Welcome to the online version of Westminster's newsletter. Published ten times a year, the Spire shares congregational news and articles from the pastors as well as from other spiritual leaders, staff, and members. If you prefer a printable version, view and download a printable PDF copy of any previous issue here.
photo credit: Paul Turner Several years ago, I had the privilege of walking St. Cuthbert’s Way, a pilgrim trail that begins just below Edinburgh and traverses the border lands between Scotland and England, ending at the North Sea. St. Cuthbert roamed that region in the early seventh century, introducing Christianity with only the Gospel of John and the psalms he sang by heart. Most days we e…
When my daughters were young, we came to Easter worship at Westminster Church with my extended family. We all got dressed up in our Sunday best and a few of us arrived early to “hold our pew.” We got the one we wanted, five rows back on the right-hand side. A bit later, the rest of the family arrived along with hundreds of other church goers in their Sunday best. The sanctuary was adorned with pre…
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” – Mark 16:1-3 Though the details of the story are undoubtedly different, my hunc…
APRIL SERIES (no seminar on Easter Sunday, April 4) April 11, 18, 25 Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich John E. Wilson Niebuhr and Tillich were the most influential American theologians of the 20th century, and their influence and importance have continued into this century. They were at one time colleagues at Union Theological Seminary in New York; Tillich was later professor of theology at…
Westminster Book Group Wednesday, April 28 Noon – 1:15 p.m. The next meeting of the Westminster Book Group will be on Zoom and in Room 238. The zoom link can be found in the meeting announcement on the church website. We will be reading Run by Ann Patchett. "Engaging, surprising, provocative and moving...a thoroughly intelligent book, an intimate domestic drama that nonetheless deals with b…
You are invited to “see God in the everyday” and join us to Walk in the Spirit on Gilfillan Trail. While it is still difficult to offer group labyrinth walks and remain socially distant, the trail provides a familiar space for group walks. This is an occasion to walk with the intention of inviting the Spirit to be present as we commune with nature and enjoy casual conversation. Spiritual walking is …
