This Week at Westminster -- Feb. 16 - 22

Hopefully, next week we will have a new page on our webpage titled "This Week at Westminster."  On the page, will have all our church activities listed, maybe with a little commentary. Be sure to look for this.

Wanting to get a jump start, I hope every has the notice that members are being asked to come to the church this Saturday (Feb. 8) to help prepare flowerbeds for our columbarium garden.  We need backs, shovels, and minds as we install two short decorative retaining walls, install edging, turn the sod in the beds under, and shovel in all the mulch.  We will continue work on successive Saturdays until the beds are ready for planting.  Of course the work will not stop, for we have to do some planting.

This Sunday (Feb. 9) is our annual Sunday School Food Drive.  This was started five years ago by the Parlor Class when Mike Stump was leading the discussions.  Our goal is one ton of food.  Please bring non-perishable food items  to church during the Sunday school hour, enjoy a light breakfast, then we will head to the sanctuary for worship.  Following worship we will load the trucks and take the food to Project HOPE.

The official start for  our new "This Week at Westminster" page will be February 16.  Here is a sneak  peak at what is coming up.

Sunday, February 16

                VALENTINE BINGO AND CHILI SUPPER – Don’t miss the social event of the year at Westminster.  What better way to treat your Valentine then winning a few white elephant gifts and enjoying a steaming bowl of chili.  Dinner will begin at 5:30 PM followed with B-I-N-G-O.   So B-4 you come give some thought to what while elephant gift you will bring.

                Oh, by the way we had 47 participants at our Bowling and Pizza Party hosted by our Mission Committee.  Our Building and Grounds Committee (our Bingo / Chili host) hope  to win the friendly competition with Mission by having more than 47 attend the party. 

Monday, February 17

                Our office will be closed in honor of our Presidents.

Tuesday, February 18

                BELL CHOIR PRACTICE at 5:30 pm

 Wednesday, February 19

                PASTOR’S CLASS – “The Church in the Middle Ages.”  Class begins at 6:30 in the church parlor

                CHOIR PRACTICE at 7:30 pm

Saturdays, February 22, March 1 and March 8 (all at 9 am)

                WORK DAYS IN THE GARDEN – Yes, we need backs, shovels, and minds as we prepare the gardens for our new columbarium.  We will be: stacking decorative bricks for two (short) retaining walls, installing edging for the flowerbeds, turning the sod under in the beds, and piling on the mulch.  Once everything is in place, we will plant the bushes.   Thanks to Barb Stump and her landscape expert Joann Carter for their expertise. 

 

See the church calendar for other events!

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 

 

    Jesus healed a blind man then taught, "I am the light of the world."  He fed 5,000 men with five loaves and two fish, then taught, "I am the bread of life"  He raised Lazarus from the tomb, proclaiming, "I am the resurrection and the life."  
      The signs which John records, all point us to a truth about Jesus; however, Jesus not only told us about himself, he told us who we are.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth. . . ."  Then he said, "You are the light of the world."
       We can say with certainty that we could all let out lights shine brighter.  And of course, here at Westminster we could be a little "saltier and brighter," but I rejoice at the light we shared during this past year. 
        In 2013 several of our members served on various boards and agencies of local charities such as: Love INC, Health Horizons of East Texas, and Community Rx.  We have not only supported the work of New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children (NOROC), but our ministry with NOROC has inspired the Stephen F. Austin State University  Freshman Leadership Academy to get involved with NOROC.  This group will be sending six SFA students along with our own Dr. Peck to work in the NOROC program for two weeks following graduation.  The group also hosts fund raisers  to support the NOROC ministry.
      Two of our members traveled to Belize on a medical mission trip, and one traveled to Ghana.  When the weather warms, several of our members will join with supporters of Health Horizons of East Texas to construct a much needed privacy fence for their new building. 
      When it comes to mission giving, we accomplished our goal of offering 20% of our operating income on mission projects.  This amount combined with other giving added up to about $90,000 in support for Christian missions.  Not bad for a church our size.
       Our light could be brighter, but I give thanks for a job well done.

Steve