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With this week's focus on community, we join the Session's discussion on Tuesday, April 28 as we pondered Westminster's identity as a peacemaking community. During a time of meditation we reflected on a quote from Craig Hovey, Executive Director of the Ashland Centre of Nonviolence:
"When I speak about nonviolence, I often make two points: being against violence and being for nonviolence. I notice that the "against violence" point typically goes down fairly well. Despite their views on war, capital punishment, and other such topics, most people think of themselves as basically against violence. When it comes to being "for nonviolence," however, I notice that I usually need to do a bit more explaining. Nonviolence is a spirit, a way of being. Martin Luther King said that nonviolence doesn't just mean avoiding physical violence, but also cultivating a nonviolent spirit. "You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him." Gandhi also spoke about the "religion of nonviolence" as rooted in the realization that human dignity requires a spirit whose strength derives from obedience to a higher law: holding fast to what is true, especially the superiority of compassion. When we put it this way, we get a sense of why peace is so difficult. Doing something is easy; being something is hard." (Newsletter, April 23, 2015)
 Reflecting on this quote and the ministry of Westminster I would love to hear your perspective on the difference between "doing something" and "being something" as it relates to our community of faith. Please e-mail me at acoetzee@wooster.edu.
Speaking about community, please join us for Sunday School at 9:30 (see below) as we engage in conversation about Wooster's "Tent City"; respond to Presbyterian Church Disaster Assistance's plea for help to reach out to the people of Nepal (see below); and join after worship anytime from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm at the Wooster Community Hospital's GreenPoint Garden to tour our garden beds for the summer (see below).
Furthermore, now is the time to share with your family, friends, and neighbors information about our joint worship service and fundraiser with the Quakers on May 17 at 10:45 as we focus on the US/Mexico Border crisis and family detention. We will hear from Wooster native and immigration attorney Brian Hoffman as our guest speaker (see below).
Blessings and see you in worship on Sunday as we celebrate our journey with The College seniors!
Dries
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 Food & Faith |
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| | In the summer of 2011 Westminster participated in the Wooster People's Garden |
You are invited to join us this Sunday, May 3rd after church anytime from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm at the Wooster Community Hospital's GreenPoint Garden to see our garden beds for the summer. We can also weed at the same time, if anyone would like to! Everyone is welcome to come and tour the garden even if you feel your gardening days are long gone.
The Presbyterian Church U.S.A Hunger Program states that "faith communities can play a pivotal role in building local food systems that help end hunger and bring justice to neighborhoods, cities and the countryside."
This summer Westminster, organized by April Gamble, will join a nationwide movement as we advance community gardening and partner with the Wooster Community Hospital's GreenPoint Garden. The garden is situated in town, but in an attractive, serene country setting just a quarter mile north of HealthPoint on Friendsville Road.
April has this to say about Westminster's portion of the garden after talking to the new garden manager, Shelly Martin:
"We will have 3 separate 60 foot rows. One of the rows is set up for tomatoes (has a sturdy climbing fence already in place). I suggest Romas or another plum- good keepers and easy to harvest. They have a lower blight risk, too, in my experience. The second row has a black cloth ground covering with holes punched in - this would be perfect for green peppers, which are easy and pretty disease -free. Both peppers and tomatoes can be harvested towards mid-August, when COW students are back. The third row is exciting- it is a 2 foot off the ground raised bed with a tall trellis built in - perfect for climbing plants. It is also great for people who find getting down on their knees difficult. We had zucchini there last year and there was a bountiful plenty. So that gives us 180 feet of garden - probably enough for the first year doing this."
Currently we are planning to do planting the weekend of May 29th. More details to follow.
Looking forward to seeing you in the garden!
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Discipleship |
Sunday, May 3 at 9:30 am College of Wooster senior Teresa Butel - Sociology Major - will lead a discussion based on her Independent Study entitled "A Paradox of Visibility: Case study of a tent city in Wooster, Ohio." Sunday, May 10 at 9:30 am Join us in discussion on the state of women this Mother's Day.
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"Fish and Loaf" by Hazel Shreve
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Worship is at 10:45am in Mackey Hall in the Westminster Church House, 353 E. Pine Street. At Westminster we believe that worship is everything we do, both inside and outside the church. The worship life of our community is defined by our calling to peacemaking, a more just future for our world, and our desire to be mindful and "Intentionally Inclusive" as symbolized by the mosaic that is purposefully positioned for worshipers to see as they leave Mackey Hall. The fish was the first symbol to be used by Jesus followers with the bread and fish combined referring the Jesus' miraculous feeding of the multitude.
During worship we will recognize our seniors from The College of Wooster and celebrate our relationships and mutual ministry. ...>>>
Sunday, May 10
A Reflection on Mother's Day from a Social Justice perspective, connecting the day of celebration to it's historical roots. ...>>>
Joint Worship with The Wooster Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) focusing on the US/Mexico Border crisis and family detention with Wooster native and immigration attorney Brian Hoffman as guest speaker. Worship will be followed by a fundraiser lunch to support pro-bono work for families at the Dilley Family Detention Center. ...>>> |
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Thank You to the Children of WPC
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Dear Children,
How thoughtful of each of you to prepare and present the Easter Basket to me personally on Palm Sunday. I LOVE chocolate and the eggs were added to tuna fish salad and enjoyed very much. Thank you very much to you. Sincerely, Barbara Hays
Thank you for the beautiful Easter basket you delivered to me on Palm Sunday. It was nice to have you visit! I enjoyed all of the good candy and eggs. Seeing all of you was a treat.
Love, Christine Jones
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Faith in Action: Immigration, Sunday May 17 |
Westminster and The Wooster Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) will host a joint worship service focusing on the US/Mexico Border crisis and family detention with Wooster native and immigration attorney Brian Hoffman as guest speaker. Worship will be followed by a fundraiser lunch to support pro-bono work for families at the Dilley Family Detention Center
Click here for more information on the event.
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Help individuals who have disabilities get jobs.
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For the next two Sundays you are invited by one of our graduating senior students Katherine (Olya) Tuttle to bring gently used designer purses as donations that will be used in an auction to raise money for Two Foundation, a non profit organization in Chagrin Falls OH, that raises money to help individuals with disabilities obtain employment. |
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Stand in the "GAP" for Nepal |
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance responds to earthquake disaster in Nepal
The death toll from the massive earthquake in Nepal continues to rise. Nearly 4,000 are known dead and more than 6,000 were injured when the 7.8 quake struck just west of the capital of Kathmandu on April 25. The quake, the worst in more than 80 years, along with many serious aftershocks has also caused damage in parts of India and Bangladesh.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is providing emergency relief and short-term recovery in the impacted areas with our partner, ACT Alliance and its members who are already on the ground. Immediate response will help provide needed food, water, supplies and medicine to the impacted towns and villages. As long term recovery plans are developed, PDA will accompany and further financially support our partners in the area to insure that a comprehensive recovery is sustained.
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Baltimore: How Do We 'Seek the Peace of the City'?
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 by Lisa Sharon Harper 04-29-2015
I walked through ash and glass as neighbors and community members swept up the remnants of our neighborhood. The night before, flames touched sky in all corners of our city as news and police helicopters hovered overhead. The city was Los Angeles. The year was 1992, and it was the third day after the police who beat Rodney King were acquitted by an overwhelmingly white jury in Simi Valley.
That was the day I was introduced to the words of Jeremiah 29:7: "But seek the peace of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its peace you will find your peace."
On Monday, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan called in the National Guard and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake declared a citywide curfew to quell violence that erupted in Monument City following the funeral of 25-year-old Freddie Gray. Gray died a week after sustaining a nearly severed spinal cord after being detained by police on April 12. The reason for the stop? Gray ran after making eye contact with police. An investigation is ongoing - while the people of Baltimore and beyond demand justice.
The images of fires rising over the Baltimore landscape were eerie, as it was only a few months ago that the nation sat glued to television sets watching the small town of Ferguson, Mo., erupt. And I fear we are becoming numb to it. We turn the TV on to watch our favorite reality show. We see chanting, running black people, and we think: again? Then we turn back to The Voice.
But what if God is trying to get our attention? What if God is seeking the peace of the ones Jesus called "the least of these" in Matthew 25? And what if God is moving videographers into position to record flashpoints of injustice so that we all might be pushed out of our virtual realities to see - finally - that something really is gravely wrong? Black bodies still bear the brunt of structural and systemic oppression.
So, how do we turn off the television and seek the peace of the city?Continue reading about how the faith community is answering that question.
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Don't take an ATM or gas pump receipt. These receipts are one of the top sources of litter on the planet. If everyone in the United States opted out of their receipts, it would save a roll of paper more than 2 billion feet long, or enough to circle the equator 15 times. And really, when was the last time having that receipt mattered?
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What's happening at Westminster this week?
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12:00pm - Reception for COW Graduates in Mackey Hall
For the latest and most up-to-date information visit Westminster's calendar here. |
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