From the Pastor's Desk

It’s a busy week at Westminster! On Wednesday, the elders approved the agenda for the annual meeting, and on Thursday the 2022 annual report was completed and printed out. It is available for electronic viewing starting Friday and for hard copy pickup starting Sunday.

Also, on Sunday at 11:15 you're invited to “Budget 2.0” in Russell Hall. This is a continuation of the budget information sessions from the fall. Budget 2.0 will include:

• Budget & finance – summary of 2022 year end.
• Stewardship – final results of pledge campaign and a look at pledging trends.
• Personnel – breakdown of the Pastor’s Terms of Call; introduce new financial secretary.
• Q & A

The goal is for all members and friends at Westminster to be educated about the operations of the church. We want everyone to be “in the know.”

At the same time, we are about to enter Lent. We will kick off our Lenten “Journey to the Center” with an all-ages Labyrinth experience led by the Rev. Dr. Scott Crane on Sunday, Feb 19 at 6pm. Ash Wednesday follows on Feb 22 with ashes, communion, and the labyrinth available from 12-1pm or 5:30-6:30pm. It is an experiential Ash Wednesday this year and we will be focusing on the contemplative walk to the center, spiritually and physically, for the whole six weeks. Please plan to take a stroll on Westminster’s wonderful labyrinth--we will be exploring the experience often between now and Easter.

Ever onward,

Pastor Kelly

Session Report

Your Westminster Session met on Wednesday, February 15, for their regular monthly meeting. They approved bylaws and the agenda for the congregational meeting on Sunday, February 26, which will take place after the service along with a potluck lunch. That agenda is now online for your viewing. Please plan to attend. The Elders also discussed and approved a new rotational system for hosting Coffee Hour. Church Elders, Deacons and other committees will host the Coffee Hour for two months. This new plan will free up the same people from always being responsible and allow others to get the chance to meet and greet the congregation during Coffee Hour after church. --Sandy McLean, clerk

For deeper insight into what ruling elders are called to do and how they serve, check out the first of a monthly series from PCUSA here.

Participate

A labyrinth offers a purposeful walk on a single circuitous path to the center and back out again. This pattern is conducive to deep spiritual reflection. Some can find this on a walk through the woods, but others sometimes need a more structured path. The Labyrinth can be the structure that guides one's footsteps even as the Holy Spirit guides our spiritual footsteps. Please join us Sunday evening from 6 to 7:30 pm to refresh what we know about walking a labyrinth and enter into a "Labyrinth Vespers" guided walk experience with Rev Dr Scott Crane, who grew up at Westminster and is son of church members Dave and Wendy Crane. Rev Dr Crane developed the outdoor labyrinth at Menucha Retreat Center in the Columbia Gorge. We welcome him warmly.

On Ash Wednesday (February 22), we encourage you to begin your Lenten Walk by coming to the church either 12:30-1:00 or 5:30-6:30 to our "Journey to the Center" Experience: you are welcome to walk the church grounds, walk the labyrinth, take communion and receive the Imposition of Ashes. We have literature in the narthex to facilitate your experience beginning this year's Lenten Journey. The Labyrinth will be available other hours as well, but the communion and Ashes will have these limited hours. Of course you are always welcome to walk the church grounds.

Red Cross Blood Drive is March 13, 1-6 pm in Boulder Hall! We need the congregation and community to pitch in and give so that we can retain Westminster's record of being the longest continuously running church-hosted American Red Cross blood drive in Salem!! For those who want to DOUBLE their donation of red cells (and still keep all that plasma, platelets and white cells!) there are at least 8 "Double Red" appointments available throughout the day. This can truly be a life giving donation. Even if you think you may not be eligible to give blood, please call/message Bill Nelson (503-581-5261, bnelson@pacificcomm.net) or Pamela Garland (503-551-2998) to check. The ARC has recently relaxed some of the previous restrictions on giving blood, including restrictions on recent travel to Europe. Even if you had a poor experience in the distant past we believe that your 2023 blood giving experience will be smooth, painless and will give you the satisfaction of giving someone a gift that few can duplicate! Call Bill, Pamela, or sign up here today. 

FYI

The church office will be closed Monday, Feb 20, for President's Day.

What we believe was a software issue caused YouTube streaming problems for the first several minutes of last Sunday's service. Our wonderful tech team is on it, so hopefully smooth sailing lies before us! Apologies for the inconvenience.

Reading books from our wide-ranging church library? Fantastic! Just make sure you actually go through the library's check-out process first. It's simple and old-school, and it only takes a minute to ensure our dedicated librarians are able to keep track of our books.

Letters went out last week to a number of Westminster members with whom deacons and staff have lost touch. The purpose was to ascertain whether these members wanted to retain or resign their membership. We are required to attempt to keep our membership rolls current. If you did not receive the letter but would like to change your membership status, please contact the church office. Thank you!

The Buildings and Grounds committee will display items that we found stored in Eastminster. Look for them on the long table in Boulder Hall and take what you can use. Any item left after coffee hour on February 19 will be donated.

Deadline for placing info in the Friday Newsletter is every Thursday at 9 am!

In the Community

Salem For Refugees thanks us for our support, prayers, and partnership in the good work that they are doing. We are invited to join them in their new office building for a presentation about what is happening at SFR followed by a self-guided interactive prayer walk through the new space. This takes place Monday, February 20, at 2 pm at 1400 Broadway St NE.

Our building partner Creative Discoveries Preschool is opening enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year (and has limited space available immediately for preschool and toddler time). Spread the word--more info here.

Pray for

Nancy Hruska, family, and friends, at the passing of Bill last week.

Give

The One Great Hour of Sharing offering is coming up in April. Sunday School kids will receive their fish offering banks this Sunday as Lent begins and will spend the next six weeks saving up to share with those in need. Maybe you want to join them this year! You can get an OGHS coloring sheet here (that fits right in with the West Pres mission and Matthew 25 themes) or ask a teacher on Sunday!



Per capita for members this year is $45.60. Questions? Contact the church office or a member of Stewardship or Budget & Finance committees. Thanks!

Westminster Presbyterian Church