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News - News, March

Order Easter Spring Flowers

If you’d like to order an Easter Spring Flower in memory of or in honor of a loved one or friend, contact Barb Drain with your name and the dedication you would like listed in the bulletin. The cost this year is $15. Session also encourages those who wish to make a contribution to the Endowment Fund in memory or honor of a loved one or friend to do so; names will also be listed in bulletin. Orders will be taken through April 11.

Music Director Search Team Update

The Music Director Search Team, consisting of nine members and staff, has established regular meetings and is currently collecting and reviewing resumes for the Director of Music Ministry position. This job opening is posted on several church recruitment websites. Please encourage any interested parties to forward a complete CV to music@westminsterpc.org. We invite your prayers as we discern God's plan for this very special role in our congregation.  Our goal is to have a Director on board this summer who can work with the Personnel Committee to fill other positions such as an organist as he or she also prepares for the fall season. Questions? Contact CoChairs, Amy Flynn or Ed McFalls.

Register for the Global 6K for Water on World Water Day!

9 am - 12:30 pm May 22 • Stetson Middle School & Westminster OR wherever you are!!
Walk, run, or push a stroller with us to bring life-changing clean water and fullness of life to children in communities around the world. Participate whenever and wherever you are able on the 22nd as in years past. This is a great option if you are out of town, not quite ready for a large gathering, etc. BUT....we are hopeful you'll join us for the first ever in person event! Following the 6K at Stetson Middle School, there will be a party at church which includes snacks, ice cream truck, music, games, and just general fun and festivity! Each registration provides lasting clean water to a child! Click here to join or team and/or support our team. All registrations between Sunday, March 20 - Tuesday, March 22 are matched financially so the impact is doubled to celebrate World Water Day. Questions? Contact Jon Frost

Women's Retreat Registration Open!

This year we are holding our women’s retreat on site at Westminster. Women of all ages, 16 years and older, are invited to return this spring for one or two days of fellowship and spiritual renewal. This year's theme is Return to the Root: Renewing Our Inner Spirit. We invite women to join us as your schedule allows. Come for the full retreat on Friday and Saturday, or for Friday only, or for Saturday only. Click here to read more. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Jennie Clark.

Volunteer Opportunities at Westminster

Help with VBS
Contact Jill Reichert for more info or to signup
  • Decorating: Creating sanctuary decorations to set the atmosphere of Food Truck Party
  • Registration: Help create nametags, check-in lists, group lists & info ahead of time; staff check-in tables Fri afternoon & Sat morning
  • Preschool Leadership: Chair the preschool portion of VBS; teachers & leaders; helpers
  • Bible Storytelling: Helpers to work with station leader to tell each Bible story in drama.
  • Science Station: Station leader & helpers
  • Craft Station: Station leader & helpers
  • Lunch & Snack Leader: Kids will be bringing bagged lunches; pm snacks & drinks will be provided
  • Recreation: Station leader & helpers
  • Puppeteer DJ Cupcake: for opening & closing assemblies Friday & Saturday; possibly for Sunday 11 am worship, as well.
  • Group Guides (for Each Small Group): Responsible for one group, supervising and guiding them through their schedule.
  • Assembly Leader (the MC): The upfront person that runs the opening & closing assemblies; dialogues with DJ Cupcake.
  • Music Helpers: Work with music leaders to learn and lead songs, as well as song motions.
Join the AV Crew that Makes Live Stream Worship Happen
Our Sunday morning live stream doesn’t happen all by itself: it takes four AV technicians every week who control the cameras, audio, and video/written content. Would you like to be one of them? Contact Lynn George or Jon Frost for more info. 
Sunday Morning Childcare Helpers Needed
Families are coming back and that is AWESOME… and we are already at critical mass! We need you to continue to make it work. If we can get enough volunteers (about 16 - 8 for each worship service), each person could rotate onto the schedule about every six weeks. Clearances and COVID vaccination are required, but we can help you take care of that. Contact Jill Reichert for more info.
Become a KidsConnect Sunday School Teacher
In order to break apart into smaller groups from our current large group format (going towards the classes that we had pre-covid), we need teachers for those classes. Do you know how many volunteers that would take? About 14! We have a lot of kids on the rolls. You might think, “I like being with the kids and all, but I can’t teach.” You absolutely CAN! God equips whom God calls… and we are part of the way God equips you. We will give you the training, materials, and encouragement that you need to walk alongside an incredible group of young people. Clearances and COVID vaccination are required, but we can help you take care of that. Contact Jill Reichert for more info.

50 Volunteers Needed for Rise Against Hunger!

Join us for a meal packaging process that is safe and effectiveYou will work with small groups of volunteers and every family unit can work at their own individual packaging station. While the process looks different than other years, we are certain that we are able to provide a fun, and safe experience, while packaging over 30,000 mealsClick here to register or donate to help us package more meals. A $75 donation will pay for a box of meals that will feed a child for an entire school year! Questions? Contact Angela Emrich.

Save the Date: Vacation Bible School!

3:00-5:00 pm Fri. June 24, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Sat. June 25 & 11 am Sun. June 26
After two years of no in-person VBS, we are excited to welcome 20 preschoolers and 80 elementary children for a weekend of VBS fun! This year's theme is Food Truck Party, which will open kids' eyes to the countless ways God provides, loves, and cares for us while inviting them to join God in providing, loving, and caring for others. Through fun activities grounded in stories from both the Old and New Testaments, we will help children build on the practice of using daily prayer to turn to God for their needs. Registration opens after Easter. Volunteers needed (see more info below). Questions? Contact Jill Reichert

Summer Mission Experience

On July 5-9, 2022 we are spending five days with The Center in Baltimore, MD where we will work alongside local churches in serving residents in their neighborhoods. This trip is open to adults and youth as young as 6th grade. Registration fee is $25 per person. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Chris Clark.

Bridge of Hope Partners with Family Promise and Needs Volunteers

In the past, Westminster partnered with Bridge of Hope, assisting parents and their children in transitioning from situations of homelessness to permanent housing. Westminster also worked with Family Promise providing temporary shelter, food and fellowship to families experiencing homelessness. This year we have the opportunity to partner with Bridge of Hope, as they work with families that have graduated from the Family Promise program.  Teams from Westminster will be trained (Online or over Zoom) to offer support as Neighboring Volunteers. You will learn how to support Family Promise parents, as they move towards financial stability and emotional wholeness. In doing so, we can help to restore hope and create brighter futures one family at a time. Neighboring during COVID 19: In-person interactions for our Neighboring Volunteers and families is based on your own level of comfort (In-person, meal drop-offs, phone calls, etc). To learn more about becoming part of a neighboring team, please contact Ann Hatfield.

Lunch Brunch Group Returns!

12 pm Thur. March 24 • Brickside
Come join the group for a relaxing informal fun lunch. Meet at Brickside (up 100 in Eagleview). RSVP to Carol Olver or Ruth Kershaw by noon on Wednesday, March 23.

Spring Forward Saturday Night!

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night. Daylight Savings starts Sunday morning at 2 am. (If you forget - don’t worry, you can join us for worship by watching the recording which will be available immediately after worship ends.)

Update on Giving Statements

Starting this year, if your email is on file with the church, you will receive your giving statement via email. If your email is not on file, you will still receive your statement via mail. All special giving envelopes (One Great Hour, Peace, Joy, etc) will be mailed through bulk mailings. Questions or to check/update your email on file, contact Karen Randel.

Prayer Gatherings for Ukraine

"We cannot carry the pain of this reality on our own, nor can we only look out for ourselves. The pain is communal and so too must be the response."- Richard Rohr. Join Patti Stewart for a time of community prayer for 30 minutes on Mondays and Thursdays. This time of silence and prayer is on behalf of our fractured world. Given the current crisis, we will pray especially for the people of Ukraine. Come as long as you are able as we lift up our world to the light that cannot be extinguished. Click here to attend at 10 am on Mondays. Click here to attend 7 pm on Thursdays - starting tonight! Our financial gifts are also needed to assist the thousands of people who have been displaced. Click here to support the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) or make checks payable to Westminster Presbyterian Church, memo line: “Ukrainian Refugees." We will send the collected donations to PDA. For updates on response efforts click here.

Home Team Property Update

On Feb. 17 we notified you that we had been invited to have a conversation with the Westtown Township Board of Supervisors about the church property south of our parking lot. This was a short conversation at a work session, and we didn’t expect any decision-making that evening. We presented our ideas regarding using part of the property for safe, attractive, and affordable housing for working neighbors and intellectually disabled adults in the community. The supervisors listened with interest and asked questions. After some consideration, the Supervisors indicated that such a project would require a zoning map amendment and have suggested that before taking any more steps toward this ministry vision, we should await resolution on the Crebilly Farm property. That process could take some time, so we will monitor the situation and await the direction of the Supervisors. Questions? Contact Gary Liddick or Ruth Simonson.

Package Easter Baskets on Sunday!

10 am - 12 pm March 20 • Spellman Hall
Join us in Spellman this Sunday in between services to build Easter Baskets for the children of Chester County Migrant Ministry.  We have all of the supplies. All we need is your helping hands! Questions or interested in helping? Email Laura Davis

Lenten Daily Devotion on Social Media

Every day during Lent (March 2 - April 17) we will post a daily devotion on our Facebook and Instagram accounts for you to reflect, pray and discuss with your Westminster family.

Emergency Response for Ukrainian Refugees

As the violence in Ukraine continues, the number of people fleeing to neighboring countries increases daily. While the scale of this crisis is new, receiving refugees from countries in Central and Eastern Europe is not, which means PDA already has established partners prepared to carry out this important work. Our response will include both financial and technical support, as the network of faith communities provides humanitarian assistance.
 
Our financial gifts are needed to assist the thousands of people who have displaced. Click here to support the work of PDA or make checks payable to Westminster Presbyterian Church, memo line: “Ukrainian Refugees.” We will send the collected donations to PDA. For updates on response efforts click here.

An Important Update from Pastor Don

Dear Members and Friends of Westminster:
New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) significantly eased mask recommendations as part of updated guidance for dealing with COVID-19. Their new metric indicates Chester County is in the “Moderate” community level, so the Task Force on Campus Use recommends, and Session has approved the following:
  • Change signs on facility doors from “Masks Strongly Recommended” to “Masks Optional.” For those who are more comfortable wearing a mask during in-person worship or gatherings in the building, please wear one. For those who would prefer not to wear a mask, it is not required. If you are still uncomfortable with in-person worship, we continue to offer remote options for both 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services.
  • People at high risk for severe illness should talk to their healthcare provider about whether they need to wear a mask and take other precautions.
  • Vaccinated choir members can sing without masks if they elect to do so.
  • Food service can start in the facility beginning March 1; e.g. funeral luncheons, outside groups catering, youth snacks, etc.
  • Open Café 10 West on Sunday, March 6th.
  • Everyone should be mindful that members and visitors in high risk categories remain vulnerable, and that vaccination/boosters, along with remaining home if you have symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19, will decrease vulnerability to COVID-19 and increase our ability to welcome all.
  • For your information, our KidsConnect and childcare leaders have elected to be masked out of consideration for the safety of our youngest members, some of whom are unable to be vaccinated. If other children want to mask out of similar consideration that is fine, but masking will not be required.
We know that for some this is welcome news. For others it may be a cause of concern or worry. And there may be many who are somewhere in between. Whatever your response to these changes, let us continue to grant each other grace and rejoice in our common mission as a congregation. Whether you worship, learn or serve online or in-person, we are blessed to be one church of disciples following Jesus Christ together.
As this coming Sunday (March 6) is the first Sunday of the month, we will be celebrating the sacrament of communion. For the first time in two years we will invite members to come forward to receive the elements by intinction. Those serving the elements will be masked. We will also have baskets of pre-packaged communion available up front if you prefer to receive the elements that way.
We are looking forward to seeing more and more of you in worship!
-Don