Worship Calendar
All services will be held virtually until further notice. Click here to access all virtual services.
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In the past two weeks, Congregational Care Committee members have been delivering baskets filled with home-grown veggies to our church family to let you know that we miss gathering together, and we love and care for you. I joined in on some of the trips to connect with especially those of you who have not been able to join us in our Zoom worship and fellowship—you whom I haven’t yet had a chance to meet in person. In one conversation, I heard something that resonated with me, a thought that has been on my mind too in these past months. “We realize that we have to let go of some things so to create room for new things to grow,” one of you gently observed.
The pandemic has prevented or limited us from doing many things that we love, things that nurture us, that allow us to show our love and care, things that give us a sense of purpose.
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Like singing, praying, worshipping together in person, gathering to break bread and fellowship with folk in our church family and beyond, to serve and engage with people in our wider community. I know that we’ve each had moments in these past months when we’ve grappled with a sense of loss and grief, of feeling lonely and isolated, discouraged.
Yet, during these past months we’ve also discovered the truth that when things wither away, new things spring up. We moved to Zoom worship and find joy in seeing each other on the screen, in having folk engaged in the worship leadership with me. I know that many of you sing along wholeheartedly to the music provided by our musicians or our video recordings as you join in worship from your living rooms or porches. All of us have learned more new things about technology that we’ve ever anticipated we would. As folk from the Congregational Care Committee have beautifully demonstrated to us, we are also finding meaningful new ways to care for each other.
I am reminded of Jesus’ words from the gospels: “No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.” (Luke 5: 37-38) We find ourselves discovering, “growing” new wineskins as we let some of our old ways of being church go and opening ourselves up to new possibilities to love and serve God and each other. Friends, as we move into the Fall, as we appreciate the beauty and the gifts of a new season, may we be nourished and assured by the Spirit’s guidance, and find deep joy and a renewed sense of purpose in creating community and sharing God’s love and shalom with neighbors.
Peace,
Pastor Enikő
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Highlights from This Month's Session Meeting |
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- The session will identify 4-5 priorities for the next 6 to 12 months to help focus our efforts.
- Special worship services during the Fall:
- World Communion Sunday, October 4
- All Saints Sunday, November 1
- Commitment Sunday, November 22
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Special Advent series on the theme “Those Who Dream” beginning November 29—the theme for this series was developed by The Sanctified Art.
- The re-opening subcommittee of the session will work on a proposal to possibly begin hybrid services for the Advent Season, starting Nov. 29, 2020.
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Following the Building Committee’s lead, the session approved a motion to allow small groups (up to 10 people max.) to meet in Mackey Hall and the Meeting Place. Groups will be expected to follow safety protocols determined by the Building Committee. Please email the church office to submit a request.
- Our Walking in Mindfulness Contemplative Group will start meeting indoors beginning Sunday, November 8, 8am in Mackey Hall or the Meeting Place. We’ll be sending you more information closer to the date. The group will still meet at Oak Hills Park in October.
- Congregational Life is working on some fellowship opportunities for the Fall.
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The Session will begin a book study, Ibram X. Kendi's How To Be An Antiracist
- Plans for educational opportunities for the congregation are being developed
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Zoom Worship at 10am on Sunday |
Please use the link below to join our Zoom worship service and fellowship time. If you would like to dial in by phone, please use the phone number listed below. If you need help using Zoom, there are instructions linked to the button that says "Click Here." If you have trouble the day of, please email Jack Veney.
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Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 853 5983 3772 To join by phone dial +1 929 436 2866
Password: wpcworship
Click below for instructions on using Zoom.
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Fall Veggie Basket Delivery |
Westminster's Congregational Care group has organized vegetable-basket deliveries to members and friends of our congregation. The vegetables have been donated by members with surpluses from their gardens and are delivered with notes of love and care from our church family during these times of distanced worship and fellowship. The deliveries are being made to all members during mid-September weekdays, and our pastor, Enikő Ferenczy, is participating in deliveries to those whom she has not yet had the chance to meet. One member responded, "Thanks for stopping by. I'm grateful for the veggies and feel loved by the church. My regards to Enikő and other church members. |
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Peace and Global Witness Offering |
The Peace and Global Witness Offering will be taken on Sunday, October 4. A gift to the Peace and Global Witness offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of conflict and injustice across the world. Individual congregations are encouraged to utilize up to 25% of this Offering to connect with the global witness of Christ's peace. |
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Mid councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness. Donations can be made by sending a check to Westminster Presbyterian Church 353 E Pine St, Wooster, OH 44691 with "Peace and Global Witness Offering" in the memo line. |
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Open Arms Hispanic Ministries' annual fall "Songs and Salsa" event will not be held this year due to COVID safety concerns. However, you can enjoy an informative and entertaining evening on Saturday, September 19, at 6:00pm at Open Arms Live Online, where you will receive updates on Open Arms' care for our Hispanic brothers and sisters and also enjoy some great music. Open Arms is grateful for Westminster's continued support of its good works. Click here for a larger version of the attached flier.
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Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities |
Click the links below for more information on Westminster's ongoing volunteering projects.
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Ongoing Fellowship Opportunities |
Click the links below for more information on Westminster's ongoing fellowship opportunities.
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