Westminster Weekly Word

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A Message from Gregory Knox Jones

I have returned to Westminster after a six-week sabbatical and I want to thank you for the gift of time to rest, read and reflect. Also, many thanks to Sudie and Jill for their leadership while I was away. I hope you saw or listened to the sermons from the “I am” passages in the Gospel of John.

Next Seven Days

TONIGHT: The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

Thursday, September 9, 7 PM on Zoom

The Poor People’s Campaign is not letting up! From National Moral Mondays and the Mass Moral Motorcade on Manchin, to the upcoming Make Good Trouble rally in Washington D.C., the Rev. Dr. William Barber, II and the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis are leading the fight on poverty and interlocking injustices. Come hear Alyssa Bradley explain how Delawareans support this national movement and are building local capacity to demand change at all levels of government. Hosted by Westminster’s Peace & Justice Work Group.

JOIN US ON ZOOM

Zoom Meeting ID: 860 2752 1655

Reconnect with Your Family of Faith This Sunday!

Sunday, September 12, 10 AM on the church lawn

Westminster’s Membership & Evangelism (M&E) Committee is sponsoring a “Homecoming Celebration” on the church lawn this Sunday (rain date is September 19). Join us to engage with members in person and learn about all the wonderful things going on at Westminster for adults and children alike, and how you can get involved in the Westminster community! There will be a sticker hunt for children starting at the M&E table, 9-square for youth, as well as refreshments and snacks. We hope to see you there!

The Prayground

Sundays at 9 AM in Community Hall

Come to The Prayground and worship while you wiggle! The newest innovation by our education team, The Prayground is a specially designed worship space for families with children who listen best when they have room to move and create freely. In Community Hall, kids can color, play quiet games, tumble, and ribbon-dance to the service hymns as the live-streamed service plays on the projector screen. Parents of course can join in on the fun, or sit comfortably and follow along. Masking will be required. Space is limited to 10 families, so please sign-up ahead of time.

Yarn Drive to Benefit Friendship House

Sundays in September

Westminster youth member Lily Holmes is completing a community service project for her senior year in high school. Lily will be knitting scarves to be donated to Friendship House in conjunction with our winter glove drive. If you have extra balls of yarn you’d like to donate, Lily will have labeled donation boxes at the 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue entrances on Sundays in September.

Chimes Deadline Reminder

Monday, September 13, 11 AM

The deadline for the OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021 issue of our newsletter, The Westminster Chimes, is Monday, September 13, at 11 AM. Please submit your articles online. Go to www.wpc.org/communications and click on "Submit an Article." If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Hughes (nhughes@wpc.org or 302-654-5214 ext. 130).

Midweek Manna Bible Study

Wednesdays at 12 noon (resumed September 8) on Zoom

This fall, the Midweek Manna Bible Study, facilitated by the Rev. Sudie Niesen Thompson, will explore the genre of the Hebrew Short Story by reading three Old Testament novellas: Ruth, Jonah, and Esther. In addition to being sacred texts with important theological themes, these works are also great stories! Join us weekly on Zoom and spend some time with Ruth, Jonah, Esther and other compelling figures from the Old Testament. If you would like to be added to the email list, please contact Sudie at sniesenthompson@wpc.org.

JOIN US ON ZOOM

TED Talk and Discussion: “Living While Black”

Thursday, September 16, 7 PM on Zoom

A black child who mowed part of the wrong yard, a black family eating at Subway, an 8-year-old girl selling bottled water, a woman using the private pool in her gated community, a trio of filmmakers staying in an Airbnb, or a group of black women on a golf course. Join us as we watch and discuss a profound, thought-provoking and often hilarious TED Talk by Baratunde Thurston as he reveals the power of language to change stories of trauma into stories of healing – while challenging us all to level up. Hosted by Westminster’s Peace & Justice Work Group.

JOIN US ON ZOOM

Zoom Meeting ID: 860 2752 1655

Coming Up

Men’s Fellowship Group

Reconvenes Saturday, September 18, 9 – 10:30 AM in the Club Room

The Men's Fellowship group had taken a break for the summer and is expected to resume on Saturday, September 18, from 9 – 10:30 AM. Coffee and refreshments provided. For more information, contact Bill Francis at williamfrancis28555@gmail.com.

LCS Walk/Run

Saturday, September 18, 9 AM, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd

Join us for the annual walk/run for Lutheran Community Services, one of our local mission partners. Visit lcsde.org to sign up. Contact Gill Timon at (302) 893-3278 if you have any questions. See you there!

Psalms Alive Returns this Fall

Come worship, jump, and jive with Psalms Alive! This innovative and custom-made program combines worship and music education elements into a God-focused music program, specially designed for collaborative family engagement. Using the psalm from the lectionary, families explore rhythm, melody, and music notation in a fun and highly interactive way. The program will take place on Sundays at 10:15 AM in Grace Hall in a socially distanced fashion. Due to space constraints, participation is limited to 8 families only. Registration is open through September 19; programming starts on October 3.

Sanctuary Flowers Needed

Dates available September through December

Consider giving the flowers for Sunday worship to remember or honor loved ones or to celebrate an event, while expressing praise and thanksgiving to God. Please contact Linda Watson during business hours at (302) 571-6719 or lwatson@ycst.com. Available dates are September 19, October 31, November 28, December 12 and 19.

Family Promise Pathway Home Breakfast

Tuesday, September 28, 8 – 9 AM

Join Family Promise supporters (masked) for a “WATCH PARTY BREAKFAST” in Classroom 6 or stay at home in your jammies and Zoom. Your choice! Either way, sign up for the Annual Pathway to Home Celebration from 8-9 AM on Tuesday, September 28. A continental breakfast will be served in Classroom 6 beginning at 7:30 AM before tuning in to the Family Promise video. We’ll hear inspiring stories from Family Promise “graduates” who have found their way from homeless situations to permanent housing and hope. Contact Marlys Kerr (marlyskerr@aol.com) to register for either WATCH PARTY or HOME ZOOM.

Bible Box is Back This Fall!

October 3 – November 19

Bible Box is back again for another semester of stories, crafting, and fun. Each child enrolled in this virtual and interactive Sunday School experience will receive a special Bible Box containing all crafting and supplies needed for each lesson. Whenever your family would like to do a lesson, simply go to our YouTube channel and follow along with Ms. Alexis. This program will run from October 3 through November 19. Submit a new registration form online to sign back up for the current semester.

Featured Photo

Photo Throwback!

Long-time Westminster members Jeanne Checkel and Cora Sparling bring out donuts for the Holy Toast Café (September 2018).

News to Note

WPC Bazaar

Once again our annual bazaar is being postponed until a better time due to concerns about the potential for exposure to the COVID or Delta variant virus. 2021 is a 100-year milestone since the first bazaar in 1921. It has been an exciting event for generations and a greatly appreciated service to our community. Schermer Pecans in Georgia have been our longtime faithful supplier of pecans and can still be ordered directly by individuals. This message is sent with huge gratitude to hundreds of people who have made our bazaar possible for so many years.

Westminster Bazaar 2018

New Stock Transfer Instructions

Donations of appreciated stock can be advantageous from a tax perspective. The church sells the stock and will apply the average value on the date of the transfer toward your pledge or donation. Our instructions to transfer stock have recently changed. If you are planning to donate stock to pay a pledge or make a contribution, please instruct your broker to transfer the stock to:

Wilmington Advisors @ M&T

Clearing Firm: LPL Financial

DTC #: 0075

Account Name: Westminster Presbyterian Church

Account Number: 48891899

Also, please contact Colleen Falasco, Director of Financial Operations, at cfalasco@wpc.org or (302) 654-5214 ext. 131 with the details of your donation.

Have You Seen our September Newsletter?

In the September 2021 issue of our newsletter, The Westminster Chimes, we share some new information about unique ministries that serve others near and far in very specific ways, small groups in our church family that faithfully come together for fellowship, and other tidbits of inspiration, celebration, community, and friendship. Check it out!

VIEW ONLINE

DOWNLOAD PDF

Sunday Worship COVID Policy

Given the level of transmission in New Castle County, we are strongly encouraging everyone – including those who are fully-vaccinated – to wear masks at all times while in the building, in accordance with current CDC guidance.

If you are fully vaccinated and comfortable going without a mask, please sit in the front part of the sanctuary and the side transepts. These sections are open seating and mask optional for fully vaccinated people. Please access these sections via the lectern-side transept door off the main hallway.
If you are not vaccinated or choose to wear a mask, you will be able to social distance in the back part of the sanctuary and balcony. Masks must be worn at all times in these sections. Please access these sections through the Narthex (behind the screen at the rear of the sanctuary).
Ushers at both entrances will be masked and available to direct you to the proper section.
Everyone is required to wear a mask when entering or exiting the sanctuary. This is for the well-being of those who are not vaccinated.
If you have children too young to be vaccinated, you are welcome to worship in the sanctuary, but we have also created a safe, kid-friendly space. We are calling it the Prayground. This worship space is in Community Hall. We livestream our worship service into Community Hall and provide materials to help young children engage in worship. Masking (for those over age 2) and social distancing is required.

Photo Prayer

The Westminster Weekly Word features a new Photo Prayer once a month. You may browse all Photo Prayers by Danny Schweers at any time by visiting www.photoprayer.com.