June 11, 2020
Dear friends and fellow disciples,
The hurt and confusion in our world remains. The tenor may feel a bit different from week to week. But the COVID-19 cases continue to rise in our state. George Floyd’s funeral was this week, with continued calls for racial justice in our land. There is much to continue to grieve and a lot of work we are called to do.
As we transition into summer, often the pace changes. But this summer, please don’t change the pace at which you are working to care for your neighbors. Make meals and phone calls and send cards. Reach out again and again to those who are lonely and isolated and at risk.
Please don’t change the pace of working to understand the dynamics of race and how we all can work to dismantle the white supremacist racist systems that still reign in our land. Keep learning, keep praying, keep protesting - though please do it safely. Keep looking deep into your heart. I’m trying to spend intentional time each week in confession for the ways I have been blind, the times I have not spoken up when I should, and for the ways those racist systems continue to shape me and my family’s life.
If you are working on the
21-Day Race Equity Challenge
and haven’t already, please
email me
. The kind of learning we're doing must be followed by both conversation in community and real antiracist action in our world. We’d like to invite you to be a part of the first thing, as we move together towards the second. Marietta and I will be facilitating conversations via Zoom on
Sunday, June 14, at 9:45am and 7:00pm, and also June 21 at 7:00pm
. Please
email Marietta
or
me
for the Zoom links.
There will be more dates coming, which I hope to share with you soon.
In the midst of so many hard things, we took a moment on Monday to celebrate. We gathered in the church parking lot and a parade of cars made their way to the homes of the high school seniors in our youth group, who are missing many wonderful closing rituals that happen at this time in a young person’s life. It was a small thing, but the joy in everyone’s eyes was a gift. We’ll pray alongside them in worship on Sunday.
Keep pressing, friends. Keep praying. Jesus is on the loose, and we are called to follow.
Chris
|
|
Westminster This Week - Quick Links
|
|
Betsy and Carol have been bagging beans and rice for Iglesia Emanuel.
|
|
Top: Parade time for seniors in our Youth Group!
Below: Our June 2019 worship with La Nueva.
|
|
Parker enjoyed planting flower seeds, a special gift from his Church School teachers.
|
|
SUNDAY: Join Us in the WPC Virtual Courtyard
One of the great things about being at church aside from our worship time is the gathering of our church family in the Courtyard after the service. We’re bringing back that experience with the WPC Virtual Courtyard. Please join us via Zoom immediately following Sunday's worship service. The link to the meeting will be shared in the
YouTube
livechat during the worship service, or you may
email Bob Lamont
. Hope to see you there!
|
|
Just What
IS
“UNDER CONSTRUCTION”, WPC’s Habitat for Humanity Mission eXperience@Home?
Are you wondering whether you should register your family for this year’s at-home Mission-X? (
HINT
: the answer is a resounding
YES
!) While we don’t want to give away the surprise, here are some of the things you’ll find in each week’s box which will be delivered to your door:
- Blueprints are Bible-related activities which will include a video created by one of WPC’s families!
- Reflections and Activities especially for Youth and Adults
- Hard Hat activities include creative crafting and building ideas and include most of the supplies you’ll need.
- Break Time and Lunch Box supplies and ideas for a couple of delicious snacks plus active games
- Community Stories help everyone learn and connect with Habitat for Humanity through story videos and engaging hands-on activities.
Time is running out to register for our June Mission-X!
Register now
for any or all three phases of construction (June 21-28, July 19-26, August 9-16). Each week is unique but will include all of the elements above. Be sure to mark your calendar for
June 21, at 10:00am
- we’ll have a special opening event via Zoom. Contact “Contractor”
Dawn Wilcox
with any questions.
|
|
NEW: Social Justice Book Club
Attention, parents: Would you and your elementary-aged child be interested in participating in a book group focused on reading books that deal with challenging topics? Jesus invites us, as his followers, to stretch and strive for a world that is kind, fair, and welcoming for
all
of God’s children and God’s good creation. Please consider stepping up to take a leadership role. Along with input from your child, help to pick the books and plan the gatherings (via Zoom for now, but eventually could include a safely distanced face-to-face discussion). If you think you’d like to take part and/or take a leadership role, please
contact Marietta
.
|
|
NEW for Families: Taking Faith Home
In her weekly emails to families this summer, Marietta will be sending a
Taking Faith Home
page that includes one of the lectionary passages for the week, along with a week’s worth of daily readings related to that theme. Other elements include a Scripture verse, prayers and blessings, ways to engage in caring conversations, a brief devotional, an idea to discuss and act on the Scripture, as well as a closing ritual and ideas for incorporating these resources into your family life. Please
contact Marietta
if you’d like to join the WPC families listserv and receive all the great resources.
|
|
Digital Parent Check-Ins to Keep Connected
The staff is offering virtual check-ins with parents to talk about how things are going. We invite parents of middle schoolers to our next check-in on Monday, June 15, at 4:00pm. Chris will facilitate the conversation.
Contact Marietta
for Zoom links.
|
|
WPC Youth Group Happenings
SUNDAY: Celebrating Our Graduates
We're excited to celebrate Westminster's graduates at worship this Sunday! Make plans to join us we give thanks and offer a blessing upon the next chapter of these young folks' lives. In the meantime, enjoy this
slideshow recognizing grads in our WPC family.
NEW: Talking About Race
You're invited to take part in an ongoing conversation about race, power, faith, and change. We'll gather twice a month to discuss essays, poems, songs, and videos designed to inspire reflection and push us out of our comfort zone. If you'd like to participate,
contact Alex
.
Save the Date for Youth Sunday!
WPC Youth will lead our worship for Sunday, July 12. Watch the WPC Youth listserv for info coming soon!
Ongoing: Instagram Live and Bible Studies
WPC Youth is on Instagram Live
@wpcyouthdurham
Mondays at 12:00 noon. Thursday is the day for Bible studies - High School at 2:30pm, Middle School at 4:00pm.
Contact Alex
for Zoom links and passwords.
|
|
TREE Callers Needed
Our WPC TREE could use a few more callers. Do you have two or three hours each month to devote to checking in on a list of 10 Westminster households? This is a wonderful way to serve your church family during these challenging times. Volunteers must know how to send emails and texts. Please let us know if you can help.
Contact
:
Cherrie Barton Henry
|
|
Nominations for Elders and Deacons
The Nominating Committee is working to identify five new elders (four adults, one youth) and eight new deacons (seven adults, one youth) to serve in the class of 2023. We are also searching for an individual to complete the one-year term of an elder who moved. This is an opportunity to serve the church in meaningful ways and be a part of God's vision for Westminster. Send your nominations to
nominations@wpcdurham.org
.
Contact
:
Carol Mansfield
|
|
Update Your myWPC Contact Info
As our Tree callers have been reaching out, we’ve learned the church doesn’t have updated contact info for many of you. Also, if you’re giving to the church through your myWPC account, the address you have in myWPC must match the address of your credit card billing statement for your contribution to go through. Please take a moment to review and update your information and photo in
myWPC
.
Instructions are provided on our website
.
Contact
:
Barb Schmidt
|
|
COVID-19 Relief Fund
Westminster has created this fund for those wishing to donate some or all of their COVID-19 stimulus check money to those in the community with greater needs. WPC's COVID-19 Committee will direct the funds to the most needy of our Durham nonprofits. This isn’t a campaign or drive on the church’s part, but a response to those who have asked for a vehicle to put the funds they’ve received to good purposes.
Contributions have topped $8,300 thus far – thank you!
Give online now
or mail a check to the church with "COVID19 Relief Fund” in the memo line.
|
|
Recommendations: Things to read, watch, and listen to during "Safer-at-Home" times
To watch:
Why Silence Isn't the Answer
,
a TedTalk by James White, Sr, the first time he shared his story in public after his decision to be silent no more and his struggles to provide counsel to his grandsons
|
|
PLEASE NOTE: Despite the lifting of some restrictions by Governor Cooper, Westminster’s campus remains closed through June 28. Only essential personnel are permitted on campus during this time. Thanks for your understanding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
