Westminster News: May & June 2007

 

 

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Pentecost Offering for Children at Risk, Youth, and Young Adults     Sundays, May 20 and 27

 

 

Through the Pentecost Offering, the church expresses a common commitment to provide hope for children at risk, opportunities for youth and young adults to grow in their faith, and short-term mission service options for young adults.

     The General Assembly’s portion of sixty percent provides leadership development opportunities for Presbyterian youth and young adults and supports children-at-risk programs at the national level. Since 1998, Presbyterians of all ages have raised over $7 million for these ministries that benefit younger members of God’s family.  Forty percent is left with congregations to support ministry with community children.

 

 

Special Trinity Sunday Communion Worship Service     June 3 at 10:45 AM

 

 

In a special service of worship at 10:45 am, June 3, Westminster will observe Trinity Sunday, which focuses on the Christian doctrine of the three persons of God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In the Reformed tradition, Trinity Sunday is always observed one week after Pentecost and it is on this Sunday that the liturgical season of “Ordinary Time” resumes until the First Sunday of Advent when a new liturgical year begins.

     In Trinity Sunday worship, the Chancel Choirs of Christ Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian churches will combine to sing our collective praise to God through a work for chamber orchestra and organ by Stephen Paulus entitled, The Spirit That Sets Us Free.  The text of this work is based on the “Brief Statement of Faith” of the Presbyterian Church, USA

     The schedule for June 3rd is a 9:00 AM Communion Worship Service at Christ Presbyterian Church and 10:45 AM Communion Worship Service  at Westminster Presbyterian Church (please note the later start time for Westminster’s worship service).

 

 

Westminster Bridge Club     First Tuesday each month at 7 PM - beginning June 5

 

 

Anyone who is interested can come and play and everyone is encouraged to invite neighbors, friends and relatives for a fun night of social bridge. Some players have already teamed up and others will team up before play. We'll play 4 hands and rotate to the next table. Everyone is to bring his (hers) snacks and drinks.

 

 

GODSPELL at Westminster     Saturday, June 9

 

 

GODSPELL, a musical based upon the gospel according to St. Matthew, will be staged at Westminster by the ELATION Christian youth group of St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Mesquite, Texas. All cast members have both singing, dancing and speaking roles to help retell the parables from the Gospels in “GODSPELL”.  The musical drama of the life of Christ is understood by the youth to be their means of conveying the message of Jesus Christ.  As a result of their sincerity, “GODSPELL” becomes a significant worship event.

     Hosts Families Needed on June 9  We need to find host families for 24 youth and 8 adults for the night of June 9, following their performance. They request a minimum of two persons assigned per home, and guests will need to be returned to the church between 7:30 & 8:00 am Sunday, when breakfast will be served at church. If you have a spare bedroom and think you can help out, please contact Carl Martin or Jeff Zebrowski for details. We don't need a firm commitment yet, but we want to be sure we can find enough hosts in Westminster. This should be an exciting event and your help will be deeply appreciated!

 

 

Allied Drive Food Pantry Collection     Sunday June 17

 

 

This is the annual all-congregation food pantry drive. The best items to contribute include rice or noodle mixes, mac & cheese, hamburger helper, corn muffin mix, pork & beans, ramen noodles soups, cookie mixes, canned soups, spaghetti sauce, caned vegetables, canned fruit, dried spaghetti, canned tomato styles, meal-in-a-can, soda crackers and white rice.

 

 

Westminster Golf Outing     Saturday June 23 at 1:30 PM at Glenway

 

 

At Glenway Golf Course with aTee Time of 1:30 PM (meet at the Golf Course at 1:15 PM). Look for the sign-up sheet in the Narthex in the next few weeks. Contact Ken Sadeghian for details.

 

 

Caring for Our Local Place on Earth     Saturday June 23

 

 

RESTORE AND SUSTAIN Explore how each one of us is part of a larger collaborative effort to make the world a better place at Caring for Our Local Place on Earth, a full-day, interactive environmental conference held at Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Highway M in Middleton, featuring keynote speakers Calvin DeWitt and Richard Henderson. The conference is sponsored by Benedictine Life Foundation in partnership with Benedictine Women of Madison, Friends of Pheasant Branch, Natural Heritage Land Trust, Sustain Dane, The Aldo Leopold Foundation and The Prairie Enthusiasts-Empire Sauk Chapter.

     Learn about the varying missions, motivations and accomplishments of local restoration and ecological management groups; Engage in workshops that explore the many facets of the environmental movement in our area;

Reenergize your present efforts and be inspired to new actions. Registration is just $5 in advance and includes lunch.

Sign up TODAY!

For more information, visit www.benedictinewomen.org -or- contact Merry Jorgensen, Benedictine Life Foundation, Holy Wisdom Monastery, PO Box 5070, Madison, WI 53705-0070 (608) 836-1631, ext. 121, or mjorgensen@benedictinewomen.org .

 

 

Vacation Bible School     June 24 to 28

 

 

Westminster's Great Bible Reef Vacation Bible School will be held on June 25 to 28, with a sampler on June 24 and a community ice cream social on June 28. Dive Deep Into God's Word! The school is for children aged 3 (by May 31) through those who finished 4th grade, and the cost is $10 for meals, crafts, and a CD of the music.  Programs will be held on June 24 from 11 AM to 12:30 PM and June 25 to 28 from 5:30 to 7:45 PM. Please register by mail or email before June 15.

 

 

Support Westminster's VBS

 

 

YOU are important for a successful Vacation Bible School!  What can YOU do? Sign up to help - with crafts, science lab, music, Bible storytelling, simple meals, decorating, guiding the ‘school of kids’ from one activity to the next!

YOU are important for a successful Vacation Bible School! By registering on-line at westminstermadison.org or with a registration form from the narthex, office or Fellowship Hall.

YOU are important for a successful Vacation Bible School!—by telling your neighbors, friends, relatives to SIGN UP!

Questions: contact Susan Bush at smbush@wisc.edu or Marian Bauer at marianbauer@westminstermadison.org

 

 

Church Camp Wyoming for children and youth in grades K through graduating seniors     June 10 - August 5

 

 

Programs are held at Camp Wyoming in Wyoming, Iowa  (about 60 miles from Dubuque). Choose the week that best fits your schedule, from June 10-July 28 (ending Aug. 5);   Prices range from $100-290 depending on the length of the camp.

     “On Our Way” is the theme for this summer. Activities include swimming, hiking, arts, crafts, games, campfires and Bible stories, cookouts, cave exploration, archery, canoeing and creek stomping! (Some age-limits apply on some activities.) There are short-weeks for those in K-grade 2 and weeklong times for those from grade 2 through seniors.  Each camp time has the children and youth separated into age groups. Check out the brochures outside of the church office.  Some scholarship help is available.  Online registration can be found at campwyoming.net

 

 

Madison Mallard's Game at the Duck Pond     Thursday July 19 at 6:30 PM - sign up by July 9

 

 

Enjoy an evening out at Westminster's annual Mallard's Game Outing! We will purchase a block of tickets at $6.00 each so that we can gather as a group. We will meet near the ticket booth / entrance at Warner Park at 6:30 PM - the game starts at 7:00 PM. Sign up by July 9 in Fellowship Hall, where we will also have carpooling signup sheets, or call the church office.

 

 

Lakes and Prairies Synod School     July 22–27

 

 

Why do they keep returning to Synod School?

• Christian fellowship

• Inspiring worship and song

• Growth in knowledge and faith

• Personal and spiritual renewal

• Fun for families and singles of all ages

The school meets on the campus of Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa. The theme this year is “Five Smooth Stones: Biblical Themes for Life and Ministry,” with convocation speaker Carol Bechtel, who has written the 2007-08 Presbyterian Women's Bible study on Jonah and Ruth.  There are activities for the WHOLE FAMILY….and special classes for the children and for youth.

     Pastor Alex Thornburg is a workshop leader this year. In addition to Bible study, other workshops include kite-making, stained glass, hand bells, marriage enrichment, pottery, spirituality, writing and much, much more! See the Synod School Brochure in the church office for more details…or visit http://www.lakesandprairies.org/ and click on the 'Synod School' link, or phone 1-800-328-1880, ext. 207.  Some scholarship help is available. Please register as soon as possible.

 

 

Interim Youth Coordinator

 

 

Cecilia Kress has graciously accepted the position of Interim Youth Coordinator for the summer.  Cecilia returns to us from Washington University in St. Louis in mid-May.  She will work with the youth and parents as they get the youth space in shape. Other things like a one- or two-day mission project or some Bible study may be placed into the schedule.  Cecilia was a leader of youth during her time at Westminster and we are glad that she is returning! Thanks Cecilia

 

 

THE CALL OF MOSES…AND YOU?

 

 

God called Moses from a burning bush to come forth and lead the people of Israel.  This call may not be as dramatic, but the Spiritual Formation committee is asking you to prayerfully consider God’s calling you to lead our children or youth for the 2007-2008 school year.  It may be for a six-week term or two six-week terms or for the whole year.  The three and four-year olds and Pre-K 5’s will have a class.  The K-Grade 4 will have a class with the Workshop Rotation model.  Models for the youth (gr. 5-7) and (gr. 8-12) will be determined.   If you hear God’s voice calling you, please let us know; contact Bill Bridson.

 

 

New Membership Directory     updates due by July 15

 

 

A new membership directory is in the planning stages to include: new parish listings and email addresses.  If you have a new address, phone or email, please contact the church office at your earliest convenience before July 15.  Thank you.

 

 

Arboretum Cleanup Thanks 

 

 

Dear Sue and Fellow Westminsterites,

     Thank you all so much for your Earth Day volunteering. The trout lily and other spring wildflowers seem much happier and more vibrant now that they aren't surrounded by garlic mustard and dame's rocket.

     Kudos also to those who picked up garbage--an unpleasant, yet quite important task.

     We had a good time working with all of you, and together removed one dozen bags of invasive plants and trash.

     Thanks for putting your faith into works!

Sincerely,

Judy Kingsbury, Volunteer Coordinator

UW-Madison Arboretum

 

 

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 Misconduct Covenant

 

 

On August 28, 2006, in a proactive spirit, the Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church adopted a Child Protection and Sexual Misconduct 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.