Prayer List

Co-moderators' Prayer for The Holy Land (10.10.23)

Thou shall not murder. 

Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17



In a broken and fearful world

the Spirit gives us courage

to pray without ceasing,

to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior,

to unmask idolatries in Church and culture,

to hear the voices of peoples long silenced,

and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. (Brief Statement of Faith - PCUSA)



We join with people around the world in decrying the violence perpetrated by Hamas upon the people of Israel as well as all hateful anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim actions and policies that diminish the humanity others. We prayerfully yearn for the day in which humanity sees God's glorious image in all people, and we study war no more. 

God of Shalom,

You have set before us a calling 

to pray and witness to the embodiment of love,

to unmask the idol of violence as the answer, 

to listen intently to the marginalized voices, and 

to work with all of creation for justice, freedom and peace.

Give us strength of spirit, heart, and mind to be the peacemakers worthy of being called your children. 

Amen.

-Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace & Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis 

CoModerators of the 225th (2022) General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA

This week we pray for:

Rosie Peterson, Shelley Peterson's granddaughter

Prayers of joy and gratitude for Rosie who will be baptized at Westminster this Sunday, October 15. She has been an exuberant participant in our Compassion Camp the past 2 years. We rejoice with Rosie and her family as they are making this commitment to have her become a child of the Church.

Jen Peterson, Shelley Peterson's Daughter-in-law

Continued prayers for healing for Jen who is recovering at home from a severely inflamed colon. We also hold Shelley's son Josh and their children Addie, Evan, and Rosie in our prayers as they navigate these challenging days.

Nahida Gordon

Prayers for healing for Nahida who sustained a wrist fracture this past week.

Candace, Juli Douglass-Gillespie's neighbor

Prayers for healing for Candace who is awaiting test results related to a serious illness, and will require additional surgery (the younger son Ben participated in the Compassion Camp this summer).

Donna, Lemoine Peart's cousin

Continued prayers for comfort and guidance for Donna who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Kara Akers

Continued prayers for healing for our custodian Kara who has been experiencing severe knee pain.

John Dryer

Continued prayers for John as he is undergoing testing regarding his heart arrhythmia in the coming weeks.

Deb Hostettler

Continued prayers for Deb, who is still experiencing fatigue - a side effect from her medication.

Barbara Mykkanen

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

We pray for

• those among us who are grappling with grief, illness and changing life circumstances;
• those recovering after natural disasters in the US, in Afghanistan;
• a renewed sense of connection with one another and God's creation;
• our elected leaders on local, state, and national level that they may have the pursuit of the common good on their hearts;
• peace to become a reality in our hearts, across our divisions, and around the world;

• as we continue to grieve the devastating loss of life in Israel/Palestine, may our prayers and actions be guided by the words of the Patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem, "condemning any acts of violence that target civilians, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, or faith," "seeking lasting solutions that promote justice, peace, and reconciliation for the people of this land, who have endured the burdens of conflict for far too long." (Read full statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches from Jerusalem here. Please also read the statement of the Churches for Middle East Peace here. PCUSA is a member of CMEP.)

We pray for courage and hope, to lead us in the way of God's abundance and light.

Friends, as we continue our ministry, may the fruit of the Spirit guide our hearts and minds in service and worship, bound together in love!

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, October 11

• Journey toward Advent - 7:00 pm - The Lounge
• Wooster Religious Studies Academy series - The Challenges of Monotheisms by Dr. Jeremy Rapport, Associate Professor of Religious Studies - 7:00 pm - The Alley (Lower Level of Lowry Student Center)

Thursday, October 12

• Dance and Exercise - 8:30 am -The Meeting Place
• Building Committee Meeting - 10:00 am - The Lounge
• Candidates' Night presented by the League of Women Voters - 6:30 pm - Shisler Conference Center CFAES/OARDC

Sunday, October 15

• Worship service - 10 am - Mackey Hall - Baptism of Rosie Peterson
• Wooster Friends Meeting - 10:30 am - The Meeting Place

Monday, October 16

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

Wednesday, October 18

• Benevolence Committee Meeting - 5:15 pm - The Meeting Place
• Immigration Justice Committee - 5:00 pm - The Lounge
• WPC Session Meeting - 6:30 pm - The Lounge

Thursday, October 19

• Dance and Exercise - 8:30 am -The Meeting Place
• WPC Book Group - 7:00 pm - Zoom

Sunday, October 22

• Worship service - 10 am - Mackey Hall
• Wooster Friends Meeting - 10:30 am - The Meeting Place

A Journey toward Advent

Where: Westminster Church House Lounge (353 E. Pine Street)



When: October 11 & 25; November 8 & 22, @7:00pm

We begin our 4-week study tonight at 7pm in the Westminster Church House Lounge. Each week, we will watch a 10-minute video presentation by the author to start our conversation.

In our study, we will be guided by an inspiring little book titled Light of World, written by renowned scholar and teacher of the New Testament and Jewish Studies Amy-Jill Levine. We’ll have copies of the book ready for you. I am attaching the first reading (introduction and 1^st chapter) here. 

Drawing on her insights, we will enter the familiar stories of Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary and Joseph, the magi and shepherds to seek what they can tell us about finding hope in a world where “imperial” and “heavenly” values clash—where the ways of our culture come head-to-head with the alternative ways of God’s reign characterized by wholeness, peace and justice. We’ll engage these characters in the hopes that they will spark our imaginations, and help us to see “otherwise”… to see what is possible when we open ourselves to the divine creativity in the midst of our daily lives. 

If you seek to find courage and hope in the midst of challenging times, if you desire to experience community with “eyes that see otherwise,” this study is for you… and for your friend or neighbor who longs for a deeper sense of connection, an experience of the holy in our midst.

Hope you join us!

Westminster Book Group

The Westminster Book Group welcomes all! 

We are reading My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem. 

Our next meeting will be on 

Thursday, October 19 at 7:00pm.

At this meeting we will cover Chapters 15 through 17.

"The body is where our instincts reside and where we fight, flee, or freeze. My Grandmother's Hands is a call to action for us to recognize that racism is not only about the head, but also about the body. Menakem introduces an alternative view of what we can do to grow beyond our entrenched radicalizes divide and takes readers through a step-by-step healing process based on the latest neuroscience and somatic healing methods."

At our meetings there are no wrong questions. We honor each other by creating space for openness and vulnerability. 

We are meeting online to make it accessible for everyone. Here is the Zoom link for the gathering:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9154265912?pwd=eDQ3TUdUMmxBTGR5aVFNMnJJOWh4UT09

Meeting ID: 915 426 5912

Passcode: 353Pine

Feel free to invite friends. Hope you join us to share about life and faith... 

our passions and struggles!

Sunday Morning Hospitality & Liturgist

October

Westminster's worship and fellowship time is an important way to build relationships among all attending.

We invite you to participate as a liturgist, assistant, provide flowers to decorate our alter or supply treats for our after worship fellowship time.

If you are able to fill one of these areas,

please click here to sign up.

Thank you for your contribution to our worship service.