Worship
Sunday, October 25, 9:15 a.m.  
Online Streaming Only
www.westpres.org
  • 21st Sunday After Pentecost

  • Baptism of Beric James Cate

  • Scripture Readings are Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 and Matthew 22:34-46.

  • Pastor Scott’s Sermon is titled “Won't You be my Neighbor?”

Information
Westminster Kids Update

Here is an update on our Westminster Kids’ Ministry. Laura Sherlock, our Director of Communications is assisting the Christian Education Committee with projects and reconnecting with our families. An update e-mail was sent out on Tuesday, October 20. 

If you did not receive that update and have children in 5th grade or younger, please e-mail Laura at LSherlock@westpres.org to receive future e-mails. 

Current projects include
  • Survey of Families
  • Bedtime Bible Podcast
  • Care Packages
  • Pray & Play Activity Sheets
Kids Survey

If you have a child who is in 5th grade or younger, please fill out this survey. It will take less than 5 minutes. No information will be shared with anyone outside of Westminster.

The survey is asking for:
  • Your Contact information
  • Children's names and ages
  • If you'd like to receive care packages (more information below).
  • If you'd like to receive a weekly printed activity sheet (more information below).
  • If you have any thing that Westminster could help you with, or if you have any questions.
Westminster Kids Care Packages

Monthly we will deliver to your home a care package with materials and activities for your child. We will have one care package available, per child, at your home.

To sign-up, fill out the survey so that we know how many care packages you would like.

We are currently distributing care packages with special twinkle lights to use while listening to Bedtime Bible. If you have not received one yet, please make sure to fill out the survey.

Upcoming packages will include arts and crafts kits, activity pages and more!
Pray & Play Activity Sheets

We are working on finding the perfect activity sheets to send out to your kids during the week. These will be designed to bring a mini Sunday school lesson into your child's week. Use them however they work best for you! To receive activity sheets please fill out the survey so that we know how many sheets to send.

The Heart of Westminster

Our people are the heart of Westminster. In this difficult time in our world, you have remained faithful to God and God’s Church. It takes courage and faith to trust God in the midst of a pandemic. Continuing to pledge and give is an act of deep faith and commitment.

We were honored to hear Sasha Kamper’s personal story about Stewardship recently in worship. If you did not see it, we encourage you to click here and watch Sasha's Story.

Please fill out your pledge card and return it to Westminster. If you haven’t received a pledge card, please call the church office, 274-1534. God will continue to be with us through this time. Your generous heart brings honor to God and joy to those benefiting from your gifts. 

Thank you for your ongoing faith and your commitment to Westminster.

Join Us for Fall Church Campus Clean Up! 

We’ll be working for three hours on Saturday, November 7, to clean up our campus. Please join us from 9 a.m. to noon and bring your work gloves and a rake. We will provide leaf bags for this project. The rain date will be Saturday, November 14.

Hoot ‘N’ Howl

This year Hoot ‘N' Howl will be in virtual form, to be released for viewing the evening of Friday, October 30. The Organ Extravaganza will feature classical and contemporary organ pieces perfect for a spooky Halloween evening, performed by Westminster's organist Juli Bey. It will also feature Kayla Geerts as she dances to the "Funeral March of a Marionette," by Charles Gounod. This concert will be available on the church website, Youtube channel and Facebook.

Sanctuary Visits

We invite you to visit the newly painted Sanctuary and take a moment to feel the calm and peace of the space.

During this time of COVID-19, while we do not feel comfortable having in-person worship services yet, we understand that many of you miss having quiet time in the Sanctuary. In order to maintain social distancing rules, times will be scheduled throughout the week to manage the number of people visiting the Sanctuary at one time.  


To sign up, please call the office at 274-1534.

  • Masks are required the entire time you are in the building, including halls, the office and the Sanctuary.

  • Check in and out at the Office before and after your visit to the Sanctuary. 

  • A special Guided Meditation with prayers and Scriptures, written by our Director of Music and Fine Arts Aaron Schultz, will be available for your use. 

  • Pews will be designated where you can sit, to help with disinfecting the area after your visit.
Participating in the 21-Day Equity Challenge

Reflection by Drew Robertson, Youth Director

One of the overwhelming realizations I’ve had while participating in the 21-Day Challenge is how connected all of the topics are to one another. 
For example, specifically looking at how many other topics would be affected solely by adding free healthcare to our society: Suddenly, those on disability have easier access to care; those in poorer neighborhoods who would be reluctant to seek medical attention due to the cost, could now seek care; and, the amount of people suffering under mounting medical debt would suddenly be able to more fully participate in the economy. 

All of these examples are now people who can participate in the housing market because they will have more income to spend on things other than medical bills. Long-term this will lead to better neighborhoods and economic development, not only of cities, but also of cultures. The 21-Day Challenge has helped me see that the more we support what Jesus in the Bible refers to as “the least of these” in Matt. 25:31-46, the more our societies, and cultures, and cities, and citizens will have a chance to thrive and not just survive. 
Save a Life, Give Blood

The Deacons are sponsoring a blood drive on, Tuesday, October 27, from 2:00 - 5:45 p.m., in the blood mobile, in our parking lot. Schedule your appointment online at www.lifeservebloodcenter.org or contact Susan Denton at sdenton@westpres.org or call the church office, 515-274-1534.

Per CDC guidelines, LifeServe requires blood donors to wear masks to their appointments. For donors who do not have masks, a mask will be provided at registration. Donors should also take their temperature before reporting to their appointment. A donor with a temperature of 99.5 or higher should reschedule.

Walk-ins are not accepted at this time, to maintain adequate social distancing and enhanced health and safety protocols. 

LifeServe is now testing all successful donations for COVID antibodies. Any donor who donates at our drive will have the option of a vial of the donation to be sent to the state testing facility. In 5-7 days, you will receive the results of the test via their online LifeServe profile.

This is not a COVID test, it is just a test to see if the donor has antibodies, which means that if positive, they at one time had or currently have the virus; or, more accurately, came in contact with enough of it that their body began to suppress it. The donor will be asked during in-processing whether they consent to the test and the blood draw will occur during the donation. To get tested, the donor must have a successful blood donation.

Worship with us Online
We are blessed to be able to broadcast our worship services live every Sunday at 9:15 a.m. While the Coronavirus is preventing us from worshipping together in person, we can still connect with each other as we engage in worship from our screens.

Join us for worship!
  • Go to westpres.org at 9:15 a.m. on Sundays.
  • Sign in on the attendance form.
  • Download a bulletin.
  • Submit a prayer request.

If you miss the service or would like to watch it, or past services, later, they are available here.

If you have any questions, please email Laura at lsherlock@westpres.org.
Personal Notes
Prayer Requests
Prayer Requests for the week of October 18

We pray for our homebound members and those in care facilities.

We pray for the needs of our members and friends.
  • Wyatt & Jody Pugh request prayers for their daughter-in-law, Justine Pugh’s mother, Laurene LePore. She continues to suffer from stage 4 melanoma, with some recent setbacks. Lesions in her brain appear to be growing. Our son, John, and Justine truly appreciate the prayers. 

  • Gloria Hoffmann requests continuing prayers for her brother, Ron. Thank You! 

  • Dan & Karen Hanson request prayers for family friend, Jeff Amis, who recently lost his daughter in a car accident. 

  • Continued prayers for Ginny Rohden. 

  • Diane Kirk requests prayers of concern for an indirect coworker who was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week, and of thanksgiving for others who tested negative. This was the agency’s first COVID-19 case since employees returned to work in person, June 1. 

  • Holly Lyles requests prayers for all those fighting COVID and for those who have lost loved ones due to the virus. 

  • Janice Bannister requests prayers of peace and comfort for those who have lost loved ones! 

  • Joe & Carrie Hall request prayers for health and healing for our world.   


We pray for those known only to God who are in need of prayers.

How Can I Contribute My Offering or Pay My Pledge?
Thank you for your continued tithing to Westminster, as together we support one another and bring the love of God to the Des Moines area, and the rest of the world.

  • Mail - Westminster Church, 4114 Allison Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310-3398

  • Text - WPCDSM to 73256


  • Call the Church Office - 515-274-1534, for credit card or ACH contribution, ask for Ruth Bloxham, accountant.