Westminster Presbyterian Church                                                                                                                  

Minutes: Worship Committee Meeting: 10/16/06, 7:00pm, Room 6 (lower lever)

 

Opening Prayer: Alex Thornburg

Those present:  Alex Thornburg, Harriet Vander Meer, Pamela Quin, Cynthia Bush, Bill Owens,  Jean Ruhde, Walt Pridham, Joe Chrisman

Approved  Minutes: 9-18-06 Meeting

 

I. Education and “Examen”

A. Examen: Began a discussion of what is worship and what is liturgy. Discussion led by Alex Thornburg. Some of the ideas expressed: worship is making ourselves open to God and his word, worship is giving our reverence and ourselves to God, worship is a transition or position, worship is a time of filling our souls, it is a time of praise to and adoration of God. The liturgy is the ritual or the rites of doing and fulfilling all of those goals. The goal and purpose of the Worship Committee is to help provide the environment and opportunities for the congregation to celebrate in all of those ideas.

B. Questions for discussion at the next meeting: do the worship services at Westminster reflect our definition of worship? How should our definitions of worship be reflected in the liturgical elements in the narthex and sanctuary?

 

II. Worship Components

A.     Pulpit Concerns: Committee approved Marian Bauer to fill the WPC pulpit on Dec. 31.

Pamela Quin will represent the Worship Committee with a minute for stewardship in the Nov. 5 worship service.

B.     Music Report: Joe reported on the variety of cultural music in the World Communion Sunday service. Members reported that the brass ensemble for Alex’s installation service was a wonderful contribution to the service. Joe reported that the worship services through the end of the year would include much music and many groups.

C.     Communion:

1. Review World Communion Day service – notes for next year: children were a wonderful addition to the communion service; nice world cultural representation of breads used for serving communion.

2. Approved Worship/Communion Calendar for the 2007 year. Send to Session. There will be further discussion on if and when Westminster would serve additional communion services during 2007.

3. Discussed the use of and letter to past elders and deacons to enlist their services as communion servers during the 2007 calendar year.

D.     Report on Ushers and Greeters – Margo – things are going well.  

 Discussed a letter asking the ushers to wait to seat people who come late to the worship service and whether there could be specific times when latecomers would be seated, such as during the first hymn. The letter indicated how disruptive it is to have people wandering during processionals and prayers. It was determined that ushers should be notified of this situation.

E.     Report on Liturgists – Jean - things are going well.  

 

III. Budget Items:

A. Advertising:

1. Considered the advertising for the Advent Season in the State Journal.

2. Will consider the text, look and cost of the Westminster ad in the Saturday worship section.

3. Advent brochure: begin discussion of the components on worship

B. Discuss which budget funds apply to the Worship Committee.

C. Flowers: Kathy Waggener reported (via email) on the poinsettia plan for Advent: 2005: spent: 405.95 and estimated for 2006: $526.95 due to increase in cost of flowers. There is $1266.75 in the floral budget in addition to the donations people will give for the flowers.

D. Dedicated Funds: The Committee began a discussion of the dedicated funds that apply to the needs of the Worship Committee. The attendance registration holders are in need of replacement. New holders would be covered under Sandner Fund. The Committee approved the purchase of new holders. The office staff will complete the order.

            The Committee discussed the possibility of sending one or more member to attend the Calvin College Symposium on Worship January 25 – 27, 2007. The Sandner Fund also is dedicated to continuing education for staff.

 

E. Liturgical Elements

Hymnals and Bibles:  The sanctuary has 30 pews in which 251 hymnals and 38 Bible are located. This does not include large print editions. There will be further discussion on the appropriate number of each of these at the next meeting.

 

Mission Year Books: The Committee received a letter from Sue Bridson requesting the remainder of her mother memorial monies be spent on Mission Year Books to be placed in the sanctuary. The discussion focused on whether this was an element of corporate worship or if it was intended to be used as a personal devotional piece. Discussion also focused on the fact that the book itself does not fit in the pew holder and that there was not enough room to include another book. Members also were concerned that there were not enough Bibles in the sanctuary and that we should possibly spend monies on that. Many ideas were generated as to how the yearbooks could be used: used for certain months or specific mission services, stored in the library and be available for check out by members of the congregation, give one copy to each family of the church. Members were also concerned about what items and who should decide what items should be in the sanctuary. It was recommended that Sue Bridson be invited to our next meeting to discuss this situation.

 

Actions items:

- Approve Marian Bauer to fill Westminster pulpit on Dec. 31, 2006.

- Approve the worship/communion schedule for 2007.

 

Date of next meeting:  Nov. 20, 2006 - 7:00 pm, Room 6

Closing Prayer: Harriet Vander Meer

 

Minutes respectfully submitted by

Harriet Vander Meer

Oct. 17, 2006