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Last week, on October 9th and 10th, anti-Muslim rallies were planned for at least 20 sites across the US. In an amazing effort to stand up for the values to which we as a nation aspire, these planned rallies inspired acts of love and kindness instead! Join us on Sunday morning for worship at 10:45 with Mark Denbeaux as our guest speaker, as we put our faith into action in proclaiming that all people are created in the Image of God and add your voice to those speaking out against Islamophobia.
" The term Islamophobia was coined in the mid-1990's to express the range and depth of antipathy towards Islam and Muslims found particularly in Western Europe and the United States of America since the end of the Cold War, and more especially after the attacks of September 11, 2001. The term became popularized after the Runnymede Trust, an independent research and social policy agency in Britain established a Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia in 1996. The Commission's report, Islamophobia: A Challenge for us All, was published in November 1997 and defined Islamophobia as 'the dread, hatred and hostility towards Islam and Muslims perpetrated by a series of closed views that imply and attribute negative and derogatory stereotypes and beliefs to Muslims.'
The report furthermore noted that Islamophobia results in exclusion, discrimination, misrepresentation and stereotyping. Islamophobia, the report went on to note: created the perception that the religion of Islam has no common values with the West, is inferior to the West (or to Judaism and Christianity), and that it really is a violent political ideology rather than a source of faith and spirituality, unlike the other Abrahamic religions, Judaism and Christianity.
The Runnymede report was followed by a wider European investigation instituted by the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) following the attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. The EMCU report which came out in 2002 made a similar finding that 'Islamic communities and other vulnerable groups become targets of increasing hostility since September 11.'"
Sunday afternoon you are also invited to join us as we partner with the Wooster/Orrville NAACP with Mark speaking about "Racial Justice -Why it matters and why white people should care." When Mark speaks about racial justice he speaks from his heart based on his own experience of being part of the Selma March saying, "It was the most formative experience of my life." Read Mark's story The Selma march and the fascinating story behind an iconic photo by Di Ionno in preparation for Sunday, not only for the workshop, but also for our 3rd Sunday Intergenerational Conversations at 9:45 in The Lounge.
I am looking forward to being challenged on Sunday and to grow in faith and activism!
Blessings and see you on Sunday, Dries
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Worship and Workshop with Mark Denbeaux
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 3rd Sunday Intergenerational Sunday School, Worship and Workshop with Professor Mark Denbeaux on Sunday, October 18
You are invited to join Westminster next Sunday for a day of contemplating how we can put our faith into action with guest speaker, Professor Mark Denbeaux. Mark, one of Seton Hall's most senior faculty members, is the Director of the Seton Hall Law School Center for Policy and Research, which is best known for its dissemination of the internationally recognized series of reports on the Guant�namo Bay Detention Camp.
Support Westminster and attend the 3rd Sunday Intergenerational Conversations at 9:45am, worship at 10:45am and the workshop in the afternoon at 2:00pm.
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Congregational Care Ministry
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There will be a meeting after church this Sunday, October 18th, for those interested in being part of a Congregational Care ministry, providing outreach to our members and friends in various capacities. If you are interested in visiting our homebound members, being a contact when a member has a need or concern, or just being available in general as a contact person, then please plan to attend. If you are already providing outreach in some way, please plan to attend so that we can begin the process of outreach to all in our church family. For more information contact Elaine Smith Snyder here.
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| | Anne and Norman Morrison with their three children in the 1960s (Public Domain) |
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Please plan to join The College of Wooster, Westminster Presbyterian Church, and The Wooster Friends for a day of "Remembrance" on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Norman Morrison's sacrificial death.
10:45 a.m. Worship at Westminster with College of Wooster Chaplain Linda
Morgan-Clement preaching, "Saints and Sinners, Beloved of God"
12:15 p.m. Poetry, music & luncheon* following worship in Mackey Hall
1:30 p.m. Tree dedication, Oak Grove
*Westminster is providing the main dish (� la Linda Pattin) and drinks. We invite you to contribute a side dish or dessert . Students are invited to simply attend. Please RSVP for the lunch on SignUp Genius or e-mail Beth Coetzee.
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Press Release: The Ohio Council of Churches
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The Ohio Council of Churches Statement Vote 'NO' on Issue 3.
The Governing Board of the Ohio Council of Churches voted 'NO' on Issue 3 at their meeting on October 14, 2015.
We believe that all people are created in the image of God and in the sancity of life. Because of our commonly held values, it is important for us to speak against Issue 3.
We oppose the constitutional amendment proposed by Issue 3 as not appropriate. Drug policy and the identification of business opportunities should be managed through the Ohio Revised Code, not the Constitution.
We oppose the proposed amendment because it provides for a business monopoly for particular investors while creating a significant economic disadvantage for those who would be encouraged to purchase marijuana.
We oppose Issue 3 because the proliferation of marijuana will adversely impact the population, especially infants and children. This occurs primarily through edible marijuana-laced products that children would be inclined to ingest because of their appeal, and through second hand smoke.
While we oppose this amendment to the Constitution we recognize the need to address the reality that minority communities are disproportionately affected by drug addiction and incarceration related to illegal use of drugs. We appeal to Ohio citizens to consider the implications of drug policies on all communities.
The Ohio Council of Churches is composed of 18 member denominations. One declined to be included in this vote: The Ohio Fellowship of Community Churches.
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Make our Pictorial Directory Complete
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Earlier this year many of you indicated through our communications questionnaire that you would like a new pictorial directory. In response to your request, Barbara Tartir and Adrian Dryer have volunteered to take the lead in this project to celebrate our church family and strengthen the bond within our congregation. Now we need YOU to make our directory complete as we welcome you to be a part of our upcoming new directory.
For this important project, we are partnering with Lifetouch who is providing the directory at no cost to our church. Every family photographed receives a complimentary directory and an 8x10 portrait.
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday, November 10, 11, 12, 2015
Each day from 2:00pm to 9:00pm
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Worship is at 10:45 am on Sunday mornings in Mackey Hall
10:45 am
Professor Mark Denbeaux, one of Seton Hall's most senior faculty members, will be our Guest Speaker during worship as he talks about the intersectionality between Black Lives Matter and Islamaphobia.
10:45am Pastor Dries preaching 10:45am College of Wooster Chaplain Linda Morgan-Clement preaching, "Saints and Sinners, Beloved of God"
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What's happening at Westminster this week?
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10:00am: Linda Rea memorial service at 10 a.m. at Hiram Christian Church, 6868 Wakefield Road (State Route 82), Hiram, Ohio 44234, with Chaplain Jonathan Moody officiating. Final resting place will be in Fairview Cemetery, Hiram. Immediately following the cemetery service, all are invited to return to the church for a time of fellowship and luncheon.
9:30am: Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
9:45am: 3rd Sunday Intergenerational Conversations with Mark Denbeaux in The Lounge
10:45am: Worship in Mackey Hall, Mark Denbeaux, Guest Speaker
12:00pm: Fellowship in Mackey Hall
12:15pm: Congregational Care Ministry Meeting in The Lounge
2:00pm: Mark Denbeaux workshop - "Racial Justice -Why it matters and why white
people should care"
7:00pm: Student-led Bible Study in the Lounge
8:30am: Agape Latte in the Old Main Caf� fishbowl
1:00pm Food Ministry Meeting in the Lounge
2:00pm Congregational Life Cohort Meeting in the Pastor's Study
9:00am: Benevolences Committee at the Green Leaf
10:30am: Knitting for Children in the Narthex
7:00pm: Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
Sunday, October 25
9:30am: Choir Rehearsal in Mackey Hall
10:45am: Worship in Mackey Hall, Pastor Dries preaching
12:00pm: Fellowship in Mackey Hall
For the latest and most up-to-date information visit Westminster's calendar here.
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Westminster is invited to help Boy Scout Troop 61 collect a ton (2,000 lbs.) of food by contributing to their "
