month of musical masterworks - wpc.org

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July/August 2014

1502 W. 13th Street • Wilmington, DE 19806 • (302) 654-5214 • www.wpc.org

ChimesThe Westminster

Month of Musical Masterworks at Westminster ï August 2014

Month of Musical Masterworks returns this summer, bringing great masterworks of musical literature to our 10:00 a.m. worship services each Sunday during the month of August. This year’s lineup includes four concertos and a sonata, each representing a different national school of composition: French (Gaubert), Czech (Dvorák), Russian (Glière), Finnish (Crusell), and Austrian (Mozart). Outstanding instrumental soloists from our region will be with us each week, accompanied on the organ (or piano) by Paul Fleckenstein.

August 3Philippe Gaubert: Flute Sonata no. 3 in G major

Kimberly Reighley, flute

August 10Antonín Dvorák: Violin Concerto in A minor, op. 53

Timothy Schwarz, violin

August 17Reinhold Glière: Horn Concerto in B-flat, op. 91

John David Smith, horn

August 24Bernhard Crusell: Clarinet Concerto in F minor, op. 5

Christopher Nichols, clarinet

August 31Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto no. 12 in A major, K. 414

Julie Nishimura, piano

Each of the works is in three movements, which will be played as Prelude, Offertory, and Postlude for that day’s worship service. The first movements each week will begin before 10:00 a.m., so you’ll want to get to church early during August!

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02 1502 W. 13th Street • Wilmington, DE 19806 • (302) 654-5214 • www.wpc.org

It’s summer! School is out. The temperatures are warm. Flowers are blooming. Grass is growing. Vegetables are ripening. Vacation destinations beckon. For many of us, summer is a time to recharge, rest, and relax. With schedules a little lighter and the days a lot longer, we make time to enjoy beaches, mountains, and our yards. Some of us will spend time with family who live far away. Others of us will visit new places or return again to a place that renews our spirits. By now we are looking forward to Vacation Bible School, and we have gotten back in the groove of our summer worship schedule. We’ve become used to Summer Tea in the front yard of the church following the 10:00 a.m. service, less frequent committee meetings, and the absence of choir and clergy robes in worship.

While many of us greet the summer with joy and

anticipation, for others this season brings sadness. Some of us are not able to travel – health or economics or work precludes leaving home. Some of us miss being able to putter in the garden as we did in past days. Others of us are acutely aware that a special person who used to be part of our summer celebrations is no longer alive.

Regardless of whether we greet this season with joy or dread, and whether the season brings excitement or boredom, the rhythm of our lives is different in July than it will be in September or October. As the rhythm of our lives changes during this season, God’s love and care for each of us remains constant.

As the rhythm of our lives changes in the summer, we have the possibility of encountering in new ways the love, grace, and call of Christ. By intentionally letting prayer, worship, and

Scripture be a part of our summer activities, we open ourselves to experiencing a deepening faith. Regardless of where you are this summer, make time and space for prayer. If you are away on a Sunday, visit a church wherever you are. When you are in the area on Sundays, don’t forget that your church is alive and open all through the summer.

May we remain connected to God and to one another this summer!

Peace,

Rhythm of ouR Lives Randy Clayton, Interim Associate Pastor

CLeRgy CoLumn

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Hearing Our VoicesAs part of our Stewardship process for the coming year, we plan to create a series of short videos that show our community of faith in action as we seek to be the church God calls us to be. We want to bring these images to life by capturing your voices to accompany them.

During the upcoming months, we will schedule a series of times for recording your thoughts in response to the following questions:

Å What is it about Westminster that is most meaningful to you?Å How has your life been impacted by Westminster’s ministries and programs?Å What are your hopes and dreams for our church?

If you would like to participate or want additional information, please contact Sue Linderman ([email protected] or 302-239-7650). Look for more information in upcoming issues of the Weekly Word and our Sunday worship announcements.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Westminster Choir Begins 2014-2015 SeasonWednesday, August 27, marks the first rehearsal for our illustrious Westminster Choir, seen in blue robes and seated in the choir loft beginning in September. Each week, the choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings and then leads congregational singing and presents choral offerings at the 9:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday mornings. We’d love to have any interested singers join us; we can always make room for YOU. Singing in the choir provides not only a (hopefully) fulfilling musical experience but a caring and supportive “family” as well. Take the plunge! Contact Paul Fleckenstein, director, if you are interested ([email protected] or 302-654-5214, ext. 121).

2014 Westminster Sunday Schedule June 1 to August 24 (Summer Schedule)8:30 a.m. Worship service with communion in Rodney Chapel10:00 a.m. Worship service in the sanctuary

August 3110:00 a.m. One worship service in the sanctuary

Join us for Summer Tea hosted by our deacons on the church lawn (weather permitting) following the 10:00 a.m. service.

mailto:[email protected]



Help Us Fill 300 Backpacks for Elementary Students in THREE Local Schools (Yes, We Added Another School This Year!)WPC backpacks project helps students in need Despite the fact that it’s early summer, before we know it the stores will start filling up with ruled paper, marble composition books, #2 pencils, pink rubber erasers…evidence that the start of school is closer than we think! Buying school supplies is always fun, and making sure you have the tools you need is an energizing rite of passage. We all know that gathering these supplies is easier for some than others, so this year Westminster is teaming up with three local schools to help students in need gear up for the start of their academic year. To make this happen, we need your support!

What is the backpacks project? Since 2010, we have partnered with UrbanPromise and EastSide Charter Elementary Schools to

supply backpacks filled with school supplies for the start of the new school year. This spring, we were contacted by Warner Elementary School, our backpacks partner in the initial year of this project (2007), about once again participating in the backpacks program. Given the great need, our Urban Mission Committee has purchased more than 300 backpacks to assist students at all three schools. How can you help?You can purchase a set of supplies to fill one (or more!) backpack(s), place the items in a bag, and deliver it to the church. There will be a trunk near the reception desk for you to make your donation. You can also donate $10 to cover the cost of a backpack, which will transport your supplies to a student who will

be so excited to start the school year in this way!

If shopping for school supplies isn’t on your to-do list, you can write a check to cover the cost of the supplies ($10), the backpack ($10), or both.

Please make your check payable to Westminster Presbyterian Church and put “Backpacks” in the memo line.

When will the project start?This project will launch with our Vacation Bible School program on July 21. At that time, we will provide everyone with the specific list of school supplies needed for each backpack. Supplies will be collected over several weeks, and the packs will be filled and ready to go by August 17.

Many studies have shown that the presence of a caring, involved adult can make a huge difference in the life of a child. Opportunities abound for us to serve as mentors and tutors for students at UrbanPromise and EastSide Charter schools. You can make this impact on a child’s life with as little as an hour a week during the school day.

To learn more, come to the ice cream social on August 17 (see page 5) to talk informally with current WPC volunteers and get answers to all your questions!

What More Can I Do?

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What happens on August 17?On Sunday, August 17, during our worship service at 10:00 a.m., Westminster will host a Blessing of the Backpacks. Children will bring their backpacks to church that day and our clergy will bless the packs and their cargo, helping launch the school year with God’s abundant blessings and the love and support of our church family. We will also present the filled backpacks to representatives of UrbanPromise, EastSide Charter, and Warner Elementary Schools, who will distribute the packs to students when they return in late August.

Who can I call if I have more questions?Contact Angela Ruebling-Jass (302-652-1610), Sue Linderman (302-239-7650), or Karen Dietz (302-656-0343) if you have questions or would like to be part of the team filling the packs in mid-August.

Thank you for joining the Backpacks Team!

Employee Anniversaries

Thank you all for your years of faithful service, and congratulations on your anniversary at Westminster!

Nicole Hughes Director, Communications

& Database

Management

(July – 5 years)

Colleen Falasco

Operations

Assistant

(August –

5 years)

Susan Moseley Church Educator (August – 10 years)

In the Good Ol’ Summertime Sunday, August 17in Community HallFollowing the 10:00 a.m. worship service

Your deacons will offer a chance for you to go back in time to the Turn of the Century (the 20th, not the 21st!) with an “Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social” immediately following the 10:00 a.m. worship service and Blessing of the Backpacks on Sunday, August 17. Enjoy delightful ice cream and toppings, games for children, music, and more!


Why Do “Earth Care”?Some ask why Westminster holds environmental programs at church. Even though the issues are important, shouldn’t they be addressed through other venues? Shouldn’t the church stick to spiritual issues?

The Bible creates the imperative, and its perspective is both spiritual and material, because God is the creator of everything that is. This is evident throughout the scriptures, but two passages that you will recognize are as follows:

Thus, environmental problems must be seen as profound religious problems. It becomes our responsibility to preserve God’s creation – the water, the land, and all its creatures – for future generations.

As Ellen F. Davis says in the Green Bible, “We belong to the fertile earth more than it can ever belong to us. Because we have no life apart from the health of soil and water, we must care for it as one would care for a beloved family member. And so that first ‘genealogical’ statement is followed quickly by a vocational one: ‘The LORD God took the man (Adam) and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it’ (Genesis 2:15). Those words could equally be translated, ‘…to serve it and preserve it.’

Westminster has had a significant focus on water purification with our SWIG (water filter) project in Guatemala. According to the United Nations (2010 report), contaminated and polluted water now kills more people than all forms of violence, including wars. However, the problem is not just in Third World countries; it exists at home as well.

During the month of March, WPC partnered with the Delaware Nature Society to provide two speakers on water issues that have a significant impact on our Delaware community: water quality and rising sea levels.

In our first session, Kristen Travers, water steward, shocked us by telling us that 94% of the fresh waterways in Delaware are considered polluted. This means that not only does the water have to be significantly treated to be suitable for drinking, but it is also not safe for fishing or swimming and may be questionable as a source of irrigation for our food supply. She offered the following suggestions on what we, as private citizens, can do to improve the situation:

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In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…. and it was good! (Genesis 1)

The earth is God’s, the world and all that is in it. (Psalm 24)

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Brenna Goggin, environmental advocate, gave a presentation on the impact of rising sea levels in Delaware. Whether or not you believe in “climate change,” Delaware has the dubious distinction of being the lowest elevation state in the nation, so it is vulnerable to rising sea levels and increasingly frequent storms that create flooding in all three counties of the state. Since 1969, our shoreline has visibly retreated on an annual basis. This put homes, wildlife habitats, and waste water treatment, collection, and pumping facilities at risk.

To combat the impact of flooding and rising sea levels, residents can reduce their energy usage, promote sustainable building practices (particularly not building in floodplains), and encourage the protection of wetlands, which provide a natural barrier to rising water levels.

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Echo Giving in the WorldWestminster’s “Echo Giving in the World” ministry generated over $22,000 in 2013 for the following organizations and purpose:

Westminster Supports Humanitarian Aid to SyriaWhen the civil war in Syria began three years ago, families started losing their homes, businesses, and churches. Tragically, loss of life became a daily occurrence for Syrians. The regional Presbyterian Synod (known as the National Evangelical Synod of Syria-Lebanon or NESSL) responded with aid, helping nearly 500 Presbyterian families relocate and providing food and other assistance as needed. When the war escalated during late 2011 into 2012, the Synod realized they needed to expand their circle of care to any in need, whether Christian or Muslim, regardless of politics. Working with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Synod nominated Rev. Salam Hanna to be sent for training in administering a larger disaster relief program in coordination with other nongovernmental organizations to make the best use of resources and supplies.

• Congo Partnership Programs $4,009

• Delaware Futures $280

• Emmanuel Dining Room $690

• Family Promise $690

• Friendship House $1,245

• Friendship House for Burton/Daughtry House Programs $480

• Guatemala Water Filters $12,410

• Habitat for Humanity $705

• Hanover Food Closet $895

• LCS Faith Center $220

• Sojourners Place $370

• Urban Promise $380

On behalf of the above organizations and programs, who receive 100% of the donation, we thank you for your generous support. We also express gratitude for the Echo Giving in the World volunteers – Liz Bacon, Cathy Higgins, Susan McPheeters, and Sue Spilecki – who make this ministry possible and to the founders – Sara Geuder and Martha Tatnall – whose vision created this unique ministry for Westminster. If you wish to honor a loved one or give a gift, you can find Echo Giving in the World forms on the literature tables or contact one of the volunteers. Beautiful cards are provided to help you communicate your gift to those you honor.

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Today, with 6.5 million internally displaced Syrians (of an original population of 23 million), the Synod is seeking to reach up to 3,000 families a month with food kits (or vouchers for these items when it is impossible to get the kits into a particular location). The primary focus is on those who have lost their homes, properties, and jobs and are in desperate need. When possible, resources are also shared with those who are still in their homes but are vulnerable because they have low or no income and are widowed, disabled, or elderly or have children in need.

Between August 2013 (when the extended relief program began) and December 2013, more than 6,300 food and hygiene kits or vouchers were distributed in 23 locations in Syria. The need has increased as the violence has continued. Westminster’s Church in the World Mission Committee has donated $6,000 to expand food distribution, which will help provide assistance for approximately 180 families over the coming months. The pictured food kits are locally supplied and packaged by volunteer labor, helping to stimulate the local economy.

Presbyterian Elder Abdalla’s family is one of thousands that have been helped by the Synod’s relief assistance. On October 3, 2013, an opposition group took over their town and confiscated people’s properties. Elder Abdalla and his family lost everything that day. They were able to make their way to Latakia, on Syria’s west coast, and found a place to live and food to eat through the Synod’s help. Elder Abdalla now gives his time to helping other internally displaced families connect with the Synod and other nongovernmental organizations offering assistance.

In the words of Rev. Salam Hanna, thank you for being part of extending the “Church’s great witness to the love, mercy, and compassion of God given impartially to all people in need. May the Lord continue to keep and bless you.” Let us continue to pray for peace and understanding in this troubled area of the world.

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Flying Solo Activities for July and August Flying Solo is a singles group offering fellowship and support for singles of any age in our area. There is no need to be a member to join us, and we especially welcome newcomers! Come connect with friends and make new ones at some or all of these activities.

• Friday, July 4 – Fourth of July celebration on the Riverfront. Meet at Timothy’s on the Riverfront at 6:00 p.m. for dinner, and then wander down the pathway to see fireworks over the river. Bring a lawn chair and wear your red, white, and blue.

• Sunday, July 6 – Brunch after church at Catherine Rooney’s at 11:30 a.m.

• Friday, July 11 – Come see the Blue Rocks, Monkey Rodeo, and fireworks! We will tailgate before and after the game. Meet at 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot, about one-third of the way back near I-95. Contact Bill Kaye ([email protected]) if interested.

• Sunday, July 13 – Bible study at 5:00 p.m. in Classroom 6 at Westminster, followed by pizza at Grotto’s. Hosted by Margo Reign and Anne Gunn.

• Wednesdays, July 2, 9, 11, 23, and 30 – Walk the grounds of Hagley Museum on these Wednesday evenings. Admission is $2. Meet around 5:30 p.m. in the Hagley Museum parking lot, and we may have dinner afterward. Contact Anne Gunn ([email protected]) for details.

• Sunday, July 20 – Brunch after church at Catherine Rooney’s at 11:30 a.m.

• Sunday, July 27 – Bible study at 5:00 p.m. in Classroom 6 at Westminster, followed by pizza at Grotto’s. Hosted by Margo Reign and Anne Gunn.

• Saturday, August 2 – Wilmington Riverfront Blues Festival. Come listen to some live blues music. Contact Bill Kaye ([email protected]) for details.

• Sunday, August 10 – Brunch after church at Catherine Rooney’s at 11:30 a.m.

• Wednesdays, August 6 and 13 – Concerts at Battery Park on these Wednesday evenings. Bring your lawn chair and listen to an outdoor concert at Battery Park in Old New Castle. Contact Margo Reign ([email protected]) for details.

• Sunday, August 24 – Brunch after church at Catherine Rooney’s at 11:30 a.m.

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Changing Lives! New Life Furnishings is a ministry at Westminster that helps to create new life for families and individuals who are moving from homelessness to permanent housing by providing a living environment of self-sufficiency and comfort. This ministry provides new life for household furnishings no longer needed by their owners by applying them to a useful new purpose and protecting our environment by distributing items that might otherwise be discarded.

Interested in helping? Do you have items to donate? Please contact Joyce Ruston (302-654-5214, ext. 313). We are grateful for Joyce’s tireless energy toward this ministry and for your tithes and offerings that make this possible. Here is a letter she received from a family that was assisted by New Life Furnishings.

180° Youth Volunteer in TennesseeNine 180° youth and four adults just returned from Hancock County, Tennessee, where they worked with Appalachia Service Project (ASP) to serve those in need of home repairs. Since its founding in 1969, ASP has sent more than 300,000 volunteers to rural central Appalachia to repair the homes of low-income families. Today, with the help of 17,000 volunteers each year, ASP continues to make homes warmer, safer, and drier for families in need. The Westminster group traveled from June 21 to 28 and will share more details and photos of their trip in the Weekly Word and the September issue of the Chimes.

Front row (left to right): Olivia Eastburn, Alayna Lamb, Lilly Coleman, Sara Beth JohnsonMiddle row: Laura Peck, Zach Richardson, Drew McPheetersBack row: Hugh Love, Mary Beth Davis, Ben Fischer and Mike GnadeMissing from picture: Dana Davis and Rose Gnade

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Dear Joyce,

I would like to express a heartfelt appreciation from my sister and me for the

assistance that was afforded our brother by New Life Furnishings.

Our brother lost his 34-year-old son, who was living with him, from a drug

overdose a week before Christmas. As tragic as that was, his loss was

compounded by the fact that he also lost his home due to foreclosure and, needless

to say, financial difficulties as a result of his son’s drug addiction. His surviving

son took him into his home immediately. He retired at the end of January and

found a residence a mile from his son. These are major life changes for a widowed

65 year old with a slight affliction of cerebral palsy and who has never lived on

his own.

My personal goal, while back in Delaware for my nephew’s memorial service,

was to turn our brother’s residence into a warm and inviting home for him. I

had a few things to add to what he had, but not nearly enough. The furnishings

he received from New Life Furnishings were a prayer answered. He now has a

table to eat from and to sit at to pay bills, a comfortable chair to sit in or to offer

company, a small file cabinet to help him stay organized and to hold his important

papers, a vacuum to enable him to keep the carpets that his landlady provided

clean, a lamp to read by and the all-important added touch of wall hangings.

Our brother is a humble man who asks for little for himself. My sister and I

needed to convince him that he did not need to continue to live in brokenness

any more. We needed to help him understand that he was worthy of the new

beginning he was receiving.

I will never forget the look on his face when he first saw his furnished home.

There was a smile that I hadn’t seen in a long time. It meant everything to me.

God’s grace was all over his face.

Thank you so much for the generosity of New Life Furnishings. You have our, as

well as our brother’s, unending gratitude and appreciation. We all feel extremely

blessed.

In Christ,

Barbara


Exciting Adult Ed/CIL Events Coming in November

The church office is closed on the following days in July and August:

◦ Thursday, July 3

◦ Fridays in July (except July 25 for Vacation Bible School)

◦ Fridays in August

Church Office Closings

Charles Eisenstein Author of Sacred Economics and The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is PossibleSaturday, November 110:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Thomas MooreBest-selling author of Care of the SoulFriday and Saturday, November 21 and 22Friday: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Both events will take place in

Community Hall. For more

information, visit www.cil-de.org.

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Recent Member Deaths

We remember the families of our members who recently died. We pray that the families will be comforted in their loss and be assured that their loved ones have joined God’s heavenly kingdom.

Charles B. ReederOctober 31, 1922 – May 24, 2014

E. Wayne LemonsJanuary 14, 1931 – June 10, 2014

John E. Hunter, Jr.April 5, 1929 – June 12, 2014

In Loving Memory

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Mission Celebration SundaySunday, September 1410:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Westminster’s Urban and Global Mission Committees are asking you to help us celebrate our fantastic mission program on September 14. Committee members will move around the Holy Toast Café and wear sandwich boards decorated to show you all of our extensive mission programs. We will not only relay our knowledge of the different programs but also ask you to join us in fellowship by sharing in our feast of mission cupcakes provided by our volunteers. We may have more surprises in store for all the children and parents, young and old, as we say thank you for your support.

Decorating Days for VBSSaturdays, July 12 and 198:30 – 11:00 a.m. (with coffee and morning treats)

Join us each time or either time for a morning of fun and creativity. We need all the hands we can get to transform Grace Hall and the surrounding areas into a colorful, playful workshop for Vacation Bible School. Robin Rosser and the VBS staff need YOU to help us decorate for a great week filled with faith and fun.

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAIDWilmington, DE Permit No. 30

1502 West 13th Street Wilmington, DE 19806 302-654-5214 www.wpc.org

The Westminster CHIMES is also available online in full color — visit www.wpc.org.The Westminster CHIMES is also available online in full color — visit www.wpc.org.

Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social Sunday, August 17, in Community HallFollowing the 10:00 a.m. worship serviceSee page 5 for more details.

Pastors The Rev. Dr. Gregory K. Jones The Rev. Dr. Randall T. Clayton The Rev. Jill Getty

WPC Director of Communications & Database Management Nicole Hughes

Graphic Design by Trellist Marketing & Technology

Next Chimes Deadline: Monday, August 11, at 11:00 a.m. For the September 2014 Issue Submissions can be made at www.wpc.org/communications

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month of musical masterworks - wpc.org

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