The session of Westminster church and I are proposing a book study for this Fall to help us examine the ways our individual lifestyle choices as well as systemic policies lead to and uphold inequities that threaten not only the wellbeing of our neighbors of color but the health and vitality of our society as a whole. We chose to begin our commitment to learning and change with renowned professor and author Ibram X. Kendi’s book titled
How to Be an Antiracist
.
Weaving history, law, ethics and science with his own personal story of awakening, Kendi argues that at its core, racism is a powerful system that creates false hierarchies of human value. The distorted logic of racism extends beyond the race, from the way we treat people of different sees, gender identities, and body types. Racism intersects with class and culture, with geography. It changes the way we see and value ourselves.
According to Kendi, when we recognize the false reality, we recognize how we participate in evil systems. The opposite of a racist is not a “not racist” but an antiracist. Simply put, to be an “antiracist” means to be a person “in a process of change.” It implies action. It is not an identity. Kendi believes that all human beings have the capacity to change. We are not bound by the racist history of our country. To be an antiracist requires a daily scrutiny of our biases and actions, and of the systems in which we participate.
I hope that these insights from professor Kendi’s book kindled your desire to learn more. If you’d be interested in a small group study of this book, email me or email the office. The session will begin our study of the book in September. We will lead small groups for all interested in learning and changing alongside us.
You can get a copy of
How to Be an Antiracist
from an independent bookstore
here
or on Amazon
here
.
Looking forward to our journey toward becoming better neighbors!
Grace and peace,
Pastor Enikő.
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Zoom Worship at 10am on Sunday
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Please use the link below to join our Zoom worship service and fellowship time. If you would like to dial in by phone, please use the phone number listed below. If you need help using Zoom, there are instructions linked to the button that says "Click Here." If you have trouble the day of, please call or
email Gracie
.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 853 5983 3772
Password: wpcworship
To join by phone:
Dial by your location
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 853 5983 3772
Password: 4252716912
Click below for instructions on using Zoom.
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Curation of Church History Library
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Our Office Administrator, Gracie DeLollis, is working on curating a library of Westminster's history. If you have any photos, books, documents, etc., that you would like to contribute to this library, please contact the church office to set up a time to bring them in.
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COVID-19 Testing Available
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COVID-19 and Antibody testing is now available at Hometown Urgent Care. If you have questions or would like to be tested, please contact our local Hometown Urgent Care location, or visit their
website
.
4164 Burbank Road
Wooster, Ohio 44691
(330) 345-8032
Monday–Friday: 9:00am–6:00pm
Saturday–Sunday: 9:00am–3:00pm
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Letter to Rep. Gonzalez from Wooster Citizens Climate Lobby
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The Citizens Climate Lobby is sending a letter to Rep. Gonzalez to encourage him to support HR 763, a bill to better environmental conditions in this country. Juli Douglass-Gillespie invites you to add your name to the letter if you would like to stand with the CCL. Please click the link below to read the letter, then
email Juli
to have your name and email address added to the letter.
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Guidelines for Visiting the Church House
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Click below to view current guidelines for in-person visits to our church staff.
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Ongoing Fellowship Opportunities — Will be updated as Westminster begins the reopening process
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Men's Breakfast (Temporarily Suspended Due to COVID-19)
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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Westminster Dance Group
The Westminster Dance Group meets every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at 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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Walking in Mindfulness (Currently ongoing!)
On the second Sunday of each month, we invite you to join us at Oak Hill Park beginning at 8:00 am for a contemplative worship service and walk. Contact
Joel Chupp
or
Pastor Enikő
with questions.
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Fellowship after Worship (Temporarily Suspended Due to COVID-19)
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. The link will be posted for signups when fellowship starts up again.
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Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities — Will be updated as Westminster begins the reopening process
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Meals on Wheels
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. More volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the
church office
.
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CAMO (Central American Medical Outreach)
On the last Wednesday of each month, Westminster carpools from the church to the CAMO warehouse in Orrville to support the hospital in Santa 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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Bed and Breakfast Program (Temporarily suspended due to COVID-19)
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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: Viola Sartzman Free Clinic, Every Woman's House, the Salvation Army, 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 the area, click
here
for more information.
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