July 3, 2020
Dear friends and fellow disciples,
Sunday, June 28,
almost
felt like old times at Westminster. Yes, we were on screens again, but the day was full of activity and LIFE, that energy I miss so much. A summary of the day will tell you some important things happening right now:
10:00am
: I taught the final session of our Spring Inquirers' class. Some brave souls hung in there as we shifted from in-person to online. We talked about stewardship and the history and polity of the Presbyterian Church. You’ll have a chance to meet these saints as we welcome them into our fellowship later this month.
Also at 10:00am
: Our Christian Education leaders checked in with families who participated in the first week of Mission-X. I enjoyed working through the materials with my children; you can
sign up now for Mission-X weeks in July and August
. I bet others of you were on Zoom at that same time with your Church School class.
11:00am
: We worshiped together, with an hour of wonderful music, a great sermon by Alex, and a warm welcome for our confirmation class, teenagers who have decided to, after a year of study and conversation, join the church. Even from a screen, it was still a powerful thing to see.
5:00pm
: Your Session gathered via Zoom and met those Inquirers'. (Can you imagine joining a church in quarantine? This is a bold act!) The elders then walked through some committee updates and heard preliminary results from the congregational survey on managing our campus in the time of COVID-19. Thanks to the 200+ of you who have participated; if you haven't yet, we’d love your input so
please take the survey
. Other items of note from the Session's meeting:
- Campus Return Timeline: We have pushed our campus return back as case counts rise and in response to the Governor's extension of phase two. But we are working on processes for those who might want to gather small groups outside on our campus in a few weeks (Durham’s order presently limits groups indoor and outdoor to 10 people). I promise we will continue to proceed with caution and care.
- Dialogue and Action on Racism: The Session voted to establish a special committee to plan and coordinate all of Westminster's antiracism efforts. If you are interested in being part of this team, please email Marietta and me. We’ll meet and get organized soon. In the meantime, I encourage you to take a look at the antiracism resources our staff is compiling.
7:00pm
: A group met to discuss their participation in the
21-Day Race Equity Challenge
, a compilation of resources that has helped us begin the journey of understanding systematic racism more fully. We decided we wanted to talk more and will meet again soon. I’ll email that group specifically about the date after the holiday weekend.
As you can see, the work of the church continues, ever re-formed by the Spirit. My goodness, I am grateful to be in this work with you!
Blessings to you as we approach the Fourth of July. Let us give thanks for this nation - its gifts and its flaws - grateful to God for the chance to continue to work to be more faithful and more just, for all.
Peace to you,
Chris
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Westminster This Week - Quick Links
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Find Out How You Can Help WPC’s Community Partners
Our Local Missions Committee has been tracking the needs of our 20+ community partners to learn how the Westminster family can help. You can access the list of current needs anytime at
www.wpcdurham.org/community-partners-neighbors
.
This resource is updated with new requests for help as the Local Missions Committee learns of them, so be sure to bookmark it on your computer and check back frequently. Here are a couple immediate needs:
- Families Moving Forward is in need of diapers (sizes 3, 4, 5), baby wipes, and washcloths. You can drop donations off at FMF’s touchless drop-off bin in their lower parking lot (300 N. Queen St, Durham), or order online and have them delivered directly to their office.
- Iglesia Presbiteriana Emanuel needs volunteers to help with their Wednesday afternoon food distribution program, to bag rice and beans from home, and to donate food items. See page 8 for all the details!
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July 12 is (Virtual) Youth Sunday!
WPC’s youth are preparing a wonderful worship service for you this Sunday! Be sure to join us for worship, then drop by the WPC Virtual Courtyard afterward, where you can speak with our Youth Sunday preachers, liturgists, musicians, and artists. Please contact
Bob Lamont
for the Zoom link to the July 12 Virtual Courtyard (Note: We're taking a break from Virtual Courtyard on July 5).
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Join a Virtual Tour of the Latest Nasher Exhibit
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Remember Those Fish Banks?
Do you still have a fish bank full of coins at home? Although it's not practical to bring those banks to church physically, we can still make sure that offering gets to people in need. If you have a fish bank that you used to collect an Easter offering for
One Great Hour of Sharing
, please count the coins and make a donation, either online or by mailing a check to the church. Please make your donation by July 30 if you can, and be sure to note it’s for OGHS 2020 so WPC can send it on to help those served by this great organization.
Contact
:
Jennifer Feiler
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WPC Families: Let’s Read About Race Together
Families are invited to join Marietta in reading some books with our children to help us have challenging conversations about race, how we got here, and steps we can take to make our world better for everyone.
For Younger Children (4-8 yrs): Zoom Story Time Event, July 8, 12:00 noon
Something Happened in Our Town
follows two families – one Black, one White – as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community. The story aims to answer children's questions about such traumatic events, and to help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives.
For Older Elementary or Younger Middle School
Older elementary and younger Middle School youth are invited to read one or both of the following books to help better understand our history. Let Marietta know if your family is taking the challenge, and we’ll schedule a Zoom gathering that’s convenient for the group.
- Leon’s Story, by Leon Walter Tillage was brought to our attention by Amy Stanfield. Amy writes, “Leon is a boy growing up in rural Wake County in the ‘50s. There’s a lot of violence and death in the book, yet it still makes for a great middle elementary age read. I wish this book and ones like it were required reading for North Carolina history/social studies. I shudder to think how many more stories like Leon’s are out there, untold.” We encourage you to read this book ahead or alongside your child, so you can be ready for questions and conversations. Amy purchased two books for WPC; Please contact Marietta to borrow one of them, or you can purchase your own copy.
- January’s Sparrow, by Patricia Pollaco is set further back in time, telling the true story of the horrors and occasional happiness of enslaved families just before emancipation. It’s a difficult but engrossing, suspenseful story about the Crosswhites, including young Sadie, who flee the Kentucky plantation they work on. This book is available, used or new at Amazon and other retailers.
To sign up, get Zoom links, or receive our weekly
Families Forming Faith at Home
newsletter, please contact
Marietta Wynands
.
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WPC Youth Group Happenings
We’re hitting the pause button on WPC Youth next week as so many are traveling for the holiday, but we’re excited to announce we’ve got some great things coming soon:
“
Christian Financial Literacy” with Mr Stapleton
If you attend Jordan High School, you may know the legendary Joe Stapleton, an English teacher and all-around good guy. He teaches a Sunday School class at his church on "Christian Financial Literacy'' that he's agreed to adapt for younger folks and present for us. This isn't your typical "Financial Literacy'' class - you’ll learn about the biblical concept of "Jubilee" and spend some time considering how to apply it to our lives. Dates and details coming soon!
An Affirmation Exchange!
When you get a minute, take time to flip through Paul's letters in the New Testament. They're notes that Paul and his friends circulated to early Christian communities and they all start with beautiful affirmations - kind words sent to build up and encourage the people who read them. Affirmations are also a huge part of what we do as a Westminster community each summer at Montreat. Since we won't have the opportunity to go to Montreat this summer, WPC Youth will have an "Affirmation Exchange" by mail instead. If you would like to send or receive some kind words from other folks in the WPC Youth Group community, please
email Alex
with your name and mailing address. Use the subject line "Affirmation Exchange.”
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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
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Nominations for Elders and Deacons
Needed:
5
new elders,
8
new deacons +
2
additional elders to complete the remaining one-year terms of elders who needed to step down.
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Update Your PHOTO in myWPC
Did you know that Cherrie and Marietta, our newest staff members, have now worked at WPC for more months during the pandemic than before it? That's one reason it’s especially helpful to have updated photos in the directory so Cherrie and Marietta can put faces to names. Please take a moment to update your photos in myWPC if you haven’t recently. Visit
myWPC now to update your photo/info.
Instructions are provided on our website.
Contact:
Barb Schmidt
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PLEASE NOTE: Despite the lifting of some restrictions by Governor Cooper, Westminster’s campus remains closed through July 20. Only essential personnel are permitted on campus.
Thanks for your understanding.
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