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So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Westminster has been an important part of my life since I was 12 years old. As a charter member, and part of a charter family, volunteering was something important to my family. IT MADE SENSE. I remember fondly my mother and dad, sitting in our living…
Westminster Nursery School opened its doors in the fall of 1958 when Westminster Presbyterian Church recognized the need for a community preschool. The program grew in January of 1983 when the Child Development Center opened. Today both programs make up what is known as Westminster Early Childhood Education Program (WECEP). At WECEP we see each student and his/her family as an important part of…
The best words to describe the current energy in the Youth Ministry are vibrant, exciting, serving, and high impact. The youth recently completed a mission trip to urban Charlotte, NC, where they performed a variety of tasks to benefit various parts of the community. In addition, the Social Justice League has been meeting to discuss topics such as diversity, inclusion, and fairness. They…
Think of those places you felt a rush of wind. The beach. Between the canyons of buildings on a city sidewalk. Frigid nights at PNC Park. I’m not referring to the time the wind merely refreshed the stale air. Remember the time you felt humbled, the wind ruffled your feathers with discomfort, or plain knocked you off your feet. Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he breathed on his f…
Some of my favorite stories in scripture are those when the Spirit is working in separate places, at the same time, for the same cause. There are a handful of these stories, but the one that always stands out to me is in Acts chapter nine. It’s the story of Saul (who will become the writer of so much of our New Testament, named Paul) and his conversion. Saul, a notorious leader well-known for his w…
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” –Jesus, Matthew 18:20* “If you build it, he will come.” – Ray Kinsella, Field of Dreams* The Spirit is moving here at Westminster. Folks are longing for connection. As humans, we’re built for connection. Even God in the flesh spent time in relationship with other humans. Jesus spent his life connecting—calling disciples, healing the sic…
Two years ago, a pastor friend called to tell me about a job opening at a large church in the South Hills that she thought I would be perfect for. I told her that I was not interested, and yet she continued to reach out every few weeks asking if I had reconsidered. “The congregation is lovely and welcoming. The building is beautiful. There are so many children and families!” But I was not ready to …
Healthy congregations often are noisy congregations. People gathered early at Westminster for the first mask-free worship service after COVID-19. They stood in the sanctuary pews and waived at church-made friends whom they had not seen for two years. People got out of their pews and walked enthusiastically to greet longtime friends. Those who found themselves sitting next to their usual pew…
