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Get Involved
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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.
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Easter Sunday Flowers
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Help us celebrate Easter by purchasing flowers in honor or memory of a loved one. Any money raised over the cost of the flowers will be donated to People to People Ministries. You can find the form here or in your bulletin on Sunday. Orders are due by Palm Sunday, March 29th.
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What same-sex marriage means to Presbyterians
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Observers at the Authoritative Interpretation vote during plenary at 221st General Assembly. -Michael Whitman
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LOUISVILLE, March 20, 2015
As reports began to leak Tuesday evening that gender would no longer be a barrier to marriage in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), social media began to light up.
Soon Facebook and Twitter were filled with press releases, blogs, and secular news articles. Cell phones beamed with a New York Times alert, saying, "Largest Presbyterian denomination gives final approval for same-sex marriage." Then came the phone calls, pastors' letters to their congregations, and the hum of Presbyterians-anxiously, joyously, painfully-whispering, sometimes shouting, that a monumental day had arrived for the church.
The church, they all said, would never be the same. On that at least all could agree.
...>>>
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Reflection of the Week
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Click here for your last chance to voice your opinion.
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I want to thank all of you who participated in our Weekly News poll last week. We increased our participation from 13 to 54 responses. This is amazing! I am so thankful to hear from so many and am energized to build on the current strengths of the Weekly News and to start implementing your suggestions. If you have not done so, this week will be your last opportunity to voice your opinion here.
Now that 53 of you have realized that you can follow a link, I invite you to take the next step and click here to read my Weekly Reflection on the Westminster Blog. The reason I will migrate my Reflection of the Week to Westminster's Blog at least once a month is to keep our website up to date, as the blog is one of the most visited pages on our website. Many visitors visit our website to learn more about Westminster; some visit our blog to learn more about Progressive Christianity and for spiritual inspiration. There can also be another use for our blog and that is to further public debate from a spiritual perspective and you can help by responding to the blog entries. You do not have to do it under your name if your feel uncomfortable posting on the web. Another interesting benefit is that it will increase web traffic to our website which will lead to higher visibility on search engines.
This week as the season of Lent comes to an end and we enter Holy Week on Sunday, take the risk, click here , read my Weekly Reflection and join the conversation.
Blessings and see you Sunday in worship,
Dries
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Young Adult Volunteer Devin Johns to Speak on Sunday
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| | Devin Johns & her students |
This Sunday Devin Johns (COW '14) will speak about her experience as a Young Adult Volunteer for the PC(USA) in Zambia. Devin is one of three 2014 College of Wooster graduates who Westminster helped sponsor in their faith-based year of service and we are excited to have her back "home" to share her experience. She will also speak about the "offer she couldn't refuse" that brings her back to the US and gives us the chance to hear her story.
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Holy Week Schedule
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"Journey with us this Lent as we affirm that all of creation is a reflection of the Creator God"
Sunday March 29
Pastor Dries preaching and PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Devin Johns speaking on Palm Sunday. Worship service at 10:45am in Mackey Hall, Westminster Church House. Child-friendly worship. Westminster is an inclusive church.
 Thursday, April 2, Maundy Thursday
Tenebrae Service at 7:00pm in the Mackey Hall. Communion will be celebrated.
Friday, April 3, Good Friday
"Seven Last Words from the Cross/Young Unarmed Black Men"
at 5:30 pm at The Gazebo, Downtown Wooster.
You are invited to join Westminster Presbyterian Church for a Good Friday Service on Friday, April 3 at 5:30pm at the Gazebo, Downtown Wooster. This service of reflection on the death of Jesus of Nazareth will take inspiration from the seven last words of Jesus, spoken from the cross, as we relate it to the last words of young, unarmed black men killed by an unjust system. By having the service in the public square, we affirm that the death and resurrection of Jesus led to personal and political transformation as it invites us to stand against institutionalized racism and provides a space to put our faith into action. While the service takes its inspiration from the Christian tradition, this event is open to all as we work together for a more just world.
Sunday, April 5, Easter Sunday
6:30am Sunrise Service at Oak Hill Park pavilion
9:00am Easter Brunch in The Meeting Place
10:45am Easter Worship with Communion in Mackey Hall
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Children to Share Easter Baskets with Homebound Members
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This Sunday, March 29 will be our annual tradition of delivering Easter baskets to our homebound members. Under the faithful direction of Ferenc and Candy Relle, all children are invited to join in on the fun Sunday, March 29th at 9am in the Sunday School room to color eggs and decorate baskets for our homebound members. All materials will be provided. Please RSVP to Beth 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!
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| Event for Families |
First Presbyterian Church is hosting an Easter Event called Walk with Jesus on Saturday March 28th from 2-4pm. It's a family event that will take participants on a journey through the final days of Jesus' life utilizing five stations - Palm Sunday, The Last Supper, Garden of Gethsemane, Good Friday, and Easter Resurrection. First Pres would love to have any families from Westminster attend. It is open to the community, so spread the word! Call or email Beth with any questions.
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Join us for our Annual Easter Morning Breakfast
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Westminster will be hosting our annual breakfast on Easter morning at 9:00am. Volunteers will supply a variety of breakfast casseroles and those attending are asked to bring fruit or bread to add to the meal. Whether you come to our 6:30am Sunrise Service at Oak Hill Park or our 10:45am Easter Worship at Mackey Hall (or both!), you are invited, even encouraged, to enjoy Easter Morning Breakfast with your church family. Celebrate resurrection in community!
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Directory Information Reminder
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Just a reminder that we are hoping to collect all of the Family Information sheets by Sunday, April 5th. This information is very important as we look to prepare an updated directory as well as for our annual statistical reporting. Thanks for your help. Please let the church office know if you have any questions.
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Hygiene Kit Donations
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 We have enough hand towels and washcloths to assemble 45 hygiene kits. To complete the kits we still need the following donations: 34 fingernail clippers
32 wide-tooth combs
26 bath-size soap bars
19 individually packaged toothbrushes
Please keep these items in mind when shopping.
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People to People Donations for March & April
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Think "breakfast" when you think about People to People food items for March and April - hot and cold cereals, complete pancake mix (just add water) and syrup are the most needed items. Peanut butter and jelly make tasty spreads for toast, too.
The donation bin is under the bench in the narthex.
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Presbyterian Church (USA) Weekly Blogs:
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| Green Tip of the Week | 
Use washable utensils and dishes while at work instead of disposable items.
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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 29th, Palm Sunday
9:00am - Easter Basket making for Homebound Members in the Sunday School Room
9:00am - Conversation with regular visitors in the Lounge
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
10:00am - Special Called Session Meeting to receive new members in the Lounge
10:45am - Worship in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries preaching, Devin Johns speaking
12:00pm - Distribution of Easter Baskets to our Homebound Members.
Tuesday, March 31st
8:30am - UKirk's Agape Latte in Kauke Old Main Cafe
Wednesday, April 1st
7:00pm - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
Thursday, April 2nd
6:00pm - UKirk Meeting in The Meeting Place
6:30pm - Dance Group in the Lounge
7:00pm - Maundy Thursday Service in Mackey Hall
Friday, April 3rd
5:30pm - Good Friday Service in the Gazebo, Downtown Wooster
Sunday, April 5th, Easter Sunday
6:30am - Sunrise Service at Oak Hill Park
9:00am - Easter Breakfast in the Meeting Place
9:30am - Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
10:45am - Easter 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.
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Andries J. Coetzee
Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church
353 East Pine Street, Wooster, OH 44691
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