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 This Sunday, June 21 we will gather for one of my favorite worship experiences of the year at Oak Hill Park, Wooster at 10:00am. The service will be followed by a picnic lunch and time to explore the park. Please come dressed to go for a walk or sit and visit with friends. If you are able to contribute, please bring a dessert or fruit to supplement the picnic lunch provided. If the service location change due to bad weather we will send an email to all of you through Constant Contact.
In preparation I invite you to meditate on the following quote by John Muir:
The mountains are calling and I must go.
God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools.
There is that in the glance of a flower which may at times control the greatest of creation's braggart lords.
Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life.
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.
A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.
This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.
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| | Westminster's men join in breakfast monthly on the first Tuesday of the month. Here we are with Andria Bounara from Palestine in October 2014 |
Also on Sunday we will acknowledge what our denomination has designated as "Men of the Church Sunday" which is usually the Sunday of Father's Day. This was an intentional act of the General Assembly to recognize the contributions of men, but not limit it to those men who have children, and to be inclusive of single men, step-parents, and men who are unable to be with their children on this day. Regardless of their family situation, all men of the church have been called by God to share their time, talents, spirit, and energies fulfilling their call to discipleship.
Blessings,
Dries
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The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) reaches out to its sisters and brothers of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Charleston
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JUNE 18, 2015
LOUISVILLE
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) reaches out to its sisters and brothers of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Charleston, South Carolina, where nine people were killed when a gunman opened fire Wednesday night during Bible study. We grieve with the families of the victims and members of their church community. We hope the perpetrator is soon captured and brought to justice.
The chief of police in Charleston has named this a hate crime. We know of no other name for a crime that forces a five-year-old child to play dead in her church in order to live. Arresting the shooter is the job of law enforcement. Arresting hate is the work we are all called to do as disciples of Jesus Christ. May God never give up on us as we face our own racism and its tragic impact on congregations, their communities, and our very souls.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, God who has brought us thus far on our way, only you know why someone would enter into your house of worship and open fire on your children. Only you know why hate would run so deep that it would cause one of your creations to kill others you have formed. In our confusion over this senseless act, we appeal to you for understanding and courage to continue to fight for justice. We pray right now for the families of those who lost lives at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. on June 17, and ask that you would wrap your loving arms around them and the entire community. Likewise, we pray for an end to the continued racial unrest and violence that permeates the United States and the world, and ask you to guide us to work earnestly for change. Now unto you who is able to keep us from falling, we pray all these things.
Amen
Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Linda Valentine
Executive Director, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Heath K. Rada
Moderator, 221st General Assembly (2014) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Larissa Kwong Abazia
Vice Moderator, 221st General Assembly (2014) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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Thank you, Building Committee!
We are thankful for our Building Committee who gathered this past Monday, June 15 to clean our overflow chairs which are mostly used when we gather for meals. We are especially grateful for Sue Coleman who was there supporting the committee on her birthday. A big thanks to all of you!
No Weekly News in July
There will be no Weekly News in July as we are taking a break for the summer. Please make sure you have all your announcements for July to Dries by Wednesday, June 24th. Our first August Weekly News will go out Friday, August 7.
Westminster's Website Redesigned
On Thursday, June 18 our website got a new look. We are working with Spire Advertising, Inc., Ashland , Ohio, who designed our current website five years ago, to make our website mobile-friendly. Although we do do not expect any problems, we ask for your patience. Remember you can always find the latest information regarding events on our website. Please visit our website at www.wpcwooster.org and let us know what you think!
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Church World Service School Kits
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For 16 years, Westminster has collected school supplies to send to Church World Service. School kits are then shipped both nationally and internationally to disaster areas. It's truly amazing that Ohio collects one-third of all kits made for Church World Service!
To meet our goal of 100 school kits, we need the following:
339 new number 2 pencils with erasers
297 70-page notebooks
98 blunt scissors
86 30 cm (12 inch) rulers
74 large erasers
58 hand-held pencil sharpeners
77 boxes of 24-count crayons
Back to school sales usually start after July 4 and prices are very reasonable. If you want to donate funds to have someone else purchase kit components, we'll gladly shop for you. Watch the bulletin board in back of the sanctuary for weekly sale flyers with the best prices.
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People to People Donations
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What's for lunch?
This month Westminster is collecting tuna fish, mayonnaise,peanut butter, and jelly for the People to People box in the Narthex.
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Act Now: Ask Your Representative to Sign the McCollum Letter
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 Every year, hundreds of Palestinian children-some as young as 12 years old-are detained and arrested in an Israeli military detention system where ill treatment and abuse are widespread.
Many are taken from their families in night raids, held without charges or due process, and subjected to abuse and poor conditions while in custody.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum has introduced a "Dear Colleague" letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, urging diplomatic action from the State Department on the issue of human rights for Palestinian children.
Please contact your representative in Congress today and ask him or her to sign this letter and help raise the issue of the ill treatment of detained Palestinian children to the highest levels of our government.
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| | "Fish and Loaf" by Hazel Shreve |
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Celebrate Dad and the Planet
- Is dad more into angling? Encourage your dad, uncles, and grandfathers alike to use a vintage fishing pole rather than a brand new model. Better yet, do the legwork for him and scout out some great finds on Craigslist or Ebay. For some deep Dad's Day discussion while you're reeling in a big catch, impress your father and friends with your knowledge of sustainable fishing and fair access to fish.
- Give the gift of solar. For gadget loving dads, hand-cranked or solar powered chargers are perfect for loading up smartphones, mp3 players and laptops on the go and on the next family camping trip.
- Green dad's gym routine. If physical fitness is on your dad's to-do list, outfit him with some fresh eco-friendly workout threads or a reusable water bottle to keep him moving and hydrated. And get him pumped up for more workouts with our latest green fitness guide.
- Fire up the Father's Day grill. Father's day and grilling a great meal go hand in hand - so hit up your local farmers market for some local, organic veggies and get cookin'!
- Help dad ditch the disposables. Despite the juice needed to power them, electric razors are a greener choice than disposable ones - and a solar charged razor is even better! Look for a trusted brand when shopping for a new razor, since lasting power is key.
- Share a 'green' brew. Nothing beats sharing a cold one with dad on his special day. Shop around to find some great local and organic beers and find out how you can green your brew (or brew your own) year round.
Information from www.earthshare.org
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What's happening at Westminster this week?
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Friday, June 19, 2015
For the latest and most up-to-date information visit Westminster's calendar here.
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