Coming Up:



February 16 - Table Of Plenty "Souper Bowl" Sunday

February 16 @ 11:30 am: Annual Meeting Information Session

February 16 @ 3:30pm: Youth Salem Capitals Basketball Game

February 16 @ 4:00 pm: Classical Guitar Concert (Patrick Anderson)

February 17, Office Closed for President's Day Holiday

February 17 @11:00 am: Poor People's Campaign

February 18 @ 6:00 pm: Men's Night Out - Thompson's Brewery

February 22, Bruce Reyes-Chow All-Church Event

February 23, Annual Meeting

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

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).

Bible Study:

Tuesday Bible Study w/ Pastor Kelly:

Feb 18 @ 10:30 am

Feb 25 @ 10:30 am

Annual Report:

Our Annual Report for 2024 is available here: Annual Report. Additional documents: Pastoral Snapshot and Agenda. There are also several hard copies in the outer office on the large table. Reviewing the Annual Report prior to the Information Session this Sunday will be helpful. Also, everyone will want to have read the report prior to the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 23.

Participate:

Creative Budgeting Initiative Feb 20 – Apr 11, 2025.

After an engaging 2025 Budget Information Session on January 12, the elders would like to extend an invitation to the congregation for a season of Creative Budgeting. This will run February 20 – April 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.

Because the financial reports represent a variety of priorities as well as sensitive areas like staffing and jobs, the session invites the congregation to establish shared guidelines to lead this process before getting started. If you have a suggestion to make for something that would help this conversation be respectful and dignified, please email the Clerk of Session, Sandy McLean, clerk@salemwestpres.org by Feb 16, 2025.  

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

Packets of information will be available in the office starting February 20 and will include:

1.     Project guidelines

2.     Current budget forecasts

3.     Points of contact

Please submit your proposal via email, including name & contact info, to the Clerk no later than April 11, 2025.

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

Save the Dates:

Questions? Contact: vik@salemwestpres.org.

Table of Plenty:

IT'S HERE! ! !  Westminster's very own annual SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY!  Our way to celebrate with something warm and tasty for our hungry neighbors this Sunday, February 16th.

It has been a "Tradition" at Westminster for quite a few years to celebrate "Souper Bowl Sunday" by filling our food boxes with, you guessed it, SOUP! However, since we are just beginning to initiate the 3rd Sunday of the month for our TOP donations, we will celebrate SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY on February 16th. This way those who are really into football can celebrate the winners, and those of us who are not quite that dedicated to the sport, can celebrate the return of our favorite programs at their normal time slots.  

So, watch the soup sales, and we will have our own WESTMINSTER SOUPER BOWL CELEBRATION on Feb. 16th. MMMMM, Good! 

Westminster Presbyterian is proud to present its first-ever Mid-Winter Concert Series! You are invited to join us in two professional level concerts featuring highly acclaimed musicians.



• February 16 @ 4PM — Patrick Anderson, classical guitar

Join Patrick Anderson as he returns to the Pacific Northwest to present a varied set of classical guitar repertoire featuring composers such as Bach, Turina, Albeniz, Merlin, Björnsson, & Hirschelman. Free admission | Donations Accepted. Refreshments provided.

• February 28 @ 7PM — Fusion Trio, piano 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.

Men's Night Out:

Will be held at Thompsons this Tuesday, February 18, at 6pm. Join us for manly conversation and fellowship!

2025 Annual Meeting:

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. If you have a motion that you would like considered, please send it to the Clerk of Session (clerk@salemwestpres.org) by February 12 @ noon. Livestream for viewing will be available; voting in-person only.

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:

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).

Opportunities:

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:

Comcast appears to be bouncing emails again. Let the office know if you are not receiving church communications. We are working to resolve the issue. Thanks.

Westminster Presbyterian Church