March 16, 2016 Newsletter - Westminster Presbyterian Church

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Do Justice • Love Kindness • Walk Humbly
March 16, 2016
Friends and fellow disciples,
It is almost time.
This Sunday, Palm Sunday, begins the most important week of the year.
I know there’s plenty going on, and we all have the same things to
juggle that we did before, but I challenge you to do a couple of things
this Holy Week:
Slow down. Just a little. We’re trying to model some of that here at
the church as we observe our annual Holy Week Silent Campus. We’ve
cleared out some meetings and other activities, so it really will be
pretty quiet around here. Come sit on a bench in the Memorial Garden or in the gazebo down
by the cabin. Take a breath for a moment.
Read the story of this week. The Revised Common Lectionary walks you through each day –
most of this year’s readings come from John’s gospel. Follow along with the Scriptures below
or find them online at www.bit.ly/1S3YgjH (click the date in the calendar on the right to get the
readings for that day). Join me in reading the story next week.
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Sunday – Luke 19:28-40
Monday – John 12:1-11
Tuesday – John 12:20-36
Wednesday – John 13:21-32
Thursday – John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Friday – John 18:1-19:42
Saturday – Luke 24:1-12
In this Issue
Concerns & Celebrations
March Clothing Collection
4 Days Until CROP Walk
Neighborhood Mission Team
Holy Week at Westminster
2016 Easter Offering
Donate an Easter Lily
Faith Seeking Understanding
In the Library
WOW: First Wednesdays
Two Weeks to Register for VCS!
we•form kids
Welcome, New Members!
Women's Retreat Reflections
Youth Ministry News
A Call for Nominations
Westminster School for Children
Marriage Discernment
Session Notes
Community Opportunities
Preaching Schedule
Worship Volunteers
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Come to church. You know Palm Sunday and Easter are a big deal, and the music will soar. But,
Maundy Thursday is, I believe, the thing that makes the whole week work. You can’t have a true
sense of what resurrection means until you’ve spent time remembering Jesus’ deep suffering
and the tremendous pain he endured. You can’t really get the deep joy of Easter until you’ve
walked the journey to the tomb.
In Holy Week we get to the heart of the matter. It will be my privilege to once again share this
extraordinary week with you, and give thanks to God for the life, death, and resurrection of
Christ Jesus our Lord, every step of the way.
Only 15 days remain to register for
Vacation Church School
this summer!
Chris
See page 4
Westminster Presbyterian Church is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).
March 16, 2016
Concerns & Celebrations
Please remember the following in your prayers this week.
The birth of Tali & Vernon Benignus's grandson
The death of John Caccavale's father
The death of Alex & Mary Denson's great-niece
Ken Diehl
Judy Lamon's friend
Ken Lundstrom's friend
David McQuay's friend
Donald & Shirley Rufty's friend
Dave Snider
Ray Soloe
The death of Ann Squire
Betty & Judd Staples' nephew
Volunteer Opportunities
4 Days Until CROP Walk!
March Clothing Collection
We challenge all of Westminster to be involved in the fight
against hunger by participating in the CROP Walk this Sunday,
March 20. This 8-kilometer walk is a journey symbolic of the
typical daily trek for thousands in developing countries to gather
fresh water. Sign up, sponsor a walker, or make your donations
online at www.durhamcropwalk.org.
For the month of March, we will collect clothes for students at
Hope Valley Elementary and Githens Middle School.
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New underwear (boys and girls sizes 5-14)
Socks (all child and youth sizes)
Short-sleeve and long-sleeve t-shirts (sizes 5-14; Adult
Sm, Med, Lg)
Shorts and pants (boys and girls sizes 5-14)
Jeans (junior girls sizes 1-13; boys jeans sizes 14-16;
mens jeans)
We hope you will join us, whether as a walker or sponsor.
Together we can change the world, one step at a time. Contact:
Geoff Vaughn (geoffrey.vaughn@duke.edu).
Please place your donations in the yellow collection bin in the
Mission Center by the end of March!
See below for more information on how you can support
Hope Valley Elememtary and Githens Middle School with the
Neighborhood Mission Team.
Strategic Planning Progress
In each newsletter, we'll update you on the progress of Westminster's strategic plan. Learn more at www.bit.ly/wpcSPp3.
Neighborhood Mission Team
The Neighborhood Mission Team’s goal is to identify ways that church members can be involved with our neighbors. We will be
publicizing one-time opportunities as well as opportunities that involve a greater time commitment.
If you’re interested in an easy way to make an impact on a child’s life, consider signing up to be a lunch buddy to a student at
Hope Valley. If you’re interested in having some fun with our neighbors, please volunteer for an hour or two with the Hope Valley
Elementary Family Fun Day. There are options for everyone no matter how busy you may be!
Opportunity
Time Commitment
Be a lunch buddy to a student at Hope Valley Elementary
45 minutes every other week
Meet with a Githens student to help them get organized so that learning is easier
About one hour
Hope Valley Elementary Family Fun Day: Saturday, April 9, from 11am-3pm. This fun community
event will be a great way to spend time with neighbors. Volunteer at www.bit.ly/1Wo8Weh.
One-time event
Donate clothing for Hope Valley and Githens students
See above
If you can help or have any questions, please contact Monica Nichols (monica.nichols@ge.com, 919-672-5316).
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Westminster Presbyterian Church
2016 Easter Offering
Holy Week At Westminster
WPC's annual Easter offering will be collected on Sunday, March
20, and Sunday, March 27. Half of the offering will support One
Great Hour of Sharing, an ecumenical effort that began in 1949,
and continues to provide relief to those affected by natural
disasters, provide food to the hungry, and assist in helping to
empower the poor and oppressed.
Holy Week will be observed at Westminster with a "silent
campus" and special worship services. Only support groups like
Narcotics Anonymous and those that directly support our Holy
Week worship will meet on WPC's campus. Our schedule will be:
Sunday, March 20: Palm Sunday
The children's Palm & Fish Bank Parade will take place at both
services. Parents, please have your children in the Courtyard 10
minutes before each service to receive palms for the parade, and
don't forget the fish banks! See right for details.
Wednesday, March 23
All are invited to come see the we•form kids tell the Holy Week
story at 5:30pm in the Sanctuary. See page 4 for details.
Thursday, March 24: Maundy Thursday
A worship service will be held at 7:30pm in the Sanctuary. Come
remember the intimacy of the upper room and the Last Supper
as we gather around the table in communion.
Friday, March 25: Good Friday
Music for Meditation will be offered in the Sanctuary from
noon to 2pm. Suggested scripture readings will be available for
meditation on this solemn day.
Sunday, March 27: Easter Sunday
Worship will take place at 8:30 and 11am in the Sanctuary. A
Potluck Easter Brunch will take place at 9:45am in the Fellowship
Hall. Beverages will be provided. All are asked to bring something
to share. If your last name starts with...
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A-G: main dishes (ham, breakfast casserole, etc.)
H-P: breads or starches (rolls, pastries, potatoes, etc.)
Q-Z: fruit or veggie sides
Please sign up at www.bit.ly/myWPCserve if you can help set up,
help during brunch on Sunday, or help clean up afterward. Come
join in the celebration with family, friends, and guests!
Children
are
invited
to collect
their
offering
for One
Great
Hour of
Sharing in
a colorful
fish bank.
Fish banks
are brought in during the children's Palm & Fish Bank Parade at
both worship services on Palm Sunday (see left). If you need one,
you can pick up a fish bank in the lobby of the church office.
This year, the other half of WPC's Easter offering will go
to Stop Hunger Now. Stop Hunger Now distributes meals
through feeding programs operated by partner organizations
in developing countries that promote education, encourage
children to attend school, improve students' health, address
gender inequalities, stimulate economic growth, fight child labor,
and are crucial to addressing global issues.
WPC has been working with Stop Hunger Now for eight years.
In that time, we have packed over 80,000 meals that have been
distributed globally to feed hungry children. Stop Hunger Now
has asked if we want to try to package 20,000 meals this coming
fall to hit the 100,000 meal mark. The Easter offering will be used
to cover the cost of the meals, which is 29 cents per package.
The offering will be collected on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday,
and you can give online any time at www.bit.ly/wpcG-EO. Please
write "Easter offering" in the memo line of any check.
Donate an Easter Lily
You may make a donation to the Easter Lily Fund in honor,
memory, or celebration of your loved one(s) this Lenten/Easter
season. These donations will be used to purchase lilies to
decorate the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, and your dedications
will be published in a special bulletin insert that day.
You can donate online at www.bit.ly/wpcG-EL16 or complete
a donation form and return it to the church office by Monday,
March 21. Donation forms will be available in the worship
bulletin on March 20, and can be dropped in the offering plate
with your check on Sunday. Checks should be made payable to
WPC with "Easter Lilies" in the memo line.
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March 16, 2016
WOW: First Wednesdays
Christian Education news
Square Dance on Wednesday, April 6
Dinner at 5:45pm; Program from 6:30-7:30pm
Faith Seeking Understanding: Islam and Christianity
Sundays, April 3-May 15 from 9:45-10:45am in Room 204
Facilitated by Church Staff and Guests
Back by popular demand, WOW: First Wednesdays on April 6 will
be a Square Dance! Professional square dance caller Bo Bierley
will lead us once again in a dance for all ages and skill levels.
In addition to square dancing, we'll get to learn how to do a
Reel, Sicilian Circle, and Quadrille! Childcare will be available for
children under age 3 by RSVP. Please sign up by Monday, April 4,
at www.bit.ly/myWPCevent.
Two Weeks Left to Register for VCS!
Vacation Church School will be held June 13-17 this year.
VCS registration forms for children/CITs (Counselors
in Training) and youth volunteers are available in the
Mission Center and online at www.bit.ly/WPCvcs. Return
completed forms and payment to Barb Schmidt at the
front desk by Thursday, March 31. Registration is not
complete until payment is received.
The next adult Church School elective will engage participants
in learning about the basics of Islam and in thinking about the
distinctive ideas and practices of Christianity. Each of the six
classes is built around a question that Muslims often ask about
Christianity, providing material for participants to come to a
beginning understanding of the Islamic views and affirmations
that lie behind the question. The focus of each class is to help us
come to a clearer and more articulate understanding of our own
faith and practice as Christians.
To talk with Muslims, as with women and men of other religious
traditions, Reformed Christians need to be able to talk openly
and with some comfort about their own faith and way of living
as Christians. While it is possible to learn to do this by trial and
error, in the give and take of conversation, these classes offer a
way to prepare for talking about our religious lives with Muslims.
Trial and error will still be a part of entering into this dialogue,
but participants in this class will be better equipped to listen and
to talk to their Muslim neighbors.
Like Christians, Muslims are a diverse group. They may be
liberals, moderates, or fundamentalists; peacekeepers or
soldiers; Shia or Sunni in orientation; wealthy or poor; scholars
or illiterate; clerics or common folks who blend the teachings of
Islam with elements of their culture of origin.
Camper registration cost goes down by $10 for each day
a parent/guardian volunteers. There will be a team of
professional and volunteer childcare workers available for
young children of adults who volunteer during VCS. Visit
www.bit.ly/wpcVCSav to sign up for specific days and roles,
and remember, you don't have to be a parent of a child at
VCS to volunteer! Contact: Barb Schmidt (919-489-4974, ext. 100;
bschmidt@wpcdurham.org).
we•form kids
The children of we•form kids, the Wednesday afternoon
children's program, will be presenting an Easter pageant on
Wednesday, March 23, at 5:30pm in the Sanctuary. They have
been working hard to tell the Holy Week story, from Palm Sunday
to Easter, and invite you to attend. Please come and join them
for what will be a meaningful Holy Week service.
In the Library
Have you or your family recently lost a beloved pet? Visit Westminster's library and check out "Dog
Heaven" by Cynthia Rylant.
In Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant's classic bestseller, the author comforts readers young and old
who have lost a dog. Recommended highly by pet lovers around the world, "Dog Heaven" not only
comforts but also brings a tear to anyone who is devoted to a pet. From expansive fields where dogs
can run and run to delicious biscuits no dog can resist, Rylant paints a warm and affectionate picture
of the ideal place God would, of course, create for man's best friend. The first picture book illustrated
by the author, "Dog Heaven" is enhanced by Rylant's bright, bold paintings that perfectly capture an
afterlife sure to bring solace to anyone who is grieving.
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Westminster
WestminsterPresbyterian
Presbyterian Church
welcome,
new members!
Julie Carrow is from
Chapel Hill (Go Heels!)
and currently resides
in Durham. She works
as an Event Planner
for the Home Builders
Association and her
husband, Steve, is a
Project Manager at Duke
University. They have
three awesome boys –
Cameron, Jack, and CJ –
and when they are not
at a baseball game, they
enjoy riding bikes, heading to the beach, or going water-skiing.
The Carrows have been members of Chapel Hill Bible Church
for several years and when their kids started attending WPC,
they began attending services as well. Westminster has been a
welcoming church to them and they are happy to be here!
Tonya Hutchins grew
up in Advance, NC, a
small town outside
of Winston-Salem.
She graduated from
UNC-Chapel Hill and
decided to stay in
the area. She and her
husband, a Durham
native, have lived
here for nearly 20
years. Tonya worked in
Human Resources and
Recruiting until her daughter Alex was born in 2002. She became
a full-time stay-at-home mom to her and then her brother Tyler
two years later. Alex became interested in Westminster's Youth
Group, which is what brought the family here initially. Tonya is
very active in volunteering at her kids' schools and looks forward
to becoming involved in Westminster's many volunteering
opportunities as well.
After nearly 25 years
in the North Carolina
mountains, Jackie
and Dick Jones
moved to Durham
in October. Jackie’s
career in education
included teaching at
all levels from early
childhood to graduate
school. She also
served as a principal
and central staff
administrator. Dick, a former teacher, counselor, and principal,
was Superintendent of Schools in Transylvania and Watauga
Counties before his retirement in 2003, when he became a high
school consultant. Extended family, including four grandchildren,
in Raleigh encouraged their transition. Both were elders in
Boone First Presbyterian Church.
Hamilton Roberts grew up as an active member and youth
elder at Unity Presbyterian Church in Denver, NC. She and her
husband, Matt Roberts moved to Durham in 2013 to pursue
careers in the area and return to his hometown. Hamilton is the
Dean of Student Services at Green Hope High School in Cary and
has been a high school counselor for seven years. She enjoys
the welcoming and active members at Westminster and looks
forward to becoming more involved.
David Potter is a retired
petroleum engineer who
worked mostly internationally.
Upon moving to Hillsborough
from south Florida 12 years ago,
he decided to build their home
and has subsequently built five
homes for his neighbors. David
enjoys travel, golf and most
sports, crossword puzzles, and
problem solving.
Our remaining new members
will be introduced in later
newsletters.
Women’s Retreat Reflections
More than 30 Westminster women of all ages traveled to Wrightsville Beach the first weekend in March to take time to learn about
"The Fine Art of Forgiveness" with retreat leader Rev. Carrie Tuttle.
"This was my first WPC Woman's Spring Retreat, although I have been at Westminster for more than two decades. I regret not
joining in sooner. The weekend was powerful in so many ways: richness of friendships, sharing of stories that related to the theme of
forgiveness, and the treat of Carrie Tuttle as our facilitator. Blue skies, sand, laughter, and great food. All helped me return to Durham
as a more whole person and more conscious of forgiving others and especially myself." - Karen Stallings
continued on next page
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March 16, 2016
continued from previous page
"This was my first women's retreat with the church
and I loved getting to know some of the other ladies at
Westminster. I loved that we all have different stories; we are
different ages, but shared the same enjoyment of all coming
together and learning about forgiving." - Beth Day
"Thanks to our 'other' Pastor Tuttle and the retreat
committee for a wonderful weekend of study, fun, and
fellowship, with plenty of food for our spirit, our thoughts,
and our bodies! It was challenging to consider all the ways
forgiveness impacts our life and inspiring to realize the
healing power it can provide when we find the wisdom/strength to use it in our relationships and for ourselves." - Sue McCaughan
youth ministry
news
The Westminster youth are busy serving all the time!
Check out our youth in action this month:
The WPC youth and youth
advisors went to the
North Carolina Diaper Bank
on Sunday, March 6, to
package thousands of diapers,
donating 2,000 diapers
ourselves. The North Carolina
Diaper Bank works to ensure
that families with babies and
children living in poverty have
an adequate supply of diapers.
We've volunteered here twice
this year and love being able
to support babies and
children in our city!
Alex Dunk and youth advisor Dr. Wait Aumann shaved their heads in support of children with cancer through the
St. Baldrick's Foundation. Alex and Wait were two of the top fundraisers, raising over $4,300!
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Westminster Presbyterian Church
A Call for Nominations
Marriage Discernment
The 2016 Nominating Committee is pleased to call for
nominations to elect a new class of officers who will train
this summer and take office in September. You may submit
nominations to the box on Barb Schmidt’s desk in the Mission
Center or to nominatingcommittee@wpcdurham.org.
Additionally, you may submit to any member of the Nominating
Committee: Anne Vann (chair), Bill Whitt (vice chair), Louise
Holland (Diaconate representative), Jamie Dilweg, Paul Garcia,
Fritz Simonson, or Laurel Trantham. Please submit names
no later than Sunday, March 27. Please do not ask those you
nominate about their willingness to serve; the Nominating
Committee will do that at the appropriate time.
Westminster has entered a season of discernment about issues
of welcome, inclusion, and same-gender marriage. The Session
will be studying a variety of resources on the issue and invites
you to join them. Visit www.bit.ly/wpcMD16 for resources.
As we read and study and pray together, every member of the
church is invited to write the Session a letter sharing what
you feel is important for them to consider. Send your letter
to marriage@wpcdurham.org or to 3639 Old Chapel Hill Rd,
Durham, NC, 27707, c/o Marriage Discernment by March 27.
You may also request an in-person meeting with a pastor and
an elder or two, which you can do by emailing the same address
above. Thank you to all who have already written.
We will compile all of the letters, emails, and notes from
meetings with you for the Session to read. Listening to the
congregation's best wisdom and discernment is important to us.
Your voice matters.
Plans for Summer Camp are underway at Westminster School!
This summer, we are offering five one-week sessions, each with
a special focus. Look over the dates and themes below, and send
any interested children our way! They must be between 2½ and
5 years of age.
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5
June 6-10
June 20-24
July 11-15
July 25-29 August 8-12
Session Notes •
February 21
The Session gathered for its February meeting on Sunday,
February 21. In light of upcoming discussions during a season
of discernment on the subject of marriage at Westminster, the
Session began with a devotional on unity in the Spirit, based on
Acts 2. There was also a corporation meeting in the middle of
the Session meeting. The purpose of the corporation meeting
was to ratify new bylaws that streamline governance of the
corporation and to elect officers.
"Summer Daze"
"Cool Science"
"Art-a-palooza"
"Olympic Village"
"Once Upon A Time"
A highlight of the meeting was the unveiling of the new logo. By
now, you have no doubt seen our new church logo that looks
equally good on paper and online. The logo was unanimously
adopted and will soon find its way onto bulletins, newsletters,
and other communication tools, both internal and external.
Registration began on March 1 and we reserve the entire month
of March for our current students to register. If you have friends
who might be interested in having their children attend our
summer program, have them call the school office (919-4898432) to be placed on the waiting list. We will fill any available
spaces beginning Monday, April 4. All classes will be taught by
our present preschool staff.
Mike Bunch
Class of 2018
Community Opportunities
Tastes & Tunes
Free Slow Art Tour: "The Harrowing of Hell"
Enjoy live music and eat delicious food in support of New Hope
Camp and Conference Center. We will have a “Wall of Wine”: pay
$20 for a wine ticket and select a number on a bottle of wine. At
the end of the evening collect your wine. You may have the $15
bottle or the $75 bottle. We will also have a “Wall of Cookies”
($10/ticket).
Enjoy art at a different pace. Instead of an exhibition overview,
Slow Art Tours spend 30-45 minutes with a single work of art.
This discussion will be on the anonymous 16th century German
painting "The Harrowing of Hell." This arresting painting depicts
the moment before Christ’s resurrection when Jesus descends
into purgatory. But in our example, the Lenten subject is
paired with some surprising imagery relating to the CounterReformation movement. Seating is provided and the discussion
will be led by Westminster member Ruth Caccavale. Learn more
at www.bit.ly/1SQMkEd.
Saturday, April 16, from 6-8:30pm
New Hope Camp & Conference Center Dining Hall
Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased in advance at
the office or on the evening of the event. Please join us as we
raise money for Summer Camp programs and facilities.
Saturday, March 26, 11am-12pm
Nasher Museum of Art
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March 16, 2016
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
3639 Old Chapel Hill Rd
Durham, NC 27707
Phone: 919-489-4974
Fax: 919-493-4553
westminster@wpcdurham.org
www.wpcdurham.org
www.facebook.com/wpcdurham
The next WPC newsletter will be published on March 30. The deadline to
submit material is March 23.
To submit material for publication, contact Communication Coordinator
Kara Pearce (kara@wpcdurham.org; 919-489-4974, ext. 101).
The newsletter is emailed. If you would like to receive a paper copy by mail,
please contact Kara Pearce.
Preaching Schedule
March 20 - Passion/Palm Sunday
Preaching: Taylor Lewis Guthrie Hartman
March 27 - Easter Sunday
Preaching: Chris Tuttle
April 3 - Communion Sunday, Birthday Sunday (rescheduled)
Preaching: Chris Tuttle
April 10
Preaching: Taylor Lewis Guthrie Hartman
Worship Volunteers for March 20, 27, April 3, and 10
ACOLYTES
3/20 Logan McElroy, Grace Ferguson
3/27 Carson Ruffing
4/3 Shannon Wylie, Rivers Oviedo-Sauls
4/10 Abbie & Lyndsay Mangum
LECTORS
3/20 8:30
11:00
3/27 8:30
11:00
4/3 8:30
11:00
4/10 8:30
11:00
Tom Meyer
Barbara Rynerson
Linda Van Gombos
Patrick Lang
Andy Collins
Jeremy Trantham
Chuck Byrd
Gene Brannon
OFFERING COUNTERS
3/20 8:30 Blair & Laura Chesnut
11:00 Bill & Mary Anne Pogue
3/27 8:30 Carl & Adella Boxberger
11:00 Alex & Mary Denson
4/3 8:30 John High, Bill Whitt
11:00 Jeremy & Laurel Trantham
4/10 8:30 Blair & Laura Chesnut
11:00 Pam Smith, Laura Loehr
USHERS
3/20 8:30
11:00
3/27 8:30
11:00
4/3 8:30
11:00
4/10 8:30
11:00
Andy & Shirley Collins, Donald & Shirley Rufty
Shelley Bainter, Emmy & Jimbo Huckabee; John, Jack & Alex High
Bo Ferguson, Jim & Susan Ketch, Kathryn Bunch
Volunteers Needed
Dean Lanier, Linda Van Gombos, Dave & Sara Pottenger
Volunteers Needed
Bill & Jackie Whitt, Gary Ferrell, Stephen Harward
Jeremy & Laurel Trantham, Volunteers Needed
NURSERY
Monthly Coordinator: Volunteer Needed
Every Sunday: Infants, Toddlers, 8:30 2-5 yr olds - WPC Nursery Staff
3/20 2-3: Jennifer & Mike Feiler; 4-5: Cindy & Ray Soloe
3/27 2-3: Jennifer Whitman & Carolyn Holmes; 4-5: Amy & Fritz Simonson
4/3 2-3: Brian & Katie Hanczaryk; 4-5: Ashley & Anne Vann
4/10 2-3: Erica Hill, Monica Nichols; 4-5: Jan & Holland Hale
SOUND TECHNICIANS
March
8:30 Gordon Cleaver
April
8:30 Derek Leadbetter
11:00 Gene Zielinski
11:00 Mark Hill
Westminster Presbyterian Church is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).