Welcome Dave Schmidt to Session, Class of 2022!
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As a new session member, I am providing a little personal history to let you all know me a little better.
I was born on the family farm in Northwest Nebraska and rose a horse (Penney) to a one room schoolhouse. High school was at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture, a boarding school created for rural families living in more remote areas of the state. I am an ex-marine with degrees from Hastings College in Nebraska, Fort Hays Sate in Kansas (where Sandy and I met), and the University of Missouri at Columbia.
As a child, I asked my mother why we were Presbyterian. She replied: "because my father was." She had the same answer for being a Republican, but alas, I have metamorphosed to blue-violet.
We came to Wooster in 1986 where I finished my professional career as a Senior Researcher/Coordinator at OARDC/OSU. Along the way, Sandy and I were therapeutic foster parents for Boys Village for 23 years. When we were in Missouri, we considered being Volunteers in Mission for the church in retirement, but the fostering experience soon relieved that urge.
We love to travel and, in addition to numerous cruises, have visited/toured Thailand, Amsterdam, and South Africa. We enjoy time with family and especially our grandchildren. Music, duplicate bridge, gardening, cooking, and activity in twelve-step programs are things I enjoy during my free time.
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Formation of a Climate Crisis Team
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"Last night I had an inspiration that lingers. Imagine that the governing body of every church in Wooster appoints a Climate Crisis Team; that this is also done by the Interfaith Social Justice Committee; by the Wooster City Council, the Wayne County Council, the Chamber of Commerce — indeed, every private and public institution of the city. Imagine that each of these teams is asked to begin by undertaking at least two tasks: seriously considering the placement of solar panels on the buildings they serve, adjusting their temperatures so that air conditioning kicks in at (5?) degrees higher than now, and heat at (5?) degrees lower. So we all will wear sweaters indoors in the winter, and tolerate a little more warmth in the summer.
Imagine further that City Council decides on a standard for all dwellings in the city (e.g. a given percent have solar panels) but as recommended by the City Council Climate Team, and adopted by Council. Imagine that the local and national press covered the Wooster story and the idea caught hold in many cities. Why not??"
This was the original statement by Gordon Shull which inspired me to action at Westminster. A few other churches have already formed Climate Crisis Teams. We need to get started on ours! Please talk to Juli Douglass-Gillespie if you are interested in a once-a-month discussion and action group. Meetings will be held for approximately one hour after Worship in the Lounge. The first meeting will take place on
Sunday, February 23. You may also
contact Juli by email or phone (330-464-0649) with any questions.
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Gracie's Upcoming Maternity Leave
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As many members of our community know, our Office Administrator, Gracie DeLollis, is expecting her first child in early March. Her maternity leave is expected to begin on March 2, 2020, and will last until June 2, 2020.
In the interim, the office will be managed by Sherry Hatter-Miller. Sherry will send out office hours weekly as her schedule will change slightly week-to-week. She will maintain the same church email address, and will be available to help with all of your office needs
during scheduled office hours.
We wish Gracie and her husband the best as they embark on this new journey, and are very appreciative of Sherry for stepping in to help during this time!
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Of Faith & Justice — February 20
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The Center for Diversity and Inclusion invites you to attend a public lecture by Rev. Jimmie Hawkins of the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness on Thursday, February 20, at 8:00 pm in Lean Lecture Hall.
This event is free and open to the public, and we hope to see you there! Our congregation also has another opportunity to connect with Rev. Hawkins, listed in this newsletter.
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Dinner and Dialogue with Rev. Jimmie Hawkins — February 22
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Please join us on Saturday, February 22, as our congregation meets Rev. Jimmie Hawkins at an informal evening of dinner and conversation at the Weiss Residence. Rev. Hawkins is the director of the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C. The Office of Public Witness is the public policy information and advocacy office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Rev. Hawkins will share PC(USA) advocacy efforts for social justice in addition to sharing his own story and advocacy work. He will be in Wooster from February 20 through 24, and will be speaking at the College of Wooster at a number of events, in addition to leading an adult study session and preaching at First Presbyterian Church on February 23. Read more about Rev. Hawkins
here. Please RSVP to
Cheryl Weiss for the dinner and dialogue event by Thursday, February 20.
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Trip to San Antonio — March 12–17
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The members of the Immigration Advocacy Committee have been in contact with the Coetzees and University Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, Texas. We would like to offer the opportunity to the congregation to make a trip to San Antonio March 12–17, 2020. Members of that congregation have offered to open their homes and to provide local transportation. The purpose of this trip is both for fellowship and to become partners in ministry, and to have opportunities to visit and learn more about areas of social justice and immigration history. If you are interested in this trip, please contact
Cheryl Weiss.
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Volunteers Needed to Recruit Greeters
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We are looking for folks who will volunteer to arrange for greeters on Sunday mornings. If you are willing to serve a three-month term to recruit/find Sunday greeters, please contact Caryl Slater or Bill Weiss.
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Annual Meeting of the Congregation
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Session has called for the annual meeting of the congregation, on February 23, 2020, immediately following worship. Please plan to stay after worship that Sunday to take part in this important meeting!
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On March 29, 2020, Westminster will host students, parents, and teachers from Our Lady of Pompeii School in New York City. Our Lady of Pompeii is a Catholic school that promotes academic excellence in an atmosphere that nourishes the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical, and moral development of each student.
The choir is directed by Mr. Curtis Gomes, who worships at Westminster during the summer months, and is the son of the late Annetta L. Gomez-Jefferson (1927–2009). From 1974 until her retirement in 1995, Professor Gomez-Jefferson was a member of the faculty at the College of Wooster, and, in 1982, she was asked to develop and chair a new Theater Department.
Mr. Gomes and his choirs have visited Westminster and the College of Wooster since 1979, and we are thrilled to offer them our warm hospitality and support.
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Gracias Banquet — March 19
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Save the date and plan to attend the Open Arms Hispanic Ministry's annual fundraiser: "Gracias Banquet," on Thursday, March 19, at 6:00 pm at Kidron Park Community Center. The meal will feature an enchilada dinner, followed by a program of Open Arms ministry highlights. A free-will offering to benefit Open Arms will be taken. We hope to have two tables of 8 attend this important event this year. Please let
Cheryl Weiss know if you plan to attend, and she will make reservations for all and arrange transportation as needed.
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Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner
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Westminster is excited to host a Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner on Tuesday, February 25 in the Meeting Place. The meal will start at 6:00 pm and is open to the Westminster and College communities. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Great Decisions of Wayne County 2020
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It is time for Great Decisions of Wayne County 2020, an annual speaker series that is co-sponsored by the College of Wooster and local business and community leaders. The theme of this year's series is
Democracy, Trade, and Migration. There will be four public lectures and a documentary film screening and discussion. All Great Decisions lectures are free and open to the public. Please see the attached poster or
click here for more details on the speakers and events.
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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 Gracie.
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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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