Prayer List

God who rose,

Resurrect us. We've belonged to communities, workplaces, and spiritual spaces that have demanded our death far more than they ever advocated for our life. They ask us to "die to self," the ambiguity of the command like grabbing a knife by its blade. No longer will we mirror the hands of neglect that the world uses daily.

Let joy find us today. Remind us that any spirituality which is always death, never resurrection, is a farce. What liberation we taste today, may we crave in full as we refuse to wander back to the chains that once held us.

May joy find us. Not a joy absent of story or sorrow, but a joy whose allegiance is to memory. A joy that is not quick to forget the agony of Good Friday or dismiss the doubt of Silent Saturday. May we remember and rise to meet hope nonetheless, knowing our liberation is whispering up at us from its empty grave. Amen.

~ Cole Arthur Riley, Easter from "Black Liturgies"

This week we pray for:

Lemoine Peart

Prayers for a smooth procedure and peace of mind for Lemoine who will have surgery on her collarbone at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus on Friday.

Deb Hostetler

Continued prayers for healing, 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.

Kathleen Paul, Linda Barbu's sister

Prayers of gratitude for Kathy. She has completed her chemotherapy and the preliminary results are very promising. Continued prayers for her as she prepares for a follow-up MRI in April that will give an accurate picture of her status.

Candace, Juli Gillespie's neighbor

Continued prayers for healing for Candace who is recovering from a recent surgery and has been grappling with health challenges for months. Prayers also for her husband Jeff, and sons Jason and Ben.

Tom Ewing, Erica Ewing's dad

Continued prayers for healing for Tom. He has resumed his cancer treatment.

Tom Battles

Continued prayers for Tom and Elaine in this new season of life with Tom living in a nursing home.

Barbara Mykkanen

Continued prayers for Barb as she participates in a study to help others with similar cancer diagnosis. She has been recently diagnosed with age related macular degeneration on her left eye.

Scott Alan Burrowes

Prayers for Scott's family and friends and all those who mourn his death on March 14. Scott grew up at Westminster, but moved on after his parents' divorce and departure from Wooster. You may read his obituary here.

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 lost their lives in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore after a container ship hit the bridge yesterday; we pray also for the families of the deceased and all affected by this tragedy;
• all who live in the midst of violence and war - in Haiti, DRC, South Sudan, Ukraine, and many other places across the world; we pray for those affected by the recent terrorist attack in Moscow;
• the UN call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza to be acted upon; for those on the brink of starving to death, especially in northern Gaza, 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 28

• Dance and Exercise - 8:30 am - The Meeting Place
• Maundy Thursday Service with Communion - 7:00 pm - Mackey Hall

Friday, March 28 - GOOD FRIDAY

• Office Closed
• No community service downtown this year!

Sunday, March 31

• Easter Sunrise Service - 7:30 am - Mackey Patio
• Easter Breakfast - 8:30 am - The Meeting Place
• Easter Service with Communion - 10 am - Mackey Hall
• Wooster Friends Meeting - 10:30 am - The Meeting Place

Monday, April 1

• Office Closed - Easter

Wednesday, April 3

• Wooster Area Interfaith Partners (WAIP) Meeting - 9 am - The Lounge

Thursday, April 4

• Dance and Exercise - 8:30 am - The Meeting Place

Sunday, April 7

• 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 Holy Week 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 are using the Lenten Devotional reflections, as well as visual art and poetry to inspire our explorations.

Lenten Wandering with Peter

Thursday, March 28 - Maundy Thursday Service - 7pm - Mackey Hall

Tuning Our Hearts During Lent

Our Easter text is Luke 24:1-12.

Questions for Reflection

1. Have you ever run away from something because you were scared of or you were afraid? What did you learn?

2. What things, people and events fill you with awe? Where are you experiencing new life? Where are you experiencing a new beginning?

3. How did you grow or learn in this Lenten season?

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WPC 150th Anniversary Mission Project

Friends, we are excited to announce that we reached our initial goal of $10,000 for our anniversary mission project 🎉🎉🎉 The WPC Session expanded our goal to $20,000.

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!

Thank you for your generosity! We appreciate your partnership with us in strengthening the fabric of our community!

Help Us Celebrate WPC's 150th Anniversary

A message from the 150 Anniversary planning committee

What will future generations know about Westminster in 2024? 

Please add to the historical record at the 150th Anniversary website. Your memories and reflections may be of any length. These reflections will be preserved in our archives and at the College of Wooster archives. We need many submissions to make this a successful effort in describing who we are and what we hold as important.  It is also ok to submit your contributions at the link below or in written form to the church office and your entry will be transcribed into our online webpage.  

Your thoughts and contributions are unique and important.  

Follow-up on Climate Action for Westminster Participation

Letters to Representative Max Miller

Three week's ago Juli Douglass-Gillespie asked the congregation to please write personal letters as constituents addressed to Rep. Max Miller of Federal District 7. This is part of a national campaign by Citizens' Climate Lobby to bring our climate concerns to the attention of our elected officials at this time. The Wooster Citizens' Climate Lobby Team is going to personally DROP-OFF all letters at Rep. Miller's Medina Office on April 4.  

Juli has received very few letters back from Westminster folks, and would like to remind you to please bring them back to church for her to collect them as soon as possible. You may also mail them to her, or drop them off, or even email them to her. 

If you don't have and need copies of the general instructions and Form Letter to fill out, please email Juli.

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.