Bruce Reyes-Chow will be at Westminster tomorrow!

Whether you have pre-registered or not, PLEASE JOIN US! MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT EVENT. We have been planning his visit for a long time, and he will finally come tomorrow, Saturday February 22! The planned schedule is as follows:

•        10 AM to NOON Welcome and First Session: What It

Means To Be A Welcoming Congregation

•        Noon- Lunch (you may join us for pizza or bring your

own).

•        12:45 -2:30 PM Second Session: How Do We Talk Faithfully About Policy?

•        2:30-3:30 PM Informal Questions and Response Time

We have visitors joining us from around Oregon, so please join us! Contact Lucy Foster if you have questions: lucyannf@comcast.net

2025 Annual Meeting this Sunday:

You are invited to the 2025 Annual Meeting, February 23, 2025, at 11:00 am! Westminster will receive the necrology report, hear a finance update, and approve the pastor’s terms of call. Livestream for viewing will be available; voting in-person only.

Coming Up:



Sat. February 22, Bruce Reyes-Chow All-Church Event

Sun. February 23, Annual Meeting

Sun. February 23 @ 6:00 pm: Youth Group at Westminster

Fri. February 28 @ 7:00 pm: Benefit Concert (Piano Trio)

For the full church calendar see here. To change or add something to the calendar, please email or call the church office (office@salemwestpres.org), 503-364-3327).

Annual Report:

Our Annual Report for 2024 is available at this QR Code: There are also several hard copies in the outer office on the large table. Everyone will want to have read the report prior to the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 23.

From Your Session:

The Westminster Presbyterian Session met for their stated meeting on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 6:00 pm in Russell Hall. A pre-session was held at 5:30 pm to review session documents and resources from the PCUSA. Elders Teri Mohney, Steve Kandra, Katie Nelson, Angie Willoughby, Maggie Sather (via Zoom) and Sandy McLean were present as was Pastor Kelly Wadsworth. Absent were Luanne Barnes and Bill Faust.

The session approved the job descriptions for the Office Manager and Building Manager positions from Personnel. They also approved the March 9, 2025 date for a Congregational meeting for Elder/Deacon and Nominating Committee elections.

The slate from the nominating committee named Dick Hughes, Dianne Greenlee and Nikki Fennell as incoming Elders; Katie Nelson and Rachelle Hughes as incoming Deacons; and Sandy McLean, Jackie Hilfiker, Kelsey Weber, Susan Tanabe and Rachelle Hughes as incoming Nominating Committee members.

Elders also approved a motion to approve March 16, 2025 as New Member Sunday when seven new members will be welcomed into our congregation.

The next stated session meeting will take place on March 19, 2025.

Sandy McLean, Clerk

Congregational Elections:

The Session has called for Congregational Elections on March 9, 2025, for the Elder and Deacon Class of 2028.

Elders: Dianne Greenlee, Nikki Fennell, Dick Hughes

Deacons: Katie Nelson, Rachelle Hughes

Participate:

CREATIVE BUDGETING INITIATIVE

Feb 20 – Apr 11, 2025

The session invites any individual, group or team at Westminster to propose ideas they may have for the next fiscal year utilizing the current levels of income. The elders hope this will be an opportunity for Westminster to think outside the box and consider new perspectives. In addition to Westminster’s treasures, the time and talent of volunteers is an indispensable resource as well so please feel free to include this in your proposals as well.

Creative Budgeting Initiative will run from Feb 20 – Apr 11, 2025.

1.    Project guidelines:

a.    Ask questions. Be curious & kind.

b.    Anonymous submissions are an option. 

c.     Budget & finance is hosting “office hours” during coffee hour on March 3 & April 6.

Come ask your questions.

2.    Current budget forecasts (included)

3.    Points of contact:

a.    How to submit your ideas?

                   i.     Email: clerk@salemwestpres.org

                   ii.     Drop off: Clerk mailbox in the office

                   iii.    Mail: Attn: Clerk of Session Westminster Presbyterian Church 3737 Liberty St S,

Salem, OR 97302

                   iv.     Due: April 11, 2025

Upon conclusion of the initiative, session will report back to the congregation. 

Save the Date:

February 28 @ 7PM — Fusion Trio

Join Dr. Angie Willoughby (piano), Dr. Juan Sebastian Lopez Mahecha (violin), & Dr. Lina Alejandra Aldana Porras (cello) as they present music from Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and Argentinian composer, Piazzolla. This concert is a benefit concert to support the Salem Music Lessons Project (MLP) which funds private music lessons for students in Title I schools. All donations and proceeds go to help fund this invaluable program. Free Admission | Donations Accepted. Refreshments provided.

Staffing Changes:

From Vik -

I let personnel and the session know this week that an exciting new opportunity has come my way. I have accepted the role as a Legislative Assistant for a Democratic Representative in the Oregon House of Representatives. I think most of you know that I have been involved in the political world locally as an organizer and a volunteer for many years and I am very excited to be working to write, track, and promote policy which will serve our youth and our entire state. I will start this position on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. The youth have and always will be my highest priority at Westminster and it has truly been an honor to serve hundreds of youth in my tenure. Thank you all for your investment and belief in me! I love you all, Vik.

From Personnel –

This is one of the bittersweet moments of community life. Vik Schaaf has been given the opportunity to serve on the staff of a Democratic legislator. It means she will be leaving her job of 16 years here at Westminster to make a difference for more people. We will miss Vik but also be happy for those she will serve in the future. We will be celebrating her time with us soon, stay tuned.

New Member Classes:

A second set of New Member Class dates has been scheduled, so please mark your calendars. This is an opportunity to meet to learn more about what it means and how to become a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church: March 2 and 9, after worship from approximately 11:30-1:00. Please plan to bring your own lunch. For questions or to RSVP, please contact the church office office@salemwestpres.org, or Katie Nelson.

Tai Chi Classes:

The Presbyterian Hunger Program strives to walk with people in moving toward sustainable choices that restore and protect all of God’s children and Creation. In Lent, we slow down, take time, and examine our internal spiritual lives and the way we live out our Christian faith in the world around us. PHP's 2025 Lenten calendar is intended to be the beginning of actions intended to create more mindful behaviors throughout the year. Access the resource here:https://hubs.ly/Q03413kW

Leadership Training:

Leadership Lab for elders, deacons, staff, and chairs, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, March 5, from 7-8 pm, on Zoom.

A Book Reading

by WPC Author and Editor

Rosalyn McKeown-Ice & Friends

From Chicken to Eagle:

Seven Women Paddling Whitewater and Navigating Life

Saturday, March 8, 11:00 a.m.

Salem Public Library

Anderson Room (lower level)

585 Liberty St. SE

Salem OR 97301

From Chicken to Eagle is a story of seven courageous women who took a wilderness adventure at a time—1979—when women were testing their mettle in society and the outdoors. They accomplished things that were beyond their imaginations and comfort levels, on the river and across the next forty years.

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. That’s why Westminster Presbyterian Church is on a mission to help save lives by hosting a blood drive on Monday, March 10 from 1:00PM to 6:00PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The community is invited to take part in this special event and donate blood for hospital patients in our neighborhoods and across the nation.

The need for blood is constant, but only 3 percent of the U.S. population donates . By rolling up a sleeve, donors can play a critical role in the treatment of accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.

Also please remember folks who were injured in the California wildfires over the 2024/2025 year end season. To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Completion of a RapidPass® online health history questionnaire found at RedCrossBlood.org/rapidpass is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. And remember that there are several Whole Blood (and Double Red) appointments available between 2:15PM and 2:45PM.

Thank you for supporting the American Red Cross blood drive at Westminster Presbyterian Church! Folks often tell us that Boulder Hall is a great place to donate blood as the scenery out the windows calms them! All the best! Your RC Blood drive coordinators, Bill Nelson and Bobbie Clyde and the rest of the team of Ambassadors and helpers for the blood drive.

Troop 108's Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction Fundraiser:

Women's Retreat! May 2-4:

It’s been six years since our last Women’s Retreat, so it’s time to have another one. Come join us for a weekend (or just for Saturday) at Lincoln City. More information to come, but mark it on your calendar. Sign-up will start on March 2. Questions? Contact Susan Ray (raysu1@comcast.net).

Opportunity:

Nurses' Christian Fellowship group is being formed in Salem. Diane Stegmeir, RN, CDCES, is starting a group for nurses and nursing students. NCF provides support and encouragement to members that face the challenges of health care and providing patient care. For anyone interested in getting together for coffee to discuss this opportunity, please contact Diane at DiStegs@aol.com or office@salemwestpres.org.

Serve:

The Congregational Vitality Team is looking for people to be a part of the Westminster Greeters Team. There is a need for one or two friendly faces to stand at the front door and welcome people to worship on Sundays. It is a 30 minute commitment prior to the beginning of the service, and it is FUN!. Even if you can only sign up once every 6-8 weeks, it is appreciated. If you would like to add your name to the pool, please contact Katie Nelson (nelsonkatieallstar@gmail.com). 

Support:

Interested in supporting the Presbyterian response to the California wildfires? Click here: Southern California Wildfires | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Note:

We have repaired the Comcast email issues with the help of our computer gurus. Thank you all for your patience.

Westminster Presbyterian Church