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Since last July, I have had the privilege of walking with all of you at Westminster. I have appreciated the community very much and delighted in your celebration of diversity and inclusiveness. It has been a joy for me to share life with you. I will miss you all and will remember my time with you with pride and gratitude.
For months we have prayed and waited for Enikő to receive a visa to come to Wooster. And, now she is due to arrive shortly.
Session has extended my covenant until May 31 to give Enikő time to move and settle in. As the month unfolds, you will see less of me and more of her. She has asked me to continue to work with the worship committee in preparing our virtual services through May 17. May 24 will be her first Sunday in the pulpit.
God's Spirit is palpably present in the work of session's efforts to articulate your mission for the coming years. I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and bless your life together.
I am overjoyed for Enikő and all of you.
One last time
,
Go out into the world in peace;
have courage;
hold on to what is good;
return no one evil for evil;
strengthen the faint-hearted;
carry the weak, and help the suffering;
love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
See
1 Cor. 16:13; 2 Tim. 2:1; Eph. 6:10;
1 Thess. 5:13-22; 1 Peter 2:17
Be safe and stay well,
Chris
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Dear Westminster Friends,
The exciting days of getting ready for my road trip and move to Ohio are here at long last! Yesterday I turned in my office keys at Southminster. That simple act marked the end of my almost 8-years long journey with them in a very tangible way and now a new chapter is beginning to unfold... our adventure together! Even as my heart is still a bit heavy as I am processing my goodbyes to Southminster folk, friends, and loved ones who became family over the years, I am also filled with joy and anticipation of what awaits in Wooster.
The movers are taking my belongings next Friday and I will leave Richmond to Wooster on Sunday, May 10. I'm sure my first days in Wooster will be busy with waiting for my possessions to arrive and unpacking. While sheltering in place for 14 days to make sure that everybody is safe, I'll be getting settled and creating a new home. I will also begin to make contact with you on the phone or driving by your house and wave at you. So be on the look-out for me! The Session and I plan to have Sunday, May 24 as my first Sunday when I will preach "at Westminster" as your new pastor.
Today, in the midst of packing, I was listening to the "Shelter in Poems" program of the Academy of American Poets. The words of Elizabeth Alexander's "Praise Song for the Day" resonated with me for my heart is full of praise and thanksgiving to God for your patient and faithful waiting these past 11 months--for you, the Westminster church family, members of the PNC and the Session, Pastor Chris, Matt Skolnik and the leadership of Muskingum Valley Presbytery, and Teresa Waggener, my attorney. I'm grateful that your trust, love, and support, and hard work made this day and this new chapter in our shared lives possible. So with the words of Elizabeth Alexander, let us lift a
"Praise song for struggle, praise song for the day.
Praise song for every hand-lettered sign,
the figuring-it-out at kitchen tables.
Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself,
others by first do no harm or take no more
than you need. What if the mightiest word is love?
Love beyond marital, filial, national,
love that casts a widening pool of light,
love with no need to pre-empt grievance... a praise song for walking forward in that light."
Looking forward to our walk together.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Enikő
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May 3, 2020 Online Service
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As we continue to shelter-in-place, Westminster is offering our Sunday worship services online for you to access at your leisure. Please
click here to directly access the service for Sunday, May 3. All services are available from the homepage of our website.
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Call to Action: Volunteers Needed to Sew Masks
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Volunteers who can sew face masks safely from their homes are asked to consider donating cloth masks for the staff and patients at Planned Parenthood's health center in Canton. If you are willing and able, please contact
Gayle Noble (330-464-0784). Masks can be dropped off on Gayle's front porch (1521 Wildwood Drive, Wooster), and will then be delivered to the Canton health care center. This effort is a wonderful way to contribute to the safety of our health care providers.
Please see the guidelines for making masks, below.
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Olive Oil and Hand Soap are In Stock!
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Many of us are cooking at home and washing our hands more as we do our part to avoid COVID-19. If you need gentle soap and high quality olive oil, both fair trade, we have both in stock and they can be delivered to your home.
Olive Oil - 750 ml — $20.00 per bottle
Pure Olive Oil Soap — $3.50 per bar
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Your finance committee encourages you to continue your stewardship support by mailing contributions to:
Financial Secretary
Westminster Presbyterian Church
353 W. Pine St.
Wooster, OH. 44691
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People to People Ministries will not be open for public entry until further notice. People to People Ministries is currently in great need of financial donations. Donations can be mailed to 454 E. Bowman St., Wooster, OH or you can go to their
website to donate online.
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Immigrant Needs During COVID-19 Pandemic
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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of the Hispanic community has been great. Locally, many Hispanics are either in unsafe work conditions or without work and without government compensation at this time. Our local support of Hispanic Immigrants is through the
Immigrant Worker Project (IWP) with this excellent
guide to imperative measures to protect rural Hispanic immigrants, and also through our Wayne County
Open Arms Hispanic Ministry.
Due to the COVID-19 related cancellation of the Open Arms annual fundraising banquet, a matching fund drive is underway to compensate for lost revenue for Open Arms. All funds received over and above what is needed to replenish personnel costs will go to the Open Arms Compassion Fund, with money going directly to meet the needs (food, rent, clothing, etc.) of immigrants who are in the most need during this time and will not qualify for government assistance. Please
click here for more information and to donate online.
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Spring is here, and plants are again for sale to support the annual Ice Cream Social. To arrange for pick-up, email orders to
Dave Schmidt, or call/text 330-464-5070.
Click here to view a list of plants that are available. The Ice Cream Social will be held once it has been deemed safe to do so.
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How to Submit a Prayer Request:
In order to keep our church family more connected through this time of transition, we have started sending out prayer list emails every other Friday.
To submit a prayer request for the prayer list email, please
click here and fill out the anonymous form. If you do not receive the prayer list email and would like to, please
email the Office.
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Congregational Care Ministry
Please
contact the Westminster Church office (330-263-2398) if you would like your name added to the Congregational Care Ministry Group. This group of church members provides care in times of need, for example meals following surgery or transportation to church when needed, and stays in touch with members and friends who cannot attend church regularly. If you have any questions about the Congregational Care Ministry group, please contact
Cheryl Weiss.
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Ongoing Fellowship Opportunities — TEMPORARILY ON HOLD DUE TO COVID-19
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Men's Breakfast meets on the first Tuesday of every month at the downtown Buehler's at 7:45 am. Sometimes we are many gathered and other times we are only two, but it is always a meaningful time of friendship, food, and conversation. All men are invited!
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The Westminster Dance Group meets every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the Westminster Church House. Anyone who wants to try a little bit of floor exercise and some free form dance is welcome!
This is a low-impact, gentle movement group where non-dancers and newcomers can feel right at home!
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On the second Sunday of each month, we invite you to join us at the Chupp Residence beginning at 8:30 am for a contemplative worship service. Contact Joel Chupp with questions.
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Westminster's fellowship time is an important way to build relationships with one another. We invite you to join us after worship for light refreshments and conversation! If you would like to provide refreshments or serve as our Sunday Morning Host, please visit the
SignUpGenius link.
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Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities — TEMPORARILY ON HOLD DUE TO COVID-19
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Westminster delivers Meals on Wheels every Friday of the year to homebound and nutritionally at-risk individuals in the surrounding area, in partnership with Meals on Wheels of Stark and Wayne Counties.
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On the last Wednesday of each month, Westminster carpools from the church to the Central American Medical Outreach (CAMO) warehouse in Orrville to support the hospital in Sata Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Join us as we sort donations and build community with one another! For more information or to volunteer, contact
Sherry Hatter-Miller.
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Westminster Bed and Breakfast Program
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Westminster combines hospitality and missions through its Bed and Breakfast program!
Church volunteers host guests, and all donations received through the program are contributed to charitable organizations. The Bed and Breakfast program offers a comfortable and welcoming stay in support of local and national organizations and their work, such as: Wayne County Hospice, Viola Sartzman Free Clinic, Every Woman's House, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Church World Service, and more.
If you are interested in being a host or know out-of-town visitors looking for a comfortable stay in this area,
contact us.
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Click below to access Westminster's calendar for more information on meetings and events.
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WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
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