Coming Up:



Sat. April 12 @ 3:00 pm: Jean Nelson Memorial Service

Sun. April 13 @ 10:00 am: Palm Sunday Service

Sun. April 13 @ 11:30 am: Our Stories Salon in Russell Hall

Sun. April 13 @ 12:30-2:30 pm: Salem Youth Collective @ St. Paul's

Sun. April 13 @ 4:00 pm: Passion Cantata

Mon. April 14 @ 6:00 pm: Women's Night Out

Tue. April 15 @ 6:00 pm: Men's Night Out

Fri. April 18 @ 7:00 pm: Good Friday Service

Sat. April 19 @ 9:00 am: Easter Egg Hunt

Sat. April 19 @ 2:00 pm: Walt & Doris Friday Memorial Service

Sun. April 20 @ 10:00 am: Easter Sunday Service

New Elders and Deacons Installation and Ordination Sunday is May 18th 2025

Office is closed Monday May 26th for Memorial Day

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).

A note from Pastor Kelly:

I want to personally invite you to the events of Holy Week 2025 which begin this Sunday, 4/13.

Palm Passion Service

• 9:30am Gather in the “City of Boulder Hall,” pick up palms, prepare to walk together to the “City of the Sanctuary.”
• 10am A sensory & visual recreation of Jesus’ final march into Jerusalem.

Passion Cantata

• 4pm The 2^nd annual Palm Sunday cantata, “Undivided,” is a musical feast featuring Westminster’s 28-voice choir accompanied by an 11-piece orchestra. This Palm Sunday offering is open to all, invite a friend!

The beginning of Holy Week marks the end of Lent as we observe the final week of Jesus’ life. It is one of our most solemn periods in the Christian tradition. By taking the time to observe it, we acknowledge that trials and hardships are a common part of our lives. As such, we build space to be fully present with difficult realities.

The Scripture reading for this Sunday caught my attention. “If only you knew on this of all days the things that lead to peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes…your enemies will encircle you, and attack you from all sides. They will crush you completely, you and the people within you. They won’t leave one stone on top of another within you, because you didn’t recognize the time of your gracious visit from God.” (Luke 19:41-44) Holy Week hits a little different this year as we grapple with who we are during these times of turmoil and terror. If you need to exhale, find your center or just sit in stillness, please consider attending this week:

• April 18 @ 7pm – Good Friday, a candlelight service of meditation and song.
• April 19 @ 9am – Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
• April 20 @ 10am – Easter service

In addition, Westminster is invited to participate in the Holy Week offerings from our coalition partners, you can find them here: https://conta.cc/4icKqMD

Ever onward,

Pastor Kelly

Participate:

April is Diaper Drive Month!

Come and help fill the porta-crib in the narthex with diapers and wipes during April. Size 4 is the most needed diaper size. This is in support of Family Building Blocks.

Undivided: A Passion Cantata - Sunday, April 13, 2025, at 4:00 pm

Join us for an unforgettable evening at Westminster Presbyterian Church as we present Undivided: A Passion Cantata. Featuring the Westminster Chancel Choir & String Orchestra, experience the power of music and moving story that reminds us: despite the frays in our world, we remain connected...Undivided. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired and uplifted by this incredible performance. Tickets are free, however donations will be accepted to continue future programming of the Westminster Concert Series. Tickets can be acquired online, or at the door:

Undivided: A Passion Cantata eventbrite.com

“My Story” – A Journey of Faith, Resilience, and Belonging

Join us on Sunday, April 13th, right after the worship service in Russell Hall.

Grab your coffee and head over for a heartfelt presentation by Christian Betsabé Arroliga Escobar, where she will share her personal journey of faith, resilience, and finding a sense of belonging through life’s unexpected turns.

Bonus: We’ll also be serving some delicious rice pudding 😀 come for the story, stay for the flavor!

Women's and Men's Night Out just happen to occur in the same week this month!

Women's Night Out will be held on Monday, April 14, at 6:00 pm, at Marco Polo Global Restaurant, 300 Liberty St. SE, Salem. To sign up, please contact Katie Nelson.

Men's Night Out will be held on Tuesday, April 15, at 6:00 pm, at the newly opened Rogue Salem Public House (part of Rogue Brewery) in West Salem. Their location is 555 9th St. NW, and it is at the SW corner of the intersection of Wallace Road and NW Glen Greek Road. There is an entrance on 9th St. NW turning from Wallace, and also from Glen Creek for those going east bound to Wallace Road. Just turn into the parking lot at the driveway just before the intersection with Wallace. That driveway snakes down the hill to the parking lot in the flat area. Here is a link to Google Maps with their location: Rogue Salem Public House (incorrectly identified at Rouge on Google). Please contact John Dalen to sign up.

It's time to get ready for the Easter Egg Hunt!

This event will be a gentle, child-centered, cozy event, held on Saturday, April 19, at 9:00 am.

Please help us by donating individually wrapped candy, stickers, or small toys. Remember: they need to fit inside a plastic Easter egg. Hop on in to the office with your donations by April 15 please.

Memorial Services:

A memorial service for Jean Nelson will be held on Saturday, April 12, at 3:00 pm, at Westminster. Please join Jean's family in honoring her, including her long-time service as a Stephen Minister at WPC.

A memorial service honoring both Walt and Doris Friday, will be held on Saturday, April 19, at 2:00 pm, at Westminster. Many of Doris' banners, as well as her quilts, and memorabilia from both Doris and Walt will be on display. Please join the Friday family for this opportunity to remember Doris and Walt who were long-time active and contributing members of Westminster.

Earth Day Champinefu River Walk:

Tuesday, April 22nd at 2:00 pm. Stroll along the ancient Marys River, homeland of the Ampinefu Kalapuya, which has seen radical changes in the past 180 years. Experience publicly accessible land along the Marys & Willamette Rivers with a new lens and a new appreciation on our 18^th Annual Corvallis Earth Day Tour.

Free and open to the public. To register and receive the meeting place and route, contact Dave Eckert at: deckert@willamettewatershed.com

Sponsors: Marys Peak Group Sierra Club, & the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition Water Action Team

Opportunities:

Vacation Bible Camp is scheduled for August 18-22 this year! This may seem like a long way off, but planning is happening now, so don't wait to put it on your calendars and let us know if you want to participate. We are partnering with St. Paul's Episcopal Church again this year for Changemaker's Lab VBC.

• Volunteers: Many volunteers are needed! We need adults and youth (completed 6th grade or older) to help with crafts, storytelling, snacks, games, registration, and moving from station to station with the kids. 

• Children: VBC will run 9:00a.m. to noon Monday through Friday for children entering Kindergarten through 6th grade. The cost is $10.00 per child but no more than $20.00 per family. Registration is open now at https://forms.gle/SbyrnV8mbnyd5iXx6. 

If you would like to help or have questions, talk to Terri Crall or email westpreskids@gmail.com.

2025 Earth Care Lenten Devotional:

Presbyterians for Earth Care's 2025 Lenten Devotional was made possible by the volunteers contributing their devotions as well as Spanish language collaboration with our partner organization Red Presbiteriana para el Cuidado de la Creación.

CLICK HERE to download the English language version of the Lenten Devotional

CLICK HERE to download the Lenten Devotional in Spanish

Would you like to receive each devotion on its designated date in your email Inbox? If so, you can request devotional emails through Lent by signing up with your email CLICK HERE

One Great Hour Of Sharing: Repairing the Breach:

The theme of this year's One Great Hour of Sharing is taken from Isaiah 58, in which God tells us to show our love. By sharing our love with OGHS, we can help repair the breach in so many of our interactions in our world today. This special offering is taken during the Lenten/Easter season and we will be receiving our donations on Easter Sunday, April 20.

The three programs supported by OGHS are: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger Program, and the Self-Development of People. These three programs all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope.

Each gift to OGHS helps to improve the lives of people in these challenging situations and it also provides us a way to share God's love with our neighbors in need. In fact, OGHS is the single largest way Presbyterians come together every year to work for a better world.

OGHS offering envelopes are available on the table next to the Offering Box.

Join us for Oregon Interfaith Advocacy Day on Tuesday, 

April 29, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem. 

Now is the time for people of faith to rise up in hope and to call for justice and compassion in our legislative system. 

The morning session at St. Mark Lutheran Church will feature a keynote address, training on effective advocacy and issue briefings. In the afternoon, participants will march to the Oregon Capitol Building, where they will present concerns to their legislators. Talking points and legislative appointments will be provided. 

ISSUE AREAS

May include the following: Immigration & Refugees, Housing & Homelessness, Climate & Environment, Healthcare, Hunger, Criminal Justice Reform

SCHEDULE

Morning session: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A sack lunch will be provided for participants.

Afternoon meetings with state legislators: times will vary.

REGISTRATION

$20; scholarships available. Register now.

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

NWSDS (Northwest Senior & Disability Services) has a program called the Otago Exercise Program. This program is delivered in your home for people 60+ with 2 chronic conditions or an adult with disabilities AND has had a recent fall or is fearful of falling. A trained instructor visits you and provides a set of individually prescribed exercises. The program can last 6-12 months. Participants are expected to do the exercises three times a week, and walk at least two times a week. Progress is monitored through home visits and phone calls. For more information, please call 833-673-9355 or email health.promotion@nwsds.org.

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