Friday Newsletter

April 28, 2023

From the Pastor's Desk

Dear friends and members,

Last week during our time of confession I led us through an acknowledgment of ways our communication with one another had seen an increase in accusations and unkind words in the previous week. While I was referring to specific incidents (of which those involved have already been hard at work doing repair and understanding), it offers all of us a good opportunity to reflect on what words are coming out of our mouths and if they are more harmful than not. I hope you’ve had a chance to do some reflecting as have I. After worship last week, a number of folks asked if I was referring to them. This is such a sign of health in a church family! So many members and friends willing to examine themselves and make amends as needed is the best thing that can happen in a faith community. A couple of you offered apologies for incidents that I was not referring to but by doing so strengthened the Westminster family. To you, we say thank you! This “spirituality of imperfection” fosters a congregational culture where we can try, fall, amend, and try again. Who of us, after all, isn’t a perpetual beginner on this journey of life and growth? See you on Sunday for our time of ‘creative confession’ again.

Ever onward,

Pastor Kelly

This Sunday

Worship Service: 10 am

with Sunday School and nursery care

Coffee Hour: following service

Youth Bowling: 2-4 pm

High School Youth Group

Worship Notes

Sunday Music Spotlight

As we traverse through this post-Easter season, moving towards Pentecost, we are becoming more familiar with our new song, “Draw the Circle Wide.” Whoever you are and wherever you are, this song affirms that there is a place in God’s and Westminster's circle for everyone! Read more about the text and genesis of this song here.

Participate

Bring a beloved pet to receive a blessing from Pastor Kelly at our Blessing of the Animals Service on Saturday, April 29, at 10 am in the lower parking lot. Pets of all kinds or photographs welcome. Invite friends and neighbors.

Sunday, May 7, will be Salem for Refugees Sunday at Westminster. The Adult Ed Committee has invited Emily Boatwright to share information about this nonprofit with which we are partnering to rent the Winola House.

Why and how was S4R developed?

How does the Winola House help it meet its goals?

What services are provided now, and what are up-coming plans?

She will welcome questions after the service during coffee hour.

**If you have a favorite food to share that originated in another country, please bring samples to the coffee hour.

May 7 is also Crown Day, the Sunday to celebrate that we live in a nation where we are all royalty. So... wear that tiara, top hat, crown, fascinator, hat, fancy jewels, morning coat, tails, or whatever finery you might have worn if your coronation invitation hadn't been lost in the mail (British Mail). After digging in the Westminster vault, a few crowns and jewels will be available for those folks who can't find Great Aunt Ethel's stash.

Women's Night Out is Monday, May 8, at 6 pm at Olive Garden (1302 Lancaster Dr NE). Please RSVP by May 7 to Chris Duval (971-218-0361 or duval15@comcast.net).

It's the time of year to send notes of encouragement to our college age students! Please take a moment to sign the cards in the narthex for each of our college age students and military members. We are also accepting gift cards for Starbucks, Dutch Bros, McDonalds, Taco Bell (or any fast food chain) to include with the cards to our students. Please leave gift cards in Vik's box in the main office. Cards will be available to sign through mid-May! Thank you for your support of our youth!

RSVP to Families Lunch on May 21, 11:30-1:00. Lunch served to all, then kids' activities and infant care available during adult program time. Youth are invited to go roller-skating (RSVP separately here.)

Sunday's Tech Crew Needs You! Do you want to learn more about how our service runs “behind the veil?” Can you give us a hand sometimes if we offer training? Learning new things is good for brain development, and we need help, so who will answer this call? Our tech team needs more hands to help make things run as smoothly as we’d like on Sunday mornings. Contact the church office (503-364-3327 or office@salemwestpres.org), or Jeffrey (music@salemwestpres.org), or Lucy if you want to explore whether this is something you might help with. WE NEED YOU!!!!

Thank you, The Worship Committee

Save the Date

Red Cross Blood Drive: May 22, 1-6 pm (more details below!)

Vacation Bible Camp: 6/26-6/30 for current Kindergarteners-5th graders. Register here or pick up a form in the narthex.

FYI

Access the full church calendar here.

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

The Scripture text for Sunday worship (and Pastor's Bible Study) is departing from the narrative lectionary for the next several weeks. We will be staying in Acts as we continue to "draw the circle wide. Texts are as follows:

In the Community

You're invited to attend Interfaith Advocacy Day on May 10 at St. Mark's Lutheran. There is power in knowledge and strength in numbers. Attend issue briefs and workshops on advocating for compassionate legislation (9am-12pm) followed by meetings with state legislators. Talking points and legislative appointments will be provided. Issues addressed are Climate & Environment, Criminal Justice Reform & Gun Violence Prevention, Healthcare, Housing & Homelessness, Hunger, Immigration & Refugees. Registration required by today, April 28.

Pastor Kelly will be offering the opening invocation at 10:30am on May 4, 2023 at the Oregon State Capitol.

Thanks

Sheila Powell wishes to thank everyone for the prayers, support and cards she received during her husband Tom's illness & passing.

Prayers

Maggie Sather who has an upcoming procedure to remove a cancerous lesion
Ron and Trish Hanna, as Trish's health continues to decline.
Celebrating with Doug and Janet White for 64 years of marriage on Sunday

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

Give

Nancy MacMorris-Adix, board chair of Family Building Blocks, invites us to participate in their 14th Annual Diaper Drive. The most urgent need is for sizes 4-7, including pull-ups, and wipes. Correction from last week--you can drop these items off in the tub in the church narthex through the end of April!

Greetings Westminster Friends! Once again the American Red Cross is hosting a blood donation drive at Westminster on May 22, 2023. Thank you so much for your life-affirming donations in the past. Please join with other Westminster members and the Salem community by rolling up your sleeves and pitching in! You can be as altruistic as you have always wanted to be! There are still many appointment spots available between 1:15pm and 5:15pm, so please give us a call soon to pick your spot. We also need folks to give the "Power Red" or "Double Red" where one gives two units of red cells and gets BACK ALL your plasma and platelets (plus some saline solution)! You will feel more hydrated and often less tired after that donation. To get scheduled you can use the Red Cross blood donor app or email or call Bill Nelson at bnelson@pacificomm.net or (503) 576-1278, or Pam Garland at (503) 551-2998. Thank you, and let's keep Westminster the premier church blood donation site in Salem!! All the best to you, Bill Nelson

Fabric Donations needed

Are you a collector of fabric? Do you see beautiful fabric and buy it to use in a future project? Do I have the project for you!

Here is the story:

In August of 2021, at just a month shy of 4-years old, Olivia was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on a Tuesday night in the Emergency Room at OHSU. At around 1 am, they transferred us to the 10th floor of Doernbecher to the Hematology-Oncology In-Patient Unit. On her bed was a hand made Frozen-themed pillowcase, a homemade fleece blanket, and a stuffed animal. In a very terrifying time for all of us, it was a comfort for her to see something friendly and welcoming. Most of our in-patient visits, Olivia is welcomed with a new pillowcase on the bed when she gets admitted and she brings them home to use and share with her sister. Sometimes there aren't enough to go around and she brings one from home from a previous visit. Small joys like these make her stays at Doernbecher a little easier on her and a lot easier on us when she starts them with a smile. While she continues her treatment through the end of this year, we are happy to share our love and appreciation for Doernbecher by encouraging the sewing community to make pillowcases to bring smiles to kids' faces on the hardest of days.

Olivia is the granddaughter of my friend, Sheri Bond. Sheri taught Home Economics at Sprague. It is Sheri's goal to make 100 pillowcases for Doernbecher to celebrate Olivia becoming cancer free next December. I thought Westminster could help her out.

Here is the plan:

1. Bring your cotton or flannel fabric in one yard (or more) lengths or 1/3 to ½ yard trim fabric to church and drop them in the designated box in the Narthex.

2. After the fabric is collected and sorted there will be an after church event where the fabric is cut and organized into projects. The pillowcases may be sewn at church or taken home.

Each pillowcase will have an extra amount of love added to it to promote healing.

All donated fabric will find a home.

Thank you for your donations and future sewing! And, prayers for Olivia.

Mary Snethen

Westminster Presbyterian Church

3737 Liberty Rd. S

Salem, OR 97302

PHONE: 503-364-3327

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