The ScriptFebruary – March 2018

Pastor’s LetterThis year, the entirety of Lent is contained in the months of

February and March. With this in mind, I knew that I wanted to highlight for you in this article the importance of a particular Lenten practice. As is often the case at this time of year, I can think of no better way to begin the Lenten journey together than with prayer. So let us pray:

Dear God, I often wonder why things take so long to build and yet can be reduced to nothing in an instant. I think about the jolting news of a terminal diagnosis. I am reminded of homes reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye as a result of natural disasters, and cities laid waste in a time of war. I consider the rise and fall of dynasties and empires. How often has that which takes centuries to build evaporated in just one lifetime? I think about so many great fortunes lost.

All of this uncertainty makes us nervous. But, it also reminds us that you alone are everlasting. In our faith, we live with this paradox. We claim that you became incarnate in Jesus, and we are comforted by this notion that you would choose to take on human flesh. Yet, we all know that earthly creatures die. Even your Son could not escape this reality. As we remember his legacy, we recall that what had been built over three years of ministry came crashing down in an instant. The cross would

assure his silence. Was it all for naught?

Your word teaches us that the tomb could not contain him, and so you summon us to believe in the power of the resurrection. You even promise that we will one day rise from the ashes ourselves and come face-to-face with God. Until then, we pray that you will teach us how to live, that our lives might reflect your will for all of humanity. Help us, O God, to lay both our burdens and our shame at your feet. Amen.

Jon

Worship Times 

Wednesday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m.Ash Wednesday Service

A family-friendly service where ashes will be distributed.Thursday, March 29 at 7:o0 p.m.

Maundy Thursday ServiceReflective service where Communion is served in silence.

Friday, March 30 at 12:00 (noon)Good Friday Service

Reflective service that ends in silence.Sunday, April 1 at 10:30 a.m.

Easter Communion Service with Paragon Brass Quintet

Education for children, tweens, youth and adults will NOT be held on Sunday, April 1.

Please join us for an Easter Egg Hunt on the church lawn

at 10:00 a.m. Classes will resume on Sunday, April 8, 2018.

Lent at Westminster“40 Words for 40 Days”

In previous years, Westminster has offered a variety of electronic devotionals during Lent. These have included “40 quotes for 40 days” and “40 scriptures for 40 days.” This year, we are offering “40 words for 40 days.” Here's an example: Pretzels had their origin in early Christian Lenten practice. Because fat, eggs, and milk were forbidden during Lent, a special bread was made with dough consisting of only flour, salt, and water. These little breads were shaped in the form of arms crossed in prayer and were called bracellae (Latin, “little arms”). Among the Germans the Latin word became “bretzel.”  These pretzels were a common Lenten food throughout the Middle Ages in Europe and became an all year round snack, in its original shape, only in the 19th century. To sign up to receive these daily e-votionals, please contact Germaine in our office at gwilson1250@gmail.com. 

Fish Boxes/One Great Hour of Sharing Each Palm Sunday our congregation collects money to support the larger Presbyterian Church’s work in Hunger Relief, Disaster Relief, Water Projects, and Empowerment. On February 11, the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, we will be distributing our annual Fish Boxes to the families of WPC to collect coins and paper money to support these worldwide projects. It is a great opportunity for children and families to collect together, talk together and care together for persons in need. Joining the larger church to try to tackle some of these systemic issues is a great Lenten discipline to follow. Start collecting that pocket change…the fish boxes are coming home soon! On Sunday, March 25, Westminster will provide a bulletin insert and Moment for Ministry highlighting the One

WPC on Social Media Follow us on Facebook at Westminster Presbyterian Church and Twitter

@WestPresAkron.

Great Hour of Sharing. The collection that will also be received during worship that day.

Eye Opener Bible Study The Eye Opener Bible Study meets every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. in Room 106. We are currently studying the Old Testament book of Isaiah and will be starting a new book of the Bible soon.

St. Patrick’s Day Party Join the Discipleship Committee and the Deacons as we celebrate St. Patrick's Day here at Westminster! We will gather for a delicious Irish-themed dinner at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 17. followed by a performance by The MacConmera Irish Dancers. It's a great opportunity for fun, fellowship, food and some

wonderful Irish music and dancing! Bring an O’neighbor. There will be a free will offering.Please join us! Sign-ups beginning on Sunday, March 4 at the Connection Point in Wright-Herberich Hall.

Hope Totes Haven of Rest has a special Easter outreach ministry to help needy and homeless men, women and children in our community. Westminster has traditionally assisted in collecting items for this program and this year is no exception. We will be collecting full-size or large personal care items beginning Sunday, March 4, through Sunday, March 18. Please place your donated items in the collection boxes in the narthex of the church or Wright-Herberich Hall. Items needed are: toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, shaving cream and disposable razors, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, lip balm, socks, hairbrush and comb, shoelaces, hand or body lotion, and facial tissues. The Outreach Committee thanks everyone, in advance, who donates to this ministry.

Pictorial Church Directory As of the January 18 Membership Committee meeting, the final revisions of the photo directory will be submitted to the publisher in early February. We hope have our new directory in hand by Spring. We as a committee look forward to all of you enjoying this collective “snapshot” of life at Westminster Presbyterian Church in 2017–2018!

Attention Graduates On Sunday, May 20 we will be honoring Westminster graduates during our 10:30 a.m. worship service. Are you graduating from high school, college, or graduate school? Please let us know. We would love to recognize you! Contact the church office at westminsterakron@gmail.com.

Join the Discipleship Committee for a lunch and speaker on Sunday, February 25 directly following worship. We will have a simple lunch of soup and listen to our speaker concerning the opiate crisis in Summit County. 

Our speaker will be Andy Davis, MSEd, LPCC-S, a Clinical Supervisor for Catholic Charities of Summit County. Mr. Davis has been working in the field of mental health counseling for over twenty years, providing treatment for addictions, and currently supervises and trains new counselors. His doctoral research is on Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention for Addictions.

Mr. Davis is also a member of the Summit County Opiate Task Force and will present an overview of the

Opiate Crisis: Lunch, Speaker, Discussion

opiate crisis in our community and provide suggestions for how we can help.

If you plan to attend or are willing to bring a crock-pot of soup to share, please sign-up at the Connection Point in Wright-Herberich Hall. Any questions contact Sheila Svoboda at wpcchildren1250@gmail.com.

Childcare will be available.

COMEAnnual Congregational Meeting

The Annual Congregational Meeting will take place immediately following worship on Sunday, March 18. 

ENCOUNTERWPC Men’s Club

The Men's Club continues to meet at the Olive Garden in Montrose on the second Monday of the month. Upcoming dates are February 12 and March 12. We meet at 11:30 a.m. All men of Westminster are welcome. If you would like to be added to the reminder list, please call Art Schooley (330-666-3816) or Joe Henninger (330-867-5938).

GROW

WHERE: Westminster Church/Wright-Herberich Hall

WHEN: Sunday, February 25TIME: 11:30 a.m.

Community Welcome!Lunch Provided

Book Discussion Group As always, the Book Discussion Group welcomes any and all bookworms for our eclectic discussions! We meet on the second Monday of the month on the church library at 7:00 p.m.Monday, February 12 — Origin by Dan Brown, led by Cathy Melver.Monday, March 12 —The Art of Crash Landing by Melissa DeCarlo, led by Suzanne Grafinger.Monday, April 9 — A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, led by

Kristy Yates.Monday, May 14 — Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, led by

Jacquie Mabry.

SERVEFirst Sunday Food Collection/Third Sunday Dinners

Please continue to support our food missions by bringing food to church on Sunday, February 4 and March 4 to be collected during worship.     We continue to enjoy hosting our Third Sunday Dinners each month at 5:00 p.m. Upcoming dates are Sunday, February 18, March 18 and April 15. Come enjoy the company of WPC members and community members alike!

WPC Christmas Basket Delivery Wrap-up On Saturday, December 16, the Outreach Committee’s Annual Christmas Basket Delivery went smoother than ever due to the efforts of dozens of congregation members who donated resources, time and energy. Two hundred and twenty-five food baskets were assembled and distributed to needy families in Summit County who were identified by the Salvation Army. (172 individual addresses and 53 families in the Portage Trail Village apartments.) Two truckloads of canned and fresh food (including hams) purchased from Acme #1 were unloaded by our early-rising volunteers and combined with bread donated by Nickles

Bakery. Stutler Leasing provided the delivery truck free-of-charge. Because of the strong turnout of volunteer drivers, very few drivers needed to make two trips to distribute baskets. The Westminster volunteer group consisted of adults and families with youth and children. Congregants donated $7,271 this year. Your generosity helps to maintain Westminster’s relevance in our community.

Giving Tree Success for ACCESS On Tuesday, January 16, the Outreach Committee presented ACCESS with Westminster’s 243 gifts from Our Giving Tree, nearly doubling least year’s donations. The 21 scarves and mufflers, 89 hats, 71 pairs of mittens, 49 pairs of gloves, 1 headband and 12 pairs of socks will mean so much to the children who had none. The Outreach Committee thanks everyone who donated to this heartwarming ministry

EDUCATION NEWSUpcoming WPC Children and Family Events

March 2018ALL CHURCH EVENT  

St Patrick’s Day Party,  March 17, 5:30-8:00 pmApril 2018

ALL CHURCH EASTER EGG HUNT  April 1 at 10:00 amTween Earth Day Service Event April 21, 10:00 - 12:00 pm

MAY 2018

Teacher Appreciation and Last Day of Church School May 27

Join us at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday morning. Below is a list of our offerings this year. Contact Sheila Svoboda, Director of Children and Family Ministry at wpcchildren1250@gmail.com to answer any questions you might have.

Our offerings and locations this year are:Nursery 0-4 years  9:00 am-12:00 (noon)

Bible Story Room 3 years to Kindergarten  Room 105 9:30-10:15 am

Godly Play 1st-3rd grade  Room 202 9:30-10:15 amTweens 4th-6th grade  Room 107  9:30-10:15 amYouth 7th-12th grade   Room 211   9:30-10:15 am

A cOlOrFuL year is unfolding….

Youth Snow Tubing and Super Bowl Subs The Youth sub-making and snow tubing event will be held on Saturday, February 3. Youth are invited to make subs for the mission trip fundraiser and then head to Brandywine for snow tubing. Drop-off and pick-up will be at the church and the event will last from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Everyone should pack a lunch and bring $20 for snow tubing. RSVP by Wednesday, January 31 to wpcyouth1250@gmail.com.

Super Bowl Sub Orders and Pick-up Westminster community, please order your subs by Sunday, January 28; pick-up will be the morning of Sunday, February 4. Thank you for your support!

cOlOrFuL Youth CalendarAPRIL: Youth Lock-In at the church and service project at Good Neighbors, date TBD.

JUNE 7: End of School Youth Trip to Kalahari Water Park.

Confirmation Classes Have Begun Westminster's Confirmation class began on Sunday, January 21, but it is not too late to join. For more information or to sign-up, please contact Pastor Hauerwas at jhauerwas.wpc@gmail.com. 

Adult Education The Train Ride Continues…

It's time to get back on the train to complete our journey through the Bible. After a quick look back to the end of the Old Testament, and a brief side trip to investigate what was going on between the two testaments, our journey will travel into the New

Testament. During Lent we will get to meet Jesus and explore his actions and teachings, followed by visits to the remaining New Testament books. Our trip resumes on Sunday, February 4 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 106. If you missed the first leg of the journey, now would be an excellent time to get on board for the second leg. Contact Rae Leonard for further details. Don't miss the train! We hope that you can join us at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings in Room 106 for each of these new, adult education offerings. 

Library Conversations Library Conversations happen every Sunday in our Library from 9:30-10:15 a.m. This winter we are gathering to share, rest and find fellowship without an agenda. Join us and get to know

other parents and church members. We will be exploring Parenting: A Sacred Path starting in Lent. Contact Sheila with any questions or comments at wpcchildren1250@gmail.com.

PW NewsThank Offering Success

Many THANKS to all who contributed the annual Thank Offering we had in November. We raised over $1,200 that was sent directly to National Presbyterian Women to help support its many worthwhile projects.

Spring Gathering SAVE THE DATE! Our Spring Gathering will be on Saturday, April 14. Plans are being made that will include lunch and a fashion show of children’s clothing. Models for the clothes will be needed. Stay tuned for details. Contact Margo Works 330-836-1355 or Kris Keller 330-802-1032 to sign-up to help.

PW Officers Needed Officers for next year are needed. This is a great opportunity to get involved in PW and make a difference. The Search Team is looking for YOU!  Contact Margo Works 330-836-1355, Char Molinaro 330-688-5124, Barb Shriner 330-836-0160 or Charlotte Staiger 330-836-1245.

FIVE AT FIVERemaining Schedule for Season Twenty.

Sunday, April 8, 2018   The Ohio State University at 5:00 p.m. Men's Glee ClubSunday, May 13, 2018   Mother's Day Opera/ at 5:00 p.m. Broadway Gala

Prayer Quilt Ministry     We invite anyone, male or female, to come to our "creation" meetings on the third Tuesday of each month in Wright-Herberich

Hall. We have a great time “creating”!!!! Some come to help assemble quilts, others cut squares, even more sew the quilts together. Please submit, to Marian Wahl at mcwahl@sbcglobal.net, names of those individuals whom you think might benefit from a prayer quilt from Westminster. We will contact them, pick out a quilt and start the process. 

StewardshipTime and Talent

Just as a puzzle has many pieces and congregations have many members, so too does the stewardship program in a church. The popular phrase “time, talent, treasure” is often used to describe the different areas of stewardship. In October, the Stewardship Committee presented the “treasure” piece of the stewardship puzzle – and we are thankful for the response - but there is so much

more. Recently Shelley Koutnik of the Stewardship Committee compiled a needs assessment of “time and talent” for Westminster from suggestions provided by WPC committee moderators.

Inserted into the January 28 bulletin is the outcome of that process. Just as we collected pledges for stewardship, we would now like to create a list of the ways our members and regular attenders can serve their church. Are you a plumber that can install a new faucet, a graphic artist that can create a flyer, an organizer who wants to plan a simple event for the church or a baby-lover who wants to rock children during worship? Each part of this wonderful congregation’s puzzle is important to the overall ministry of our church, but we need to know how you want to fit in! Please take the time to respond and tell us how you want to

minister at Westminster.

Once all responses are collected, a committee moderator will contact you to see how much or how little time you have to serve based on your response. We all have a place, we all fit into the puzzle and our desires are much the same…to serve as Christ

taught. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve

one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.”

-1 Peter 4:10The Stewardship Committee Time and Talent Subcommittee

Information to KnowMusic Director/Organist Search Committee

A Music Director/Organist Search Committee has been elected by Session. The committee is comprised of Stacy Franzmann (moderator), Laurel Labbe (secretary), Chris Blaha, Jacquie Mabry and Jon Hauerwas, who will serve on the committee as a staff liaison. The committee's purpose is to find a replacement for Jim Mismas and then make recommendations to the Session. We realize this will not be an easy task as Jim Mismas has served our community of faith well and has been a gift to the spiritual life of Westminster Church. The committee has already started to work and we feel confident that we will find the right candidate to fill Jim's shoes, as large as they may be. It is our goal to provide a smooth transition upon Jim's retirement in May and to have in place our next Music Director/Organist for Westminster Church when that time comes.

Membership Inquiry Are you considering deepening your relationship with Westminster? If so, please contact Pastor Hauerwas at jhauerwas.wpc@gmail.com to discuss coordinating schedules for a future membership class. 

Session to Discuss the Vision for WPC

Session is meeting from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 17 to discuss visioning for the future of our church. 

Coffee and Snow Removal Help Westminster employs the services of paid assistants for Sunday morning coffee hour and snow removal. However, as you are aware, there are occasions when paid personnel are on vacation or are ill. Life happens, including unforeseen emergencies and

short-notice cancellations. With this in mind, it would be incredibly helpful to our church if we could add your name to a list of volunteers who might assist in these areas in a pinch. Please contact our church office to learn more at westminsterakron@gmail.com.

Flowers for Easter Sunday

Your contributions, given as memorials of loved ones, will enable the Flower Committee to provide a beautiful setting in the Sanctuary for our Easter celebration. A list of the donors together with the names of loved ones will be published in the Easter Sunday bulletin. Please make your check payable to Westminster Presbyterian Church and send it the attention of Eileen Martinez. There is no set amount.

There is a link on the WPC website where you can give electronically: http://www.westminsterakron.com under “Electronic giving.”

The deadline is Monday, March 19, 2018.

Options:In Loving Memory of:

In Memory of:

In Honor of:

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

Your name: ___________________________

Donation Amount: ______________________

Sympathy is extended to Ann Allan and her family upon the death of her husband, Ron Allan, on November 26, 2017. Sympathy is extended to the family of Linda Closkey upon her death on January 18, 2018. Sympathy is extended to Maria Holcomb and her family upon the death of her husband, John Holcomb, on January 18, 2018.

New Members Join January 21, 2018 Heather Keane is a Pennsylvania native but recently moved to Ohio when she met the three loves of her life; her fiancé Vik and

his two daughters Naina (age 9) and Anika (age 6). Although she has a graduate degree in professional counseling, she is certain she has learned much more being a step-mom than she has through all her years of higher education. She was a junior deacon at her church in Pennsylvania and taught Vacation

Bible School every summer until she left for college. Volunteering in the community and helping others brings her great joy and she is looking forward to helping others in her new community and church families. 

Zack Troyer’s photo and biography was included in the January 21 bulletin.

Leadership Appreciation On January 24, Session voted to re-elect Alec Works as Clerk of Session, Shelley Koutnik as Treasurer, and Marcia Holcomb as Assistant Treasurer for 2018. Thank you all for your service! We are also grateful to Margo Works for her able leadership of the Deacons in 2017. Walter Hayes has been elected to serve as the Deacon Moderator for 2018. 

April/May 2018 Script The April/May Script will be distributed on Sunday, March 25,

2018. The Script will cover activities between March 25 – May 27, 2018. Please have all articles turned into the office by noon on Wednesday, March14 by email to gwilson1250@gmail.com.

Worship Attendance StatisticsNovember 2016 2017

10:30 10:30week 1 167 179week 2 179 163week 3 150 129week 4 182 138

December 10:30 10:30week 1 175 178week 2 157 166week 3 134 212week 4 142 154

Candlelight Service 482 452week 5 98

Monthly Financial ReportDecember

2017 Actual Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget

Total Revenues $81,136.97 $64,679.68 $616,533.23 **$625,997.00

Total Expenses $56,110.86 $56,195.98 $579,886.92 $625,997.00

Net $25,026.11 $8,483.70 $36,646.31 $0.00

**Budgeted total revenues include anticipated withdrawals from Rowley investments necessary to balance the budget totaling $63,138.00. Thanks

to many generous contributions and spending reductions, the 2017 year ended with a surplus in the amount of $36,646.31.

Please contact the Finance Office if you would like a copy of thedetailed financial report for the period ending December 31, 2017.

The final Financial Report for 2017 will be presented at the Annual Meeting.From the Finance OfficeBuilding a Foundation for Life

The members of Westminster Presbyterian Church and the greater community appreciate and sincerely thank you for your years of faithful giving that has sustained our important ministries. Another way you can preserve the Church is through a charitable bequest. When estate planning, please search your heart to find a place for Westminster Presbyterian Church in your will or living trust. Let your bequest be a testament to future generations of the faithful. Thank you and God bless you.

Giving Statements Giving Statements have been emailed or sent by mail for those who don’t have email. Contact Eileen in the church office if you have any questions or need another copy of your statement at wpcfinance1250@gmail.com.

WPC Staff:The Reverend Jonathan S. Hauerwas, Pastor jhauerwas.wpc@gmail.com

(cell phone 330-606-4551) (weekly office days: Monday - Thursday)Sheila Svoboda, Dir. of Children and Family Ministry

wpcchildren1250@gmail.com (weekly office days: Tuesday and Thursday)James Mismas, Director of Music/Organist musicdirectorwpc@gmail.com Eileen Martinez, Staff Accountant wpcfinance1250@gmail.com

(weekly office days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday)Germaine Wilson, Director of Communication gwilson1250@gmail.com

(weekly office days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday)Sean Williams, Youth Ministry Administrator wpcyouth1250@gmail.com(cell phone 717-271-1221)

Zack Troyer, Director of Children’s Choir wpcchildrenschoir1250@gmail.com

(cell phone 330-645-5184)Ron Hazelett, Director of Tween/Youth and Adult Bell Choir

wpcbellchoir@gmail.com (cell phone 330-701-7523 )Kayla Elefritz, Childcare Director kayla_elefritz@yahoo.com (cell phone 330-564-7580)Becky Harlow, Sunday and Special Events Attendant (cell phone 941-779-3099)

Westminster Presbyterian Church1250 West Exchange Street, Akron, Ohio 44313westminsterakron.com ~ 330-836-2226westminsterakron@gmail.com