From the Pastor's Desk

We are kicking off this new fall season with Sanctuary: Finding Refuge for our Minds inspired by this reflection from the Irish poet John O’Donohue:

Your identity is not equivalent to your biography. There is a place in you where you have never been wounded…where there’s a seamlessness in you, and where there is a confidence and tranquility in you. The intention of prayer and spirituality and love is now and again to visit that inner kind of sanctuary. -John O’Donohue

We will unearth a different piece of our psychic health each week as we increase our fluency in what it means to find that ‘inner kind of sanctuary.’ “But Pastor Kelly,” you might ask, “this sounds like mental health?” Yes, that’s right! Anytime a group of people undergo great stressors (covid, violence, environmental, personal) there is some mental health housekeeping that, when pursued, can be of great service in re-establishing equilibrium among the people. We are a society experiencing much disequilibrium and the church is not immune from those forces. Read more about the mental health crisis in Oregon here.

When we look at our own spiritual history, we see that Theo-ology (Study of God) and Psych-ology (Study of Psyche/Soul/Mind) are like twin disciplines. They mutually inform one another and the more we are educated about one the more we can speak to the other.

I’ll see you on Sunday.

Ever onward,

Pastor Kelly

Participate

Please join us for the Youth Mission Dinner on Sunday from 6-7 PM. Even if you haven't RSVP'd, just show up! We'll have plenty of homemade spaghetti and meatballs for you and the youth can't wait to share all about their mission trip and city camp with you!

Men's Night Out is Tuesday, September 19 at 6 pm at The Ram. RSVP to John.M.Dalen@gmail.com.

Volunteers needed for Westminster Festival of Fine Arts. The Festival will be held October 12-15, but set-up begins October 8. Several types of roles and many hands go into making this wonderful community event a reality. Sign up in the narthex or here.

Come join the Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesdays from 10:30-11:30am. We will be reading through the Narrative Lectionary Year 2. Everyone is welcome.  

Go Deeper

Considering becoming a member at Westminster or interested in learning more about being Presbyterian? Join the new members' class meeting October 8 and 15, 11:30-1:00. RSVP to the church office (office@salemwestpres.org) or talk to Pastor Kelly or Katie Nelson.

Want to contribute musically at WestPres? If you are a vocalist or instrumentalist and are interested in being on the worship team, please reach out to Ariana Recher (ariana@salemwestpres.org) or Jeffrey Larkin (music@salemwestpres.org) for more details on rehearsals and Sunday service!

The Outreach Committee is looking for a few more volunteers to be on the Greeter/Welcome Desk Team. If you enjoy smiling and being the first friendly face that welcomes others as they enter our narthex Sunday morning, then this opportunity is for you! Most greeters sign up monthly on a rotation basis. Training provided. Please contact Katie Nelson, 503-580-5631 (text) or nelsonkatieallstar@gmail.com.

Leadership Corner

Save the date!

Leadership Lab (Winter)

Wed, Nov 8 @ 6:30pm

For all Committee chairs, team leaders & staff

And a great video about the church in 2023:

What’s Really Causing Church Decline and What We Can Do About It - Faith+Lead

As we all regather after summer, there is a lot happening at the church! Committee chairs and ministry leaders, please take a moment to make sure you've communicated with the church office (krisha@salemwestpres.org) about dates/times of meetings and other events, including what space in the building you prefer to use. And keep your eyes open for a new calendar system coming in the next few months. Check the current church calendar for accuracy here.  

Save the Date

September 24: Youth Collective Kick-Off

September 24: Budget & Finance Update

September 25: Red Cross Blood Drive

October 12-15: Fine Arts Festival

October 22: Stewardship Pancake Breakfast

October 25: Trunk or Treat

November 12: Stewardship Hoedown Luncheon

In the Community

Salem Pastoral Counseling Center invites us to attend a lunch and presentation on Suicide Prevention and Intervention 101 on September 20. RSVP required. More info and sign up here.

Women are invited to join with other women from around the Presbytery for a fall gathering on September 30 right here in Keizer at John Knox. More info and sign up sheet here.

FYI

Keeping Our Church Clean and Attractive--Buildings and Grounds would like to remind everyone that it is good stewardship to leave an occupied area of the church in as good or better condition as it was found. Please do your part by cleaning and tidying properly after use--we do not have daily custodial staff, and it is up to us to make sure the space remains usable for everyone.

Please contact a ministry chair or staff member before bringing material donations to the church. We often don't have space to accommodate donations, so check first!

This year, the youth group is beginning to organize with other like-minded area youth groups to form the Salem Youth Collective. It is our goal to be a welcoming and nurturing environment for all youth grades 6-12 in Salem. In the future, we hope this will be a group of youth and leaders who will come together for activities and share responsibilities in planning and organization.

Access the entire church calendar here.  

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

Pray

Ian, a 40-ish father of two and son of very good friends of Rachelle Hughes, has just been diagnosed with glioblastoma (aggressive brain cancer).

Pray for the current family in Winola House. Hanaa contacted us wishing to find a permanent home soon. They and Salem For Refugees are looking for a place for them, but please pray and if you know of anything available, please contact the church office (503-364-3327), and we will put you in touch with them. They are looking in South Salem, preferably for a detached house with two or three bedrooms, for $2000 or under including utilities.

**If you would like a written prayer included in Sunday's worship bulletin or here, please email or call the church office (503-364-3327) or fill out the prayer request form on the website by Thursday at 10 am each week.

Give

The process for donating bottles and cans to the youth group is changing. Please do not drop off your bottles and cans at the church anymore. Instead, pick up a blue bottle drop bag in the main office. Fill this to capacity and drop off at any Bottle Drop Location in Salem. If there are no blue bags in the office, contact Vik to order more. Thank you for helping us free up some storage in the youth room and also for supporting our youth missions through your bottles and cans! 

Give blood September 25 (1:00 pm to 6:00 pm). As always to schedule your appointment, contact Bill Nelson at bnelson@pacificomm.net or (503) 576-1278 or Pam Garland at (503) 551-2998.

Westminster Presbyterian Church