*John O'Donohue, “For the Senses”

Prayers for comfort and healing for Erin who broke her ankle last week and has to wear a cast for several weeks.

Prayers of gratitude for the young Scouts and leaders of Troop 61 for leading us in a wonderful worship on Sunday. We appreciate the long-standing partnership between Westminster and Troop 61 and pray for continued blessings on your work.

Prayers for our home-bound members who may experience an increased sense of isolation and loneliness due to the pandemic.

Pastor Enikő is attending a Civil Rights Travel Seminar between February 21- March 3. Prayers for safe travels and for open eyes and hearts as participants will learn more about the history of the struggle for equal rights and justice for all people in this country, and as they will engage with people who are currently working for racial justice.

During these winter days, we pray for those who do not have a safe and warm place to call home. We pray for all in our community who are supporting the operation of the Severe Weather Shelter at the Salvation Army.

We pray for the people struggling for freedom, peace and justice; for places torn by conflict, famine and violence. We give thanks for all who work to make this world a more peaceful place.

The Covid test positivity rates stand at 15% in our county currently. We pray for wisdom and patience so that all will continue to do the right thing to protect the wellbeing of our communities.

Pastor Enikő will be attending the Civil Rights Travel Seminar between Monday, February 21 - Thursday, March 3. If you have any pastoral needs, please call Rev. David Rice at (330) 234-7801 or the Church Office.

If you are able to assist with this event, please sign-up here. Any questions, please contact Joe Hartzler or the Church Office.

We invite you to our Ash Wednesday Service marking the beginning of the season of Lent. This year we will be joined by members of First Presbyterian Church and the Chaplain and students from the College of Wooster.

Time: 7pm

Place: Mackey Hall

Since 1976, the month of February is recognized as Black History Month—a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society—from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more. 

As the Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr. of the Washington National Cathedral says in a recent statement, "examining our history isn’t just some esoteric exercise. Indeed, in recent months we have seen that for too many Americans, taking an honest look at our history – particularly African American history and our struggle with racism – is seen as troubling or controversial. But there is no escaping the truth of our history. Like Shakespeare, we know that “what is past is prologue” for what is to come. Our steps yesterday took us to where we are today, and each step we take today determines our path for tomorrow."

We begin Black History Month under the cloud of books portraying a more complicated, fuller view of history being banned from school curricula and about two dozen Historically Black Colleges and Universities having received bomb threats in the past days. As people of faith, we follow a God who desires, and calls us into partnership to build a world that is more just, more equal and life-giving to all people and all of creation. God continually calls us forward to something better than our present.

Learning about our history and building a better, more just world of course does not happen in a month, but it is a life-long journey. As we renew our commitment or make it for the first time, I invite you to listen to a recent interview with journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, the author of the 1619 Project on the power of collective memory here.

Let us use Black History Month as an opportunity to start anew, to try a different path by continuing to learn about African American history—our American history and engage in the work of justice to create better world for all our neighbors.

Considering the recent high Covid-19 infection rates in Wayne County, we will continue to implement the following changes to our worship and fellowship:

We are monitoring the situation, and will adjust our guidelines as conditions change.

The College of Wooster recommends the use of NHIS approved N95, KN95 and KF94 masks in indoor spaces.

Free Covid-19 At-Home Rapid Test Kits are available at www.nachw.org.

Thank you for your understanding and support to keep all of us safe.

If you would like to submit a prayer request for yourself or someone else, please fill out this anonymous form. You are also welcome to email Pastor Enikő directly, or call her at (330) 263-2208 during her office hours (Tuesday–Friday, 9am–5pm).

Session members and our Congregational Care Ministry team continue to provide calls, cards, and emails to our Westminster Presbyterian Church family. You are the eyes and ears who help the church meet the needs of our faith community. Please contact the church office by email or phone (330-263-2398) and make the needs of our church family known.

Lectionary readings provide a disciplined way to read through the Bible. Read today's Daily Lectionary reading and find previous and future readings. Click here.

World news This Week in Prayer is (normally) compiled and posted every Thursday. World in Prayer is a ministry of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist Lodi, California, USA, and is written by a team of writers representing different denominations throughout the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Click here.

Check out the Our Bible App platform — a progressive Christian devotional resource centering the voices of marginalized communities and people of faith. Click here to visit the homepage and download the app to your smartphone.

Please note, that because of government privacy laws, hospitals and care centers no longer are allowed to notify churches that a person has been admitted (even if the person lists their home church at admission). The only way that the church staff will know if someone is hospitalized is if a family member or friend lets us know. We'd rather get 20 calls about the same person than none! Thanks for your help in making Westminster a caring community. Contact the Westminster Office by phone 330-263-2398 or email to notify the church if you or someone you know is hospitalized or otherwise in need of our prayers!