Prayer List

Friends,

We continue our Lenten journey, following a curriculum developed by the group A Sanctified Art, "Wandering Heart: Figuring out faith with Peter."

This week we reflect on Jesus teaching the disciples about the practice of forgiveness - what is and isn't forgiveness (Matthew 18:1-5, 12-22). May this blessing from poet Jan Richardson guide us:

If we cannot lay aside the wound,

then let us say it will not always bind us.

Let us say the damage will not eternally determine our path.

Let us say the line of our life will not always travel

along the places we are torn.

Let us say that forgiveness

can take some practice,

can take some patience,

can take a long and struggling time.

Let us say that to offer the hardest blessing,

we will need the deepest grace;

that to forgive the sharpest pain,

we will need the fiercest love;

that to release the ancient ache,

we will need new strength

for every day.

Let us say the wound

will not be our final home—

that through it runs a road,

a way we would not have chosen

but on which we will finally see forgiveness,

so long practiced, coming toward us,

shining with the joy so well deserved.

~ Jan Richardson, The Hardest Blessing

This week we pray for:

Deb Hostetler

Continued prayers for Deb, who is recovering from a SCAD (a small heart attack) at home. We specifically pray for peace of mind and strength so Deb can focus on next steps in her cancer treatment. And we hold husband Gabe and their children in our love as they support Deb on this journey.

Donna Bye, our new treasurer

Prayers for Donna who is undergoing surgery on a broken toe today. Prayers for quick recovery.

Candace, Juli Gillespie's neighbor

Prayers for Candace who had complications following surgery last Thursday. She is in the hospital. Prayers for her, her husband Jeff, and sons Jason and Ben.

Tom Ewing, Erica Ewing's dad

Prayers for Tom who is recovering at home from a brief hospitalization in Columbus earlier this week. He is hoping to resume his cancer treatment soon.

Stewart Gamage, sister of Pastor Enikö's friend Anne Ferrell

Continued prayers for Stewart, who is in ICU in Richmond, VA. She is still on a ventilator, but there is a slight improvement in her heart function.

Tom Battles

Continued prayers for Tom who grapples with unstable blood pressure; we hold both Tom and Elaine in our prayers and love in this new season of life with Tom living in a nursing home.

Kathleen Paul, Linda Barbu's sister

Continued prayers for strength and peace as Kathleen continues her cancer treatment.

Barbara Mykkanen

Continued prayers for Barb as she participates in a study to help others with similar cancer diagnosis.

We pray for

• those who are healing from medical procedures, and who are dealing with ongoing health concerns in our midst;
• those in our community who are unhoused;
• each of us when we grapple with the gray areas of life, when next steps are not clear; may we trust that the Spirit is with us in our questions, fears, hopes - in our discernment;
• all who live in the midst of violence and war - in Haiti, DRC, South Sudan, Ukraine, and many other places across the world;
• an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; for aid to be allowed into communities in desperate need, and for a justice to be established in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel;
• those who strive for justice, may their voices be heard and heeded; 
• in thanksgiving for all who use their skills and resources for the common good;
• our Westminster community as we plan our 150th anniversary celebration in May.

Friends, may we embody God's light, love, compassion, and hope to all we encounter.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, March 14

• Dance and Exercise - 8:30 am - The Meeting Place
• WPC Lenten Study - 7:00 pm - The Lounge

Sunday, March 17 - Fifth Sunday of Lent

• Choir Rehearsal - 9:00 am - Mackey Hall
• Worship service - 10:00 am - Mackey Hall
• Wooster Friends Meeting - 10:30 am - The Meeting Place

Monday, March 18

• Scout Troop 61 - 6:30 pm - Mackey Hall

Wednesday, March 20

• WPC Session Meeting - 7 pm - The Lounge

Thursday, March 21

• Dance and Exercise - 8:30 am - The Meeting Place
• WPC Lenten Study - 7:00 pm - The Lounge

Sunday, March 17 - Palm/Passion Sunday

• Choir Rehearsal - 9:00 am - Mackey Hall
• Worship service - 10:00 am - Mackey Hall
• Wooster Friends Meeting - 10:30 am - The Meeting Place

Join us on our Lenten Journey

This year we are following the Lent curriculum Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter developed by our beloved group of creatives A Sanctified Art.

In our worship and our small group studies, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus' most famous disciples. Peter is a person who is steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter's journey, we find the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a human being, much like us, who is trying to figure it all out.

We have Lenten Devotionals ready for you to pick up. We'll be using these reflections, as well as visual art and poetry to inspire our explorations.

This is a wonderful opportunity to invite a friend along -

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Lenten Wandering with Peter

Thursday, March 14 - 7pm - The Lounge

Thursday, March 21 - 7 pm - The Lounge

Thursday, March 28 - Maundy Thursday Service - Mackey Hall

Tuning Our Hearts During Lent

Throughout Lent, I will be sharing resources that you may find meaningful as we seek the presence of the holy in our lives, as we strive to deepen our relationship with God and with one another. This week we are reflecting on Matthew 18:1-5, 12-22.

Questions for Reflection

1. Recall a time when you received forgiveness/grace. How did it impact you?

2. What about when you offered forgiveness to someone else?

3. Who in your life needs forgiveness?

4. Who in your life has modeled how to show grace to oneself and others well?

5.What do we need to learn to be a community that embodies Jesus' forgiving seventy-times-seven kind of love?

*******

Check out the article "Why are Christians So Bad at Forgiveness?" by Mitchell Antencio here.

This interview with Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes explores forgiveness through a theological, clinical, and trauma-informed lens. Walker-Barnes has published a five-part series on forgiveness, in which she addresses harmful myths of forgiveness and describes the ill-effects of unforgiveness. She describes forgiveness as an ongoing process, saying: “Part of what my Christian identity calls me to do is to decide to forgive and to be committed to the process of forgiving others as often as I possibly can. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that I will always reach whole and complete forgiveness—that’s part of my humanity. The question is: Have I intentionally worked on developing a forgiving disposition?” 



WPC 150th Anniversary Mission Project

Friends, we are excited about the progress we are making on our anniversary mission project. You can find more information on the project at https://wpcwoo.org/rip.

Share the information with friends, family, co-workers. Let's sow seeds of goodness in our community!

WITH additional donations and pledges sent to Westminster Church we raised a total of $9,187 so far.

Help Us Celebrate WPC's 150th Anniversary

Read the Daily Record article about our Mustard Seed Project here.

Make Your Vote Count

Food Waste in Wooster

The Interfaith Justice Committee of Wooster is proposing a citizen run program to collect individual household food waste and turn it into compost that people can then use mainly for gardening purposes, therefore reducing the amount of food waste going to landfills.  We are trying to get the word out to churches, different groups in Wooster, organizations and businesses like Local Roots and anyone we can think of about this idea of organizing a Food Waste Program here in Wooster. There are many examples of cities around the country with all kinds of programs. We are trying to compile a list of names of those interested in discussing and participating this project. We would then call a meeting to get everyone together. This has been tried on a small scale, but nothing large-scale or sustainable has existed in Wooster so far.

Please contact  Juli Douglass-Gillespie if you are interested in an initial meeting to brainstorm ideas about a possible program. We would like that meeting to happen in early February.

Serving Meals this Winter

Westminster has joined with other area churches to serve dinner at the Salvation Army Severe Weather Shelter during the winter months.

Members of the Benevolence Committee are coordinating these efforts to show care to our unhoused neighbors during these frigid days.

Westminster prepares and serves dinner on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month through March.

If you are interested in getting involved, contact Candy Relle here.