Prayer List

Friends,

This Sunday is recognized as Mother's Day in our country. This day, this week, can bring forth a multitude of emotions in us: joy, grief, sorrow, anger, and more.

May the words of poet Allison Woodard from her poem God Our Mother guide our reflections:

God Our Mother

To be a Mother is to say,

“This is my body, broken for you,”

And, in the next instant, in response to the created’s primal hunger,

“This is my body, take and eat.”

To be a Mother is to be an artist;

A keeper of memories past,

Weaver of stories untold,

Visionary of lives looming ahead.

To be a Mother is to be a Touchstone

and the Source,

Bestower of names,

Influencer of identities;

Life giver,

Life shaper,

Empath,

Healer,

and

Original Love.



This week we pray for:

Nahida and Don Gordon

Continued prayers for healing for Nahida and Don who are recovering from a car accident.

Nahida is at Wooster Community Hospital, Room 407 in the rehab unit on the 4th floor. Please note that this floor has limited visiting hours (Monday - Friday 4-8pm; Saturday 2-8pm; Sunday 11-8pm) to allow patience time to rest.

Don is at West View Healthy Living (1715 Mechanicsburg Rd), Room 615.

Both Nahida and Don are slowly gaining strength. They welcome brief visits and appreciate your love and support for them.

Jim Taggart

Prayers for healing for Jim, who is at Wooster Community Hospital, Room 14 in the 2nd floor rehab unit. Jim had his big toe on his right leg amputated due to an infection last week.

Barbara Hayes

Prayers for healing for Barbara, who is also at Wooster Community Hospital, Room 11 in the 2nd floor rehab unit, recovering from a fall she sustained at her home.

Caryl Slater

Prayers for healing and comfort for Caryl, who has been grappling with health challenges caused by a kidney stone as well as high blood pressure.

Madeline Fields-Halva

Prayers of gratitude for Madeline who completed her paperwork for a semester abroad in Lithuania this fall. We celebrate with Madeline as she prepares for this exciting adventure.

Chris Stewart

Continued prayers for healing for Chris, who is recovering from heart surgery. We rejoice with him as he is returning home after a month of hospitalization today. You may send a card to Chris at the address below:

Chris Stewart

PO Box 565

Shreve, OH 44676

Sue Coleman

Prayers for peace and comfort for Sue as she settles into this new season of life in a nursing home. You may send her cards at the address below:

Sue Coleman

The Bickford of Rocky River, Rm 325

21600 Detroit Rd

Rocky River, OH 44116

Kathleen Paul, Linda Barbu's sister

Prayers of gratitude for Kathy. Her MRI last week showed a total remission of the cancer. She will receive two more specialized chemo treatments to catch any cells that may be in her lymph system.

Brandy, Eric Miller's niece

Prayers for Brandy as she begins treatment for an aggressive type of breast cancer.

Deb Hostetler

Continued prayers for healing, peace of mind and strength for Deb as she continues her chemo treatment and grapples with nausea. We also hold husband Gabe and their children in our love as they support Deb on this journey.

David Gillespie

Prayers for David who has been grappling with health issues and is waiting to see a cardiologist on Friday.

Lemoine Peart

Continued prayers for healing for Lemoine who is recovering well from a surgery on her collarbone.

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.

Prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude for a wonderful weekend of celebrating Westminster Church's 150 years of ministry in Wooster and beyond.

Our gratitude goes to all who made this occasion be so joy-filled and inspiring as we continue our journey into the next chapter of service:

• for friends and family, current and former members, former pastors of Westminster, minister colleagues from the community, representatives of the larger church who joined us for the celebrations in person or in spirit, sending your love and heart-warming messages to Westminster;
• for all who made this wonderful series of events possible: members of the Planning Committee, Program, Food, and Worship and Music Subcommittees, the WPC Liturgical Dance Group, those who worked on PR and technology, decorations, bulletins and offering administrative support, the COW catering service and the staff of Kittredge Hall who assisted with our banquet.

We also pray for

• the staff of the COW Preschool as they prepare to reopen this Fall;
• all COW students who are graduating this weekend; we offer thanks for their hard work, the learning and growth they've experienced at Wooster; for the fellowship and friendships they've formed; for family, mentors, teachers and staff who nurtured them and fostered their learning. Blessings on the next chapter, Class of 2024!
• 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;
• those who are overwhelmed by the difficult personal situations, the violence and suffering in the world; may we find small things to nurture our spirits every day;
• all who live in the midst of violence and war - in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, Haiti, South Sudan, Ukraine, and many other places across the world; today we cry out for the end of carnage as Israel goes ahead with major ground operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah--a refuge of thousands who were displaced by the war;
• students speaking up for ceasefire in Gaza and for justice to be established for all people in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel at Columbia University and on campuses across the country, who face silencing and threats of violence;
• 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;
• during this Mother's Day week we pray for
• mothers in war torn regions;
• those who grieve their mother, hear our prayer;
• those who are in fertility treatment yearning to become a mother;
• those estranged from or harmed by their mother;
• those who are mothers or mother figures to others;

Friends, may the Holy Spirit nudge and lead us with clarity and patience in the midst of difficult decisions and circumstances. And may we embody God's light, love, compassion, and hope to all we encounter.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, May 8

• Benevolence Committee Meeting - 2:00 pm - The Lounge
• Evening Vespers - 7:00 pm - Chupps' Home (157 Park Ave.)

Thursday, May 9

• Dance and Exercise - 8:30 am - Mackey Hall

Friday, May 10

• COW Baccalaureate Ceremony - 4:00 pm - McGaw Chapel

Saturday, May 11

• COW Commencement Ceremony - 1:00 pm - Gault Recreation Center

Sunday, May 12 - Mother's Day

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

Monday, May 13

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

Tuesday, May 14

• Worship Committee Meeting - 1:00 pm - The Lounge
• Faith & Sustainability Network Meeting - 5:00 - 7:00 pm - Broken Rock

Wednesday, May 15

• Immigration Justice Committee Meeting - 2:00 pm - The Lounge

Thursday, May 16

• Dance and Exercise - 8:30 am - Mackey Hall

Sunday, May 19 - Pentecost Sunday

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

WPC 150th Anniversary Mission Project

Friends, our our anniversary mission project continues until June 2. We are getting close to reaching our goal of $20,000 🎉🎉🎉

You can find more information on the project at https://wpcwoo.org/undue.

(FYI - the organization changed its name from RIP to Undue Medical Debt this week. This does not impact our campaing.)

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!

We Continue to Celebrate WPC's 150th Anniversary

If you were not able to join us this weekend for our wonderful celebrations, or if you would like to reminisce about the inspiring worship or moments of warm reunion and program at the banquet, check out these links below.

We will have photos that capture the celebration to share with you next week.

Stay tuned!

You may read the liturgy for the celebratory worship here.

You may view the program, the celebratory program slideshow and script here.

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.