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The articles below are excerpted from the 2008 Westminster Presbyterian Church Annual Report to the Congregation. |
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Report of the Director of Christian Education Report of the Youth Coordinator Report of the Board of Deacons Report of the January 27, 2008, Annual Meeting of the Congregation |
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It is
always difficult to look back on the past year and try to pick out certain
accomplishments and goals achieved as a church. In part, this is due to the
fact that churches are not corporations with an earnings report or even a
bottom line indicating whether the year was a success or not. A church does not measure its life by
economic standards but looks at its life in the context of Scripture and the
Spirit. In light of this we wrestle with questions like: Have we
become more loving? Do we care for the poor, the lost, and the powerless? Is
the Spirit evident in all we do and say in our life together? These are
the questions we should ask ourselves as we read the reports that follow
listing the many people, activities, mission, and worship at |
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One
is that I sense we at I also have been struck by the intentional leadership of the elders and
deacons who are committed to serving God by serving you. I was impressed with
the way session dealt with the significant budget shortfall leading to some
difficult decisions about full time staff. They prayerfully and realistically
wrestled with the issues and consequences. This resulted in a graceful
transition within our Spiritual Formation program. The deacons continue to
visit shut-ins, provide meals, contact visitors, and offer spiritual
companionship to all who are in need. You have great officers who are
dedicated and giving of their time and resources. And finally, I have always been impressed with the commitment of our Grace and Peace, Pastor
Alex |
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“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice…have no anxiety
about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God,
which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 There is much to rejoice about in 2008. A sample: The Joyful Noise Singers
signing (taught to them by Jamie Ringsmuth) “The Lord’s Prayer” while Liane Kosaki sang it. A successful Youth Auction with a new
area on which just the children could bid. The Easter Egg Hunt to which
non-church members came. They were given information about VBS and returned
in June! A great year for the Thursday Study
Group using the theme of ‘Grace.’ A super trio of child care workers in
the nursery. What gems Andrea, Stacy and Lauren are! The bowling fellowship event with all
ages attending. A fun VBS in the Rainforest. Working with the Mission Committee to
have a great Mission Fair with over 20 agencies and groups represented,
including the children and youth of WPC. A successful “Night in Being at the gathering of the Association
of Presbyterian Church Educators in Thank you to
all who have helped with the children and youth and/or have attended adult
education opportunities. With God all things are possible! Find your place in the community of
faith which is Westminster Presbyterian Church. God bless you all, Marian E. Bauer, Director of Christian Education (through
12/31/2008) |
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Report of the Youth Coordinator |
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When
I stepped into the role of Youth Coordinator in January of 2008 I
encountered a group of youth who had great enthusiasm and hope. Their
excitement over the new space in the Youth Suite was contagious. We worked
hard together facing busy and conflicting schedules to think of how to best
use the space that this congregation had so willingly designated for their
youth. Through the spring I focused on getting to know the youth on an
individual basis. I learned about all of their many activities and interests,
as well as their hopes for the youth program here at As our youth program continues to grow I am amazed by the enthusiasm and
dedication of this fellowship. Each person has their own set of diverse
activities and passions, yet they find time to come together, to support one
another, and ask questions and seek God in their lives. I have learned from,
and had my faith enriched by, each student as we meet together for Bible
study in Sunday school or fellowship in SPAM. I am also inspired by the
dedication of the congregation through so many of its members who support
this program through their time, their offerings of food and other
necessities, and their prayers. I am continually thankful for the opportunity to work with such an
enthusiastic and probing group of young people and their supporters. My hope
for 2009 is that our fellowship is enriched and deepened through new
questions and explorations, through new adventures, and new understandings of
the work of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives. I also hold the hope that
the congregation will further recognize the gifts of its youth and will be
inspired by their influence and example. To God be the Glory for ever and ever! Kathleen Cook
Owens, M. Div. Youth Coordinator |
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Deacons
serve the congregation under the guidance of the Session and staff. They are organized into three
committees: Hospitality,
Congregational Care, and Fellowship. The
three committees, as well as the deacon body, met on the third Monday of the
month. The
committee’s activities are summarized below: Congregational
Care: Members: Lil
Marsh & Liba Daub (Co-Chairs), & Marjorie Coughlin; Class of
2008
Mary Allbaugh & Nancy Prine;
Class of 2010
Amelia Swedeen, Youth Deacon The
congregational care committee reached out to our These activities are standing responsibilities of the Congregational Care
Committee. We were overwhelmed by the contributions of food and help provided
by our Hospitality
Committee: Members: Joyce
Schultz, Kathy Granquist, and Linda Tanke; Class of 2008
Marilyn
Potter (Chair), Virgil Jurrens,
and Peg Zimmer; class of 2009 The
mission of this committee is to extend a warm welcome to all attending The committee collected information from the Red Fellowship Pads and
summarized it on visitor worksheets each Sunday. First-time visitors received
a letter from Pastor Alex welcoming them to The committee held two new-member classes; on May 18 and on November
16. Prospective members were invited
and all elders and deacons were encouraged to attend. Fellowship
& Outreach: Members: Ken Sadeghian and
Jeff Zebrowski; Class of 2008 Carl Martin and Tony
Wagner; Class of 2009 The committee
mission is to encourage fellowship within the congregation. Submitted by Tony Wagner, Deacon Moderator 2008 |
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Report of the January 27, 2008, Annual Meeting of the Congregation |
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JANUARY 27,
2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
CONGREGATION The moderator, Rev. Alex Thornburg, called the annual meeting of the
congregation to order at 11:45 am. A
quorum was declared, and the moderator opened the meeting with prayer. The motion to accept the agenda was approved. Reports of committees of the Session were presented. Lee DeSpain
presented the report of the Stewardship and Property committee (new
name: Stewardship Committee). She presented the proposed budget for 2008,
to be reviewed and adopted at the January 28, 2008 meeting of the
Session. Joel Jones presented the
report of the Worship Committee. Bill Bridson, past chair of the Spiritual Formation Committee
presented that committee’s report, with thanks to Alex Thornburg and Marian
Bauer for their staff support and to all the volunteers involved in
activities throughout the year. Tony
Wagner, incoming moderator of the Board of Deacons, presented the Board’s
report. Ed Cothroll,
outgoing chair of the Personnel Committee, presented the committee’s report,
noting that there is an opening for a congregational member on the committee;
interested individuals should contact John Wright, incoming chair. Cynthia Bush presented the report of the
Mission Committee. There were no
questions about committees or the general life of the church. A call for nominations of individuals to serve on the Church Nominating
Committee did not yield the required four names. It was moved, seconded and approved to call
an additional congregational meeting to elect a slate of new committee
members, such slate to be proposed by the current Nominating Committee. It was moved, seconded and approved to suspend the meeting of the
congregation in order to conduct a meeting of the corporation. Following the meeting of the corporation,
it was moved, seconded and approved to resume the meeting of the
congregation. There was no
other discussion. Pastor Thornburg closed the meeting with his thanks for the past year,
and celebration for the coming year, in which A motion was
made, seconded and passed to adjourn the meeting. The meeting concluded at
12:25 p.m. with everyone singing the Doxology. Susan
Paddock, Clerk |
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