April 12, 2020, will not be Easter as we know it, but Easter will come. This is true in our faith; God does not change and is with us in all time and space. God's love does not change, and our hope in Christ's promise of eternal life is just as real as it was before anyone had heard the words
COVID-19.
Easter has always come. This wilderness is temporary, and the tombs of unknowns and this pandemic will not define us. Resurrection will still happen. Because it always has. And we need to keep reminding each other of what we know: We belong to God. We belong to each other.
Frederick Buechner writes, "The symbol of Easter is the empty tomb. You can't depict or domesticate emptiness. You can't make it into pageants and string it with lights. It doesn't move people to give presents to each other or sing old songs. It ebbs and flows all around us, the Eastertide. Even the great choruses of Handel's Messiah sound a little like a handful of crickets chirping under the moon.
He rose. A few saw him briefly and talked to him. If it is true, there is nothing to say. If it is not true, there is nothing left to say. For believers and unbelievers both, life has never been the same again. For some, neither has death. What is left now is the emptiness. There are those who, like Magdalen, will never stop searching it till they find his face."
As we keep searching, nothing – not social distancing, or quarantine, or postponed graduations, or months of not seeing significant others, or frantically packed up dorm rooms, or canceled study abroad, or anything else in this pandemic – can ever separate us from the contagious love of God and the grasp of God's hands.
With gratitude for modern technology, we at Westminster shall continue to gather. Because resurrection always gets the last word.
I close with the blessing that has always given me great personal comfort. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May God's face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May God's countenance be lifted to you and give you peace.
Stay well,
Rev. Chris Stewart
Transitional Pastor
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Staying Connected At a Distance
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This past week, Session members and members of the Congregational Care Committee reached out by calling members and attendees of the Westminster Presbyterian Church community; to check in, engage in conversation and to ensure the needs of our church community are being fulfilled. Positive feedback was received as we continue connecting with each other.
Rev. Chris Stewart said it best in a response to the church's call to action during this crisis: "You are not alone; the Spirit will give you the words. Christ can, and will, do more than we can hope or imagine. May the peace of Christ be with you and may God use this crisis as an occasion to bring us closer, increase our care for each other and show the world we are Christians through our love."
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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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One Great Hour of Sharing
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Westminster Presbyterian Church has a long history of participating in the "One Great Hour of Sharing".
The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People – all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. For more information about this wonderful ministry, please visit their
website.
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A big thank you to those who have provided assistance and feedback for our Online Worship Services!
We are especially grateful to Pong Thiemmedh and Ken Shafer for sharing their musical gifts, to Josie Drushal for her technological expertise, and to Joel Chupp and Rev. Chris Stewart (not pictured) for coordinating the content of these worship services.
We are also appreciative of Sherry Hatter-Miller, our Interim Office Administrator, for keeping all of the information so organized, and Gracie DeLollis, who has been working from home to help get the worship services onto our website.
Thank you for your teamwork and collaboration as we all continue to navigate these changes in how we worship and connect with each other in the face of COVID-19.
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Obituary for
Leslie Gordon Tate
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Saturday, March 6, 1926—Saturday, March 7, 2020
L. Gordon Tait, who had a long association with The College of Wooster and the Presbyterian Church, died Saturday, March 7th at LifeCare Hospice. He was 94.
Gordon Tait was born in Bessemer, PA on March 6, 1926 and grew up in Brockway, PA as the son of Leo Leslie Tait, a Presbyterian minister, and Anna Elizabeth Tait. Gordon served in the Pacific as a Navy officer during World War II. He graduated from Harvard University in 1948 and became a Presbyterian minister after graduating from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1951. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) in 1955. That same year, Gordon married Martha Lois Neilson, a deaconess in the United Church of Canada.
In 1956, Tait became a professor of religious studies at The College of Wooster, where he stayed for the next 35 years. Gordon served as chair of the religious studies department on three occasions. He received a number of prestigious honors and awards including a Distinguished Alumni Award from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1992, the Outstanding Higher Education Award from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1992 and an honorary fellowship from the University of Edinburgh in 1991.
Tait was the author of two books – “The Promise of Tillich” and “The Piety of John Witherspoon: Pew, Pulpit and Public Forum” and he also wrote many articles published in various journals and newspapers. Gordon was an active member of the local presbytery, often lecturing and preaching in area churches. He also developed a keen love of Scotland, where he lived for a total of four-plus years. After retiring from The College of Wooster, Gordon enjoyed fishing and doing volunteer custodial work at the Viola Startzman Clinic. Gordon also had a great sense of humor and loved to share jokes with everyone.
Gordon was married to his wonderful wife, Lois Tait, for almost 50 years until she passed away in 2005. Lois and Gordon had one child, their son Paul, who lives and works in Cleveland. Surviving Gordon are his son Paul, daughter-in-law Tamela (née Neininger), grandson Neilson and granddaughter Julianna. One of Gordon’s biggest joys was spending time with his grandchildren who made frequent trips to Wooster to visit with him.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the L. Gordon Tait Scholarship Fund at The College of Wooster or to the Viola Startzman Clinic.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
Memorial service on Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Family will greet friends following the service.
Online condolences may be left for the family
here.
Memorial Contributions:
L. Gordon Tait Scholarship Fund at the College of Wooster or the Viola Startzman Clinic.
Visitation:
Family will greet friends at a reception following the service
Service:
Memorial service on Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church.
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Climate Crisis Team – News Update
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Dear Westminster Congregation,
During the Covid-19 pandemic, sadly, the effects of Global Warming do not decline or go away without human intervention to lower the Greenhouse Gases in Earth's atmosphere. The two crisis are intertwined and simultaneous, and both are realities we are living with. Both cause destruction, but both also have the potential to be positively influenced by human interaction. God has given us brains and will, as well as empathy for each other. With these too — our gifts God endowed us with, we cannot fail as long as we have faith in ourselves and God.
As responsible members of the community and Westminster, the Climate Crisis Team has discussed a few simple suggestions that each of us as individuals at Westminster can accomplish to positively fight back against the environmental crisis, most especially if we get near 100% participation and share our promotion of good practices with others in the community. These suggestions may sound simplistic and not new. Their impact can only be significant with consistent practice and our courage to model them for everyone we know. If each one in our small congregation was able to inspire even two other people to follow suit, and then each of those people convinced two more, and so on... you get the picture!
We are many and we can also be one. The consciousness of disciplining yourself, without making excuses or exceptions, is the difficult part.
Here they are, concerning the extreme overabundance of plastic:
Plastic Bags:
- Refuse to accept new bags at any stores and instead, always taking with you a reusable bag to do your shopping.
- Recycle all your plastic bags. Find second, third, fourth, etc. uses for them; at the very least, deposit them somewhere they can be reused, or find ways of reusing them in your own home. They can be washed and dried and reused in most cases.
Individual Plastic Bottles of Water:
- Refrain from buying bottled water, in particularly the small bottles.
- Carry a refillable, washable container with you.
Please try!
The Climate Crisis Committee
Please talk to Juli Douglass-Gillespie if you are interested in a once-a-month discussion
(temporarily suspended) and action group. Meetings will be held for approximately one hour after Worship in the Lounge. You may also
contact Juli by email or phone (330-464-0649) with any questions.
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Volunteers Needed for the Wayne County Fair For All Booth Planning Committee
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While the COVID-19 pandemic is making future events uncertain, at this point the Wayne County Fair Board is moving forward with scheduling booths for the 2020 Wayne County Fair. We are interested in finding out how many folks from the Westminster Community are interested in participating in planning over the summer for the fair booth. The committee will begin meeting in June.
If you are interested in participating, please contact the church office via
email or phone (330-263-2398) no later than Friday, April 17, 2020.
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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
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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
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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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