News

Our Chester County neighbors who currently do not have shelter need your help. We’re collecting items for CHESCO in order to assemble unsheltered kits. Please donate individually wrapped travel sized items during the month of April, and place them in the marked bins at the church. Questions? Contact Angela Emrich

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, our Care of Creation team challenges you to complete the 30 Days for our Planet challenge. Each day of this challenge asks you to do one thing to reduce, reuse, rethink or educate yourself on being a good steward of God’s creation. Click here to view and download the challenge.

CVIM provides free, high quality healthcare to uninsured working people with low incomes to help them live healthy, productive lives and to assure health equity in the Chester County Region. In March, donate the items to support this ministry partner in our local community: 

• Toothbrushes (Adult and Children) Soft Bristle
• Toothpaste with Flouride
• Dental Floss and Flossers
• Interproximal Brushers
• Mouthwash (MUST BE ALCOHOL FREE)
• Feminine Hygiene Pads

Place the items in the marked bins located in Café 10 Westminster or mail them to Ann Hatfield at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Questions? Contact Angela Emrich

This Easter Sunday, we will hold two traditional services at 8:15 and 9:30 am with our Chancel Choir, brass and bells. We expect an abundance of visitors and want to make room for those who may be attending Westminster for the first time. We ask those who normally attend the 9:30 am worship service, as a sign of hospitality, please consider attending the 6:30, 8:15 or 11 am service instead.

This summer we’re launching a new summer camp for kids, Camp Spark. We need adult and youth volunteers to help share the worship, ministry, and mission of Westminster with our community. Volunteer as your schedule and talents allow Monday-Friday, June 24-28 from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Sign up to volunteer! There is a comment section for you to share your availability. All adults must have background clearances completed. We can help you get your clearances. Questions? Contact Jill Reichert. 

Want to register your child for Camp Spark? Click here for more info and registration. 

On Easter, we as a church must show hospitality to everyone who comes to Westminster. We need extra hands to welcome families with young children (6 months – 4 years) during our 9:30 & 11 am services. Can you volunteer in our nursery on Easter? Pick one or two shifts (8:30-10:30 am or 10:30 am – 12:30 pm). Questions or to volunteer, contact Mary Maina.

CVIM provides free, high quality healthcare to uninsured working people with low incomes to help them live healthy, productive lives and to assure health equity in the Chester County Region. In March, donate the items to support this ministry partner in our local community: 

• Toothbrushes (Adult and Childrens) Soft Bristle
• Toothpaste with Flouride
• Dental Floss and Flossers
• Interproximal Brushers
• Mouthwash (MUST BE ALCOHOL FREE)
• Feminine Hygiene Pads

Place the items in the marked bins located in Café 10 Westminster or mail them to Ann Hatfield at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Questions? Contact Angela Emrich

May 10 & 11 • Ocean City, NJ

We are heading to the beach for our Spring Retreat! We will explore themes of identity, belonging, and purpose for youth as created in the image of God and empowered to serve in the Spirit of Christ. Open to any youth in grades 6-12, the weekend includes games, recreation time at the beach, worship together, small group conversations, art, prayer and so much more! Cost is $100/person. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Chris Clark.

Do you recall making these vows?“… in the name of the whole church of Christ, we undertake with these parents the Christian nurture of this child so that in due time she/he may confess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?”  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we fulfilled these Baptismal promises by helping care for them during our times of worship and special events?

Our Nursery Care Team needs volunteers to nurture for our youngest ones – 6 months through 4 years. Volunteer on your schedule. Background clearances are required, but we will help you acquire them. To learn more, contact Child Care Coordinator, Mary Maina.

Dear Westminster Sisters, Brothers and Friends in Christ,

Words cannot adequately express my gratitude for the beautiful sendoff you gave me on Sunday, February 11, as I concluded 8+ years of pastoral ministry with you! I cannot thank you enough.

Thanks to all who made it possible to combine worship services for my final Sunday at Westminster: the staff, the choir, the contemporary music team, the worship support volunteers and the children’s ministry team who flexed to make this happen.

It meant the world to me to be able to gather at the same time to worship and glorify our Lord. I am grateful for everyone’s contribution to this profoundly meaningful service. I am eternally blessed by the laying on of hands and the beautiful sending offered as I stood at the center of the sanctuary following the benediction.

Thank you for the amazing celebration and reception in Spellman following the service. You blew me away! Your mindful attention to the details of theme, food, decoration, and hospitality blessed me immensely. Thank you to all who organized and contributed to make this a wonderful celebration! Reading your messages printed in cards and reflections, as well as your spoken words, have touched me in ways you’ll never know.

Thank you to the Westminster children and children’s ministry team for the gift of dandelions and the sweet painting presented to me with colorful fingerprints, reminders of seeds of faith that may have been planted in children’s lives during my time at Westminster. I pray that those seeds will take root and flourish over the coming years.

Thank you to the congregation for the thoughtful gifts of backpacks and walking sticks to be used for travels and adventures that lie ahead. And thank you all for the VERY generous financial gift given to me that will enable those travel adventures to happen.

It has been my joy and honor to serve in Christ’s ministry at Westminster along with an amazing staff and congregation. I could not have asked for a better church family in which to complete 41+ years in pastoral ministry. You are loving and faithful witnesses to our Lord Jesus Christ, serving as his disciples to one another, to the wider community and to God’s world. The light of Christ shines through you!

As I enter retirement, I carry each of you with me in my heart and prayer. I repeat what I said to you in my final benediction at Westminster: “I love you. God be with you. And remember who (and whose) you are!”

With much gratitude and love,

Jennie

For 75 years, One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) special offering has provided avenues of partnership with those who have the least. The ministries supported by OGHS – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People – work in a variety of ways to rebuild and restore the lives of families and communities. OGHS is the single, largest way Presbyterians come together to work for a better world by advancing the causes of justice, resilience, and sustainability. Each donation to OGHS helps change the lives of people who are in these challenging situations. Please consider donating during the season of Lent. Click here to donate to One Great Hour of Sharing. Thank you for your generous support!

We’ve setup a lost and found table in Café 10 West until February 25. All items not claimed at that point will go to the Westminster Thrift Shop. We have shirts to stuffed animals. Please collect anything that is yours.

April 12-14 • Sandy Cove Retreat Center
Getting from here to there in a car is a near-universal (and sometimes frustrating) experience for us. Led by Steve Clark, the retreat’s theme is Driving Lessons: Guidance for the Road(s) Most Traveled. We’ll take a look at the challenges and surprises we encounter on those journeys, and reflect on what they can teach us about navigating the path of walking with Christ. (Spoiler alert: expect a lot of “recalculating” along the way.) Click here for more info. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Gerry McShane.

April 19 & 20 • Westminster Presbyterian Church

This year we are again holding our women’s retreat on site at Westminster. Women of all ages, 16 years and older, are invited to slow down, breathe deeply and enjoy a rich time of fellowship and spiritual renewal. Our theme is “Soul Tending at the Threshold.” When the life we’ve known gives way, and it’s not yet clear what will emerge, we’re at a threshold. The threshold is a space in-between which can be disorienting and unsettling. Yet, it can also be energizing, ripe with possibility and full of creative potential.  At the threshold, practices of soul-tending deepen our engagement with each other and awaken our curiosity, that we may be drawn into the current of God’s love. Come as your schedule allows – for the full retreat on Friday and Saturday, or only for Friday or Saturday. 

Retreat Schedule

5:00 – 8:00 pm Friday
Dinner, conversation, and opening reflection on Soul-Tending At the Threshold.

8:45 am – 5:00 pm Saturday 
Light breakfast, connecting with others in small groups, deepening our
reflection on our retreat theme through Scripture small group conversation, and engagement with contemplative practices designed to tend our souls at the threshold.  After lunch, there will be more small group time, a closing reflection on ‘Crossing the Threshold’, and closing worship with communion. 

Meet Cheryl Galan 
Women’s Retreat Speaker
Cheryl is a Presbyterian minister who recently retired from the role of Interim Executive Presbyter with Carlisle Presbytery.  In more than 40 years of ministry, she also served as a Director of Christian Education at Derry, Faith and Market Square Presbyterian churches, as a pastor with congregations in NY, Kansas, and Wisconsin and as Transitional Leader with the Presbytery of Elizabeth in NJ.  A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and Grove City College, Cheryl is drawn to practices of relationship-building and spiritual formation. Through words and images, in body, mind and spirit, she seeks connection with the life-giving, community-forming, world-healing Spirit of Christ.  In retirement, Cheryl enjoys walking in nature, yoga, and dabbling in watercolor. She and her husband Jack also savor time with family and friends.

Pricing:
Friday ($35/person)
Saturday ($40/person) 
Friday & Saturday ($50/person) 

Meals:

Friday, April 19, 2024
Catered by Arianna’s. All sandwiches/wraps come with BLT Pasta side..

• Cobb Salad w/Turkey
• Gourmet Chicken Salad
• Turkey Croissant w/Cran Mayo
• Roasted Vegetable Wrap
• Dilled Tuna Salad on Honey Wheat

Saturday, April 20, 2024
Catered by Dixie Picnic. All Sandwiches come with fruit side. All selections have a deviled egg and Upcake… 

• Goat Cheese Praline Salad
• Nutty Chicken Salad
• Caesar Salad w/chicken.
• Roast Turkey Sandwich on Sourdough
• Virginia Baked Ham w/Swiss on multigrain

Click here for more info. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Jennie Clark.

Monday-Friday June 24 – 28 (8 am – 12 pm with optional afternoon component from 12-4 pm)

We are excited to announce the launch of a NEW summer children’s program, Camp SPARK (Spiritual Practices And Recreation for Kids)! This camp will share the worship, ministry, and mission of Westminster with our community. We hope you’ll join us! The morning activities will focus on Worship Arts or things you experience in worship while the afternoon will focus on Westminster’s ministry and mission.

The morning: Bible storytelling/drama, drumming/percussion, liturgical movement, singing/music, worship tech, creative reading, freeze frame/tableaux. 

The afternoon: Baking, wood projects, weaving, knitting/crocheting, gleaning garden & care of creation, pickle ball, outreach projects, games/rec, and more. 

Pricing*: 

• $150/child for morning only camps (Family max – $250)
• $250/child for full day camp (Family max- $500)

*Scholarships/Sponsorships available as needed
*Discounts available for adult family members who volunteer

Register: 

• Register for Full Day Camp SPARK (Rising K-5th Grade)
• Register for Morning Only Camp SPARK (Rising K-5th Grade)
• Register for Pre-K (4&5 year olds)

*Scholarships/Sponsorships available as needed

*Discounts for adult volunteer families

Questions or for more info, contact Jill Reichert.

We also need volunteers! Click here to see some roles needed. Adults will need background clearances; we are glad to help you through the clearance process!

We are launching a new summer program this summer! Camp SPARK (Spiritual Practices And Recreation for Kids). Monday-Friday (June 24-28) 8am-12pm with optional afternoon component (12-4pm).

Ages: Pre-K (4-5, one year prior to Kindergarten) – Morning Only
K-5 (rising) – Morning and Optional Afternoon

We need LOTS of adult and youth volunteers to help workshop leaders in the morning and afternoon, and just general help to keep the cogs turning throughout the day:

Morning Workshops: Creative Words in Worship, Drumming, Music/Chorus, Dance/Movement, Worship Technology, Storytelling/Drama

Afternoon Workshops: Baking, Knitting/Weaving, Wood Projects, Gleaning Garden/Care of Creation, Art, Outreach/Service Projects, Rec/Games, Pickleball

If you can help a workshop leader or offer general help, please sign up TODAY!

• Register to volunteer for Full Day Camp SPARK
• Register to volunteer for Morning Only Camp SPARK
• Register to help with Pre-K

All adults must have background clearances completed. Please connect with Jill Reichert. We are excited to share the worship, ministry, and mission of Westminster with our community. We hope you’ll join us!

This month bring in items for ACT in Faith of Greater West Chester, which is an interfaith organization that helps individuals and families with immediate needs. Staff and volunteers work to stabilize households, encourage self-sustainability, and build community.  Please bring in full-size items of bar soap, toothpaste, deodorant (male/female/unisex) during the month of February and place them in the marked bins located in Café 10 West. Questions? Contact Ann Hatfield

For the past 20+ years Westminster collected winter coats. This year we decided to pivot and collect new Warm Winter Blankets (Twin or Full Size preferred but Queen accepted too) from October 15 through November 5. We will distribute the blankets to Chester County Migrant Ministries, Safe Harbor, the Community Warehouse, West Chester Food Cupboard, the St. Agnes Day Room, and Prevention Point of Philadelphia. Blankets can be dropped off in the bins around the building or ordered online at Amazon, Walmart or your favorite retailer, and sent to the church directly at 10 Pleasant Grove West Chester, Pa, 19382. Questions? Contact Laureen Smith.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is a community on a mission to Know Christ and Make Christ Known! Knowing Christ creates abundant life for us and for all the world, we are called to thrive and to help our neighbors thrive. Currently, 89.6% of our operating budget is supported by your annual gifts and pledges. Your pledge helps our leadership plan faithfully and responsibly for the future year at Westminster. We pray you consider increasing your pledge in 2024, if you are able, we challenge you to work toward a tithe (10% of your income).

Commitment Sunday is this Sunday, October 22. We will joyfully celebrate and dedicate all our gifts in support of our mission. You can pledge online, mail your pledge card to the church, or bring your pledge card with you this Sunday. Thank you for being a part of Westminster and our life-affirming work of Knowing Christ, and Making Christ Known and for all the ways you support Westminster and share abundant life together. Questions? Contact Sandy Kurek.

A big thank you to everyone who kindly donated socks to the annual Sock It To Us Drive. This year we collected 1,820 pairs of socks! We will distribute them to Tick Tock Early Learning Center, St. Agnes Day Room, CYWA Gateway Shelter, Chester County Migrant Ministries, Atkinson Men’s Shelter and Broad Street Ministries.

We are looking to build a small team of people who can…

• Rotate weekly to refresh & reorganize the items in the worship carts (can be done almost any time the church is open).
• Meet (in person or Zoom) periodically as a team to brainstorm new ways to engage young people in the worship service by incorporating new items to rotate into the worship carts.

If you can be part of this team, please contact Jill Reichert, Director of Children & Family Ministries.

Thank you to everyone who has donated socks for our annual Sock it to Us Drive already this month. Can you help us keep people’s feet warm this year? We’re trying to gather 2,000 socks this year and have collected 1,000 so far which leaves only three days left to accomplish our goal! We will distribute donations of NEW socks (sizes from infants to adults of any size and style) to Tick Tock Early Learning Center, St. Agnes Day Room, CYWA Gateway Shelter, Chester County Migrant Ministries, Atkinson Men’s Shelter, City Gates Men’s Shelter, and Broad Street Ministries. Please bring your sock donations to the bins located in Café 10 West. You can also order online, and have them shipped directly to the church, care of Ann Hatfield.

We are in need of adults who will serve with and for children and youth ministry at Westminster. Clearances are required, but we can help you obtain them. Questions or interested? Contact our Director of Youth & College Ministry Chris Clark, or Director of Children & Families Jill Reichert.

• Youth Group (5:30-6:30 pm Sundays – dinner included): Seeking 2 adults to serve in a ministry of presence and friendship with the youth who attend Youth Group. This includes building relational connections with youth and helping lead activities, conversations, or games on Sunday nights. Consistent weekly presence is desirable, but not mandatory in this role.
• Faith Lab – Make, Move, & Meditate (Oct. 22, 29, Nov. 5, 12, 19 & 26 during 11 am worship): Seeking 2-3 adults who will help lead either middle school or high school groups explore spiritual practices with teens. No “prayer experts” required – simply a willingness to help teens try practices that can help them connect with themselves, their neighbor, all creation, and God.
• Middles KidsConnect Class (During 9:30 am worship): Our 2nd & 3rd grade KidsConnect class is in need of additional help on the teacher/helper rotation. No prep work ahead of time – just volunteer once every 4-6 weeks.

Interested in Handbells?

• Chancel Ringers (open to adults)
  7-8:30 pm Wednesday rehearsals in Spellman Hall.
  Contact Ron Bellamy to learn more
• New Beginner Handbell Class (grade 9-adults)
  6-6:45 pm Wednesday rehearsals in Spellman Hall for six weeks starting October 4.
  Come learn about this exciting instrument with no performance pressure.
  Contact Linda Lorgus to sign up or to learn more. 

Interested in Choirs?

Visit our website or contact Tim Evers, Director of Music Ministries for more info.

• Chancel Choir (open to adult singers)
  7-9 pm Thursday rehearsals in the Music Room.
  Christmas Concert rehearsals begin October 5. Guest singers are welcome.  
• Youth Choir (youth in grades 6-12)
  5- 6 pm Sunday rehearsals in the Music Room starting September 17. 
• Children’s Choir (children in grades 2-5)
  5-5:55 pm Wednesday rehearsal in Spellman Hall

Interested in Worship Band?

• Worship Band (open to youth & adult singers and instrumentalists)
  7-9 pm Wednesday rehearsals in the Sanctuary
  Contact Jon Frost for more information.

7 pm Saturday, October 28 • Sanctuary

You won’t want to miss this incredible concert with The Brilliance along with special guests and friends of Westminster, Found Wandering. The Brilliance will be performing with a small chamber orchestra and choral ensemble. Early bird tickets are on sale now through 9/10. Click here to get your tickets today! Questions? Contact Jon Frost.

Our annual Sock drive begins tomorrow Friday, September 1, and runs throughout September. Last year we collected 1,900 pairs of socks! Thank you for your generosity! Let’s try to gather 2,000 socks this year! We will distribute donations of NEW socks (sizes from infants to adults of any size and style) to Tick Tock Early Learning Center, St. Agnes Day Room, CYWA Gateway Shelter, Chester County Migrant Ministries, Atkinson Men’s Shelter, City Gates Men’s Shelter, and Broad Street Ministries. Please bring your sock donations to the bins located in Café 10 West. You can also order online, and have them shipped directly to the church, care of Ann Hatfield. Questions? Contact Kim Benfer

September 10 – October 1
Join our pastors this fall as we journey into a season of creation. It is part of the global movement for the Season of Creation, an annual month-long season when Christian communities pray and act to protect creation. We’ll dig deep into our faith and come away feeling refreshed in our unity and our love for each other and the Creator.

543-545 East Gay St. Plaza, West Chester • 610-692-9298

The Westminster Thrift Shop returns to regular shop hours on Tuesday, September 5. Thank you to our faithful and supportive congregation, for it is only through your generosity that we can continue our mission of helping our community and outreach nonprofit partners. Qustions? Contact Karen Koepke.

Shop Hours

9 am – 3 pm Monday (workday)

10 am – 3 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

Closed: Thursday

9 am – 12 pm Saturday

As Presbyterians, we claim Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace, and we pattern our lives in the compassion, kindness, and grace He demonstrates. We can joyfully extend that peace to others through the Peace & Global Witness Offering, which promotes peacemaking efforts throughout the world. This year, Westminster will be directing 25% of this collection to the Community Warehouse Project and Angels Against Addiction. We will dedicate our gifts to this offering on World Communion Sunday, October 1. Learn how the PCUSA helps neighbors who live down the street and across the globe. Click here to donate to the Peace & Global Witness Offering. 

Fall programming is coming! As we continue to build our Children and Youth ministries, our young people need you to connect with them. They need lots of connections in their church as all of Westminster family love and care for them. We are all part of nurturing their faith.

Can you fulfill your Baptismal vows in this way? We will train and equip you. We will nurture you and provide the resources that you need… but we need you. All of those children need you. You are 100% guaranteed that these children will bless you beyond measure. 

What is the time commitment? Volunteers help on an as-needed basis when staff are unavailable or we need to add adults to keep a safe adult/child ratio. All adults who participate in ministry involving children are required by State law to have background clearances and are updated every 5 years. Contact Jill Reichert for more info on children’s ministries. Contact Chris Clark for more info on youth ministries. Contact the office to find out how you go about getting or renewing your clearances. If you are not sure if you are due for renewal, the office can answer that, as well.

Our Sunday morning live stream doesn’t happen all by itself, it takes four AV technicians every service who control the cameras, audio, and the text on the screen. Would you like to be one of them? Volunteers are needed at both morning services. Anyone in 6th grade and older can volunteer – even those who consider themselves not very techy. Contact Lynn George or Jon Frost for more info.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is coordinating with the Presbytery of the Pacific, the Red Cross, and other emergency response agencies to support the communities impacted by the devastation of the recent wildfires in Hawaii. As search and recovery efforts continue, your prayers are appreciated for everyone struggling with this disaster. Along with our prayers, financial donations will help PDA provide recovery efforts in areas impacted by the wildfires. Click here to support the PDA’s efforts or make checks payable to Westminster Presbyterian Church, designating “Wildfire Response” in the memo line. We will forward the collected funds to PDA. Click here for updates on the response efforts. Thank you for your generosity!

Westminster has provided an option to bring your K-pods to have them recycled, and many of you have taken advantage of that, so thank you! Unfortunately, it is becoming cost prohibitive and it is still not the best option environmentally. The goal is for our congregation to eliminate the use of Single Use K-Pods. Our Care of Creation Committee wants us to consider alternatives to the single use pods. As convenient as coffee pods are for that one cup of coffee, the impact on the environment of those pods is quite shocking. A recent report cited the following statistics:

• 62 billion pods are consumed annually in North America and Europe.
• Only 27% of people recycle coffee pods, so 45 billion pods go to waste.
• 123 million pods go to landfills daily. 

Reusable K pods are available on Amazon. Some companies such as Nespresso offer their own free of charge options; others such as Keurig do charge. Questions? Contact Anne Jaques

Beginning in 8th grade, Westminster Presbyterian Church offers youth a 7-month long confirmation experience framed by the PC(USA) Matthew 25 initiative, where they are confirmed for a journey of faith exploration and engagement alongside an adult mentor.

• Confirmands EXPERIMENT with various practices and exercises around Christian faith values by using resources from a provided playlist on a bi-weekly basis, to gain theological understanding and confidence to serve “the least of these” in their community.
• They DEVELOP a relationship with a caring adult mentor by meeting with them two times a month for conversation, connection, and reflection, because adult mentors are vital to the flourishing of young people in their life and faith formation.
• Finally, confirmands CREATE a Pay It Forward Project as the culmination of their class experience using grant money to seed their support for a cause, ministry, or organization of their choice in the local community in order to help youth realize a sense of personal agency in their faith.

All youth in 8th grade or older and have not taken the journey of confirmation class are invited for the 2023-2024 year. The registration can be found HERE on our church website. Deadline to register: September 10.

90% of the students at Cheyney qualify as low income, disabled, or are the first in their family to attend college. We would like to welcome all 750 Cheyney students back to campus with a gift from Westminster. Each student will receive an aluminum water bottle filled with goodies. We will collect colored pens & highlighters, colored sticky notes, candy, $5 Wawa gift cards, and popcorn between July 23 – August 13. Please drop off donations of any of these items in the collection bins around the church. Join us between 12 – 4 pm on Wednesday, August 16, in Room 413 to help pack the water bottles. Questions? Contact Angela Emrich or Nancy Tuttle.

It is with joy that we introduce you to Janet Gauger who has graciously and enthusiastically volunteered to be our new Prayer Ministry Coordinator. Janet and her husband Rich joined Westminster in 2010 and she has also served as the Sunshine Coordinator for the Chancel Choir over the years. Janet’s gifts of compassionate care, deep listening, and faithful service to the church will allow for this Prayer Ministry of and for the people of Westminster and beyond to continue each week. Contact Janet or the church office if you wish to join our prayer ministry team or have a prayer concern you’d like our prayer ministry to lift up. Prayer request forms are located in the sanctuary pew racks.

Is Westminster filling your spiritual needs? Tell us what you value about worship and how we can make or deepen our connection with you. What can we do better? Let us know! Your responses to this 5-minute questionnaire will help leaders assess how we can best serve and connect with you and your household.

We are looking for a new volunteer administrator to help lead the prayer chain ministry. This ministry takes a few short hours a week to gather emailed requests for prayer and send them out compiled in one email to Westminster’s faithful Prayer Warriors. Questions or to express your interest in leading this valuable ministry, contact Jennie Moffitt in the church office.

90% of the students at Cheyney Qualify are low income, disabled, or are the 1st in their family to attend college. We would like to welcome all 750 Cheyney student back to campus with a gift from Westminster. Each student will receive an aluminum water bottle filled with goodies. We will collect colored pens & highlighters, colored sticky notes/index cards, candy, $5 Wawa gift cards, and popcorn between July 23 – August 13. Please drop off donations of any of these items in the collection bins around the church. Questions? Contact Angela Emrich or Nancy Tuttle.

Our Gleaning Garden is growing produce for local food cupboards, and we can use your help. This week we finished spinach and are picking peas and herbs. We’re starting to harvest peppers, tomatillo, cucumbers, squash and beans. No gardening experience is needed, and the time commitment is flexible. If you have an hour or two during the day and could harvest and then deliver to a Food Cupboard, that would be ideal. Groups, families and weeders are welcome! Click here to signup to volunteer. Questions? Contact Anita Gordon.

We need volunteers to prepare dinner for 20 residents of Safe Harbor on August 5. You will prepare, deliver and serve hot meals for up to 20 residents. Click here to signup. Questions? Contact Angela Emrich.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America and has arrived at Westminster! We now have two courts back by the outdoor chapel (the back right corner of the parking lot.) If you are an experienced Pickle Baller or new to the game, come out and have some fun and join us for a game of pickleball 6:30-8 pm Monday, June 27 or 1:30-3 pm Monday, July 10. We will give instructions for those who are new. The goal is to have open play for any member of Westminster once we get a locked equipment box. If anyone has a large metal box or other appropriate box-like structure (40 inches or longer) that can be locked and wants to donate to hold our equipment or if you have paddles you would like to donate, please contact Laureen Smith or Tim Jaques. 

As a Matthew 25 congregation, Westminster is committed to the work to dismantle structural racism and work towards God’s dreams of justice, jubilee, and liberation for all people. This weekend there are Juneteenth celebration opportunities taking place in West Chester, Kennett Square, Coatesville and Phoenixville. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the date on which enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally received the news of their emancipation. We invite you to come alongside our brothers and sisters of color in the celebration of Juneteenth this weekend. Click here to find ways to participate in this celebration.

Our Gleaning Garden is growing produce for local food cupboards, and we can use your help. This week we finished spinach and are picking peas and herbs. Harvesting peppers, tomatillo, cucumbers, squash and beans will begin later this month. No gardening experience is needed, and the time commitment is flexible. If you have an hour or two during the day and could harvest and then deliver to a Food Cupboard, that would be ideal. Groups, families and weeders are welcome! Click here to signup to volunteer. Questions? Contact Anita Gordon.

8:45 am Sundays, June 18- September 3 • Music Room

Adults and high school youth are invited to sing in worship. Drop in one week or hang out for the summer. On Sundays, anyone who wishes to sing that morning can meet in the Music Room at 8:45 am to practice an anthem and response for that morning’s 9:30 worship service. Come and sing! Questions? Contact Tim Evers.

Are you or do you have a son or daughter graduating from high school, college, or the military? Congratulations! Let us know so we can recognize them at the church. Send us a picture and a brief write up including the proud parents’ names, the grad’s full name, where they are graduating from, and where they will be pursuing their education (college/major) or the job they will be taking on! We would also love to include if they were involved in any programs, activities, trips, or groups within the church too! Drop off a picture (8×10 or 5×7 which will be returned, so include your address) and the write up to the church office. Questions? Contact Susanne Perkins.

Mary grew up in West Chester and has been a member at Westminster since 2014. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy from Richmond, the American International University in London. Mary continues to work as a Paralegal. She and her partner, Jean-Baptiste have been together for five years and have one child, Samuel. When not working, Mary enjoys reading and going on adventures with her son.

9:45 – 11 am June 7 – August 9 • Hybrid (Spellman Jr. & Zoom)

“Got Wisdom?” is a weekly (except not meeting VBS week June 21) Hybrid Summer Women’s Bible Study exploring the Hebrew wisdom writings of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job, taught by Sue Fry. It is a recap and continuation of Sue Fry’s Journey Class earlier this year. There is no signup, so just come as you are able. There is no workbook to purchase and no homework, just come and learn. Click here to attend via Zoom. Questions? Contact Kathy Smedley.

Send a child back to school well prepared through Bridge Academy in Coatesville. Buy a backpack and fill it with school supplies or buy specific items to fill a backpack. Click here for a full list of supplies. Money donations and Walmart gift cards are welcome, too! ($50 to fill a backpack or $75 to buy and fill a backpack.) Drop off the filled backpack or individual items in Café 10 West by July 31. Questions? Contact Laura Davis.

In person gatherings at church, dinner included: 6-7:30 pm Thursdays, June 15 & August 17
Virtual gatherings via Zoom: 6:30-7:30 pm Thursdays, June 29 & August 3

No matter what stage of life your kids are in, your role and identity as “parent” is ever present. Whether your kids are just entering middle school or emerging into the professional work world, we want to bring parents together to support them in whatever stage of parenting they find themselves through the guidance of the book Growing With: Every Parent’s Guide to Helping Teenagers and Young Adults Thrive in Their Faith, Family, and Future by Kara Powell & Steven Argue. We don’t expect to find all the answers as we journey together, but we hope to create space for parents to share stories, support one another, and discover what it looks like for parents to grow alongside their kids. The book will be explored in smaller groups based on age/life stage of your kids and guided by parent leaders. Click here to register for the group. Click here to buy the book. Questions? Contact Chris Clark.

Did you know 1 in 3 US Moms report suffering from Diaper Need? Diaper Need is the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep an infant or toddler clean, dry and healthy. Please consider honoring a Mom you know by donating diapers & wipes during May. Diapers and wipes will be distributed to 7 organizations in Chester County that work with families in need of diapers. Diapers and wipes can be left in collection bins throughout the church or purchased online, and delivered directly to Westminster at 10 West Pleasant Grove Road, West Chester PA 19382. Questions? contact Angela Emrich.

We are looking for a few sewers for our next Days for Girls event! Days for Girls increases access to menstrual care and education by developing global partnerships, cultivating Social Enterprises, mobilizing volunteers and innovating sustainable solutions that shatter stigma and limitations for women and girls. Click here to learn more about Days for Girls. We will be sewing menstruation kits. Sewing Machines will be provided. To sign up contact Lisa Merrill.

Childcare Coordinator: This 5-7 hour per week position needs someone who loves God’s children, and has great organizational skills. Click here to read the job description.

Associate Director of Music: This part-time position (20 hours/week) will support the adult and youth choirs while leading the children’s choir program. A successful candidate will also be an integral part of worship leadership from the organ and piano. Click here to view the full job description. Questions? Contact Tim Evers.

We are changing how we text give at Westminster which is easy and saves us subscription/processing costs. Our Director of Finance, Sandy Kurek shows you how in this short video. Just text keyword “EGIVEWPC” to 73256 on your mobile device. Click the response link and add the amount, Fund(s) (new), frequency, date, email and select or add your payment information. That’s all – we challenge you to try it! Questions? Contact Sandy Kurek.

We are beginning the process of hiring an Associate Director of Music Ministries. This part-time position (20 hours/week) will support the adult and youth choirs while leading the children’s choir program. A successful candidate will also be an integral part of worship leadership from the organ and piano. Click here to view the full job description. Questions? Contact Tim Evers.

The Chester County Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America and the Greater West Chester Sunrise Rotary are collecting pre-owned hearing aids. They will coordinate with another nonprofit organization to provide hearing testing, hearing aid adjustments, and distribution of used hearing aids to low-income, qualified, hearing-impaired people. If you have hearing aids to donate, please drop them off in the church office. Questions? Contact Pastor Ann.

9 am – 12 pm June 19-23

VBS is quickly around the corner. We need youth and adult heroes to help with Hero Hotline Vacation Bible School! We need Pre-VBS Prep Help & Decorators, Registration Helpers, Crew Leaders, Bible Story/Drama Participants, Craft Station Leaders, Science Station Leaders, Music Leaders, Recreation Leaders, Preschool Leaders & Snack Helpers. Contact Jill Reichert TODAY to let us know you can be a HERO, too!

Westminster is extending its Campus Ministry partnership to Cheyney University. Founded in 1837, and located less than 4 miles from WPC, Cheyney is the first Historically Black College and University in the nation. In September 2022, Cheyney Received PA Hunger-Free Campus Certification in recognition of its efforts to combat food insecurity. However, students have many needs, particularly with non-food items. During the month of April, Westminster will be collecting: toilet paper, paper towels, tissues (these are not provided to students on campus),

laundry pods, feminine products, packaged snacks and drinks. Please drop off donations in bins located in the Heckert Center (Near Cafe 10 West) or mail to the church. Questions? Contact Ann Hatfield

10:45 am Sundays, April 23 – May 21 • Hybrid (Spellman Jr & Zoom)

In this five week hybrid series with Dr. Manfred Brauch, we will seek to engage the Old Testament, as well as to be engaged by it. We will survey the story of Israel and its faith traditions via an overview of its “birth” over the course of a 2000-year history, the content of the Old Testament, the great variety of its literature, its history and cultural contexts, its major themes, its importance for our understanding of the New Testament, it’s problematic dimensions for the Christian faith, and its continuing significance for Christian faith and life. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Jennie Clark.

April 23          Introduction

A Historical overview of Israel’s story and its faith traditions — within the larger context of the history of the ancient Near East — as expressed in the great variety of the “Library of books” that make up the Old Testament.

April 30          The Cultural/Social/Historical Contexts of the OT

In this session we will explore how the OT reveals that Israel’s history and faith traditions contain both aspects of it’s historical-cultural contexts and ways in which her faith, her understanding of the nature and purposes of God stands over against aspects of that context.

May 7             The “Problem” of the Old Testament

There are matters within Israel’s faith traditions and history – as articulated within various parts of the OT – that have raised serious issues and indeed objections throughout Christian history. Already within the OT, there are significant voices, especially in the prophetic literature, which raise objections to, and in some cases reject, theological convictions and religious/social practices in earlier eras of Israel’s story. That “critique” continues in the teaching and practices of Jesus and in the writings of his earliest followers. That reality raises the question: What are the implications of this “internal critique” for Christian life and faith and for our understanding of Scripture as “Word of God”?

May 14           The OT is Indispensable for Christian Faith and Life

Much of the New Testament is inexplicable apart from the faith traditions of Israel in which the NT is grounded, and which it completes. As Paul puts it, “Christ is the end (goal, climax, completion) of the law.” (Romans 10:4). We will explore the continuity within the unity of the Old and New Testaments.

May 21           The God of the Old Testament

In this final session we will explore the central understanding of the nature of God and God’s purposes for human life, as these emerge from the various dimensions of Israel’s faith traditions. It turns out that “the God of steadfast love and faithfulness”, revealed in the pages of the OT, is indeed the God whose nature is fully and completely disclosed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and that “the way of Jesus” is indeed the “way of Yahweh”.

A big thank you to everyone who kindly donated socks to the annual Sock It To Us Drive. This year we collected 1,820 pairs of socks! We will distribute them to Tick Tock Early Learning Center, St. Agnes Day Room, CYWA Gateway Shelter, Chester County Migrant Ministries, Atkinson Men’s Shelter and Broad Street Ministries.

For the past 20+ years Westminster collected winter coats. This year we decided to pivot and collect new Warm Winter Blankets (Twin or Full Size preferred but Queen accepted too) from October 15 through November 5. We will distribute the blankets to Chester County Migrant Ministries, Safe Harbor, the Community Warehouse, West Chester Food Cupboard, the St. Agnes Day Room, and Prevention Point of Philadelphia. Blankets can be dropped off in the bins around the building or ordered online at Amazon, Walmart or your favorite retailer, and sent to the church directly at 10 Pleasant Grove West Chester, Pa, 19382. Questions? Contact Laureen Smith.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is a community on a mission to Know Christ and Make Christ Known! Knowing Christ creates abundant life for us and for all the world, we are called to thrive and to help our neighbors thrive. Currently, 89.6% of our operating budget is supported by your annual gifts and pledges. Your pledge helps our leadership plan faithfully and responsibly for the future year at Westminster. We pray you consider increasing your pledge in 2024, if you are able, we challenge you to work toward a tithe (10% of your income).

Commitment Sunday is this Sunday, October 22. We will joyfully celebrate and dedicate all our gifts in support of our mission. You can pledge online, mail your pledge card to the church, or bring your pledge card with you this Sunday. Thank you for being a part of Westminster and our life-affirming work of Knowing Christ, and Making Christ Known and for all the ways you support Westminster and share abundant life together. Questions? Contact Sandy Kurek.