HOTLINE. Westminster's "Stewardship Month" Continues. God is doing a NEW thing here at Westminster. You can see it everywhere.

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1 HOTLINE Volume XVIII, Issue 10 October 2018 Westminster Presbyterian Church 2155 University Ave. Dubuque, IA Inside this issue: Stewardship 2 Youth & Adult Faith Formation Church News 2 4 Fair Trade Market Coming Mission Garden NEWS 3 Calendar 5 Worship Scripture 6 FROM YOUR WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOUNDATION: Planning ahead is part of effective stewardship. Plan your WILL now and include a bequest to Westminster Presbyterian Church. 3 2 Westminster's "Stewardship Month" Continues This year's "Stewardship Joke" was submitted to Hal Murry by an unnamed member of Westminster: Two men were marooned on an island. One man paced back and forth worried and scared while the other man sat back and was sunning himself. The first man said to the second man, Aren t you afraid we are about to die. No, said the second man, I make $10,000 a week and tithe faithfully to my church every week. It s Stewardship Month at my church. My Pastor will find me. It has been reported in a number of studies over the years that weekly attendance at a religious service is associated with increased survival and a boosted immune system. I thought about what a great stewardship approach that might make. Instead of our wonderful theme: "Look! God is doing a NEW thing. Do you see it?" (from Isaiah 43) -- how about "Come to church and live longer!" or, even better, "Give a lot of money and live a really long time." I can't promise longevity, of course. What I can promise is what Jesus promised: that giving will save your life; that serving others will make you a success by the only measurement that ultimately matters. "If you lose your life for my sake you will find it" and "The greatest among you will be your servant." -- Jesus of Nazareth to his followers. Our stewardship emphasis continues through October 14. All friends and members of Westminster are invited to estimate their giving for This campaign is to pay for Westminster's ongoing mission, property upkeep, personnel. This is the campaign that keeps the lights on, the furnace running. Estimate of giving cards have been mailed. If you've lost yours, we have plenty more here at the church. God is doing a NEW thing here at Westminster. You can see it everywhere. Soon the sanctuary will be spruced up and new doors will make our entrances more accessible and attractive. Your Pastor Nominating Committee is working hard to discern whom God is calling to be your next Pastor. That's another new thing! Thanks to this year's Stewardship Team for focusing our attention: Jim and Pat Edwards (our team leaders), Ed and Barb Blinks, Jon Davison, Pam and John Adams, Bob and Betsy Badger, Myra and Paul DeLong, Darren DeMoss and Kim DeMoss-Bemboom, Dorothy and Howard McLean. Read some of their "testimonies" on the next page. More are printed in Sunday worship bulletins. -- Hal Murry

2 Volume XVIII, Issue 10 Page 2 Stewardship continues Stewardship Team Members respond to the Question: "Why do you give?" Kim & I give to Westminster because this is our home away from home. Most of our Church family doesn't know our life story and close connection to the families here. Kim's family & my family were raised in the Westminster family. Kim & I met here and got married here. We raised and taught our children about God through our many years of teaching Sunday school. We have had the privilege of teaching many other children with ours in those years. The support that this congregation gives to each other in times of need is incredible. We also have had the privilege of being involved in the life of the Westminster through various committees and being Elders. -- Darren DeMoss and Kim DeMoss-Bemboom Approximately five (5) years ago Dorothy and I found ourselves shopping for a new church home in Dubuque. After visiting several churches in Dubuque, including several visits to Westminster, we came to the conclusion that we had found our new church home! We were warmly received by the church staff and congregation and that relationship has not changed. In addition, while going through a serious health issue about four years ago this congregation kept us in their prayers on a regular basis. We will never forget that! We have and will continue to support Westminster Presbyterian Church of Dubuque with our attendance, our services and our monetary contributions for the following reason. We believe that if you receive, and we have received from Westminster, we have an obligation and desire to give back and that includes our financial support. -- Howard & Dorothy McLean While each of us has a unique personal theology and we often startle each other with our questions, our shared family faith journey has centered around a couple of key areas: loving everyone, including our enemies and full acceptance of God s grace when we and others are suffering. Through Scripture, Jesus shows us over and over that while we are living on Earth, we should love everyone and work to prevent and relieve suffering everywhere. As a family, we aren t very disciplined about staying on that journey without a church. While others may stay on track in other ways, we need regular historical interpretation of the Scripture to be able to apply it in our lives. We need the love and support from others who are trying to do the same thing as well as those who would do it differently than we do. We need the comfort of ritual and routine along with a Sunday alarm clock so we can get up and eagerly experience God during worship on the only day we usually don t work. We came to Westminster (and Dubuque) without any personal ties, memories or habits of worship at 2155 University Avenue. There were opportunities all over town to help others, but we wondered if we would ever find a church where we could find everything we thought we needed. We thought that all we needed what we had experienced before, but at Westminster we found this and so much more that constantly enriches our individual lives and our life together. Westminster s new approach coincides with our decision to retire together and begin to do new things together instead of going to work separately every day. Like most new retirees, we are looking at our budget in a new way to find value for the dollars and time we have left on Earth. We believe God s love is not conditioned on whether we give to Westminster or on how much we give. But as we look at our own budget in this new way, it is obvious that we are paying a lot more for things that mean a lot less. We are increasing our Westminster giving for Bob & Betsy Badger Save the Dates: Fair Trade Market (SERRV) coming November 24, 25 & December 2nd. Online ordering will also be available.

3 Youth & Adult Faith Formation News Children s Sabbath October 14th Middle & High School Youth Group Come hang with us Sundays from 3-5. Friends are welcome! Sunday School has begun! Look for us downstairs! October is wreath sale month! OCTOBER ADULT FAITH FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES: A Bible Study on the Gospel of Luke taught by Marsha Wilfong continues on Sundays after worship in the Board Room. ALL are welcome! NEW! Beginning October 7: "DACA, Dreamers, Refugees and Immigrants: What s the Difference and Why Does It Matter?" Are you one of the thousands of us confused by the debates over immigration reform? If so, this class attempts to inform participants about the various types of allowable immigration, current topics on immigration reform and personal stories of Dubuquers involved with immigration issues. This class will have guest speakers, perhaps a video and always time for questions. The class will meet all four Sundays in October at 10:45 AM in Fellowship Hall. IN THE NEWS A story with photos about Westminster's Mission Garden appears in Farm Life, a September publication of the Telegraph Herald. Also, during September, Westminster's Mission Gardens received a grant of $720 from Iowa State University. This is in addition to a previous grant of $1600. Congratulations and thanks to Rich Henderson and all of the volunteers involved POUNDS! That's the harvest from Westminster's Mission Garden -- all donated to local food pantries. "I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow." -- I Corinthians 3: 6

4 Page 4 Westminster Vital Statistics Average Sunday Worship Attendance for September THE MISSION TEAM has money for Mission Grants If you need information contact Linda Stovall at linstov@aol.com or if you would like to apply for one. Church News Congratulations! To Mary Benn & Brett Schueller on the birth of their new baby girl, Charlotte Carol born on Sept. 28th. Caitlin Carter is the new big sister! Congrats! Their address is 1205 N. Booth St. DBQ DACU (Dubuque Area Congregations United) Delegate Meetings are held the 4th Tuesday monthly Next Meeting: October 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Immanual Congregational UCC1795 Jackson Welcoming the Other Tom Johnson, Catholic Worker House SEPTEMBER SESSION (Westminster's governing council) meeting highlights: Welcomed new members Kris Cary and Marilyn Emmert. They will be introduced at worship on October 14. Received with regret Adult Choir Director Billy Richardson's resignation. This will allow the Richardson family to worship together on Sunday morning. Katrina is employed by First Congregational Church. Approved a policy defining who may be granted access to Westminster's security camera recordings. MORE IMPROVEMENTS! Thanks to the team that is "refreshing" landscaping around the exterior of the sanctuary: Doug Cheever, Sally Madden, Denise Ryerson, Virginia Gordon and Glinda Manternach. Dying evergreens are being replaced by hardy, low-maintenance shrubs. The first new plants are in, with many more to follow. SUNDAY PARKING around the church can be tight in the fall. Additional parking for Sunday mornings is available in the University of Dubuque lot across University Ave. from the front of the church. Make sure traffic stops at the light before entering the crosswalk! THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE has accepted a bid from A & G Electric for $3560 to provide lighting for the church lawn sign on University Ave. Donations have been received for over half of the cost. THE SPIRIT IS MOVING! capital campaign for sanctuary improvements raised a total of $154, towards a goal of $100,000. THANK YOU! The additional funds will help pay for more accessible entrances/ exits to the sanctuary, plus new carpeting for the narthex and hallway (matching new carpeting in the sanctuary.) Watch for these improvements during October: Removal of several back pews to expand the hospitality/fellowship space in the back of the sanctuary New glass doors to allow additional light in the back of the sanctuary; each set of doors will include one that has an electric opener to enhance access New carpeting in the sanctuary, narthex and hall Digital projection of hymns. Our projection team is learning!

5 Volume XVIII, Issue 10 Page 5 OCTOBER Calendar go to website for a larger version Buy in the office anytime.

6 Westminster Presbyterian Church 2155 University Ave Dubuque, IA NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID DUBUQUE, IA PERMIT NO. 577 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED October 7 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Rev. Hal Murry preaches on Luke 12:13-34 Music: Adult Choir and Handbells October 14 Children's Sabbath Welcoming of New Members Music: Timbrel and Lyre; Youth Choir and Handbells Youth Presentation: "Boxco! Box Co. Heavenly Angles: Acute Little Skit" Join Us for Worship Join Us for Worship at at Westminster Westminster 9:30 9:30 a.m. a.m. Sundays Sundays Contact Information: 2155 University Ave. Dubuque, IA October 21 Rev. Hal Murry preaches Music: Church Band and Adult Choir October 28 Rev. Hal Murry preaches Music: Timbrel and Lyre Join us for Communion at Bethany Home October 21 at 1:30 p.m.