within community and a willingness to transform as we continually become more aware and mindful to the present moment. Evangelical and Social Justice activist, Jim Wallis calls this transformation, conversion, and says the following about it;
"Christianity is not a religion that gives some people a ticket to heaven and makes them judgmental of all others. Rather, it's a call to a relationship that changes all our other relationships. ... it brings us into a new relationship with our neighbor, especially with the most vulnerable of this world, and even with our enemies. But we don't always hear that. ... ours is a shallow and selfish age, and we are in need of conversion - from looking out just for ourselves to also looking out for one another. It's time to hear and heed a call to a different way of life, to reclaim a very old idea called the common good. ... That better way of life was meant to benefit not only Jesus's followers but everybody else too."[1]
Transformation through generosity is Stewardship. A life of of joy, compassion, forgiveness, and work for justice!
 Talking about justice! This coming Tuesday I invite you to join me as Wooster area churches (Westminster Presbyterian Church, Trinity United Church of Christ, St. James Episcopal Church, and the Wooster Unitarian Universalist Fellowship) go to Columbus for the nondiscrimination Day of Action. If you are in the Columbus area on Tuesday or want to travel with Beth and me for the Press Conference at 10:00 am (where Pastor Dries will be the Master of Ceremonies), followed by advocacy training, lunch, and legislative visits. Contact me if you plan to join us or if you would like to carpool.
If you are not able to join us, please consider writing a handwritten letter to our representative, Ron Amstutz, and share with him why you think we need Ohio state laws to protect LGBT folks from discrimination in housing and work. Here is an example that will help you pen the letter, or even better, join a group of Westminster members after worship on Sunday as we write a letter in community. This coming Sunday promises to be transformational, as Westminster is a place where you can be yourself, where you will be accepted, and where you can make a difference!
Blessings, Dries |
|
Olive Oil
| |
 Free-trade, organic Palestinian olive oil is available for purchase at $20 a bottle for 750 ml. This is a great gift for a Thanksgiving host/hostess instead of a bottle of wine or flowers. Please contact Linda Barbu (330-345-7112) to arrange delivery.
|
|
|
|
|
November Vegan Potluck
| 
We look forward to seeing you at the Vegan Potluck on Thursday, November 20th, at 6:00 p.m. in Mackey Hall. 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).
This month our Cooking with a Conscience class will be learning how to make vegan, gluten-free mini caramel cheesecakes that are creamy, slightly tart, perfectly sweet, and 100% irresistible. Better than real cheesecake and the perfect healthy, simple dessert to feed a crowd (or just you). Please join us at 4:45pm for Natalie's class.
Our program this month will be a group representing the 15 College of Wooster students and 1 staff member who traveled to Detroit during Fall Break to work with the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative. They will present on some challenging community issues facing the MUFI such as: vacant land, poor diet, nutritional illiteracy, and food insecurity.
RSVP through Sign Up Genius, during fellowship after worship on Sunday, or to Carly in the church office.
|
November Donations for People to People
| 
People to People collection suggestions: Holiday foods are welcome this month
including dessert mixes, potatoes, quick bread mixes, canned vegetables, canned fruit and applesauce. The pantry is also low on peanut butter, jelly and crackers among
others. Thank you for your contributions!
|
Hearty Italian Soup is back!
|  On October 29th, twelve plus ABLE students, Sue Coleman from Westminster Presbyterian, and 2 HOPE Fund committee members gathered in the kitchen at Central Christian to test our culinary skills and enjoy a bowl of Famous Italian Soup, sold by the Westminster Presbyterian Church Benevolences Committee. Carrots, onions and tomatoes were chopped; sausage was fried, and broth was simmered; zucchini and peppers from Lee's garden were added and garlic was pressed. Another secret ingredient and special spices were added and we waited in anticipation for a taste of that delicious aroma filling the kitchen and creeping up the stairs. We had such fun working together and learned a little bit about cooking and about each other. Thank you Westminster for providing us this opportunity, Central Christian for providing the kitchen and the ABLE students for getting involved in a mission to make us all better stewards of the world. Westminster has generously supported the ABLE/GED test scholarship program through the HOPE Fund for 3 years with proceeds from the soup sale. The mission of the HOPE Fund is to help adult students get and keep jobs; current initiatives include a gas voucher program at the Career Center, a book loan program at Wayne General, an Employment Resource Fund at the Counseling Center and the scholarship program through ABLE. Please contact Lemoine Peart if you are interested in more info on the HOPE Fund.
The Benevolences Committee will have regular, vegan, and gluten-free varieties for $8 a quart (frozen) available after services on Sundays for easy pick up. Enjoy home-made soup, a meal you don't have to cook, and at the same time, help community members prepare for employment.
|
| Green Tip of the Week | 
"When I learned to drive, I was told it was more wasteful to turn off a vehicle and restart it than it was to leave it idling for a few minutes. I'm afraid I'm showing my age because thanks to efficient electric ignitions in today's vehicles, idling a car for just 10 seconds burns more fuel than restarting it." from Upworthy.com
|
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!
Saturday, November 15th
11:00am - Bob Nye Memorial Service in McGaw Chapel
Sunday, November 16th
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
10:45am - Stewardship Commitment Sunday, Worship in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries preaching
Monday, November 17th
5:15pm - Finance Committee Meeting in Lowry Center
Tuesday, November 18th
8:30 - UKirk's Agape Latte in Kauke's Old Main Cafe
10:00am - Nondiscrimination Press Conference, Columbus Ohio
1:00pm - Food Ministry Meeting in the Lounge
Wednesday, November 19th
10:00am - CAMO Work Day (meet in church parking lot at 9:30am to carpool)
7:00pm - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
Thursday, November 20th
2:00pm - Congregational Life Cohort
6:00pm - Vegan Potluck in Mackey Hall
6:30pm - Dance Group in The Meeting Place
Sunday, November 23rd
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
10:45am - Worship 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.
|
|
Andries J. Coetzee
Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church
353 East Pine Street, Wooster, OH 44691
|
|
|
|
|
