Westminster Presbyterian Church
Let the doors of this church be a way to service.
| |||
Sign Up for WorshipWorship Service
Sunday, April 18, 2021 Third Sunday of Easter The sermon entitled, "Disbelieving Joy" is based on Psalm 4 and Luke 24:36b-48 and will be presented by the Rev. Dr. Blythe D. Kieffer. Music will be provided by Dale Rogers, organist, Lyle VanDeventer, bass and hymnist. Mike Tungett will play the Rigaudon of André Campra on the trumpet. Westminster now welcomes Up to 100 people in worship service. Please use the sign up link below so that attendance may be monitored. The majority of those attending worship are fully vaccinated. The Task Force has recommended allowing recitation in our church services while following all other social distancing guidelines. We will again be reciting the Lord’s Prayer together, as well as participating in our other usual group readings and prayers. The worship service will continue to be live streamed so members may view the service from home. 
Sunday School Resumes in April
During the month of April in-person Sunday school returns to Westminster with Mrs. Sherrick leading the lesson emailed in the WPConnections. The lesson will be enriched with the Young Children and Worship Bible Stories. We respect each family’s decision about when they are comfortable gathering in person as we begin to open. April lessons are: 4/18/21 We Are Stewards of the Earth 4/25/21 Memory and Surprises Luke: 24:13-35 
New Members Class in April
Sunday, April 18 and April 25 Friends and visitors are invited to a New Members Class on Sundays, April 18 and 25 at 11:15 a.m. in the Second Floor Classroom. The class will be led by the pastors. New members will be received Sunday, May 2, during the 10:00 a.m. service following a Special Session meeting at 9:30 a.m. in Parish Hall. 
WPC Hosts Table at Earth Awareness Fair
Saturday, April 17 The Earth Care Team will host a table again this year at the annual Springfield Earth Awareness Fair, taking place on Saturday, April 17, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Henson Robinson Zoo (1100 E Lake Shore Drive on Lake Springfield). Earth Day began over 50 years ago, on April 22, 1970. Green Transportation This year, Westminster’s exhibit will promote a variety of greener ways to travel. Thanks to members of our congregation, we will “show and tell” an electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid, an e-bike, and a commuter bike as vehicle owners will share the joys and challenges of ownership on their environmental stewardship journeys. You may find Westminster’s Green Transportation Show and Tell in the zoo parking lot. As part of this year’s online option for the Springfield Earth Awareness Fair (www.springfield.il.us/EAF), Westminster will display an Earth Care PowerPoint highlighting our environmental stewardship projects and practices. You may view the presentation by clicking here. This PowerPoint is also located on the Earth Care page of our website. PC(USA) Recertification Westminster received word on March 11, 2021 that the Presbyterian Church (USA) recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation, celebrating six years in this ministry and joining 270 congregations across the denomination. 
Fair Trade Sunday, April 18
With people back in worship, we are again able to offer coffee, tea, and chocolate for sale in the West Narthex after worship, sourced so as to support economically just, environmentally sound farming practices. The next sale will be April 18. Thanks to Becky Martin and Jeanne VanGieson for leading this ongoing mission. Featured Hunger Missions at Westminster
Westminster's Little Pantry
Our Little Pantry is located on Cook Street on the south side of Graham Elementary (near the main entrance of the school). To ensure it is visited regularly per week and kept clean and well-stocked, we are maintaining a signup list for checking on the pantry. Sign up below by clicking the link. Members may also contribute ingredients to make "meal kits" to put in the Little Pantry. Click here to see the meal kit ingredients. Reimbursement is available for items purchased, and a supply of items is kept at the church. Sign up to help stock Westminster's Little Pantry Helping Hands Meals
Every second Friday of the month, Westminster members prepare meals to feed 50 hungry men at Helping Hands Shelter at 1023 E. Washington St. Currently, meals for April and May are covered, but months June - December are available. This is a great project for friends or several families to do together. Volunteers may cook food in their own homes or use the church kitchen.
Please consider taking one or more dates (the 2nd Friday of each month) to prepare and deliver a much-needed dinner for the men at the Helping Hands Shelter. Reimbursement is available. Learn more details and sign up to help! Give-A-Meal-A-Month
April Menu Canned Chicken/Tuna, Canned Fruit in 100% Juice, and Baked Beans or Veggies. Feminine hygiene products, diapers, toilet paper, toothpaste. (No baby food, please.) Thank you to all who place items in the West Narthex for the Central Illinois Foodbank.
|
|
Westminster COVID-19 Task Force Report
At their March 18, 2020 meeting, Session approved the formation of the COVID-19 Task Force (CVTF). One of the CVTF’s responsibilities is to relay the information provided by reputable sources to the congregation.
At their March 18, 2020 meeting, Session approved the formation of the COVID-19 Task Force (CVTF). One of the CVTF’s responsibilities is to relay the information provided by reputable sources to the congregation.
WESTMINSTER SUPPORT AND ENDOWMENT
FUNDS STEADFAST NEIGHBOR ENDEAVOR
Earnings from the principal of Westminster’s Support and Endowment Fund provide the loan payments and resources for the mission component. A minimum of 1/3 of the cost of the Site and Landscape Plan is designated for mission.
In May of 2015, on the 180th Founders’ Sunday, Westminster dedicated the BUILDING A LEGACY OF FAITH TWENTY-YEAR Anniversary Endowment Campaign and established the ALBERT HALE CIRCLE with a goal to grow Westminster’s Endowment from $1.7 to $5 million by 2020. As of December 2020, 248 families have made gifts, pledges or included Westminster in their planned giving and are members of the Albert Hale Circle. We have received $1,607,764 from the 102 pledges totaling $1,648,120. Additionally, non-pledge gifts of $2,815,601 were donated. We are grateful to the 248 families who are a part of the Albert Hale Circle of donors. As of December 2020, the market value of the Support and Endowment Fund is $8,069,884. This does not include planned gifts.
Support and Endowment Committee: Todd Wise, Chair, James Bryans, Secretary, Steve Arbuthnot, Treasurer, Christy Pound, Dr. Diane Rutledge, Dale Smith, Lucy Preckwinkle Stafford. Advisory Members: Randy Germeraad, Jeff Wilday, and Staff liaisons: Dr. Kieffer and Lisa Runkle
FUNDS STEADFAST NEIGHBOR ENDEAVOR
Earnings from the principal of Westminster’s Support and Endowment Fund provide the loan payments and resources for the mission component. A minimum of 1/3 of the cost of the Site and Landscape Plan is designated for mission.
In May of 2015, on the 180th Founders’ Sunday, Westminster dedicated the BUILDING A LEGACY OF FAITH TWENTY-YEAR Anniversary Endowment Campaign and established the ALBERT HALE CIRCLE with a goal to grow Westminster’s Endowment from $1.7 to $5 million by 2020. As of December 2020, 248 families have made gifts, pledges or included Westminster in their planned giving and are members of the Albert Hale Circle. We have received $1,607,764 from the 102 pledges totaling $1,648,120. Additionally, non-pledge gifts of $2,815,601 were donated. We are grateful to the 248 families who are a part of the Albert Hale Circle of donors. As of December 2020, the market value of the Support and Endowment Fund is $8,069,884. This does not include planned gifts.
Support and Endowment Committee: Todd Wise, Chair, James Bryans, Secretary, Steve Arbuthnot, Treasurer, Christy Pound, Dr. Diane Rutledge, Dale Smith, Lucy Preckwinkle Stafford. Advisory Members: Randy Germeraad, Jeff Wilday, and Staff liaisons: Dr. Kieffer and Lisa Runkle
Mission Statement
With each new day, we reaffirm our common purpose
to join in the worshipful praise of God,
to teach children, to lead and inspire the young,
and to call everyone to life-long learning in the church,
to be influential participants in society by being accountable to the Gospel,to show the love and compassion of Jesus Christ toward each other,and toward those who are hurting,
to be a caring community welcoming both friends and strangers
to own our Presbyterian heritage, reformed and always reforming, to be prayerfully open to the renewing power of the Holy Spirit.
With each new day, we reaffirm our common purpose
to join in the worshipful praise of God,
to teach children, to lead and inspire the young,
and to call everyone to life-long learning in the church,
to be influential participants in society by being accountable to the Gospel,to show the love and compassion of Jesus Christ toward each other,and toward those who are hurting,
to be a caring community welcoming both friends and strangers
to own our Presbyterian heritage, reformed and always reforming, to be prayerfully open to the renewing power of the Holy Spirit.
|
Westminster Presbyterian Church is an Earth Care Congregation of the PC (U.S.A.), committed to caring for God's earth in worship, education, facilities, and outreach, promoting environmental stewardship in property decisions, administrative practices, and teaching. Click here to read the latest Earth Care tip. Westminster Presbyterian Church has been certified as an Hunger Action Congregation of the PC (U.S.A.), committed to (1) acknowledging and celebrating the faithful work of Presbyterians working around the country to alleviate hunger and end its causes, and (2) encouraging these ministries to be even more holistic and justice-oriented. Click here to see how Westminster is helping fight hunger in our community. |
Subscribe to the
Westminster Weekly Email.
Westminster Weekly Email.