Westminster Presbyterian Church                                                                                                                    

Minutes: Worship Committee Meeting 1/16/07, 7:00pm, Room 6 (lower lever)

Opening Prayer:  Harriet Vander Meer

Members present: Alex Thornburg, Joe Chrisman, Harriet Vander Meer, Bill Ownes, Joel Jones,

 Walt Pridham, Margo LaPerre, and Rod Johnson

Approve Minutes: 12/18/06 Meeting

I. Education and “Examen”

Examen: Establish Worship Committee’s goals for worship in 2007.  Compile the list and revisit the list regularly throughout the year.

Worship:

- Develop more spiritual, prayerful, meaningful worship services at Westminster;

- Expand the opportunities for children in our worship services;

- Examine ways for music to be more worshipful and meaningful on a weekly basis;

- 10% growth in worship attendance;

- Wrestle with the idea of a second worship service;

- Strengthen the participation, organization and implementation of the usher and greeter program;

- Make sure that all members and visitors feel welcome at all times in the church;

Liturgical Elements:

- Render consistently perfect bulletins: look, content, structure and details

- Have the bulletin reflect our plans for worship services;

- WC 2007 purchases: additional large and regular print Bibles and one new liturgical banner;

Committee:

- Develop long range planning practices;

- Discuss and implement the educational responsibilities of the Worship Committee;

- Further develop the Worship Committee’s understanding of worship;

- Establish criteria for and an evaluative process of worship at Westminster;

- Explore the worship committee’s responsibility for education on issues and practices of worship

II. Worship Components

A. Preparations for Lent: (dates, times, locations, structure, theme, purpose and evaluate)

1. Mid-Week Worship Services during Lent

Ash Wednesday: Feb. 21, 7:00,  Sanctuary

Theme – “Letting Go”

Imposition of Ashes: Pastor to impose in silence

Liturgy – No Communion

Structure – Introduce all of the themes of Lent?

Text: Matthew 5:1-11

Location: Sanctuary

- Feb. 28: Theme –  

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Text: Matthew 5:3

Location

- March 7: Theme –

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted

Text: Matthew 5:4

Location

- March 14: Theme – Blessed are the meek, for they will be comforted

Text: Matthew 5:5

Location

- March 21: Theme –

“Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness, for they will be filled”

Text: Matthew 5:6, 7

Location:

- March 28: Theme –

  “Blessed are the pure in heart; Blessed are peacemakers”

Text: Matthew 5:8, 9

Location

- Maundy Thursday: April 5:

Theme – Communion

Location: Fellowship Hall

- Good Friday: April 6: 7:00, Sanctuary

Structure: Tenebrae service

Location: Sanctuary

2. Sunday Worship Services  in Lent (5 + Palm Sunday)

Sunday, Feb. 25:

Text: Matthew 5:3:

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Text: Luke 4:1-13 – Testing of Jesus in the desert

Sunday, March 4: Communion

Text: Matthew 5:4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Text: Luke 7:36-50 – Weeping woman and parable of the debtor

Sunday, March 11:

Text: Matthew 5:5

“Blessed are the meek, for they will be comforted.”

Text: Luke 18:9-14 – Parable of the Tax Collector

Sunday, March 18:

Text: Matthew 5:6, 7

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Text: Luke 15:1-10 – Parable of the lost sheep

Sunday, March 25:

Text: Matthew 5:8, 9

“Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Text: Luke 22:47-53 – Arrest of Jesus

Sunday, April 4: Palm Sunday: Communion  

Text: Matthew 5:10-11

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely way all kinds of evil against you because of me.”

Text: Luke 23:33-43 – crucifixion and conversation with thief

3. Liturgical Elements

a. Bulletins: Use light purple paper for the bulletins during Lent

b. Sanctuary liturgical elements

Look for purple cloth on Communion table and possibly the cross during Lent

Black cloth on the cross – Good Friday

c. Lenten Brochure

Content:

- Notes: Alex on worship and prayer, Joe on music and Marian on spiritual formation

- Statement on Lent from the WC

- Worship opportunities during Holy Week and Sundays in Lent

- Worship calendar

- Resources and opportunities for families

- Symbols defined

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 9, 2007

To the office: Monday, Feb. 12

Mail date: Wed or Thurs prior to Ash Wed, Feb. 14

4. Report/Review:  

a. Easter: Preparations at our February meeting and finalize plans at March meeting

b. Training sessions for liturgists and acolytes – Sunday, Jan. 21. Names have been selected from the Time and Talent sheet

c. Pulpit supply: March 18 Mark Elsdon or Erica Liu will be in WPC pulpit

Need approval from Session

d. Communion: Communion for shut-ins – discuss process with Session

                                            Would include Elders, deacons and/or retired pastors from the congregation.

e. Baptism: request Session approval

January 28, Samuel Doll, son of prospective members, Steve and Sandy Doll,  grandson of Barbara Gerke;  need liturgy and brochure on baptism;

f. Weddings: request Session approval

- Sat., Sept. 8: Catherine Bush and Jim Gainey, performed by Ruthie Seiders

                                   - Sat., Sept. 22: Adam Hollenzer and           , performed by Alex Thornburg

                                   - Sat., Oct. 6: Ted Seiberlich and                  , performed by Alex Thornburg

g. Liturgical elements for the sanctuary     

- Looked at Karen Brodie designs: Discussed a three year plan in which Westminster would purchase one or more banners or paraments. Looked specifically at her designs: Alpha and Omega, The Road to the Sacred, Pentecost; also discussed the possibility of a Wall hanging

- Looked into the commissioning of a new work by Karen Brodie.

- Continue discussion with Karen Brodie.

- Not purchase purple/green communion table runner, but look into the purchase of purple cloth for the cross and communion table.

- Black cloth on the cross on Good Friday

III. Budget Items:

a. Discuss the content of the ad for weekly Saturday Worship Guide.

b. Allocate money for Holy Week ad

c. Purchase additional large print and regular print Bibles for sanctuary.

IV. Recommendations and actions items:

- Approve pulpit supply for March 18;

- Approve baptism of Samuel Doll, son of  Steve and Sandy Doll on Jan. 28, 2007;

- Approve 3 weddings and use of the church in September and October;

- Approve purchase of new Hymnals, large print and regular print Bibles for Sanctuary;

- Approve a “drive” for all or part of the funds needed to purchase the new Bibles and Hymnals;

- Discuss the communion practice for the sick and shut-ins of the Westminster congregation;

Date of next meeting – Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007 - 7:00 pm, Room 6

Closing Prayer: Alex Thornburg