The Church At Work!

Our Deacons are serving dinner at Urban Ministries of Durham.

In-person Choir rehearsals are back!

In-person Church School, Godly Play, and Youth Group are back!

Westminster This Week – Quick Links View and/or download our Prayers & Cares List Review Westminster's latest financial report Check out the new issue of WPC Racial Equity e-news Read the new issue of Presbyterians Today Worship at Westminster October 3 - Exodus 2:23-25; 3:1-15; 4:10-17 "God's name is revealed" October 10 – Exodus 16:1-18 "Manna requires faith in what God gives" Worship Bulletins and Weekly Devotionals Westminster's YouTube Channel Learn more about the Narrative Lectionary, a four-year cycle of readings Westminster is now using in our Sunday worship and Christian Education program

Update from the Covid Operations Committee: Our Masks, Vaccinations, and Music The Covid Operations Committee, supported by the Session, continues to work to actively balance the needs of our physical and spiritual health. We believe the threat of the Delta variant can be addressed by ensuring we all follow some key guidelines: If we don’t feel well in any way, or if we’ve been exposed to someone who has or is suspected to have Covid, we stay home and don’t come to Westminster. When we do come to Westminster, we all properly wear our facemasks in the sanctuary and campus buildings, as well as outside on our campus. We’ll sit spread out in the sanctuary and in every other pew row. We will continue to NOT sing as a congregation in worship services, though we can hum alongside our small choir and enjoy the opportunity to read and contemplate the beautiful poetry of our hymnal. Thank you for following these guidelines that help keep all of us safe. You can view the complete set of Covid guidelines on our website. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday mornings for Church School and worship!

Church School: Connect on Sundays — NEW Start Times Remember your masks and maybe a water bottle and chair! Look for signs on campus to find your outdoor meeting locations.  Church Nursery: 9:30am Church School for Adults:  9:45am in the Mission Center and via Zoom Confirmation:  9:45am on the Terrace Strings & Sounds Music for 2’s-K:  10:00-10:15am in the Preschool Entrance  Church School for Children & Youth:  10:00-10:45am Godly Play for Children 4 years old - 1st Grade: 11:15am following the Children’s Message in the parlor.  Youth Group: 5:30-7:00pm View the complete listing of fall Christian Education offerings for children, youth, and adults. We Show Love for One Another By Being Vaccinated and Wearing Masks 100 Percent YES!  Did you know that 100 percent of our church school teachers, Godly Play leaders and greeters, nursery caregivers, children’s music leaders, and youth leaders are vaccinated? Westminster LOVES our children and youth and we CARE deeply about both their spiritual and physical health. That’s why we ALL said YES, we’re vaccinated! We meet outside and we all wear masks. Join us any Sunday morning.

Beginning Sunday: NEW Music Elective for Kids in Grades 1-4 We are expanding our offerings for children to explore God’s gift of music! A NEW short-term elective called “Joyful Noise Music-Makers” will give children in grades 1-4 the opportunity to explore chimes, bells, and other percussion instruments including boomwhackers! This seven-week series begins October 3 from 9:30-10:00am and will conclude with an informal sharing time on Christ the King Sunday, November 21, at 10:00am. The playground is available for parent-supervised play-time for siblings. Music-Makers Leaders are Janet Whitaker and Ellen Vogel. Sign up now!

So Many Opportunities To Serve - Don't Miss Out!

Fall 2021 Worship Volunteers WPC staff and worship leadership are deep into fall worship planning and need your help! It takes a lot of volunteers to make worship happen. Please visit our online sign-ups to check out all the ways you can serve your church on Sunday mornings. We’ve grouped the volunteer needs by worship dates (rather than by role) to help you find multiple ways you can serve and maybe also partner with friends and/or family members to serve together. Sign up now! We are especially in need of sound technicians and live stream technicians for our newly expanded Audio-Visual Team. Training is provided by experienced volunteers. Please contact Mark Hill if you are interested. A Call To Nursery Ministry Do you feel a call to care for the youngest of our church family? There are opportunities, whether you are a youth (9th - 12th grade) or an adult of any age, to help in the nursery during the 11:00am worship service. No matter the amount of time you have, there is a place for you! All volunteers work with paid staff and should be trained in our WPC’s Safe Child practices. (Training provided multiple times a year and online.) To learn more, read this ministry description. To sign up, click here. If you have questions, please contact Marietta Wynands. Families Moving Forward Four volunteers to prepare, serve, and clean up a meal for 12 on Thursday, October 21, 5:00-6:30pm. Please sign up on Signup Genius if you're willing to help. Contact Pat Trost if you have questions. Iglesia Emanuel’s Food Ministry Iglesia Emanuel continues to need volunteer help to make its food ministry possible! Beginning in September, Westminster’s volunteer sign-up merged with Iglesia Emanuel’s main sign-up for its food ministry. The need for food has not gone away, so please continue signing up to help weekly or monthly. Sign up and get more details here!

Jersey Mike's Fundraiser for Westminster School for Young Children on October 6!

From the Racial Equity Team: This Fall, it’s All About Pauli Murray! Join us as we do a deep dive into all-things Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, one of Durham’s “biggest and brightest hometown heroes”! Choose any of these great options to learn more. Register now for any or all of these events! Pauli Murray Lunch ‘n Learn, October 17, 12:20pm   Read the book, Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family. While all of our library editions have been borrowed, you may be able to purchase a book through your favorite online vendor or consider supporting a black-owned business such as Rofhiwa. Bring a sack lunch and join us on the Terrace following worship to discuss this fascinating book.

Aperture Welcomes Pauli Murray Center Board Chair Mayme Webb-Bledsoe, October 20, 7:00pm on Zoom   The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice engages diverse communities to lift up the life and legacy of activist, legal scholar, feminist, poet, Episcopal priest, and LGBTQ+ community member, the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, in order to address enduring inequities and injustice in our nation. This month we welcome Mayme Webb-Bledsoe to share with us about the historical impact and legacy of this remarkable person. Ms. Webb-Blesoe is a veteran of Durham grassroots work and is the Associate Vice-President of the Duke University’s Office of Durham Affairs and Community Development. She is a Samuel DuBois Cook Society Community Betterment Award recipient, in recognition of her outstanding service to the community.

Visit the Childhood Home of Pauli Murray Saturday, October 23, 11:00am followed by lunch at GRUB Durham Join us as Barbara Lau, Executive Director, offers a tour around the grounds of Pauli Murray’s childhood home (906 Carroll Street). While the inside of the center is currently closed, the art installation offers a safe, socially distanced way to learn more about Pauli Murray, her family, the home built in 1898 where she grew up, and some of the ways her work and vision have continued to impact the world. After the tour, we’ll head over to Grub Durham to enjoy lunch together outdoors. Come and join us!

Youth Suite Renovation Do you have couches, rugs, or throw pillows you are no longer using? Our youth are working hard to renovate the youth suite. Most of the furniture is very old and worn and needs replacing. We are fortunate to have so many youth regularly attend Sunday evening youth group that we need additional seating! If you have any of the following items you would like to donate to our Youth Suite, please contact Wyndi Phillips or Alex. Couches Large floor rugs Bean bags Throw pillows, pillow covers, or inserts Folding ping pong table   Thanks! WPC Youth

Yarn Collection for Haiti Attention Knitters and Crocheters: Do you have leftover yarn from your last project? We have the opportunity to put your leftovers to good use. The Haiti Outreach Ministry schools in Port-a-Prince are offering classes in knitting and crocheting to their students. We are collecting yarn to send to Haiti to help them with this effort. Yarn should be enough to create a small project (e.g., a hat). Knitting needles and crochet hooks are appreciated too. Please leave your donations in the bin by the Mission Center main entrance by October 15. For more information, please contact Helen Harrison or Emily Strader.

News from Camp New Hope Camp New Hope's Executive Director Richard Stevens is retiring from New Hope Camp and Conference Center on October 31, 2021. He has been a wonderful spiritual leader and director for New Hope and he will be greatly missed. Richard sends this note: “Since January 1, 2008, I have served New Hope Camp & Conference Center as its Executive Director. I’ve worked hand-in-hand with board members and volunteers to implement capital improvements and to maintain the beautiful property for which we are stewards. We have accomplished a lot and, in the process, I’ve made many good friends. I’ve heard many wonderful, heartwarming stories of how the camp has affected many people who have come through our gates, including stories of healing, inclusiveness, and equality. It is my belief that this fun and sacred place will continue to leave its positive influence on our community. Thank you for working with me in this endeavor."

Camp New Hope is looking for a new Executive Director who brings the right balance of skills to write the next chapter of our 74-year history as a place apart for persons of all ages and faiths to grow in their relationship with God, themselves, and others in an environment of Christian hospitality. This position has been posted on www.pccca.net. Join us for our fundraiser on October 13, "Taco Tuesday" (but on a Wednesday)! Drive through from 5pm-6pm at the back of the dining hall. Enjoy 3 soft tacos with all the trimmings and a cookie for $10. We will also be holding a raffle that week from Monday, Oct. 11, to Friday, Oct. 15. Prizes include a week at camp, intersession week, and more. Tickets will be $5 for 1 or $20 for 5. Purchase tickets online beginning October 11. All proceeds will go to our program support fund. Thank you to all who donated to this fund for 2021 summer camp season; the money was used for camper t-shirts, art supplies, and sports equipment.  Intersession camps were a great success. It was fun to have our campers back. Our next intersession is January 3-7, 2022, "Journey to the South Pole." Get ready for spring and sign up for our exciting intersession camps: "What's Cookin'," "Journey to Far off Places," and "Treasure Island."

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