 |
Sunday, May 21
Join us for worship at 10:00 a.m.
|
Welcoming The Stranger This Sunday, May 21
Please mark your calendars for May 21 for a special "Welcoming The Stranger" Sunday. The worship service will be led by Westminster's Senior Highs. The youth will tell...
Immigration Simulation
Please join us after worship for an Immigration Simulation led by our Senior Highs and the Sanctuary Task Force. This simulation turns participants into potential immigrants navigating the legal system, to help answer the commonly encountered question, "Why don't they just get in line and come over legally?"
click here to continue reading.
|
|
Daily Devotion from Pastor Scott....
|
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus..." (1 Corinthians 1:4)
"Thanks to my God always for you." This phrase is such a blessing in my life. My entire life has been lived in the Christian Church. Through those many years, there have been literally thousands of people who have touched my life and enriched my faith. It is humbling to consider that I have youth group kids who are now pushing fifty years of age. Ouch! In all those years, with all those individuals, I've been challenged, blessed and ....
Pastor Scott writes a devotion every weekday. To sign up to receive daily e-mails please email Laura at LSherlock@westpres.org.
|
A small but important team of volunteers gathers each
Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. Two members of the team meet me at the safe, after I have gathered the two keys required to access it. The keys are held by two different people. The safe is opened and the previous week's mail and Sunday's offering is taken from the safe for counting.
The contents is sorted between checks and cash. On a form provided, each check is recorded with name, amount, check # and purpose. The cash likewise. Once recorded, the amount written on each check is added and reconciled to the total on the form.
|
|
Classes, Groups and Activities
|
Task Force for Sanctuary Church Update
Submitted on behalf of the Sanctuary Task Force by
Elders Jim Holcomb and Tom Daft.
It's been a little over a month since Pastor Scott sent a letter informing the congregation that the Session approved the formation of a task force to study the question of whether Westminster should participate in the sanctuary movement and, if so, what level of involvement would be appropriate. One of the expectations established for the task force was that it would keep the congregation and the Session well-informed throughout the process. This is the first formal update to the congregation.
|
CPR Certification
May 21
You can become a Heartsaver Hero by learning how to perform effective CPR. Simply complete the online course, print and bring your completion certificate to your scheduled skills session, practice and test your CPR skills and be ready to save someone's life when disaster strikes!
The CPR certification will be held as 20 minute appointments from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. in Simmerman Lounge.
To learn what classes are available or to sign up please
click here.
If you would like more information please
e-mail Tiffany at nursery@westpres.org.
|
Blood Drive Tuesday, May 23
Westminster will host a blood drive for the LifeServe Blood Center on Tuesday, May 23, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. All eligible blood donors are encouraged to participate!
Deacons will once again give CROSS Ministries $5 for each person who donates blood at Westminster.
To learn more please
click here.
|
Join Us for Two Summer Outreach Opportunities!
Westminster's Gay-Lesbian-Straight Affirmation (GLSA) Group will sponsor two activities this summer to extend a welcome to those beyond our church walls - particularly those in the LGBTQ community.
Walk in the Pride Parade on June 11
Westminster will again participate in the Capital City Pride event on Sunday, June 11. Last year, Westminster was part of the parade for the first time, and the response was extremely positive....
click here to continue reading.
|
Come for Supper & "Facing Fear" Documentary on June 14
The GLSA Group will sponsor a community outreach event featuring a light supper and a showing of the documentary "Facing Fear" on Wednesday, June 14, at 6:00 p.m
...
click here to continue reading.
|
Book Club to Discuss Cinnamon and Gunpowder in June
You are invited to join the Westminster Book Club on June 7 fo
r discussion of the book Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown.
The year is 1819, and the celebrated chef Owen Wedgwood has been captured by a beautiful yet ruthless pirate and her bizarre crew. Owen's only hope for survival is to create an exquisite meal for her each Sunday.
..
click here to continue reading
.
|
Upcoming All Things Considered
May 21- All Things Considered will not meet so that all may participate in the Immigration Simulation.
|
Congratulations, Graduates!
Congratulations to these Westminster members who have graduated from high school this year:
- Matthew Dolde, graduated from Johnston and will attend Iowa State University.
- Connor Gilbreath, graduated from Roosevelt and plans to attend the University of Indiana.
- Max Tensen, graduated from Hoover and will attend the University of Northern Iowa.
- Josie Weber, of Ankeny, plans to attend Des Moines Area Community College.
|
Where Will Flat Jesus
Go this Year???
In the summer of 2016, Jesus was seen with Westminster folks at baseball games, camp, concerts, and so much more... Where will we take Jesus in 2017?
Flat Jesus is a paper figure you can cut out and color. Kids of all ages are invited to join in on "Flat Jesus." Starting this Sunday, we will have markers and copies of Flat Jesus in The Commons for you to color and take with you! Jesus can accompany you as you go out into the world - whether you're hanging out at home, playing in the neighborhood, or travelling around the world. Take pictures with Flat Jesus and share them with us, along with a description of where you've been. We'll gather the pictures and display them in The Commons for our community to see!
|
VBS 2017: Discover your Strength in God!
Westminster invites all kids age 3 to those entering 6
th grade to soar with us at Hero Central Vacation Bible School! This superhero adventure experience includes music that will energize your ears, interactive Bible fun, super science, cool crafts, hands-on mission hero work, delicious snacks, great games, and more. The fun runs July 10-14, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, with our incredible VBS Celebration on Sunday, July 16.
Hope to see you there, Heroes!
|
Preschool Summer Camps
Children age three through those entering first grade in the fall are encouraged to attend Westminster's Summer Preschool Camps! The camps are held from 9:00 a.m. to noon daily.
This year's camps are:
Fine Arts Two-Week Camp, On The High Seas Camp, Backyard Adventures Camp, and When I Grow Up Camp. Learn more by
clicking here.
|
Hospitalized or in Health Care Centers...
Vivian Haag - Methodist
Willie Glanton - Luther Park Trinity Center
Marcy Nelson - Calvin Healthcare
Norma Bowlsby - Scottish Rite
|
Click here
to watch past sermons. Our sermon archive has sermons from as far back as 2014. To watch any of them click on "Watch" for a video screen to pop up.
If you click on "Guide" you will find a PDF of the sermon transcript. These are available approximately 3 weeks after the sermon has been preached.
|
Click
HERE
to see what's
happening at Westminster
this week and in
the weeks to come!
|
|
Westminster is a fairly large church with nearly 1100 members. Small groups help bring the church down to a manageable size. We have numerous small groups. They bring together folks with similar interests.
|
-
The GLSA Group -
The Gay-Lesbian-Straight Affirmation Group will hold an abbreviated meeting on Sunday, May 21, at 9:00 a.m. in the Seminary Center to finalize plans for the Pride Festival and our "Facing Fear" event.
- Restaurant Group II will meet at Christopher's Restaurant, in Beaverdale, on Saturday, May 20 at 5:15 p.m.
- Men's Group During the summer this group meets every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. for breakfast at the Waveland Cafe.
- Men's Basketball meets every Monday at 6:30 p.m. in The Commons.
|
|
PASTORAL STAFF
Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski, Senior Pastor/Head of Staff -
Email Scott
Rev. Dr. Kenneth E. Arentson, Executive Associate Pastor -
Email Ken
MISSION STATEMENT
Westminster is a welcoming Christian family, joined in discipleship to pray, learn and serve.
INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT
We welcome all persons as participants in our congregation, regardless of age, race, gender, marital status, physical condition, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic background, economic status, or any other human condition.
|
4114 Allison Ave. Des Moines, IA 50310
At the corner of Beaver and Franklin
|
|
|
|
|
|
