Update from the Covid Operations Committee
Our Masks, Vaccinations, and Music: Balancing Our Spiritual and Physical Health

Last week we shared in worship our thinking about the twists and turns of our time with Covid. Many are vaccinated against this virus, but our entire community is not where we need to be. Our children do not yet have that opportunity. As we’ve regathered to be the church for our fellow members and our community, we’ve kept our masks on as we come together in the Sanctuary and our other campus buildings. We’ve completed the attendance forms and mingled with each other at comfortable distances. Things seemed to be slowly trending in a safer direction.

With the rise of the Delta variant of Covid and the recently updated health guidance nationally and locally, maintaining safe practices is as important as ever. As we do them, we care for each other, and we get to worship with each other in even more spiritual ways. 

We had approved a plan for congregational singing and expanding the choir, but we have paused those initiatives for now. We will be in conversation with the Session this week about the continued uncertainty. One shift we believe is important right now is to become a fully-masked campus once again. For the past few weeks we have worn masks indoors and less outside, but we feel the need to be more cautious once again.

As always, the Covid Operations Committee, supported by the Session, is seeking to actively balance the needs of our physical and spiritual health and will continue to evaluate our collective options in maintaining both. While the Delta variant is an increasing threat to everyone’s health, especially those not yet vaccinated, we believe the threat 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.

So, if you’re feeling healthy, bring your good judgment, bring and wear your masks properly indoors and out, and bring your appreciation for each other’s spiritual and physical well-being, and join us Sundays as we worship together.

Supporting Our Children’s Physical Health in WPC Activities

As we move forward, we’re also seeking to balance our children’s and youth’s spiritual and physical health. To ensure that balance, all paid direct caregivers (preschool teachers and nursery caregivers) have been required to be vaccinated since this spring. As we prepare for this fall and work through options for various children and youth activities, the Session has also approved a Covid committee-recommended volunteer caregiver vaccination policy. This updated policy, which became effective August 15, provides that all people, both volunteer and paid, must be fully vaccinated prior to providing direct childcare, including activity supervision. If you’re considering volunteering for child-related activities but are not yet vaccinated, we ask that you delay your service until another, non-Covid time. More details will be shared as specific activities are organized.
Westminster This Week – Quick Links

Worship at Westminster, August 22 & 29
Congregational Meeting on Sunday, August 22, 11:00am

We will have a brief meeting of the congregation this Sunday to receive a nominee for a new deacon for the Class of 2024, Sam Bryan, Jr. 
The Local Missions Committee surprised its chair, Mark Foskey (left photo, center), with a virtual thank-you. Mike Meyen (right photo, lower left), chair of the Connections Committee, also received a Zoom thank-you, complete with trumpet serenade by Jim Ketch. We are grateful to Mark and Mike for their great leadership over the past year!
SATURDAY is WPC Durham Bulls Night!

Who's ready for a Durham Bulls game? The Fellowship Committee hopes you are! Join us for WPC Durham Bulls Night on Saturday, August 21, at 6:30pm. Tickets are $14-15 each (depending on payment method). And yes, there will be fireworks after the game! Come and join your WPC friends for a long-overdue evening of fun, friendship, and baseball. Get your tickets now
SUNDAY: Blessing of the Backpacks

Join us for worship this Sunday, August 22, at 11:00am, as we offer blessings for the coming school year. Whether a student, an educator, or a member of the custodial or support staff, bring your backpack, digital device, water bottle, or anything else that symbolizes your school year. Receive a “Joy & Peace” sticker, along with a blessing and prayer to encourage you for the new school year.
Girl Scouts Registration Event August 28

Girl Scout Troop 1806 will hold its annual registration event on Saturday, August 28, 11:00am-2:00pm, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church (1200 W. Cornwallis Road, Durham). Troop 1806 has conditional openings for rising 1st-grade girls to form a Daisy Girl Scout patrol, up to six definite openings for rising 2nd-grade girls to join a Brownie Girl Scout patrol, and possible openings for girls rising 3rd grade through rising 5th grade. Any girls interested in joining Troop 1806 should email Chip Reinhardt for more information and details.
NEXT SUNDAY: Dedication of the New Fellowship Hall
August 29, During 11:00am Worship

The time has at last come to dedicate our wonderful new Fellowship Hall! Join us for in-person worship on Sunday, August 29, at 11:00am, as we give thanks for this new building and for the opportunities it offers us to better serve our community. Also on this date, we will ordain and install our Class of 2024 church officers, and give thanks for the Class of 2021 officers that are rotating off, having served faithfully these last three years. Unfortunately, we will not be able to broadcast the Fellowship Hall dedication or the ordination and installation of our officers on our YouTube live stream, so we are encouraging everyone who can come to campus and join us in-person for this special Sunday in the life of our church. We look forward to seeing you!
NEXT SUNDAY: Equipping Leaders: Called by God, Blessed to Serve
August 29, 9:00-10:45am, Fellowship Hall

We are excited to return to a new year of in-person learning and growing in our faith! Let’s prepare our hearts, our schedules, our curriculum, and our rooms by gathering together for this leader-equipping event. Please join us in the Fellowship Hall if you have answered God’s call to serve on one of the following ministry teams:
  • Sunday morning Church School groups for children, youth, and adults
  • Godly Play Storytellers or Greeters
  • Music with Preschool or Elementary-aged children
  • Confirmation 
We will begin with refreshments, biblical reflection, and long-range planning, then break into separate smaller groups for continued planning and classroom preparation. Register now

Child & Youth Protection Policy Training
Sunday, August 29. 12:30-1:30pm, Mission Center Room 204

Our Child & Youth Protection Policy for Preventing Sexual Abuse helps to protect children, youth, and the adults who care for them. Volunteers who wish to serve in our ministries for children and youth must complete Westminster’s Child & Youth Protection Policy Training and renew their training every three years. Please bring a bag lunch; drinks will be provided. Childcare will be offered by request. Register now