Prayer List

Friends,

This week I'm inspired by words of prayer by Adrienne Maree Brown:

Holy ones we are stoking the fire of hope

in an empire that feeds on our hopelessness

and believes all fire must be destructive

we believe in the rings of fire 

that encircle every portal of transformation

Holy ones 

we are the doulas of the future 

the keepers of tomorrow’s fire...

we stand in solidarity as we burn away our pain 

as we burn away our trauma

and any limitations on our love...

Holy ones remind us the fire is within and between us

share this fire:

we deserve a shared earth

bring attention to life

even in the form of grief

Holy ones when it feels unbearable

remind us, somewhere there waits a seed that only opens in the fire

and the future lives within it

and each of us is that seed 

and each of us is that fire

~from AMB's Hope in the face of hopelessness. Read it full here.

This week we pray for:

Stephanie Spangler, spouse of Barbara Mykannen

Prayers for healing for Stephanie, who had a successful knee-replacement surgery in Cleveland today.

Barna Ferenczy, cousin of Pastor Enikö

Prayers for healing and peace for Barna (Brown, living in Hungary). Barna is hospitalized again and is being treated for pulmonary embolism currently. His tests also revealed a tumor in his lungs.

Barbara Mykkanen

Continued prayers for Barb who started a new immunotherapy cancer treatment.

Dave Gillespie's sister Patricia and brother-in-law Marvin

Continued prayers for comfort and strength for Patricia and Marvin. Patricia is the full-time caretaker of her husband as Marvin is grappling with a sudden decline in his health.

Deb Hostetler

Continued prayers for healing, peace of mind and strength for Deb. We also hold husband Gabe and their children in our love as they support Deb on this journey.

Brandy, Eric Miller's niece

Continued prayers for Brandy as she prepares for complete mastectomy at the end of October.

Jim Taggart

Continued prayers for healing for Jim.

Chris Stewart

Continued prayers for healing for Chris, who is recovering from heart surgery at home.

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.

We also pray for:

• those healing from medical procedures, and who are dealing with ongoing health concerns and difficult personal situations in our midst;
• our Westminster community as we interview candidates for the office administrator position this week;
• all in our midst who create space for welcome, laughter, friendship, healing and wonder;
• all who live in the midst of conflict and war - in many places across the world; today we especially pray for those caught in the escalating conflict and violence between Lebanon and Israel; "Holy One, we grieve this new wave of devastation! Create clean hearts in us. Empower us to seek the peace and wellbeing of our neighbors near and far!"
• with thanksgiving, for nourishing rain in our area and for communities rebuilding after the devastation of weather in other parts of the world;
• authentic conversations about difficult topics, bridging chasms between us;
• our nation as we face another election--may we be united in working for the common good;
• God's love to grow within each of us, spilling over into every aspect of our lives, every interaction with humanity, with creation, that we might see glimpses of you reflected all around us.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, September 25

• CAMO - 9:30 am - noon - Orrville
• WPC Session Meeting - 7:00 pm - The Lounge

Thursday, September 26

• Dance and Exercise - 8:30 am - The Meeting Place
• Immigration Justice Committee Meeting - 5:30 pm - The Lounge

Saturday, September 28

• Latino Food Festival - 2:00 pm - Rehm Gazebo, Orr Park, Orrville

Sunday, September 29

• WPC Worship - 10:00 am - Mackey Hall
• Wooster Friends Meeting - 10:30 am - The Meeting Place
• Blessing of the Animals - 5:30 pm - Christmas Run Park (organized by the Wayne County Interfaith Justice Committee)

Monday, September 30

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

Wednesday, October 1

• Wooster Area Interfaith Partners - 9:00 am - Zoom

Thursday, October 3

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

Sunday, October 6 - World Communion Sunday

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

Madeline in Klaipeda, Lithuania

We continue to hold Madeline in our prayers during her semester abroad.

She and her team are in Tallin, Estonia this week. We pray for safe travels and fun explorations. Be on the lookout for more info about a place of resistance against the Soviet occupation Madeline will visit.

The swans are in the pond across from her dorm room :)

If you'd like to send her cards, here is her mailing address:

Madeline Fields Halva

Study Abroad Lithuania

LCC International University

Kretingos gatvė 36

Klaipėda, Lithuania 92307

I know that some of us wanted to send Madeline packages. She really appreciates the gesture, but customs are really complicated (!!!), and she invites us to only send cards or letters 🥰

Save the Date: "Humanizing Migration" Workshop

Westminster is sponsoring a "Humanizing Migration" workshop on Saturday, October 19th, from 9:30am to 2:30 p.m. in Mackey Hall with Central American lunch provided. Free admission for this timely, informational day with our area immigration-agency leaders and special guest, Dora Rodriquez, Director, Salvavision in Tucson, Arizona. 

Please plan to attend and support this day devoted to shifting perspectives and narratives around immigration issues. 

Updated Questions

for the WPC Story Corps Project

Friends, the stories of our faith - the stories of scripture and tradition reveal how people of faith experienced God's presence, comfort and challenge, love and care in the midst of everyday life.

Similarly, we are sharing our stories because we want to remember what experiences have shaped us, who have been people in our lives who inspire us to be the persons we are today. In this anniversary year, we'd like to create a snapshot of our congregation - who we are; who/what shaped us; what passions and dreams do we bring into our community.

Lemoine Peart offers updated questions to guide our storytelling. We invite you to read them here. 

You can also read two stories that WPC members have shared on our website.

Open Arms Latino Food Festival

September 28, 2:00 pm, Orr Park, Orrville

Let's show our continues support for Open Arms Hispanic Ministries while having a great day of delicious food, music and fun! Free admissions.

Contact Lynne Hamrick for more information.