Message From Pastor Kelly Wadsworth:

We began our annual entrance into Lent on Wednesday with the imposition of ashes, silent communion, and labyrinth strolling. The 40 days of Lent echo the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness and the 40 years the Israelites spend in the desert. Historically, it is a time of penitence and preparation to enter wholly into the high calling to which we are invited. For the next 6 Sundays at Westminster, we will be shaped by this theme:

Everything In Between: Meeting God in the midst of extremes.

This series is an invitation to navigate the polarities in our lives with more faith, intention, and openness to transformation. Each week we will explore two binaries such as “faith & works” or “rest & growth.” We often consider these ideas to be opposing. However, as we explore these concepts within the scriptures, we find nuance and complexity. It speaks to anyone who is in discernment or trying to find their way through an undefined space. It speaks to anyone feeling as if they are living a divided life. It speaks to those who seek a spiritual life that engages with complexity instead of avoiding it. This Lent, we are trusting that God shows up in shades of gray, rainbow hues, and everywhere in between.

This week (3/9) – “Strangers & Neighbors”

If you are interested in a daily devotional that also tackles Everything In Between, click here for the digital version: Everything In Between: A Lenten Devotional. See you on Sunday!

Ever onward,

Pastor Kelly

Coming Up:



Sat. March 8 @11:00 am: Reading from "From Chicken to Eagle", Salem Public Library

Sun. March 9: Move clocks forward one hour

Sun. March 9 @ 11:30 am: Our Stories Salon in Russell Hall

Sun. March 9 @ 12:30 pm: NextGen meeting

Mon. March 10 @1-6 pm: Red Cross Blood Drive

Mon. March 10 @ 6 pm: Women's Night Out at Brix Tavern in Keizer Station

Sat. March 15 @8-11:30 am: Troop 108 Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction

Sun. March 16: New Member Sunday

Sun. March 16 @ 1-4:00 pm: Earth Summit

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).

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

Our Stories - Sunday March 9:

Topic: WPC Authors and their Books

Time & Place: 11:30 in Russell Hall

Four WPC Church family members will read excerpts from their books.

Gene Ice will read from Music World: The Choirs, the second book in the Music World Trilogy.

Vicki Childs will read from: Amanda on the River or Amanda Flies High.

Katie Nelson will share her parents” autobiographies:

Sentimental Journey: Autobiographical Stories of My Life, by Roy Proctor

What’s in the White Bag, Mom? An Autobiography by Blessing Proctor

Rosalyn McKeown-Ice will read from: From Chicken to Eagle: Seven Women Paddling Whitewater and Navigating life.

These WPC authors offer a variety of genres: children’s, autobiography, science fiction, and adventure—something for everyone.

Books will be available to purchase.

After worship, grab a coffee and cookie and join us in Russell Hall.

From the Pastor's Pen:

Vik Schaaf started her new job at the capital last week and we wish her well. The youth had their final youth group with her and had a chance to reminisce and laugh about their time together. 

Here are some of the next steps that a number of the WPC teams are working on:

• Youth Oversight team – map out a temporary plan for the spring.
• Next Gen (infant-5^th) – map out a temporary plan for the spring.
• Personnel – prepare employment wrap up and exit plans.
• Celebration team – plan a day and time to honor Vik’s many years of service at Westminster.
• All - Look for discernment around mission, goals, and future hiring to begin in late spring. 

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. 

Spring Clean Up and Planting Day: Saturday, April 5 at 9 or 10 am

We are blessed to have our church home on beautiful property. Church members and community members use our grounds for physical and emotional respite, and some wildlife now live on our grounds. It is our responsibility to keep the plants healthy and thriving.

Some of the tasks that must be done include:



·       Spraying vinegar on curbs and walkways to stop the moss.

·       Pulling out ivy and spreading it out to dry, then moving it to the dumpster.

·       Spreading existing wood chips on paths.

·       Planting bulbs, perennials, and native plants in appropriate spots.

·       Cutting back the plants growing over the driveway.

·       Cleaning up the Liberty Rd walkway.

Do you have a native plant that needs thinning? Dig it up and bring it to the church on April 5.

We need you to bring tools with you:

·       work gloves

·       shovels and spades

·       tarps

·       wheelbarrows

·       rakes, clippers, loppers

·       sprayers

Check with Pamela Schmidling or Ted Burney about the plants or tools you plan to bring. Please label them so you can get them home again.

This would be a great time to invite children to help. There are tasks for EVERY AGE AND ABILITY.

Bring your children and/or grandchildren. Scouts will be helping, too.

Look for the poster and sign-up sheet in the narthex and Boulder Hall. If you have questions, ask Pamela or Ted.

·       Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much - Helen Keller

The Bruce Reyes-Chow sessions at Westminster on Saturday February 22 were recorded (thank you Mike Friday).

Below are the links to the morning and afternoon sessions (in separate parts since there was a lunch break.)

We will be hosting conversations about the things we learned and discussed in coming weeks. Watch for the table with a sign with Bruce Reyes-Chow's photo at a table in Boulder Hall during coffee hours in the coming weeks if you want to come and join us in friendly conversations.

 Here are the links:

Morning Session: https://www.youtube.com/live/LV9kBCW_HK4?si=VuWauRf8Q4o8soqf

Afternoon Session: https://www.youtube.com/live/kWPMwKo5Yl4?si=4mVTe0_GVz9T9Rrz

Thank you to everyone who came and everyone who volunteered.

Lucy Foster-Chair, Welcoming Journey Core Team

Team members: Liz Callahan, Lisa Dukes, Grubby Hain, Kristin Kuhns and Ann Montgomery 

Save the Dates:

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.

Bill Nelson

bnelson@pacificomm.net

Voice/Voicemail/text: (503) 576-1278

Women's Night Out:

Westminster's monthly Women's Night Out will be held on Monday, March 10, at 6pm, at Brix Tavern at Keizer Station. RSVP to Christian Arroliga at 559-680-4293.

Troop 108's Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction Fundraiser:

Are we ready for the next wildfire, flood, or heat wave?

Come and learn more about community resilience

and preparedness for our families and neighbors.

Salem Hub: Ike Box upstairs room, hosted by Environmental Faith Network.

Join the virtual statewide plenary session, followed by an in-person session including workshop options.

Register now at emoregon.org

Tickets prices range from $0-25

CELEBRATING VIK:

As most of you are aware, our beloved Youth Director, Vik Schaff, completed her work at Westminster and moved into a brand new job in February. Her 16 years (yes, SIXTEEN YEARS!) at Westminster impacted generations of youth and enriched the Church in countless ways.  

Let's join together and celebrate Vik on Sunday, March 30^th at our own version of a Mardi Gras party, immediately following services. There will of course be tons of food and drinks, fun decorations and a gift table where you can drop off a card or remembrance. 

We hope y'all will come - "laisse les bons moments rouler" (i.e., "let the good times roll!") 

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-ups in the narthex after services in March. Please sign up now so that planning can begin! 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.

There is a new support group at Westminster for single women who are dealing with grief. The Solo Women's Grief Support Group meets on the fourth Monday of the month in Boulder Hall at 5:00 for a potluck meal and discussion. The next meeting is March 24. Any single woman is welcome to join us.

Contact: Deacon Betty Fennell

Salem First Pres - Women @ Noon:

Salem First Pres has extended an invitation to the women of West Pres to drop in or attend on Zoom, their book club at noon on Wednesdays most weeks. The book they are reading right now is "The Return of the Chaos Monsters and Other Backstories of the Bible" by Gregory Mobley. Contact Christine Talbert at 703-944-1952, or email: talbertcc@earthlink.net, if you want additional information. They are a small group with half belonging to other churches and they invite diverse perspectives and usually have lively discussions.

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

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). 

Personnel:

We are recruiting for our new office manager and a facility manager. Please help spread the word to folks who might be interested. We’ve posted the openings, but you’re our best recruiters. The most effective job referrals come through word-of-mouth.

Resumes should be emailed ASAP to: Jobs.SalemWestPres@gmail.com

Copies of the job description and recruitment are available in the church office. Or send an email to the above address.

Thank you from your Hiring Team and the Personnel Committee.

Reminder about email scams:

Westminster and/or Pastor Kelly will never ask for money or gift cards outside of church-sponsored programs and initiatives. If you receive a suspicious email or text and are unsure whether to respond, contact the church office. 

Westminster Presbyterian Church