Westminster Presbyterian Church 2155 University Ave. Dubuque, IA

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1 HOTLINE Volume XIV, Issue 4 April 2014 Plotting the Resurrection Westminster Presbyterian Church 2155 University Ave. Dubuque, IA hal.wpcdbq@gmail.com Inside this issue: Vacation Bible School 2 JAM 2 Adult CE 2 Church News 3 4 Calendar 5 Worship Scripture 6 Living Last Supper 6 Join us for worship at Westminster every Sunday 9:30 a.m. by Hal Murry The late E.B. White was an essayist and the editor of New Yorker magazine. He also wrote Charlotte s Web, a delightful story that many of us have read to our children or grandchildren. One time, late in his life, he wrote an essay about his wife who had died a few years earlier. She loved to garden. Every year she planned carefully, ordered from seed catalogs, and created a new diagram for the year s planting. After she became ill, she continued gardening and managed somehow to get herself outside when it was time to plant. White wrote: Armed with a diagram and clipboard, Catherine would get into a shabby old raincoat, much too long for her, and put on a little round wool hat and proceed to the director s chair placed at the edge of the garden. There she would sit, hour after hour, with the wind and the weather, while we opened dozens of packages of new bulbs and a basket full of old ones, ready for the intricate interment. There was something comical, yet touching in her bedraggled appearance on this awesome occasion. The small, hunched-over figure; her studied absorption in the implausible notion that there should even be another spring; oblivious to the ending of her own days, which she knew perfectly well was near at hand; sitting there with her chart under those dark skies in the dying October calmly plotting the resurrection. It occurred to me that is what I like best about most of the many gatherings that I attend at Westminster. That is the essence of why we worship and have committee meetings and go to Sunday School and have task force meetings and Bible studies and fellowship luncheons and small group conversations. We come together, in some way or another, like Mrs. White, sitting by her garden in October, plotting some resurrection. We plot for our personal lives, for our church, for our families, for our marriages, for our careers we plot resurrections. And we sense that God is with us in this; that God wants us to plot resurrection in every phase, every aspect of our lives. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. -- John 10:10 MISS A SUNDAY? Or maybe you would just like to hear that sermon again (Did he really say THAT?!). Go to and click on Pastor s Place then Sermon Archives. Recent past sermons are now posted on the church website, along with lots of other great information. FROM YOUR WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOUNDATION: Be a WILLING Christian. Remember Westminster Presbyterian Church in your will.

2 Page 2 HOTLINE A WORD from Rev. WOOD Dear Church Family, Lent the season we pay greater attention to our need for God. How s it going for you? In JAM (Jesus and Me Sunday School) we ve been carrying rocks around from week to week with words written on them like selfishness, laziness, or fighting. These stones remind us of the heavy things that weigh us down - the sins and struggles that distract us from seeing our blessings, shortcomings that remind us of our need for God. When the teachers started handing out stones we were surprised to see how Youth C.E. News enthusiastically the children claimed their rocks. Oh, I need laziness! Can you make one that says, anger? This humble faith reminds me how I want to approach the season of lent, not with a false sense of spiritual elitism, or bashfully ashamed of all my failings, but with excitement and eagerness, saying, God, here are the things that keep me from you, all of them, take them like these rocks that weigh us down, and show me any I may have missed, so I can be closer to you, happier, lighter, more free! Grace and Peace, 5000 Meals Goal Reached! Food packing party Sun., April 6th 11:45 a.m. SAVE THE DATE: Intergenerational VBS starting Sunday, 6/22 with kick off dinner at 5:00 pm and runs Mon Thurs 6/26, 6:00 pm 8:00 pm. WEIRD ANIMALS is this year s theme! Bring your kids to learn about how God loves us no matter how weird we are, and have conversation with other adults around stimulating videos that dovetail the kids lessons! We ll need trainers (teachers) and zoo-keepers (helpers) and zoo-decorators too! Stay tuned for details and work day dates. They are Here! "Westminster Coffee Mugs" Get yours for only $5.00 JAM (Jesus and Me) Schedule 4/6: Practice Last Supper Tableau AND. FOOD PACKING PARTY! After JAM 11:45 Pizza and Ice Cream! Earn Gold coins! Friends welcome too! 4/13: TABLEAU DRAMA during Worship Easter Party during JAM MARKETPLACE open! 4/20 EASTER SUNDAY! No Sunday school but check out our family service (see Holy Week listings) 4/27 JAM resumes What happens after the resurrection? Adult C.E. for April 10:45 a.m., Sunday, April 6 The Spirituality of the Gospel of Mark taught by The Rev. Dr. Lyle Vander Broek, Professor of New Testament at The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. All are welcome! Board Room. Beginning April 27 A five-session course on prayer led by Dr. Barbara Pursey. DACU (Dubuque Area Congregations United) Delegate Meetings are held the 4th Tuesday of the Month at 7:00 p.m. Next Meeting, April 22 at Sisters of the Presentation, 2360 Carter Rd. Program is on Human Trafficking Youth Christian Ed and Personnel Committees are happy to welcome Lois Thurston to our ministry team as our Sunday morning nursery attendant. During the week Lois is a paraprofessional at Kennedy Elementary School, working with special needs students. She comes to us with years of experience and a great love for children! Feel free to stop by the nursery to welcome her!

3 Volume XIV, Issue 4 Page 3 Church News March Session (Westminster s Governing Council) Highlights At its March meeting, the Session approved the concept of Hospitality Teams to replace the current system of Sunday-by-Sunday recruiting of ushers, greeters and custodians. Hospitality Team members have agreed to serve on specific Sundays each month for the remainder of A list of subs has been provided should a Hospitality Team member not be able to serve. We still need additional volunteers. Vacancies on the chart below indicate opportunities for service. If you would be willing to take a spot, please contact the church office ( ) or contact one of the Worship Committee members: Lois Pearce, Cameron Fast, Derek Pursey or Scarlett Adams. Hospitality Teams Opening Custodian 1-2 persons 7:15-9:30am 1st Sunday 2nd Sunday 3rd Sunday 4th Sunday 5th Sunday Russ Hibben Boyd Nichols Teresa Miller Scott Heicken Leona Hibben Bev Nichols alone alone Greeters 4-6 persons 9:05-9:30am 1st Sunday 2nd Sunday 3rd Sunday 4th Sunday 5th Sunday Fritz Cabalka Gene Gordon Bud Monson Marlyn Bausman Arlys Williams Ruth Cabalka Gini Gordon Kay Monson Joyce Bausman Del Williams Bonnie Sue Lewis Don Keller Howard McLean Jim Huff Elaine Woodrum Janet Neumeister LeAnn Keller Dorothy McLean Sue Huff Arden Woodrum Ushers 4 persons 9:05-10:30am 1st Sunday 2nd Sunday 3rd Sunday 4th Sunday 5 th Sunday Youth George Hellert Mary Breiner John Adams Jerri Maxwell Youth Adam Etheredge Gidget Maas Pam Adams Youth Taylor Etheredge Caitlyn Carter Wes Heitzman Youth Doug Pearce Scott Klostermann Barbara Heitzman Closing Custodian 1-2 persons 10:30-Noon 1st Sunday 2nd Sunday 3rd Sunday 4th Sunday 5 th Sunday Russ Hibben Dick McMurray Teresa Miller Scott Heicken Leona Hibben Barb McMurray alone alone Committee News THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE continues to work on its major projects for 2014: 1) The development of a comprehensive, prioritized list of long-term major maintenance items. The list is lengthy and expensive and involves considerable research to make the projections accurate. 2) Rekeying Westminster s locks and the development of a new system for key records. This project, too, requires considerable forethought and planning. Smaller items dealt with by the Committee in March included approving a contract for lawn treatment and minor telephone system improvements. The 2014 Moderator of this Committee is Elder Mark Oberhoffer.

4 Page 4 Church News HOTLINE Also in March, the Session approved membership for most of this year s committees and task forces. Moderators are designated by *. Adult Christian Education: *Nancy Wallace, Steve Mosiman, Mary Breiner, Robert Carroll, Bev Nichols, Arlys and Del Williams Congregational Connections: *Cameron Fast, Katey Birch, Lisa Fast, Sue & Melanie Case, Darren DeMoss, Kim Bemboom, Scott Heicken Finance/Administration: *Norma Smith, Rich Henderson, Mark Oberhoffer, Tom Stovall, John Adams, Karla Kaiser Mission Outreach: *Sue Dravis, Steve Mosiman, Tom Stovall, Susan Taylor, Dick McMurray, Glinda Manternach, Deb Seiffert, Doug Cheever Worship: *Lois Pearce, Cameron Fast, Derek Pursey, Scarlett Adams Youth Christian Education: *Rich Henderson (and *Lisa Fast), Katey Birch, Diane Peake, Karla Maxwell, Scott Heicken In addition, the Session has created two new Task Forces which will begin work soon: Membership and Records Task Force to establish criteria for active membership and review the membership roll. *Bruce Hallahan, Tom Stovall, Steve Mosiman, Lois Pearce, Mike Breitner, Leona Hibben, Doug Cheever and Betty Carlin. Strategic Planning Task Force to develop and lead a process that will engage the congregation in a conversation that leads to wide ownership of a mission/vision statement that identifies priorities for Westminster s future. This group will begin its work by reading and discussing several books that survey changes in American culture and Christianity in recent decades. The reading list will be made public and periodic forums are planned so that all members and friends of Westminster may join the conversation. *Betsy Badger, Sue Dravis, Cameron Fast, Susan Taylor, Merrill Crawford, Steve Peake, Ross Madden, Bonnie Sue Lewis and Harriet Heitzman. Westminster Vital Statistics Average Sunday Worship Attendance for March Financial Stewardship through February 28, 2014 (numbers rounded to the nearest 1,000) Year-to-Date Operating Budget $65, Expenses 62, Income 123,000* Income over Expenses 61,000 *2014 income includes $48,000 in pre-paid pledges. Thank You! To God be the glory! There will be a Spring Rummage Sale! Thurs., April 10 th thru Sat., April 12th Start saving your unusual and unused treasures you can donate. We accept everything but T.V.s, computers and microwaves. You can start bringing your treasures on Wednesday, April 9 th. Clothing on hangers preferred. Volunteer Sign up in Narthex! Schedule of Sale Thurs., April 10 th 7:00 a.m. to Noon - Drop off items Fri., April 11 th Noon to 8:00 p.m. Sale to church members only 9:30 a.m. to Noon Re-organize Noon to 6:00 p.m. Sale Opens to the Public Sat., April 12 th 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 Sale to the Public 1:00 p.m. - Pack Up Thank you everyone for all of the prayers, cards, support and help with the funeral dinner. It meant a lot! Kim Bemboom and the family of Martha Pickering George Maruyama s New Address: 2235 Rockwood Ave. #506 Saint Paul, MN Phone number Mission Giving Opportunities:. The Mission Committee encourages you to contribute to the One Great Hour of Sharing Easter offering which supports relief and disaster assistance efforts around the world. Details in the weekly bulletin, and envelopes can be found in the pews. Also keep Sue Dravis in your prayers this month as she attends the Mosaic of Peace Israel/Palestine Peacemaking conference in Jerusalem 4/28-5/10! We will send her off with a commissioning prayer 4/13. Westminster All Stars (Tutoring) can use snacks for 18 every Tuesday and Thursday

5 Volume XIV, Issue 4 Page 5 April Calendar go to website for a larger version Pat Williams Announces Retirement Pat Williams has informed the Westminster Personnel Committee of her plans to retire from the organist position that she has held since years! Her last Sunday as organist will be May 18. A reception is being planned following worship. Pat wrote the following note to be shared with the congregation: During my years at Westminster I've been very privileged to play our fine 1964 M P Moeller pipe organ. A few years ago several improvements were made, including the addition of a solid state console. This makes it possible to record the organ on a disc which can be played through the pipes with no one sitting on the bench. (At times when the organist was downstairs, her husband has played the responses with one finger in the choir loft!) I have certainly been blessed with making music through the years with our very accomplished musicians, both the directors and various choir members and instrumentalists. Their dedication has provided exceptional music which has truly glorified God. Thank you, Westminster, for granting me many memorable years as your organist. Pat Williams The Personnel Committee welcomes ANY applicants for the part-time position. If you know of someone who might be interested, please refer them, or give their name, to a member of the Personnel Committee (Tom Stovall, Norma Smith or Mark Oberhoffer) or to one of the Pastors.

6 Westminster Presbyterian Church 2155 University Ave Dubuque, IA NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID DUBUQUE, IA PERMIT NO. 577 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Please wear your purple Westminster shirts! Worship at Westminster 9:30 a.m. Sundays 8:40-9:20 Fellowship April 6 5 th Sunday in Lent Rev. Hal Murry Preaching Sermon: YOU Give Them Something to Eat based on Mark 6:30-44 Kids against Hunger Food Packing Event follows Sunday School April 13 Palm Sunday Rev. Hal Murry Preaching Sermon: Lampooning the War Horse Thursday, April 17 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Worship with Communion April 20 Resurrection of the Lord/Easter 7:45 9:15 am: A light breakfast will be served in the Fellowship Hall 8:15-8:45 am: Dancing in the Morning A family service led by Rev. Iliana Wood. This short service will include praise music, an extended children s time, and a chance for you to get up and move as we decorate the sanctuary for Easter by changing our banners from black to white, arranging the flowers, and lighting the candles. All ages! 9:30 Worship Service Rev. Hal Murry Preaching One Great Hour of Sharing special offering received April 27 Rev. Iliana Wood Preaching Contact Information 2155 University Ave Dubuque, IA (563) westmintsterdbq@mchsi.com Join us for Communion at Bethany Home April 20 at 1:30 p.m.