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Friday Newsletter

July 19, 2024

This Sunday

9 am: Summer Study: There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit Filling You with God's Love

10 am: Worship Service in Boulder Hall

11:15 am: Coffee Hour


Nursery care available.

The Plethora of Plenty officially starts this Sunday, July 21! Feel free to bring your garden bounty to share with your church friends and check it out while you're here to see if there's something you can use! There is a table set up in the narthex on the left side of the Boulder Hall doors. We will continue this summer tradition each Sunday during our weeks of worship in Boulder Hall.  

From the Pastor's Desk


There are a number of important events coming up in the life of Westminster that I want to encourage you to attend:


  1. ALL-FAMILY ZOOM call on July 22, 2024 @ 7pm (more details below, use the Bible Study link on the homepage). Come hear about a number of things that are afoot and decisions to be made for Infant-Children-Youth ministry this fall. Parents & Guardians – we want to hear from you! Please attend.
  2. REV. BRUCE REYES-CHOW is coming to Westminster Saturday, Aug 10 from 10a-2p. Bruce is a dynamo! He will lead Westminster through a conversation aimed at inspiring the congregation to become a more vocal and significant presence in the city advocating for well-being, inclusion and a thriving community for all. You can hear his podcasts or order his books here Bruce Reyes-Chow | Building Community Since 1969 (Read even more about him below). 
  3. Our youth & young adults return from their New Orleans mission on July 20 and the second group of youth & young adults depart for their mission trip to Puerto Rico on July 27. Offer a word of encouragement or gratitude if you get a chance plus pray for safe travels.

 

22 Days until Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow arrives at Westminster…

Bruce is a writer, speaker, pastor and podcaster and has served Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) since 1995. In 2018, he was the youngest moderator ever elected at 39 years old when he was selected by the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) to lead and represent the denomination. Prior to that, from 2000-2011, Bruce served as the founding pastor of Mission Bay Community Church in San Francisco, CA and formerly blogged for the religion, parenting, and technology sections of The Huffington Post (2011–2015), the Christians section for Patheos (2011–2014) and the City Brights on SFGate (2009–2012), the online publication for the San Francisco Chronicle. In his latest book, Everything Good About God Is True, he encourages each congregation to consider that “we can no longer abdicate the Christian story to hate, violence, and oppression. Those of us who occupy this more loving, just, and extended version of the Christian story must do a better job of claiming, articulating, and speaking the heck up.” Mark your calendars – you won’t want to miss him!

 

Peace,

Pastor Kelly

From Your Session


Your Westminster Session met for their monthly stated meeting on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Russell Hall. Visitors attending session this month were Michael Wood, Bill Foster, Nancy Crawford, Marcia Poehler and Pamela Schmidling. Motions were passed to elect Lucy Foster and Steve Kandra as Presbytery delegates for one year and to approve a Fall Festival sponsored by Outreach in September. The purposes of the Fall Festival are: (1) to showcase the ministries, activities and partnerships of WPC and (2) for members of the congregation to find points of attachment to the life of the church. 


On June 23, 2024, two representatives of Building & Grounds met with Gregorio Ulloa, and Antonia, wife of Pastor Margarito Barrera and Ziola, translator, representatives of a 40-member Spanish speaking congregation who are seeking space to worship. They are meeting in someone’s home right now. This could be an exciting opportunity to make new friends and practice Matthew 25 in our community. Session will meet again on August 21.


Session Clerk, Sandy McLean

Looking Ahead


June 25-August 20: Tuesday Bible Study (10:30 am)

July 7-August 25: Sunday Morning Worship in Boulder Hall 

July 7, 14, 21 @ 9 am: Summer Study: There's a Sweet, Sweet, Spirit Filling Us with God's Love

July 13-20: Youth New Orleans Mission Trip

July 22, 1-6 pm: Red Cross Blood Drive

July 22 @ 7 pm: All Family Zoom Call hosted by Vik & Pastor Kelly

July 27-August 9: Youth Puerto Rico Mission Trip

August 10: Weekend event with Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow

August 11 & 18 @ 11:30 am: All Family Gatherings

August 26-August 30: Vacation Bible Camp


Access the full church calendar here. To add or correct something, please email office@salemwestpres.org.

FYI


Some of you received emails "from Pastor Kelly" this week that were actually scams. The easiest way to tell is to check the actual email address (not just the name). If it's from Pastor Kelly it will be from her @salemwestpres.org email address. And remember, she will not ask for money or gift cards via email. Thanks for your vigilance!


The Ironman race is happening this Sunday morning, impacting Riverfront Park, parts of Commercial St S, and River Road. So plan ahead to take an alternative route to church if needed and give yourselves some extra time! Here's a link to the maps and a detailed traffic impact document.

HELLO WESTMINSTER FAMILIES! 

 

There are some important decisions happening in our infant-children-youth ministry area. Please mark your calendars:


  • 7/22 @ 7pm – All-Family Zoom call
  • 8/11 or 8/18 @ 11:30am – All-Family in-person session


The leadership at Westminster has been discerning some structural changes for the fall as well as some changes to our child protection policy. We are finding that in order to be successful in running our youth and children's programs, we need to have parents more involved in the planning and organization of our ministry together. We would like to invite all volunteers, families, and leadership to an All Family information session on July 22 at 7 PM via Zoom to learn more about what is in store and to weigh in with your thoughts. There will then be 2 in-person (mandatory) sessions to choose from, August 11th or August 18 at 11:30 AM at Westminster.


Our Next Generation program is blessed to serve both children and youth of the church and members of the community. We recognize that for some of you, this may be your first meeting as a parent. For some of you, participation may be second nature. We invite you all to come together with us as we discern and map out next and new steps for our youth and children! The end goal is for each of our volunteers and families to find a place of service that is enjoyable, matches your interests, allows for a healthy balance with other commitments, and prevents burnout. Many hands truly make light work and will make our programs possible! 


I look forward to seeing you all on Zoom on July 22 and/or at a discernment session in August. 

Here is the zoom link for this meeting: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87498739836?pwd=SE5xWWU5Z0c2OSsvVFhLakhDYVBsUT09

       Meeting ID: 874 9873 9836

       Passcode: 708267


Thank you for your support of your youth and your support of our programs! 

Opportunities


All are invited to attend the third and final discussion of our summer study: There's a sweet, sweet spirit filling us with God's love. This week's focus is the Ever Evolving Understanding of God's Love: Discernment through the Holy Spirit. Discussion Questions: If you feel comfortable sharing, was there ever a time that you stepped out in faith and were drawn deeper into your relationship with God? How do you think we discern God’s presence? How do you think we can, individually and collectively, discern God’s will and follow Jesus? How have these discussions changed, challenged or deepened your understanding of the Holy Spirit? The study takes place on Sunday, 7/21, at 9 am in Russell Hall.


Tuesday morning Bible studies continue (10:30 at the church) this summer. Michele Hare will lead the following: on July 16 and 23 viewings from The Chosen season 1 with discussion to follow and on July 30 a viewing of A Man Called Jon (being different is when God uses you the most) with discussion to follow. Anyone is welcome to join!

Give


The School Supply Drive is on! During the months of July and August, we are collecting basic school supplies for needy students in the community. Collection boxes have been set up in the Narthex for the following schools: Lee Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Miller Elementary, Scott Elementary, Wright Elementary, Leslie Middle School, and South Salem High School. All donations appreciated … paper, pencils, pens, markers, crayons, binders, calculators, etc. Thank you in advance for helping make this school supply drive a success.


Vacation Bible Camp is approaching and many kids are already signed up, but more plans still needs to be made! There will be a planning meeting next Wednesday, July 24, at 10:30am. If you want to be involved in the details of creating this experience for the kids, please join us on Wednesday. For those who would just like to help during the week of August 26-30, please let Terri Crall (tcrall71@gmail.com) know you are willing to volunteer. Together, we can create a fun and educational experience for our kids!

Thanks from Table of Plenty (open Thursdays 4:30-7:00 pm)

February marked the twenty-second year Table of Plenty has been in operation. In May we served 245 families, 973 people. These numbers represent a continuing need in our community. In May, volunteers generously put in over 300 hours of their time to make this happen.


We are so grateful for all the food donations from Westminster Presbyterian. They really help offset costs. Because food prices have risen so much, we are now often spending more than is being deposited into our account. In May alone, we spent $2,892.92 more than what was donated.


Thank you to all who support this ministry, and we pray that you will continue your generous donations of food and/or money. Canned fruits, vegetables, small jars of peanut butter, chili, ravioli, soup, pasta, cereal, and miscellaneous surprises are always welcome!


Blessings to all!

Julie Rohwer

In the Community


Friday Nights for the Future: a Summer Heatwave Film Festival


Everyone is invited - 7 pm on Friday, July 12, for the first film of the summer.


1st Congregational UC 

700 Marion St. NE

Parking lot and entrance are south of the church.

Refreshments and discussion follows the film viewing.


No registration required.


Sponsored by Salem Environmental Faith Network, for which WPC is on the steering committee.

Westminster Presbyterian Church

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3737 Liberty Rd. S 

Salem, OR 97302

PHONE: 503-364-3327

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