The Link. Iremember the first time I got my hands on. Discovering Life That s Endlessly New. in this issue

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1 The Link Westminster Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor, mi Volume 24, number 5: May 2011 Discovering Life That s Endlessly New Iremember the first time I got my hands on Russian nesting dolls. It was fun pulling each apart to discover another and then another and then another; each smaller and fitting inside the one larger than it. I ve had a similar encounter with scripture through the years. There are passages that contained a lesson that opened me to something new. Sometimes I ve returned to a passage that I had previously studied and it was as if it was a Russian nesting doll that comes apart, containing a new truth, new insight, new way of understanding God and myself. Many among us have participated in the Unbinding Your Heart small group study. In the groups I was a part of and many others I heard about, I think there was a similar experience with scripture. We would encounter a passage and recognize the evident lesson, but then the Holy Spirit would open us to something within the evident lesson, something contained in the passage that we had previously missed or overlooked. Perhaps we were not prepared to see it before. Perhaps we couldn t because of something in our lives that prevented us from seeing it. In this way, the Holy Spirit opens new insights and engages us with words that formerly we overlooked or couldn t imagine the richness. I also witnessed a Russian nesting doll experience in the fellowship created among the small groups, among the sharing and praying that took place. Contained within each person there are things not seen on the surface, perhaps we discover things about one another that we had not formerly disclosed, perhaps we ve had misperceptions about one another corrected as we have listened and prayed together, perhaps we had someone (or someone had us) pegged in a way that just isn t accurate or fair. Finally, I d say that some of us have even experienced the Russian nesting doll experience in our own lives we ve been opened to some new aspect of our faith life, our spiritual life, our understanding of who we are as a loved child of God. We ve just celebrated Easter. As much as we might think we know the meaning, know the story, know the significance of the resurrection I wonder what is nesting within what we think we recognize and have figured out? Unlike the nesting dolls, there isn t a resurrection lesson that is the last that contains nothing more to discover. In truth, it was after the resurrection of Jesus that the disciples discovered a life that was endlessly new. How about you? Blessings, Stephen Carl Congratulations to Pastor Stephen and Kim who were married in a small wedding in April. Kim and her son Jade will be in Ann Arbor in early June for a visit. They will move to Ann Arbor in August. We look forward to welcoming them to Westminster. Stephen and Kim express their gratitude for your prayers and generous kindness for them and their children. in this issue Summer mission trip, 2 Summer worship, 2 VBS and Sun. Celebration, 2 Charlies Eagle Scout project, 2 What s Next?, 3 Unbinding reflections, 4 New elder and deacon bios, 5 May calendar, 6 Events and announcements, 7

2 Summer mission trip to Detroit is family-friendly Sunday Friday, July Serve in Detroit with us this summer in the name of Christ. All generations are welcome, including families with younger children. You are welcome to come for the week, a few days, or even just one day or evening. This is a terrific opportunity to invite friends and other families to join us in serving those in need. We will run a Fine Arts Camp for young children at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church; we ll serve and share in meals around Detroit, reach out to young Hispanic families, and clean and build and weed and plant and laugh and cry and worship. Come along and see! A meeting for all interested in helping plan the trip is scheduled for Sunday, May 1, following the second service in the fellowship hall lounge. For more information, please contact Greta Buck or Pastor Cathi King. Summer worship: midweek refreshment for body and spirit Wednesdays, June 29, July 13 and August 17 Dinner at 5:45 pm; worship at 6:30 pm Once a month in the summer, following a delicious dinner cooked by our chef, Brad Webster, we ll enjoy a time for setting aside the pace and stresses of the week, allowing God to reset our compass. Bring a friend or neighbor, old or young. Please check the church web site or the Westminster Weekly for details of each month s worship theme. Summer reading is fun! Share your love for books and for God this summer by reading to our young children during Sunday Celebration time one time or regularly, June 19 September 4. Staying to supervise the children is not required, though we encourage and need helpers, including teens. Bring your favorite children s book to share, or Tina Shaw can help pick one out. Please contact Tina to sign up for a reading date this summer (tlshaw@westpresa2.org or ). Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus Was a Kid Vacation Bible School, Monday Wednesday, June 20 22, 5:30 8:30 pm Westminster will be transformed into a first century village and marketplace, where children will grow in faith through crafts, drama, music and more. Bring a friend or neighbor! Child registration and volunteer sign-up information are forthcoming. Please contact Tina Shaw with questions or offers of assistance. Eagle Scout project will beautify Westminster grounds by Charlie Sleder I have been a Boy Scout since the 5th grade. Being an Eagle Scout is the final step in scouting and has been a goal of mine for many years. To achieve the Eagle Scout rank you have to carry out a service project that demonstrates leadership and planning. For my Eagle Scout project, I will be putting a bench on a cement pad for the prayer and meditation walkway to be located near the Westminster sharing garden. It will be a place for people to sit and meditate or just take a rest. Along with the bench, there will be landscaping around the bench to make it look nice and presentable. I have offered to supply manual labor to expand the current gardens, and in return the Mission Committee will supply the bench for my project. The Property Committee has offered to supply the concrete for the pad and I will be seeking donations for landscaping from local businesses and individuals. I am planning to complete my project during the month of June. 2

3 What s Next? As we ve come to the end of our Lenten journey of prayer and faith sharing through the Unbinding Your Heart conversation, I ve heard a growing energy around the question What s next?? I hear this as an affirmation of a few things. People have enjoyed being a part of a larger conversation. With approximately 150 congregation members and friends involved in 14 different small groups, there s been a common focus, which, it seems, many have appreciated. Several of the groups build upon already existing relationship connections. Groups of ushers and spouses, choir members and spouses, men s softball team members and spouses, parents of elementary-aged children and parents of teens, for example were formed, as well as geographically based groups like one which met on location at Brookhaven and another which gathered people from Chelsea, Dexter and Pinckney. Despite some existing connections, many of the group members have expressed an appreciation for the opportunity to get to know one another better and enjoyed growing together in faith. We ll have an opportunity to continue this common conversation throughout May with a daily stewardship prayer journal and theme based worship: Boundless Grace, Boundless Gratitude, Boundless Gifts, Boundless Generosity. Echoing the themes in worship has helped to reinforce concepts and place them within the context of our own congregation. People involved with the small group studies have admitted to a deeper connection and experience of worship over the last several weeks. Testimonies from congregation members sharing the ways the themes have been practically experienced in their lives have also been gratefully welcomed. Some have wondered if we might consider including testimonies as an ongoing part of our worship life together. Undergirding the whole experience in prayer has been transformative. The dozen or more members of the prayer team which met weekly for one hour at the church to pray and daily the other days of the week, praying from wherever they were at 8 am, have testified that their experience of the power of prayer has been life-changing. They ve been praying for the church and for the small groups... praying for people by name and people God might seek to draw into relationship with us... praying for the leadership and for our children... praying for the present and for the future... praying for God s guidance and patience to listen. I ve felt the power of this prayer. Have you? You are invited to join the prayer team on Sunday, May 29, and Sunday, June 5, at the 10 o clock hour as they lead us in spontaneous prayer. Mark your calendar and come pray! Evangelism has become a much more accessible word. Learning to share our faith as a way of helping others draw closer to God and connect with Christian community is not oppressive or heavy-handed. It is not intolerant or judgmental. It is faithful. It is invitational. It is hospitable. And everyone who has a story of faith... a personal walk with God... has something to share. Throughout May on Wednesday nights Pastor King will lead a group entitled Neighborhood Evangelism for all who are interested in practicing faith sharing literally in their neighborhoods. So, what s next? How would God answer this question? As a congregation, let s turn to God in prayer asking what plans God has for Westminster. What does God seek to do next in and through us? And let s listen. What s next for you as an individual disciple of Jesus Christ? How will you further seek to grow in your walk with God? How will you prayerfully invite those whom God places on your heart into Christian community? How will you help make our church more welcoming to those who come to worship? How will you open yourself to a greater experience of the living God in worship? How will you facilitate that for others? As for me, I m excited to see what s next. Cathi King 3

4 Our participation in Unbinding Your Heart connects us to a larger network of like-minded churches and individuals seeking a deeper life of prayer and more effective faith sharing. Pastor Carl received the following from the author of the book during the week before Easter: Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, I am praying for you and your congregations this week, and most particularly on Friday. I hope this week holds utterly blessed moments for you. Is there any way that I can pray for you specifically on Friday? If so, please send me an and let me know. I m so grateful for you as a person, for the church and people you re serving, and for all the known and unknown ways God uses you. Thank you Martha Grace Reese Unbinding the Gospel Project; Unbinding exercises fill a toolbox by Marti Burbeck When I was a child, my father put together a toolbox for me, and what fun I had, measuring, sawing, hammering, building things. The Unbinding Your Heart prayer journal has given me tools for another toolbox, one filled with methods, vehicles and inspiration for prayer. Here is a list of the tools I now have ways to pray, topics for prayer, and reminders to pray: Recount experiences of God at work in my life. Build an altar on which to place attitudes, actions, desires to be given over to God. Write a thank you note to God or to another person. Pray for children. Consider what difference it makes in my life that I follow God, and ask God what I can learn next. Meditate on a Bible passage. Consider where I need healing, and ask God to touch me there. Take a prayer walk. Pray through names in a phone book. Ask God to show me where or to whom to show God s love today. Spend an hour offering every choice to God. Reflect on that hour of listening and learn from that to listen better. Pray for the church. Pray while going up or down stairs, one prayer on each step. Ask God to show me who is lost or far from home or floundering. Pray for that person. Let water and washing remind me of God s grace and forgiveness. Allow my fears, worries and regrets to be washed away in God s love. Pray with open hands, holding before God those for whom I pray. Observe others at a coffee shop or other public place and pray for them. Pray the Jesus prayer ( Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. ) using beads or another counting device. Consider what baggage I m carrying that stops me from knowing the greatness of God s power and authority in my life. Pray for our witness as a church, that newcomers will see the love of Christ among us. Pray that someone in my life today will see the light of Christ in me. Pray for greater trust in God s care for me. Pray for God s peace. Pray to see new things, learn new things, and to understand people and situations from God s perspective. Ask God to use me to advance God s kingdom. I expect it will take years to learn to use each of these tools to its fullest potential. If I never add even one more tool to this toolbox, what joy it will be to grow in proficiency with what I have, working on God s building projects! 4

5 Introducing our newly-ordained elders and deacons Continued here is our several-month-long series telling us about our new class of elders and deacons. Molly Crankshaw is a deacon serving the Ruth care group. Molly was born in Ionia, Michigan, and lived there through her school years. She attended Eastern Michigan University where she earned bachelor s and master s degrees in elementary education. As a Presbyterian since birth, it is no surprise that she met her husband, Bruce, at the First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor. They married in 1999 and have two children: David, age 9, and Lilly, age 8. Both children attend Lawton School in Ann Arbor while their mother teaches at Burns Park School. She has been a teacher there for 23 years. Melody McCormick Randall is a deacon serving the David care group. Melody grew up in Texas where her father, a Presbyterian, and her mother, a Christian Scientist, made a bargain that she could attend either church, until she made her own decision. At about age 8 she decided for Presbyterian and is satisfied with her choice. She received her master s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She holds teaching certification in social studies, English and journalism. Now retired, she has been a high school teacher, newspaper reporter, preschool teacher and teaching assistant. She was the religion reporter for two years for a Buffalo area paper and interviewed people of various religious groups. In the early 1960s in Virginia, she saw how effective peaceful activism in the lunch counter sit-ins could be and believes strongly in that political process to this day. Phoebe Vance is an elder serving on the Fellowship Committee Of all the new elders, Phoebe Vance probably has the most exotic birthplace. She was born in Cameroon to medical missionary parents. She lived there for 10 years until she left to attend school in Kansas City, Missouri. Phoebe received her BA in psychology and biology from Park College in Missouri and a degree in physical therapy from Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. She worked as a pediatric physical therapist at various hospitals and later as a visiting nurse. She also spent 15 years in the Early Intervention Program in the Plymouth schools. She has been married to Roger for 53 years. They have four children and 10 grandchildren. She and Roger make an annual train trip west every year to visit their family. Since she and Roger joined Westminster about 20 years ago, Phoebe has been active with the Sarah Circle, As a busy mother and teacher, Molly does not have a lot of spare time, but when she does, she enjoys baking, traveling to warm places, and reading. She also keeps busy with her children s activities and attending U of M football games where she has a tradition of tailgating for 30 years. Molly collects cookie cutters; she also has a pin collection. Her students watch to see which pin Mrs. Crankshaw will be wearing each day. She had a grandfather several generations back who was a Presbyterian minister and abolitionist. He started as a pacifist and eventually came to believe the Civil War must be fought and that his sons and grandsons should fight in it. A year ago, Melody and Bob Randall celebrated a late-life marriage with a warm ceremony at Westminster that included most of their combined five children, their spouses and 17 grandchildren. Melody is in two book clubs, a 12-step group, and takes part in weekly small groups at Westminster. She believes the small groups have been essential in developing friendships as well as enriching her education as an adult Christian. Sixty Plus Club and Wednesday Night Live. She helps prepare Communion monthly. She is active with international students and serves on the board of directors of the Ecumenical Center and International Residence in Ann Arbor (ECIR). Phoebe and Roger have participated in many mission trips around the globe as well as here in the United States. They have served in Chile, Estonia, Prague (3 times), Costa Rica (12 times) Missouri, Guatemala, Mexico, Nashville, Katrina (3 times) Cameroon, Florida and Detroit. In her leisure time, Phoebe enjoys reading murder mysteries. And it s a mystery how Phoebe finds any leisure time. 5

6 Worship with communion at 8:45 and 11:15 am; classes for all ages at 10 am 11:15 am 5 th gr. dance reh. 12:15 pm Detroit mission planning meeting Boundless Grace prayer journal: Week 1, Day 1 MOTHER S DAY Worship at 8:45 and 11:15 am; classes for all ages at 10 am Stewardship packet distributed Boundless Grace prayer journal: Week 2, Day 1 Children-Led Worship at 8:45 and 11:15 am; classes for all ages at 10 am Boundless Grace prayer journal: Week 3, Day 1 Deadline for June issue of The Link 7 pm Small group 6:30 pm Missional Monday* meetings committee 7 pm Small group May 2011 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday am Prayer team 4:45 pm Riverside Community Gathering 5:45 pm Wednesday Night Live! dinner s, Kingdom Kids, Alphas, Omegas, Word in Motion 7:30 pm Westm. Choir 8 am Prayer team noon Sarah Circle 8 am Prayer team 7 pm Session meeting 1 pm Ladies Bible Study 4:45 pm Riverside Community Gathering 5:45 pm WNL! dinner s, Kingdom Kids, Alphas, Omegas, Word in Motion 7:30 pm Westm. Choir 1 pm Needlecrafters 4:45 pm Riverside Community Gathering 5:45 pm Alphas; WNL! dinner and activities 7 pm Omegas 7:30 pm Westm. Choir 7 pm Bell Choir and music ensembles 7 pm Bell Choir and music ensembles; Property Committee 7 pm Bell Choir and music ensembles; Deacons 8:30 am Morning prayer Teen overnight lock-in and roll-bake :30 am Morning prayer 6 pm Friday Feast for confirmands :30 am Morning prayer Alphas and Omegas 30-Hour Famine through Saturday 8 am Pancake Breakfast followed by Property Clean-up 9 am Children-Led Worship rehearsal Worship at 8:45 and 11:15 am; classes for all ages at 10 am Boundless Grace prayer journal: Week 4, Day 1 8 am Prayer team 1 pm Ladies Bible Study 4:45 pm Riverside Community Gathering 5:45 pm WNL! dinner s, Kingdom Kids, Alphas, Omegas, Word in Motion 7:30 pm Westm. Choir 7 pm Bell Choir and music ensembles 8:30 am Morning prayer noon Sixty Plus Club noon Ann and Don Brundage 50 th anniversary celebration Worship at 8:45 and 11:15 am; classes for all ages at 10 am MEMORIAL DAY Church office closed 8 am Prayer team * Missional Monday committee meetings include Administration, Adult Education, Children, Endowment, Fellowship, Membership, Mission, Stewardship and Finance, Worship, and Youth and Young Adults. A few committees meet at other times. Meeting locations and times are online at See also Today s Meetings on the church media center. Please note: The official church calendar is maintained in the church office by Office and Facilities Manager Karen Neilson. All event dates and room assignments in our building must be cleared with her. Wednesday Night Live! 5:45 6:30 pm Dinner (fellowship hall; $5 per person; $15 per family) 6:15 7:30 pm Childcare for infants age 3 (nursery) 6:15 7:30 pm Kingdom Kids ( pre-k grades 6) 6:30 7:30 pm Adult classes; Alphas and Omegas 7:30 9 pm Westminster Choir (sanctuary) On our web site Inspired by the faith stories each Sunday during Lent? Listen again or for the first time online. See the gallery of faces on our web site home page; click on a photo to hear that person s story. Our Nashville mission team posted photos and commentary during their week of service. Link to it all from the Outreach page of our site. The Westminster Weekly, plus sermon title and Sunday Bible readings are placed online on Fridays. Get the week s news early, pray for those on our prayer list, and give God opportunity to prepare your heart for Sunday s worship. Sign up to receive The Link via on the web site home page. 6

7 Classes offered on Neighborhood Evangelism and Boundless Grace Bible study: Deuteronomy Sundays, 10 am. As the second Law, this book develops the theme of love and obedience to God, based on three sermons of Moses to the Israelites. Boundless Grace, Gratitude, Gifts, Generosity Sundays, 10 am; May 1 May 22; various facilitators. Following up on Unbinding the Heart, we will use a devotional book with a prayer journal format to consider, pray about and respond to God s grace and gifts. Neighborhood Evangelism Wednesdays, 6:30 7:30 pm, April 27 May 25. A 28-day study led by Pastor Cathi King exploring how to pray and share faith with our neighbors. We ll use Praying the Lord s Prayer for Neighbors (cost is $5). Brundages 50th a reason to celebrate Saturday, May 28, noon Ann and Don Brundage invite Westminster members and friends to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. A reception (details soon) will follow. Please, no gifts. Teens fast so others can eat 30-Hour Famine, Friday Saturday, May Westminster teens will spend 30 hours fasting, while serving at Focus Hope, Food Gatherers and Covenant House, helping to combat hunger. Your financial contributions will be welcomed! Gilbert and Sullivan revisited Sixty Plus Club, Friday, May 27 Lunch and program beginning at noon Barbara Hilbish and her daughter energize us with spirited renditions of songs from Gilbert and Sullivan. Rsvp to Phoebe Vance ( ) or Bonnie Terpstra ( ). All-church campout an annual treat Picture yourself out in the woods, swimming, bike riding and eating s mores cooked over a campfire. Revel in the thought of time with friends old and new. The dream becomes reality wheh you sign up for the 38th annual Westminster campout, August Cabins and campsites are available. Please see Al Banning for reservations by June 5. Westminster s quarter-end financial picture is presented Income budget Actual % actual to budget Pledges 420, , Other worship offerings 42,924 50, Building use rental fees 15,000 15, Miscellaneous income 25,275 15, Total income $503, , % expenses budget Actual % actual to budget Staff salaries, benefits, office 324, , Worship, Christian educ., 16,406 16, fellowship, deacons Mortgage, property costs 117, , Mission outreach 45,845 45, Total expenses $503,469 $489, % These charts are for the first three quarters of Westminster s fiscal year 2011, ending March 31, Questions or concerns? Please contact Jeff Kennedy, Treasurer, or David Hammond, Financial Secretary. Please consider including the Westminster Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund as a beneficiary of your estate, trust or annuity. third quarter additional donations Memorial Gifts 225 One Great Hour of Sharing 5,100 Faith Promise missions 7,003 Endowment Fund donations 310 Total additional donations $12,638 westminster endowment fund Contributions 102,014 Market value 119,590 Minimum required principal $150,000 (needed before any income or appreciation can be distributed) 7

8 Westminster Presbyterian Church 1500 Scio Church Road Ann Arbor, Michigan Sunday worship, 8:45 and 11:15 am; Classes for all ages, 10 am Wednesday Night Live! Dinner, classes, choir rehearsals for all ages beginning at 5:45 pm The Link What comes after the unbinding? boundless grace Join us in May as together we explore God s boundless grace and our response of boundless gratitude and boundless generosity. gratitude generosity