May 6, 2022
Friends and fellow disciples,
My goodness, the pace of the world sure is picking up, isn't it?
As things speed up, it becomes more important to ground yourself in weekly worship. We are called to worship, to praise the God who made us, listen to the Christ who speaks to us, and attend to the Holy Spirit who accompanies us. If you don't work your way back into the habit now, it will only become more difficult as more time goes by. Plus, when you aren't here, we miss you! The community is stronger when we are all in this, together.
A critical part of Westminster's ministry is how we are connected to the rest of the Durham community. One of our most important partners, Housing for New Hope, builds and manages affordable housing in Durham and offers supportive services to its residents. I don't have to tell any of you how valuable land is in a place like Durham and how expensive it can be to call this place home. But Durham must be able to be home for everyone, and Housing for New Hope is on the front lines helping to make that happen. Many WPC members have supported their work through time and money for many years, and I presently serve on their board. Their relatively new (three years) executive director, the Rev. Russ Pierce, is a gifted leader and a friend. He'll preach on this Sunday, May 8, and I hope you'll be in worship to hear how things are going and our call to serve.
See you on Sunday!
Chris
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Sunday, May 8 – Fourth Sunday of Easter
9:30am Nursery for Infants and Toddlers
9:45am Generations in Faith Together: "Celebrate!" All ages are invited to create paper flowers and sunflower seed cards for loved ones and to begin a community art project: Prayer Doves for Peace. Meet up in the Fellowship Hall!
9:45am Adult Church School Classes
10:15am Chancel Choir Warm-Up
11:00am Worship in the Sanctuary and on YouTube with guest preacher Russ Pierce of Housing for New Hope
Westminster This Week – Quick Links
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Memorial Services at Westminster
- Barbara Rynerson: Saturday, May 14, at 1:00pm
- John Lane: Saturday, May 21, 12:00pm
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Aperture: Dr. Brian Murray on Caring for the Environment
May 11 at 7:00pm, In-person or on Zoom
As people of faith, we believe that God created this world, called it good, and told humans to care for it. 86% of Presbyterians say we need to take action now to reduce the pollution that is causing climate change. Join us for our next Aperture as Dr. Brian Murray, Director of the Nicholas Institute/Duke Energy Initiative, shares policies and actions that can lead to the protection, care, and access for all of creation. You may participate in the conversation in person or via Zoom. Register now
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New Date for Nasher Museum Tour
Join us on a guided tour of the new Nasher Museum exhibit, "Reckoning and Resilience: North Carolina Art Now" on Saturday, May 14, 11:00am. The tour will be led by WPC's own resident art historian, Ruth Caccavale. We'll gather for lunch at the Nasher Cafe afterward. Bring a friend and sign up now!
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Help Families Moving Forward Rock the Block on Saturday, May 21
Families Moving Forward (FMF), a WPC community partner, is organizing Rock the Block on Saturday, May 21, 9:00am-3:00pm, to take care of long overdue maintenance on its house and grounds. The pandemic has been hard on the building – families have been confined to their rooms for quarantine, and volunteers haven't been able to come on campus until very recently.
There are opportunities to work at Rock the Block and donate supplies and funds to help purchase needed materials. Volunteer projects will include painting the hallways, staining the fence and porch, mulching and landscaping, and organizing donations. Also needed are volunteers with a medical background to work at the first aid station and check vaccination cards. Other serving opportunities include helping with kids’ activities, serving food, and staffing the street barricades. Volunteers must be 18 years or older, but everyone is welcome to attend. There will be food, live music, activities for kids, and a celebration of service!
If you’d like to lend or donate any gently used items such as painting supplies (roller handles, paintbrushes, drop cloths, etc.) buckets, wheelbarrows, tables and chairs that can be set up outside, or anything else on the Rock the Block wishlist, feel free to drop them off at FMF (300 N Queen St). If you’d like to donate money to go toward paint, stain, mulch, gravel, plants, and other major orders, click here.
Sign up to volunteer! Follow the steps below to register:
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New Volunteers with FMF: Create an account in CERVIS, our volunteer registration system, by clicking this link. Activate your account by confirming your email, then follow the steps below.
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Past/Current FMF Volunteers: Choose the time of day you'd like to volunteer and click the shift sign-up link below. Update your profile account information. Then sign up for the task you wish to complete such as painting, landscaping, staining, or organizing donations.
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May 21, 9:00am - 12:00pm: Morning Shift Sign-Ups
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May 21, 12:00pm - 3:00pm: Afternoon Shift Sign-Ups
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Summer Choir Welcomes You!
Summer Choir runs from May 29-September 4, rehearsing only on Sunday mornings at 9:00am to prepare music for the 10:00am worship service. We meet in the Music Room, on the upper floor of the Mission Center (just above the parlor), and all are welcome to join in! Regularity, though always encouraged, is not expected or required. Instead, Summer Choir operates on a come-as-you-are-when-you-can basis. Make this the summer to give choir a try by singing whenever your schedule allows. Bring family members and friends with you. Children are welcome too, but those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult throughout. What an excellent way to sample choral singing, and what a rewarding way to have a meaningful impact on Westminster’s worship life this summer! We look forward to welcoming you. Questions? Call or email Monica Rossman – 919-489-4974, ext. 113; monica@wpcdurham.org.
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Registration Open for Wild Wonder: A Rocha Creation Care Camp
July 11 - 15, 9:00am-12:00pm
Children (rising K-6th grade) are invited to a week of outdoor fun immersed in the wonders of God's created world. Through daily devotions, nature study, and play, campers will learn that all of God's works are good and that they themselves are beloved creations. Registration is limited - reserve your spot now!
Why is it called “MissionX”? You might have fond memories of Vacation Church School or maybe you called it Vacation Bible School. And you and your children have likely attended summer camp. MissionX includes the great things that make VBS and summer camps unique. It takes the Christian and the outreach aspects intended by most VBSes and also incorporates the fun and active outdoors aspects of many summer camps. It then infuses the whole week with a strong emphasis on serving God, our community, and our world – making it a Mission eXperience eXtravaganza! Check out photos from last summer's MissionX fun!
And why is it called “Wild Wonder: A Rocha's Creation Care Camp”? A Rocha USA is a national community of Christians working in biodiversity conservation to protect and restore vulnerable habitats, species, and communities. Their key areas of work in the US are marine conservation, climate action, and habitat preservation. There are A Rocha organizations around the world; this Creation Care Camp is one of their resources to help children, parents, and churches get outside to spark their imaginations as they learn about God and explore the world around them.
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