Welcome Dawn Kridel to Session, Class of 2022!
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Dawn Kridel began attending Westminster Presbyterian in June 2016 and became a member in October 2019. She group up in Toledo, Ohio and attended Lourdes College and St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing. Over the 13 years she practiced she was on the ground floor of multiple psychiatric care units including the first child latency unit at The Ohio State University Medical Center, the first adolescent drug and alcohol treatment center at Riverside Hospital and the first adult psychiatric unit at Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon. After welcoming their third child in 1997, Dawn retired from nursing and began her history of volunteering. Over the years, she has been a Cub Scout leader, volunteer Librarian, Speech and Debate Judge, facilitator of major fundraising and manager for the WHS boy's soccer team where she met Dries and Beth Coetzee and began her story with Westminster.
Because of Mike's 18 year career with General Electric, they have lived in Columbus, Ohio, Morgantown, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Ohio, Lexington, KY, and Richfield, Ohio. They have 3 young adult offspring; Matt, Emily and Stephen who are in Augusta, Georgia, Logan, Ohio and Cincinnati.
Dawn has participated in the Benevolence Committee since the Summer of 2016 and enjoys participating in Meals on Wheels, CAMO and soup making with the Aspire Program. As an Elder, she looks forward to working with the other Session Members to provide more activities for the COW students, providing more Spiritual and Reflective studies, expanding the congregation and planning and participating in gatherings with lots and lots of food!
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Formation of a Climate Crisis Team
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"Last night I had an inspiration that lingers. Imagine that the governing body of every church in Wooster appoints a Climate Crisis Team; that this is also done by the Interfaith Social Justice Committee; by the Wooster City Council, the Wayne County Council, the Chamber of Commerce — indeed, every private and public institution of the city. Imagine that each of these teams is asked to begin by undertaking at least two tasks: seriously considering the placement of solar panels on the buildings they serve, adjusting their temperatures so that air conditioning kicks in at (5?) degrees higher than now, and heat at (5?) degrees lower. So we all will wear sweaters indoors in the winter, and tolerate a little more warmth in the summer.
Imagine further that City Council decides on a standard for all dwellings in the city (e.g. a given percent have solar panels) but as recommended by the City Council Climate Team, and adopted by Council. Imagine that the local and national press covered the Wooster story and the idea caught hold in many cities. Why not??"
This was the original statement by Gordon Shull which inspired me to action at Westminster. A few other churches have already formed Climate Crisis Teams. We need to get started on ours! Please talk to Juli Douglass-Gillespie if you are interested in a once-a-month discussion and action group. Meetings will be held for approximately one hour after Worship in the Lounge. You may also
contact Juli by email or phone (330-464-0649) with any questions.
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Invitation to "Movie & a Meal" at Trinity United Church of Christ, in Wooster
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On March 29, 2020, Trinity's Mission Committee invites you to "Movie & a Meal". The movie will be shown at 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary and the Soup & Salad meal will follow at 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. They are located at 150 E. North St, Wooster, Ohio 44691.
The movie is about how climate change affects our environment and what society can do to prevent the demise of endangered species, ecosystems and native communities across the planet.
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Behind Bars & Beyond and Interfaith Justice Friends,
The Oasis Recovery Club at One-Eighty is looking for volunteers to staff the snack bar, for as few as three hours a week.
The contact person is Deb Strickland, manager at Oasis. Call her at One-Eighty at 330-264-8498 to get more information.
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Cancellation of the Gomes Choir Visit! 2020
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Due to the climate of uncertainty and concerns with the COVID-19, otherwise known as Coronavirus, the Gomes Choir will not be visiting us this year. We will miss having them share their music and fellowship with us but hope to see them next year!
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Trip to San Antonio — March 12–17
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The members of the Immigration Advocacy Committee have been in contact with the Coetzees and University Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, Texas. Currently, Dave and Sandy Schmidt as well as Jim and Janelle Collier are in San Antonio from March 12–17, 2020. Members of that congregation have offered to open their homes and to provide local transportation. The purpose of this trip is both for fellowship and to become partners in ministry, and to have opportunities to visit and learn more about areas of social justice and immigration history. We look forward to hearing from them upon their return!
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Volunteers Needed to Recruit Greeters
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We are looking for folks who will volunteer to arrange for greeters on Sunday mornings. If you are willing to serve a three-month term to recruit/find Sunday greeters, please contact Caryl Slater or Bill Weiss.
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Gracias Banquet —
Cancelled
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Thank you to all who planned to attend the Open Arms Hispanic Ministry's "Gracias Banquet". This event has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus and concern for safety of many at-risk elderly who attend this event.
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Leslie Gordon Tait
Birth Date:
Saturday, March 6, 1926
Date of Passing:
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Wooster, OH – L. Gordon Tait, who had a long association with The College of Wooster and the Presbyterian Church, died Saturday, March 7th at LifeCare Hospice. He was 94.
Gordon Tait was born in Bessemer, PA on March 6, 1926 and grew up in Brockway, PA as the son of Leo Leslie Tait, a Presbyterian minister, and Anna Elizabeth Tait. Gordon served in the Pacific as a Navy officer during World War II. He graduated from Harvard University in 1948 and became a Presbyterian minister after graduating from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1951. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) in 1955. That same year, Gordon married Martha Lois Neilson, a deaconess in the United Church of Canada.
In 1956, Tait became a professor of religious studies at The College of Wooster, where he stayed for the next 35 years. Gordon served as chair of the religious studies department on three occasions. He received a number of prestigious honors and awards including a Distinguished Alumni Award from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1992, the Outstanding Higher Education Award from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1992 and an honorary fellowship from the University of Edinburgh in 1991.
Tait was the author of two books – “The Promise of Tillich” and “The Piety of John Witherspoon: Pew, Pulpit and Public Forum” and he also wrote many articles published in various journals and newspapers. Gordon was an active member of the local presbytery, often lecturing and preaching in area churches. He also developed a keen love of Scotland, where he lived for a total of four-plus years. After retiring from The College of Wooster, Gordon enjoyed fishing and doing volunteer custodial work at the Viola Startzman Clinic. Gordon also had a great sense of humor and loved to share jokes with everyone.
Gordon was married to his wonderful wife, Lois Tait, for almost 50 years until she passed away in 2005. Lois and Gordon had one child, their son Paul, who lives and works in Cleveland. Surviving Gordon are his son Paul, daughter-in-law Tamela (nee Neininger), grandson Neilson and granddaughter Julianna. One of Gordon’s biggest joys was spending time with his grandchildren who made frequent trips to Wooster to visit with him.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the L. Gordon Tait Scholarship Fund at The College of Wooster or to the Viola Startzman Clinic.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
Memorial service on Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Family will greet friends following the service.
Memorial Contributions:
L. Gordon Tait Scholarship Fund at the College of Wooster or the Viola Startzman Clinic.
Visitation:
Family will greet friends at a reception following the service
Service:
Memorial service on Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church.
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How to Submit a Prayer Request:
In order to keep our church family more connected through this time of transition, we have started sending out prayer list emails every other Friday.
To submit a prayer request for the prayer list email, please
click here and fill out the anonymous form. If you do not receive the prayer list email and would like to, please
email Gracie.
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Congregational Care Ministry
Please contact the Westminster Church office (330-263-2398) if you would like your name added to the Congregational Care Ministry Group. This group of church members provides care in times of need, for example meals following surgery or transportation to church when needed, and stays in touch with members and friends who cannot attend church regularly. If you have any questions about the Congregational Care Ministry group, please contact Cheryl Weiss.
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Ongoing Fellowship Opportunities
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Men's Breakfast meets on the first Tuesday of every month at the downtown Buehler's at 7:45 am. Sometimes we are many gathered and other times we are only two, but it is always a meaningful time of friendship, food, and conversation. All men are invited!
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The Westminster Dance Group meets every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the Westminster Church House. Anyone who wants to try a little bit of floor exercise and some free form dance is welcome!
This is a low-impact, gentle movement group where non-dancers and newcomers can feel right at home!
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On the second Sunday of each month, we invite you to join us at the Chupp Residence beginning at 8:30 am for a contemplative worship service. Contact Joel Chupp with questions.
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Westminster's fellowship time is an important way to build relationships with one another. We invite you to join us after worship for light refreshments and conversation! If you would like to provide refreshments or serve as our Sunday Morning Host, please visit the
SignUpGenius link.
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Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
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Westminster delivers Meals on Wheels every Friday of the year to homebound and nutritionally at-risk individuals in the surrounding area, in partnership with Meals on Wheels of Stark and Wayne Counties.
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On the last Wednesday of each month, Westminster carpools from the church to the Central American Medical Outreach (CAMO) warehouse in Orrville to support the hospital in Sata Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Join us as we sort donations and build community with one another! For more information or to volunteer, contact
Sherry Hatter-Miller.
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Westminster Bed and Breakfast Program
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Westminster combines hospitality and missions through its Bed and Breakfast program!
Church volunteers host guests, and all donations received through the program are contributed to charitable organizations. The Bed and Breakfast program offers a comfortable and welcoming stay in support of local and national organizations and their work, such as: Wayne County Hospice, Viola Sartzman Free Clinic, Every Woman's House, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Church World Service, and more.
If you are interested in being a host or know out-of-town visitors looking for a comfortable stay in this area,
contact us.
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Click below to access Westminster's calendar for more information on meetings and events.
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WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
| www.wpcwooster.org
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