Friday Newsletter

 

August 8

 

This weeks bulletin

 
 

This Sunday

10 am: Worship Service

10:45 am: Coffee Hour

 

Pastor's Corner

REVELATION & RESISTANCE continues! Last week we explored churches #1-4 who are mentioned in Revelation 2 and this week we take a look at churches #5-7. You can read about them here: Revelation 3. As we work through this vivid book (it’s really a letter) to the 7 churches in Asia Minor, we are keeping in mind that it was written as prophecy not prediction. The prophets, like Isaiah and Ezekiel from the Old Testament, address their people using the plumbline of the 10 commandments, the laws, and the ancient tradition of loving God and loving neighbor. The prophets address the ways that human-made suffering stems from the departure of these basic principles. Similarly, the early Christians were in a time of great difficulty and John of Patmos was writing to shore them up against an empire that stood for nearly everything Jesus didn’t. Additional opportunities this week:  

  • QUESTIONS? Pastor Kelly will host “Revelation Reflections” @ 11:30am on Aug 10 in the sanctuary. It is a time to bring your curiosity and musings for shared conversation. 
  • ART: Friendship rocks, ready for painting, are available in Boulder Hall throughout August. 
  • READ: “Antichrist” and “666.”  

Ever onward,

Pastor Kelly

Upcoming Events

 

August 11th @10am: Tai Chi (Boulder Hall)

August 11th @6pm: Women's Night Out Annette’s Westgate

August 12th @7pm: Yoga (Eastminster)

August 13th @10am: Tai Chi (Boulder Hall)

August 13th @3:30pm: Dance Class (Boulder Hall)

August 17th @4pm: VBC Set Up

August 18th - 22 @9am-12pm: Vacation Bible Camp

August 19th @6pm: Men's Night Out (Location TBD)

August 24th @11:30am: Mary Trolan, Guest Speaker (Boulder Hall)

 

Get Involved

Want to participate in Moral Mondays at the capital with the Oregon Poor People’s Campaign? We meet every Monday, 12pm, at First Presbyterian Church. Contact Michele (michelehare25x2@gmail.com ) or Paul Negstad (pandd.negstad@gmail.com) to join or just show up! Next: Monday, August 11, 2025. Learn more: poorpeoplescampaign.org.


 

The numbers are growing rapidly. Typically, TOP serves between 40 to 55 families per week. July began as usual, but on July 29th, we served 83 families—a significant increase.

Does TOP need our help? Yes! August 17th is our next TOP Sunday. Please remember to bring canned or packaged food for our neighbors in need. Every family who receives assistance is deeply grateful—when they thank the volunteers, they’re really thanking you for your generosity!

 
school_supplies_tool.jpg

The School Supply Drive is on! During the month os July and August, we collect basic school supplies fro several schools in our area. Collection boxes have been set up in the narthex. Any donations are appreciated - paper, pens, pencils, crayons, markers, binders, folders, etc. Thank you in advance for helping make this school supply drive a success!

 

Deacon's Update

 

Deacon Prayer Notes for 8/3/25

Concerns:

Arthur Hill is on hospice—he has incurable gallbladder cancer. He is in a private care

home in S. Salem.

Oli, Jeffrey and Ariana’s 3 year old son, broke his leg a week or two ago. He is in a full

leg cast and cannot put any weight on it for at least four weeks. Prayers for stamina for

his parents!

Becky Lee, a friend of Mike Friday’s, asks for prayers for her friend Sarah, who recently

lost her significant other to cancer. He was only 42 years old.

Wendy Crane is in the hospital after emergency colon surgery following a routine

colonoscopy. She is getting stronger with each day.

Bill Foster had surgery and is home and on the mend.

Delores Winter-Byrnes Fell and injured her hip. She had surgery to repair it and is currently in recovery at Salem Hospital.

Joys:

The church parking lot was re-striped last Saturday, and it looks great. Thank you to at

least 12 volunteers who took part in this beautification project

The Youth Mission trip to Arizona is going well, so far. Indira, one of the youth, sent a

photo of the group (3 youth and 3 adults) and message sharing how excited they all

were to start work.

 

Mission Trip Update

 

Lunes - by Lisa, Matt, and Rachelle

We started the day with reflections on our previous day led by Mark (Co-Director of Frontera de Cristo). Then he talked about the history of immigration issues and the impact on border areas.

 

He illustrated the history by taking us to different sections of the border wall. In town, the wall is about 18 feet tall with three bands of razor wire on the American side. There was also metal mesh welded to the posts to prevent people from pushing the razor wire away from the wall.  


Further out, there was no mesh and fewer bands of razor wire. Even further out, the wall rises to 30 feet tall, with no razor wire. Mark explained that many people are willing to climb 18 feet, but 30 feet is too intimidating (not to mention very dangerous).

 

After the tour, Angie made lunch for us while her husband Robb talked to us about his time working for the Border Patrol. He answered many questions and g encouraged us to learn more from online government data. He talked about how it was the character that makes someone a good agent, not the badge and gun. He also shared how he reconciled his faith with his duties as an agent. He emphasized de-escalation and empathy.

 

After our afternoon break, we learned how to make tamales from Maria. Joca, and Ximena. We must have made at least 100.


While they steamed the tamales, we went to “Café y Recuerdos”. This was a community storytelling about living along the border, especially before the wall. 

 

Afterwards we walked to a museum and ate our tamales. They were really good! The museum was full of "art cars”. These are cars decorated in all styles and materials. Despite how crazy they looked, the guide assured us they all run and are street legal.

 

It was a really full day.

 

Sunday School Teacher

 

Job opening: Lead teacher for Sunday children’s religious education

 

How to apply: Please submit your resume as soon as possible to: Jobs.SalemWestPres@gmail.com Resumes will be reviewed as they are received. We expect to begin interviews in late August for a September start

​

Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3737 Liberty Road S, Salem, OR 97302

 

Time commitment:

  • Being at the church from 9:15 a.m. to approximately 11:30 a.m. on Sundays.
  • Leading a children’s faith-based program during our worship service, which typically runs from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Preparation and follow-up.

 

Ages of children served: Nursery through grade five.

 

Pay: $700 per month. We would be open to a job-sharing arrangement with two individuals splitting the Sunday schedule.


 

Vacation Bible Camp

 

Vacation Bible Camp is in search of:

  • Folding Wagons
  • Youth/adult sized white lab coats to borrow
  • Adult sized safety glasses to borrow
  • A photographer to come on two or more days to take pictures of VBC
  • Kids to have fun and learn about God (Register Here)
  • Youth and adult volunteers

If you can supply any of these VBC needs, please contact Terri Crall.

 

Classes at Westminster

 

We’re hosting a community dance class!

Join us every Wednesday at 3:30 PM for a fun, beginner-friendly dance session — open to all ages and all experience levels.

We’ll move to a mix of Latin, pop, and world music — standing or seated, at your own pace. No cost, just joyful movement!

Free & open to all!

Bring a friend and come dance with us!

Christian Arroliga

 
 

Boulder Hall Loan Payoff

 

Good News about the Boulder Hall Debt!

The congregation has been faithfully working on fulfilling their pledges to pay off the Boulder Hall loan by July of 2026. At the beginning of our latest pledge campaign a year ago, we still owed $340,000. At the end of June 2025, we owe just $91,000. As long as we keep this up, we are on track to reach our payoff goal. That's impressive progress. Good job, everyone!

 
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