Westminster News: January 2007 / February 2007

 

 

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RECYCLE THE WARMTH!     January 7 to 30

 

 

The 15th Annual Blanket Drive for St. Vincent de Paul is scheduled for January 26 to 30.  St. Vincent de Paul is committed to helping neighbors in need and this drive helps provide blankets, pillows and sheets to all those seeking help, and you can make this possible!  All the bedding they collect or purchase during this drive will be given away during 2007 to needy individuals and families who come to our Service Center on Culmen Street .  Another way to help is to contribute toward the purchase of additional bedding (new sheets, pillows, and mattress covers) to meet the requests we receive.  A special blanket collection bin will be set up at church starting around January 7, along with envelopes for donations.

 

 

Church Women United Conference     Saturday, January 27

 

 

The Church Women United Conference will be hosted by Westminster on Saturday, January 27, beginning at 8 AM. Meetings will be held in Fellowship Hall, the sanctuary and classrooms.

 

 

Annual Congregational Meeting     January 28 after worship

 

 

The annual congregational meeting will take place after the worship service on January. The printed version of the Annual Report has been distributed and is excerpted here.

 

 

Westminster youth highlighted       January 2007

 

 

From page 92 in the PCUSA's 2007 Children’s Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study article by Marian Bauer.

     The number of people coming to the homeless shelter in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, had steadily increased. Each second Friday of the month, members of Westminster Presbyterian Church were at the shelter to serve food. One month, the children of the church wanted to be involved in this mission. The younger children, preschool through fifth grade, gathered in the church kitchen to make vegetable beef soup. Adults cooked the meat and cut the onions. The children took turns opening big cans of beef broth and stewed tomatoes. When the time was right, each child took a package of frozen vegetables he or she had brought from home and poured it into the soup.  They also made some delicious peanut butter cookies. The youth of the church, grades 6 through 12, helped serve the soup and cookies that Friday night at the shelter. Children, youth, and adults of the church are doing mission together. No one is too young or too old to help. Westminster Church is a part of the Presbytery of John Knox.

 

 

12th Night Players Dinner / Theatre     Saturday, February 3, from 4 PM to midnight

 

 

The 12th Night Players dinner and performance will be held in Fellowship Hall. More information to come.  

 

 

Workshop Rotation: help is needed for children in Kindergarten to Grade 3     Sunday mornings 9:15-10:00 AM

 

 

The children in Kindergarten to Grade 3 have Workshop Rotation each Sunday from 9-10 AM. For the first 15 minutes they are ably led in singing by Sandy Curran and Susan Bush (with substitute help from Liane Kosaki).  From 9:15-10 am they rotate each week: Drama/Storytelling; Arts/Crafts; Bible Games/Computers.  They learn one story for three weeks in three different ways.  Are you willing to help at least one week.  All the materials are here.  April 15-May 13 we will join the rest of the congregation in studying the “Stewardship of the Earth” and will be doing special projects during that time.  If you are willing to help at least one week or have a special rotation that you enjoy, such as doing arts/crafts, please contact Marian Bauer at 238-3121 or by email.

 

 

Confirmation Classes     Sundays from 9 to 10 AM beginning February 4

 

 

Westminster youth (7th Grade and up) are invited to attend Confirmation classes, schedule to start Sunday, February 4. The group will meet with Pastor Alex from 9 to 10 AM in Room 5. Eligible youth will receive a letter with all the specifics. Don’t hesitate; this will be an important, fun and blessed time for each student.  Contact Pastor Alex or Marian Bauer if you have any questions.

 

 

Souper Bowl of Caring     Sunday, February 4, after worship

 

 

The Souper Bowl of Caring is a youth-led, grassroots movement of caring, the result of thousands of young people joining together to fight hunger and poverty in their communities. Since 1990, $33 million has been raised for charities across the country. The Souper Bowl of Caring is fundamentally a faith initiative, as the idea was born of a prayer. We seek to love God by loving our neighbors, and through this, young people will see that by God's grace, they can make a difference in the lives of others.

     The Souper Bowl of Caring will be celebrated on Sunday, February 4. After worship, our Westminster youth will hold soup pots at church doors on Souper Bowl Sunday. They will join young people in churches all across the country to collect money for those who are hungry and hurting. In 2006, 11,000 groups in all 50 states and outside the United States participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring, generating over $5 million. All money and donations collected will be given locally to the 2nd Harvest Food Bank in Madison, the charity chosen by our youth.

 

 

Westminster's Valentine Tea     Saturday, February 17, from 1 - 3 PM in Fellowship Hall

 

 

Please bring a plate of your favorite tea treats and your favorite romantic music on CD or audio tape. This is a community invitation, open to all of the female persuasion. Contact Beth Swedeen or Sara Pope if you would like to share a talent performance at the tea.

 

 

Company’s coming February 24th!     Church "work day" after worship on Sunday, February 18

 

 

Officers from Presbyterian churches in the Madison area are coming to Westminster for leadership training on February 24th.

     Come together as a congregation on Sunday, February 18, to help prepare the church for our guests!  We’ll have a simple lunch to fuel us!  Change into your work clothes after worship!

     This is a great time for fellowship as we work together... if you can’t work, perhaps you could watch any small children of those who are participating. Please let Alex or Marian know you will help...or just come!

 

 

SKI & SNOWBOARD with family and friends     Thursday, February 22nd, from 6 to 10 PM

 

 

Attend this fun for all event at Devil's Head in Merrimac, WI. We will carpool from Westminster , and Madison schools are closed on the 23rd. Lift tickets are $10, and rentals are $18 ($16 for juniors & seniors). Contact Ken Sadeghian for more information, and go to www.devilsheadresort.com (call 1-800-472-6670) for conditions and directions.

 

 

Third Annual Madison Area Church Officer Training Program     Saturday, February 24

 

 

Westminster will host the Presbytery's Third Annual Madison Area Church Officer Training Program this year.

 

 

Care Cards - JOY Class mission project     February 18 & 25 in the Narthex

 

 

The WPC JOY (Jesus/Others/Yourself) Class has created “Care Cards”.  Each greeting card pack contains four cards made exclusively by WPC youth from grades  4 thru 7, and will be sold to raise money for the local Domestic Abuse Intervention Services agency.  

     You can purchase each greeting card 4-pack for $12, which will feature colorful, hand-stamped sentiments such as ‘joy’, ‘wish’, ‘grateful’ and ‘always’. The cards will first be available for purchase during the Valentine Tea on February 17th.  Joy Class members will also sell cards and take orders in the Narthex before and after Sunday Services during February. Remember, this sale is for a good cause!

 

 

John Knox Presbytery Youth Lock In     This March

 

 

Westminster will host the John Knox Presbytery Youth Lock In this year for students in grades 6 to 12. Fellowship and Fun, Food and Friendship, . . . and Prayer.

 

 

Youth Sunday Planning Sessions     Sundays, February 25 to March 18 from 4 - 5 PM

 

 

All youth (grades 4-12) are encouraged to attend the Youth Sunday planning sessions from 4 - 5 PM on Sundays February 25 to March 18. You will choose hymns, prayers, scriptures, share instrumental and vocal music talents, usher, greet, design the bulletin cover and give the children’s message!  Remember, it’s YOUth Sunday! You make the choices!  Afterwards, we will gather in the sanctuary with other church members for a brief time of scripture and prayer, followed by a simple meal in Fellowship Hall.

 

 

Spiritual Formation During Lent     Sundays, February 25 to March 18 from 4:00 - 5:30 PM

 

 

Join us on Sundays, February 25 through March 18, for a spiritual journey for the whole church family! From 4 - 5 PM,

 

 

 

Childcare provided in the nursery for children less than 3 years

Children age 3 to grade 3 will make a Lenten Banner in room 11

Youth grades 4 - 12 will prepare for Youth Sunday in room 5

Adults will explore The Spiritual Journey of Lent with Pastor Alex in the lounge

 

 

Afterwards, we will gather in the sanctuary for a brief time of scripture and prayer, followed by a simple meal in Fellowship Hall.

 

 

All-Church Potluck     Sunday, March 11 after worship

 

 

Join your Westminster family for an all-church potluck following the worship service.  Bring a dish to pass (something green or Irish if you like!) and enjoy some food and fellowship.  Sponsored by the Fellowship/Outreach (Evangelism) Committee.

 

 

Westminster & Westmorland: Neighborhood Canvas     Sunday, March 25, 4 PM

 

 

Help spread the word about Westminster!  We’ll be canvassing the Westmorland neighborhood with door hangers on Sunday, March 25th, to describe the opportunities available during Holy Week and Easter as well as upcoming activities related to Earth Day.  We’ll meet at the church at 4:00. You’ll be given a map and a stack of door hangers.  All you have to do is hang a door hanger on the front door of each house on your map.  It will take about one hour, and then we’ll all meet back at the church for pizza, salad, and beverages.  Listen for announcements about when to sign up.  Plan to make it a family event!

 

 

PWW Soup Supper Auction

 

 

The PWW-sponsored SOUP SUPPER AUCTION was a huge success. $1,065 for local missions was collected from auction bidder/buyers; not bad for an evening of fun and good eats!!  Thanks to all who attended this event in December, and thanks to the makers of the delicious soups and bread which were served and enjoyed by everyone! PWW is considering the 2007 auction event to be held on a Saturday, so please plan to attend again.  Many Thanks…Pat Marshall and Marian Rohde

 

 

Thanks from the Allied Drive food pantry

 

 

Thank you so much for all of the food for the Allied Drive pantry, (Thanksgiving donations). It was very generous and really useful items. We really depend on food drives to carry us into the spring when food supplies become short again. Many thanks also for having the food arranged so nicely for pick-up. What would the pantry do without Westminster?

Bless you all, Mike and Anne Bodden

 

 

Thanks from the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County

 

 

The Boys & Girls Club of Dane County would like to thank you for your in-kind donation of scarves, caps and gloves.

We are grateful for your thoughtfulness and generosity and appreciate your kindness. We continually strive to make a positive difference in the lives of our members. This would not be possible without benefactors like you, and your support makes those efforts more of a reality for us.  Because of your support we are able to impact more lives and shape more futures. We encourage you to come in for a tour...we know you will be pleased with what you see.

Sincerely, Marcia Henderson and Tracey Pederson

 

 

Thanks from the Bashford food pantry

 

 

Happy New Year from the Bashford food pantry! We wish to thank you for your generous support of our efforts. Without your donations, we would not be able to serve the community people in need. We are blessed to serve 8 to 10 families with five days’ worth of food & care items, each day. Your gifts help us to stock our shelves.

 

 

Souper Bowl of Caring a big success

 

 

Westminster's youth thank you for your support on February 4. More than $215 was raised for the Madison Second Harvest Food Bank, the charity chosen by the youth this year.

 

 

Mitten Tree

 

 

Knitting Baskets are located in the Narthex to accept your creations of mittens, scarves, and hats that will be donated to children in the community, through March 2007.  The latest stock of donated items have been delivered to both Allied Drive and Lapham school children.  Drop your donation off any time!

 

 

Your Change Creates Change!

 

 

We remind you that the loose change you put in the Sunday offering plate goes to support our ‘adopted’ child, Alex Ortiz, who lives in El Salvador. Now, another child at has come under the wing and hearts of Westminster from Harvesting in Spanish!  She is  three-year old Adriana ‘Arely’ Campos Orantes.  She and her four brothers came to Shalom Children’s Home in El Salvador when their father abandoned the family.  Their mother could not take care of them in such a dangerous area with drug trafficking and gangs.  ‘Arely’ is receiving much loving care and learning that Jesus loves her.  Arely is a sweet, happy little girl who always wears a big smile.  Check the bulletin board (near the chapel) to see the beautiful picture of Arely along with her story and information.

     So remember that all your loose change placed into the offering plate on Sundays helps support both Alex and Arely!

 

 

Westminster's Child Protection and Sexual Abuse Covenant

 

 

On August 28, 2006, in a proactive spirit, the Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church adopted a Child Protection and Sexual Abuse Covenant. The covenant is available on this website and in the office for review. In addition, you may sign a document showing you concur with this new covenant. All those who plan to work with our children and youth - both volunteers and paid staff - during any time of the year are now asked to sign this document.