Word from the Pastor

Friends,

It is time to get ready for Compassion Camp 3.0 😊

As we look around the world, our deep need for compassion becomes increasingly evident with each passing day, perhaps now more than ever. Compassion Camp aims to cultivate compassion for each other, ourselves, and the world. We will examine different places in our lives where we can cultivate compassion. as they relate to each session’s scripture. 

This year our theme is Compassion Camp: What Every Living Thing Needs. Guided by the colorful and fun materials developed by the group Illustrated Ministry, camp participants will explore what all living things need to live—shelter, food, water, air, and community. We will learn how we can have compassion for the living earth, especially in our local ecosystems. Through awareness, gratitude, wonderment, reciprocity, and kinship, we will consider how to become co-sustainers and participants in the work of God’s creation. Using Psalm 104 as our grounding text, along with additional supporting scripture, we will closely examine the interconnectedness of the whole earth—humans alongside the more-than-human world. 

Each day we will explore a theme though movement, fun crafts, storytelling, and music. Check out this year's theme song below.

Living with compassion orients us beyond ourselves toward others. Camp participants will also engage in acts of compassion—small, tangible acts that help us think creatively about sharing our compassion and love with all creation.

When: Wednesday-Friday, August 9-11

9:00-11:00 am

Where: Mackey Hall

Westminster Presbyterian Church

353 E. Pine Street

Who: Children preschool through six graders

Though the curriculum is developed for preschool-aged children and K–5th graders, we adapt to the needs of our community. Compassion Camp is fun for all (including youth). 

Email me or call me if you are interested in helping make this camp a fun learning experience for our young neighbors.

Fliers and registration forms will be ready next week.

Hope you share the word with friends and neighbors!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Eniko

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 

Wednesday, June 7 at 7:00pm.

At this meeting we will cover Chapters 4 through 6.

"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!

Westminster Session Highlights from the May Meeting

Eniko shared plans for the kids' Compassion Camp on August 9-11, and noted that she will be on vacation from July 18 to August 8. She's looking forward to spending time with her parents.

Candy gave a reminder that the church will be hosting the OLO dinner

on June 5. 

Bill shared opportunities for involvement with the Open Arms children's

camp in June and July.

Lemoine gave a heads up about the Break the Cycle event on August 26.

Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Pride month

June is Pride month. Parades, dances, drag shows, teaching moments and more will provide opportunity to celebrate the beautiful gifts of God's children from diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Yet, this year our joy is clouded by the rise in anti-queer and anti-trans bills that are consuming state legislatures. This year, it is more important than ever to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.

How can we do that?

Attend the Pride at the Park Wooster

Where: Christmas Run Park (Finn Pavillion)

When: June 25, 1:00 - 9:00 pm

As the organizers put it, "Don’t be a drag, be a Queen and join us as we celebrate Pride in Wooster! Bring your biggest, brightest rainbows and come prepared to have a great time! ... Remember that love is love, you are wonderful, and the world is brighter because you’re in it."

Check the event Facebook page for more details.

Celebrate by learning

Queering the Bible is an annual series from Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice that centers the voices and perspectives of queer theologians, activists, ministers, artists and writers. Queering the Prophets provides queer commentaries of the prophets and features the art of queer artist Anna Onni and an introduction from queer poet Jay Hulme. Learn more about the series here: https://hubs.ly/Q01RBx200.

Justice Unbound also has a list of suggestions for how to celebrate Pride month here.

The Presbyterian Outlook magazine published an article with book suggestions that can help us find very real and deeply personal accounts of living life as an LGBTQAI+ person of faith. These authors share how they discovered that the biblical witness is more nuanced than we’ve been led to believe by revisiting Bible passages commonly used against gay people (sometimes known as “clobber” passages). Read the article here.

Volunteer Opportunity 

with Open Arms Kids' Camp this summer!

You can volunteer for any single day or as many days (or half-days) as you choose each Wednesday from 9:00 am to 2:00 p.m. in June and July. 

You can choose to be with one of three age groups (pre-school, early elementary or middle school Latino students), and you can choose to help where your interest lies (helping with learning themes: ex. gardening, cooking, dramas, art projects... helping in the kitchen (preparing lunches)... helping with outdoor activities... transportation ... and more). 

If you are interested, email Cheryl Weiss for more information. Helping out with the Kids' Camp is fun and rewarding!

June Collection Items



Food needs:

Spaghetti Sauce

Saltine Crackers

Canned Fruit

Rice or Pasta Sides

Hygiene Items

Dish Soap

Hand Soap

Razors

Friends, we invite you to join us on our monthly prayer-walk at Oak Hill Park. Every second Sunday of the month, we meet at the park's pavilion at 7:30 am for a short meditation, followed by a contemplative walk along the trail. It is a wonderful way to experience God's presence and deepen our connection with creation.

13th Annual Break the Cycle

Westminster will once again sponsor a Break the Cycle biking and walking team in support of OneEighty on Saturday, August 26.  Last year our church fielded a team of 14 bikers and walkers. This year our church's donation will support treatment and prevention services for the homeless working with OneEighty. Walkers and bikers can choose to begin their walk or ride at the fairgrounds in Wooster or at the Hipp Station in Millersburg. 

If you would like to bike or walk with our Westminster Team, please complete a registration form and return it to Lemoine Peart at church or to her mailbox in the church office. Registration forms are available in Mackey Hall, the church office or from any Benevolences Committee member. There is no cost to participate if you turn in your registration form at church. If you sign up before Sunday, July 23, you will receive a free Break the Cycle T-shirt on the day of the event.  Any questions? Feel free to email or call Lemoine at lwmn@bright.net or 330-624-7506 (home). Hope to see you there!

Benevolence Committee

Lemoine Peart, Candy Relle, Linda Barbu, Shelley Peterson, Heather Hettick

Susan Shaw (flute) and Ken Shafer (piano)

 performed two recent concerts titled Paris Serenade.



Mackey Hall and First Presbyterian served as the locations featuring works by Fauré, Debussy, Bonis and others.

Volunteer Opportunities for the Viola Startzman Clinic

The Benevolence Committee is now offering support to The Viola Startzman Clinic.

They are seeking volunteers to send cards and notes of cheer to their clientele. You can write your own notes at home and drop them off directly to the clinic. If you do so, please mention that you are participating through Westminster Presbyterian Church.

You can also volunteer to do this at the clinic and they will provide the cards, pens and addresses. The Benevolence Committee is considering doing this as a group. If you are interested, please reach out to any member of the Benevolence Committee or contact Shelley Peterson for further information.

June - July

Hospitality & Liturgist

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 or provide flowers to decorate our alter. 

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.

Public Health Safety Update

WPC Current Status is:  Mask Optional. 

As masks may be required in specific, private areas,

please make note of any exception signage. 

Westminster Church will continue to encourage safe health practices 

and will adjust our guidelines as needed.

Thank you for your understanding and support to keep all of us safe.