Summer Sunday School is Almost Here!!  

This summer elementary school aged children (those just finished kindergarten through those just finished 5th grade) will have the opportunity to be together for Summer Sunday School each week, starting July 14.

This summer's program will focus on MISSION! Through games, music, theater, cooking and art we'll explore what mission means. We'll see what the Bible has to say about serving others and we'll roll up our sleeves and get involved in some great mission projects. This promises to be TONS of FUN and we hope to have lots of kids participate.

Adults and High School Students Needed!

We have some wonderful things planned for our young children at Westminster this summer, but we need you to help make it happen!

Both our nursery and our Summer Sunday School programs need adult volunteers each week. A signup sheet for each program is posted in the Fellowship Hall Foyer. Please sign up or contact Karen Hammond at (860)561-0302 or [email protected] to volunteer.

Report From Session 

The Session and its committees and task forces have been quite active in recent months including establishing the basis for a Pastor Nominating Committee which the congregation has elected, offering our blessing to the Easter Egg Hunt, Gettysburg Coir Concert, and Boy Scout Sunday, plus approving changes to our personnel manual, and supporting plans for a sabbatical leave for Associate Pastor gretchen in 2014.

Our most important activities have centered on completing our mission study and establishing a vision for the future of Westminster. The Session held a retreat in March with the Bridging Team to visualize ways Westminster might improve Stewardship, Mission and Social Justice, Membership, and Leadership. The Christian Education Visioning Task Force has worked since last fall to focus our education ministry. General reports have been approved and action plans will be completed in July. Look for more forthcoming information.

As a result of the work of the Bridging Team, Session approved the following Vision Statement for Westminster Presbyterian Church:

Westminster Presbyterian Church seeks to be a vital, engaging and inclusive family of faith that serves God by supporting each other in our spiritual journeys, sharing the gifts we have been given and demonstrating the love and justice of Christ in our community and world.

Please consider how you can help implement this vision. May God bless us as we seek to follow God's call.

CHAOS

(Westminster's Youth Group)

July Ice Cream Crawl

Great fun was had at the first stop in the ice cream crawl last Monday at Pinkberry. There are still many delicious stops planned in July. Bring your friends and meet at the stage near Barnes & Noble in Blue Back Square at 7:00 p.m. and we'll walk to our ice cream destination together. Parents can pick up back at the stage at 8:00 p.m. Any questions, please call Rev. gretchen at 970-405-3176. The following are our remaining dates:

Tuesday, July 9: Whole Foods Gelato

Wednesday, July 17: Ben and Jerry's

Thursday, July 25: Sweet Frog

News From Our Church Treasurer  

In May the contributions received by Westminster are in line with the amount budgeted. Total expenses for the month were below the amount budgeted. Although this resulted in a Net Surplus of $2,944.66 for May, Westminster still faces a Net Deficit of $3,189.39 for the year.

Each year Westminster contributes on behalf of each member to support the Presbytery, General Assembly and Synod of the Northeast. If you have not already, please consider contributing an additional $42.13 to cover your per capita. As of May 31, 2013, we have received $3,528.46 toward the $14,829.76 to be paid this year. Thank you to everyone who has contributed.

Also, over the last two months we have received contributions directly from brokerage accounts and shares of stock. Many times these payments or securities transferred to the church arrive without any indication of who has donated them. If you have recently donated funds from a brokerage account or shares of stock to Westminster, or intend to do so in the future, please send a confidential e-mail to [email protected] making me aware of your donation so that we can make sure it is properly credited to you and we can provide you with the appropriate donation receipt for tax purposes. Thank you!

Save the Date: Women's Retreat on Saturday, September 14  

Jeannene Wiseman will lead a Women's Retreat on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm with lunch included.  Details to follow. If you're interested, please contact Elsie Harp at 860-521-4958.

Westminster Welcomes New Members  

Sunday, June 23, was a day of great celebration as Westminster honored our dedicated Church School teachers at brunch AND welcomed into our family of faith the following new members:

• Charlotte and Cameron Logan with daughter Moira; sponsors are John and Kate Hart
• Shiji Isaac and Alan Mattamana with daughters Maya and Nina; sponsors are Amy and Christian Cobaugh
• Damon and Kate Desjardins with son Owen; sponsors are Jen and Paul Buffat
• Ken and Christina Garrison with new addition on the way; sponsors are John and Kate Hart
• Jen Dounouk who is married to Clarke with sons Ethan, Adam and Paul; sponsors are Scott Anderson and Kate Litwin
• Ruth Doering who has moved to West Hartford to be closer to daughter Liz; sponsor is Eloise Schipke

The congregation is encouraged to find a myriad of ways to demonstrate the hospitality of WPC by welcoming each of these persons into the community of faith. "Blest be the tie that binds."

Sunday Afternoons in the Park

Come enjoy fellowship with the young families of Westminster! Pack a picnic lunch and join us at Fernridge Park (567 Fern Street) in West Hartford on July 14 and August 11 immediately following the church service. We will meet at the picnic area near the playscape to enjoy our lunches and let the kids play together. Please contact Amy Cobaugh for more information at 860-681-4488.

Summer Hospitality Volunteers Needed  

Nothing like a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer Sunday! As we move to one service at 9:30 starting July 7, please sign up to provide lemonade, iced tea or whatever your heart desires at the end of the service. This is a cool way to show warm hospitality to all who gather for worship. The sign-up sheet will be in the foyer or call Elsie Harp.

Come Camping With Fellow Journeyers from Westminster

Are you interested in "outward bound for the soul," enjoying wilderness beauty along with some of your favorite fellow journeyers from WPC? Len Oshinskie and David Wiseman are looking at a hiking trip to New Hampshire for 3 days, possibly August 15-17 (Thursday through Saturday). This would be opened to men, women and youth 12 and older (accompanied by a parent). There would be moderate hiking and breathtaking scenery. You only need carry clothing and snacks.  Breakfast, dinner and sleeping gear are supplied at the hospitable Appalachian Mountain Club huts. If interested, please let Len or David know by July 10. The group would include 12-15 people. The estimated cost will be about $150-200 per person.

Chancel Flower Donors Needed for August  

The beautiful flowers we enjoy on the altar each Sunday are thanks to the donations of members and friends of our congregation. Currently, Sundays August 11, 18 and 25 are open to donate chancel flowers. The cost is $50 and they can be dedicated in honor or memory of someone with a message printed in that Sunday's bulletin. You can keep the flowers or leave them to be delivered by the Deacons to shut-ins, those who are ill or in times of celebration to members and friends of our church. If interested in donating chancel flowers, please contact Joan Lin at 860-521-6361.

Women's Tuesday Morning Bible Study

The Women's Tuesday morning Bible study group are very appreciative of having some "child-free" time together, thanks to the Westminster grandmas who come and entertain the little ones while the group meets. In appreciation, a donation as been made in their honor to Social Worker Betty Leone's clients to help provide needy families with food this summer. The wonderful grandmas include Linda Cozzolongo, Nancy Dewey, Carol Hamilton, Corky Larew and Jane Sebolt.

 New Photo Directories Available!

New church photo directories are available at the back of the sanctuary and chapel. Please take one per household. Special thanks to Len Oshinskie for taking the photos and creating the directory and to Ma'Lynn Feingold for her patient assistance in putting the books together!