Posts from October 2023

Posts from October 2023

SAFE CHURCH CORNER

Who, What, Where, When, Why and How? These questions can apply to many problems that crop up in our lives.  They particularly apply to incidents or accidents that affect us, at home, at work, at play and at church. Hence, the INCIDENT REPORT.  Let’s examine these criteria as they apply to filling out the report. WHO is anyone who has been involved in an incident or accident relating to a church activity; a child in Sunday School, an adult in…

Thanksgiving Food Collection – 2023

     Thankfully we have been able to make necessary adjustments to the current new normal, and some things have not changed.  Poverty and homelessness still exist.  People have lost jobs or had their income reduced resulting in more need for shelters and food pantries.      We are fortunate to have the Westminster Community Food Pantry housed in our church. In a recent conversation with Dorcas Hurd, Director of the Westminster Community Food Pantry, she expressed great appreciation for everything our…

From The Pastor’s Pen

All congregations experience ebbs and flows in those actively attending and participating in church programming and worship. No church enters into a community as a large church, nor do they complete their ministry as such. This shifts in size will be accompanied with anxiety and leadership stress. As well, negative perceptions of the congregation’s abilities to turn things around will increase when these shifts are not openly recognized by seeking adaptations: to the church structure, of the foci of the…

Generous Giving Pledges Needed!

Over the past month, we have had a number of members speak on behalf of their committees. Thank you to those folks who shared such valuable information about how their committees and their volunteers “show up” for the church. We need you. Your presence.We are asking all folks committed to this church to consider making a pledge as a way to bear witness of your presence. And for those who are already pledgers, we ask for you to increase your…

Yard & Bake Sale

Hosted By THE WELCOMING COMMITTEE If you missed the town-wide yard sale, or you have anything you’d like to donate, the Welcoming Committee is organizing a yard and bake sale during the Westminster Cracker Festival Saturday, October 21st from 10 AM—5 PM.  We also are looking for those who would like to bring baked goods (labeled).  Proceeds will benefit The First Congregational Church of Westminster with 10% shared with the Westminster Food Pantry. We need volunteers for set up on…
Volunteer

Opportunities To Help

Here is your opportunity to  help the church!! Yes we are in a time of change but that means we need your help all the more.  Nominating will begin filling slots soon and we would love for you to think seriously how you can help the church with your time and talents! Maybe you want to try something new and different, maybe you like where you are or maybe you want to join a committee to make new friends…whatever it…
Apple Pie Baking

Apple Pies…Apple Pies

On September 21st apples were peeled and sliced and mixed with sugar, crusts were rolled out, ovens were filled and over 40 pies were placed in boxes! While this was happening there was a lot of chatting and laughing!  And as in past years the pies were sold at the Westminster Farmers  Market.  The over $700 that was raised will help to support our church. This would not have been possible without the bakers in the church kitchen that day and the…

From The Pastor’s Pen

                                               Anxiety is high in this congregation. Questions of budget, pastoral leadership, and direction swirl. One source of this anxiety rests on the intersection of Generous Giving, church budget, and the capacity of the congregation to support a full-time minister. This is one level of the anxiety related to this particular aspect of the church’s life. To take it to another level is to name the reality of tension between remaining the same and adapting—making shifts in…