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GRACE NOTE
The session every year discusses a book as part of its
work together. This year the session is reading together a book by Diana Butler
Bass called Christianity for the Rest of Us. Bass provides a hopeful vision
for the church as she describes the qualities of thriving mainline
congregations.
Bass is
the Project Director for a research study of spiritually vital mainline
congregations from all over the country ranging from 35 members to over 2000.
She identified a number of characteristics of these congregations such as:
Christian authenticity;
Able to express a coherent faith;
Offers members a way of living with passion and
purpose;
Renewed sense of mission and identity;
Creative and traditional;
Risk taking and grounded;
Open and orthodox.
The
underlying key component is a church that takes Christianity seriously as a way
of life. A church that engages the ancient yet newly emerging spiritual
practices of the church are experiencing vitality and stepping boldly into the
future.
The
session is wrestling with these questions as we think about the life of our
congregation. How seriously do we take Christianity as a way of life? What
spiritual practices does Westminster Presbyterian church engage that nourishes
an authentic faith and renewed sense of mission? Do we share Christ’s
love and grace with each other? These are questions we can ask of our community
but also of ourselves as individuals as well. Does Christ make a
difference in my life? Do I live my faith with passion and purpose? What
practices of faith shape my spiritual practices? Am I willing to
reach out to others in love and vulnerability?
It is
especially important in this joyous Easter season to celebrate the resurrection
through embracing the good news of God’s love in our personal and communal
lives. To claim the Lord is risen is to say Christ makes a difference in our
lives – in the ways we treat each other and those around us. We make the
resurrection visible when we live out our pilgrimage of faith here at
Alleluia!
The Lord is risen.
He is risen indeed.
Alleluia!
Alex
Building Vision News
Submitted by the Stewardship Committee
As a response to the 90th
Anniversary, in anticipation of the 100th Anniversary, and Alex
joining us, the Property Committee started visioning about our church building,
how is it used now, how will it need to be used in the future, how it welcomes
visitors, and what maintenance will need to be done to keep it viable for the
future. Session approved funds and the
youth transformed the three classrooms into the new Youth Suite, and session
has further talked about updating the children’s classrooms. The committee looked at larger maintenance
issues including the condition of the classroom roof, the parking lot, the
lower level restroom walls, and office equipment.
This year’s Stewardship Committee has continued
discussion about building vision. The
discussion got to the point where some professional insight would be useful so
the committee met with Robin Roberts and Bill Lee from Roberts
Construction. These builders just
completed their 100th church with the completion of
They asked the same sorts of questions to get an
idea of where
The building is merely a place where the church
gathers to do mission and as such reflects that mission. Discussion of the building starts with and
comes around again to that mission and how it is changing. The Stewardship Committee endeavors to be
ready to provide the tools for
ADULT
EDUCATION
Caring for
our Earth-
Our Energy Future
and the Future of our Planet
We have never seriously
worried about the health of our earth but our increasing population and
consumption of resources has created lasting effects. We have learned that we
must learn to care for our Earth if we are to have a future. One of our most
pressing issues is having enough energy for our future needs.
The final installment of Adult
Education program of the year is: Caring for our Earth- Our Energy Future
and the Future of our Planet. This series begins April 6 and continues
through May 11. Leaders include John Wright, Thatcher Root, Abe Aberle, and
Bill Vogelsang.
This
series will look at possible strategies for facing our future including
increases in fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal), nuclear energy, solar energy,
bio-fuels and bio-mass, fuel cells, the hydrogen economy, and renewable options
such as hydroelectric, geothermal, oceanic, and wind power. We will also
examine the economics of implementing these different strategies, their
sustainability, and the impact they will have on our Earth and our everyday
lives. Finally, we will examine
conservation strategies and possible changes in our lifestyles as we strive to
become better stewards of God’s creation.
Sunday APRIL 13
Food, Faith
and Earth Day
Care of
creation is not just a slogan. It is increasingly something to
which Christians are attending.
An interdenominational group of
ministers and lay leaders is organizing a special Earth Day event featuring
local food and faith exhibits, as well
as workshops and a keynote presentation by
This free event is followed by
a special local food dinner prepared by Barbara Wright from the Dardanelles on
Monroe St. Dinner seating is limited; Tickets are $8.00 in advance; or $12.00
at the door.
Sunday - April 13
3 to 7 pm
Madison
Christian Community
Make your reservations and/or get further
information: E-mail: harvestofhope@tds.net
Call 824-1761. See
the display in the Narthex.
Will
You Be One of the Lucky Ones on April 20?
Be among the first 25 folks to sign up to help at the
Arboretum to honor Earth Day! Some of
you helped last year and experienced the fun and fellowship. Some of you will be first-timers who will get
to share in this event.
You need to sign up by April 6TH to participate in this annual event, and so the
Arboretum organization has enough people on hand to show you what to do. There is food involved! After worship come to fellowship hall to get
your sack lunch and beverage to fuel up before going to the Arboretum! Contact
Sue Bridson, and see the display in the Narthex to sign up!
SHELTER
NEEDSHelp! Experienced breakfast-makers, we need
you! Two NEW members have offered to serve at the Men’s Shelter on Saturday,
March 15 and April 12, but 2 to 3 more of YOU are needed to show them the
ropes. Please sign up on the chart in Fellowship Hall, or call
Cynthia Bush at 238-4662.
ä
we need volunteers to do breakfasts
May 10,
June 14,
August 9,
September 13,
October 11,
November 15 and
December 13, too!
ä
we need more cooks for dinners
April 11,
August 8,
October 10, and
December 12!
Available
Volunteer Positions at Allied Drive Food Pantry
“A Shopper”: greet the customer and help people fill their
grocery needs.
“A Cold Person”: make up a bag
of items for customers from the fridge/freezer.
“A Re-stocker”: work in the
pantry re-stocking the shelves as they are emptied.
“A Sorter”: sort incoming bags
of food for the stocking area according to food product.
If you are interested in one of these positions please contact:
Anne or Mike Bodden
271-1548
bodden_mike@yahoo.com
Call and ask to visit the pantry to see our operation.
We are open every Wednesday
10 to Noon and again from 6-7:30pm
Special Jazz Worship
April 27! 
Mark your calendars
for Sunday, April 27 as we will have a special opportunity in our worship
together.
The annual Jazz Fest
held in
Come and worship with
us in this unique and special way.
Musings
from Marian
For
as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same
function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are
members one of another….Let love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold fast to
what is good; love one other with mutual affection, outdo one another in
showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice
in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs
of the saints, extend hospitality to strangers.
Romans 12:4-5, 9-13
Paul’s
book to the Romans is considered to be his most theological. The church to
which he was writing was an older church and one to which he had not been. In
Romans he wrote about visiting it on his way to
Look
at what he is saying to the people at
“Do
not lag in zeal…serve the Lord” always!
Youth Notes
from Kathleen Owens
New Website
The Presbyterian Foundation is sponsoring a great new website called ymiLIVE.org!
This is a place where we can post announcements for our own youth group and
also join in on discussion forums with other youth groups around the country.
You are all invited to go ymilive.org and check it out. If you want to
be part of the Westminster Madison page just send an email to
ke_owens@yahoo.com with your email and I’ll send you an invitation. Then you
can check the website for updates on what is happening at
Micah Video
To help launch this new website all the youth groups were asked to make a
short video about what Micah 6:8 (“What does the Lord require of you? But to do
justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?”) means to them. Emma
Thornburg and Aileen Zebrowski worked very hard on making a video for our
group. Everyone is invited to go to ymilive.org and watch all of the
videos and vote for their favorite. The whole congregation should check out our
video especially and remember to vote!
Coming Attractions
During April we will be adding an opportunity for youth to gather at the
church on Sunday afternoons. This will be a chance to come together and learn
about the Bible, Church and what it means to be a Christian today through drama
and music, games, and a variety of mission activities. Stay tuned for further
information; a good place to check will be the Westminster Madison page at ymilive.org.
Meet your new Youth Coordinator
There are still
some people that I have not had the opportunity to meet since taking on the
position of Interim Youth Coordinator in January. I am looking forward to
meeting you all. In the meantime I thought I would pass on a little more
information about myself. I am a graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary in
2008
newsletter deadlines/mailings; volunteers are asked to be at the office by
12:30 pm...please call if you can help J
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March 26 |
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April 23 |
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Double Issue for JUNE & JULY |
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Mail issue |
July 30 |
RUMMAGE SALE MARCH 29, 2008
Thurs.
March 27 Intake/set-up
Fri.
March 28 Intake/set-up
8 am
to 1:30 pm in Fellowship Hall
Volunteers are needed
to donate, help set up all day Thursday and Friday, work during the sale
Saturday, and especially help with clean up at 1:30.
Reduce-
Reuse- Recycle- Donate
CONTACT:
Beth Swedeen
233-7916 Sara Pope 233-0916 Ruth Hein
273-4724
The WPC
Card Club has expanded and continues to gather
the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm in the lounge.
Join this
special fellowship time which can include Euchre, Hearts, Pinochle, 500, Bridge
and other games of interest. Next
meeting is April 1. Bring your own snacks and drinks and we’ll discuss future
arrangements. One does not need a partner in order to join and play. Contact
Ken Sadeghian for details,
833-5822.
Hola mis amigos!
~~Spanish class update~~
Spanish class
schedule through May:
Apr. 13,27
May 4,11,18
Contact Ken Sadeghian and/or
Ed Cothroll for further information. The
class meets at 11:30 for approximately for one hour,
gathering in Rm. 4 after
worship.
Let’s Go Bowling April
13
Come join the fun! The Fellowship Committee
invites ALL adults, youth and children to
share a day of exercise and laughs Sunday, April 13. We’re going to Ten Pin Alley on
Nesbitt road in
Please
sign up by April 5…by
calling the church office, 238-3121;
emailing info@westminstermadison
or sign up on the
poster located in the Narthex.
Your cost: adults/older youth--$3; $2.50 for children; and shoe rental is $1.75.
(watch your mail ads for discount coupons!)
Special
Parent and Child Class Sunday
April 6 9 am
...for children age 3 through
Grade 4
Parents
and their children will meet together in Room 13 to discover the
Sacraments and Worship. There will be
activities for all. If you have a photo
of your baptism (parents and/or children), please bring them with you to the
gathering! The class will finish at 10
am. Hope to see all the parents and
children!
A
Sunday, April 20
...for children in
Kindergarten thru Grade 4
9 am: children will make cookies & placemats. (our preschool class will join this activity; but will
meet in Rm. 11 first)
5 pm: all
gather in the
Sandy Curran is in charge of providing a
meal at Pres House each third Sunday of the month. Our youth project will help
her put around the placemats, set out the dinner, serve the students, eat with
the students and clean up. We will complete our mission and be back at church
about 6:30 pm.
Come join the fun in the Rainforest!
June
22-26
5:30
to 7:45 pm
includes the mission
project:
Synod of Living Water
–wells for water
VBS is for any child age 3 thru those completing
4th grade; whether members of WPC or not! Be sure to include your children,
grandchildren, nieces & nephews, neighbors and friends!
Schedule: Supper at 5:30 pm,
followed by music, crafts, science lab, Bible stories and much more until 7:45
pm!
Cost: $10 per person
includes the meals, supplies and a music CD
Registration forms available in the church office
or on the website westminstermadison.org.
Please
register by June 10.
EARTH DAY EVERY DAY
Tips for Green
Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning can be
hazardous to your health -- and to the environment. Common household cleaners
contain alcohol, ammonia, bleach, formaldehyde and lye; all which can cause
nausea, vomiting, inflammation and burning of the eyes and throat. Some of
these ingredients have been linked with neurological, liver, and kidney damage,
and asthma and cancer. When buying & using cleaning products, here are some
things to keep in mind:
Read labels carefully to make an informed environmental decision.
If you are concerned about the safety or environmental impacts of certain
products, contact the manufacturer for more information.
When cleaning, remember to use no more than the recommended amount.
Use a scourer or rub harder on problem areas, rather than overusing
cleaners.
Do not mix products unless instructed to do so by label directions. This
can cause unwanted chemical reactions that could harm you.
Make sure containers are kept dry to prevent corrosion. If a container
begins to corrode, place it in a plastic bucket with a lid and clearly label
it.
Do-It-Yourself
Green Cleaners
Some of the greenest cleaners
are the ones you make yourself. Here are some sample recipes:
Drain Cleaner: Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the sink and
add at least a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and wait a few minutes, then
rinse with a mixture of boiling water and salt.
Window Cleaner: Mix two ounces of vinegar with a quart of water
in a spray bottle.
Silver Polish: Put a sheet of aluminum foil into a plastic or
glass bowl. Sprinkle the foil with salt and baking soda and fill the bowl with
warm water. Soak your silver in the bowl and tarnish migrates to the foil. Dry
and buff.
Brass Cleaner: Cut a lemon in half, sprinkle it with salt and
rub the lemon on the metal. Buff with a cloth.
Rust Remover: Use vinegar to remove rust on nuts and bolts and
other mineral deposits such as calcium deposits.