CHIMES. Wonderful Weeknight for Animal Lovers. The Westminster. November 2013

Transcription

1 November 2013 The Westminster CHIMES 1502 W. 13th Street Wilmington, DE (302) Wonderful Weeknight for Animal Lovers Friday, November 15 5:30 7:00 p.m. in Community Hall Our next Wonderful Weeknight will offer an intergenerational program for animal lovers of all ages, and immediately following the program, the animal theme will continue with a special showing of the original Disney film The Incredible Journey. Come enjoy a delicious pasta dinner in Community Hall and make it a family night out by staying for the movie in Grace Hall. If you LOVE animals, you won t want to miss this event. The movie is free, and there will be popcorn. 5:30 6:15 p.m. Pasta and Salad Dinner ($5/person or $15/family) 6:15 7:00 p.m. Intergenerational Program 7:00 9:00 p.m. Movie: The Incredible Journey The Westminster CHIMES is also available online in full color visit

2 CLERGY COLUMN THREE OBSERVATIONS AND ONE WONDERMENT Tom Stout, Parish Associate In what I am discovering is typical Westminster fashion, Greg Jones has invited me to share some of my thoughts as I have served among you these past five months. This is indicative of the graciousness with which I have been received and my service welcomed. Many thanks to all of you. So, here are three quick observations and one wonderment. First, with what I have seen since September started, I am glad my work started in June. Back then, while there was still a lot of activity in the church buildings, it was at a more manageable (for me) pace. Are things always this full here at WPC? I have become aware of the high level of commitment here: mission, youth, and education. Those are three wonderful parts of church life and faith development to emphasize, but seldom have I seen all three done at the level, the diversity, and the intensity that they happen at Westminster. You are a very busy congregation. Second, the sense of welcome I have experienced with you is just as wonderful. I have always appreciated that all wear name tags each Sunday. As a visitor, as I was until June, it was nice to see your names, even as you asked about my name. We were on a level playing field so to speak. But now, as a member of the ministry staff, with so many of you in worship (or at meetings and community gatherings here), name tags help me remember your names. Such intentionality in knowing and being known is the very foundation of hospitality. You all do that well! And I thank you for that. That takes me to my third observation in this column. Actually, this was my very first and earliest observation of Westminster Church: worship. Even when I was still a pastor in active service at the Elsmere Church, I found my way to worship at WPC at least once a year on one of my vacation Sundays. I also would make it a point to attend one of your special seasonal services. I found then, as I find still, that here is a sense of ardor and order in worship. There is both the majestic and the personal; the traditional and the new; the joyful and the pensive. All of that, for me, makes for a more complete experience of the divine. Now that I have moved to the inside of how all of that happens, I am sometimes overwhelmed by the level of attention given to all aspects of worship, from the temperature of the room to the flow of the liturgy to the music that is presented and more. You all care about how you worship God in this place. There are my three foremost observations. Now, from my own personal spiritual journey, let me add one wonderment: I wonder if and when you each (individually) and all of you (together) take the time to appreciate what you all are doing here? When do you (and now I too) let it just sink in? When are you and I still, and in that stillness hear a word from the Lord? A word like Well done, my people! The older I get, the more contemplative I find myself becoming. I need that quiet time. If I had one wish to make for all at Westminster, it would be this: that you have a simple quiet time in which to be to just be in the presence of the Holy One. Peace, Tom W. 13th Street Wilmington, DE (302)

3 The Westminster CHIMES Thank You, Lauren Cardillo! As most of you know, Lauren Cardillo has served as our director of preschool ministries for the past year. Lauren took on the role as a paid employee when Jeanne Checkel retired after serving for more than 25 years as the volunteer director of Under Six. Lauren has done an exceptional job of overseeing the nursery and preschool and has lined up all of the teachers and coordinators for the program year. Since taking the job at Westminster, Lauren also started teaching at Wilmington University. With her increased class load this fall, she now feels that she cannot continue the preschool position. We will miss her in the role of director, but she assures us that she will continue to be an active member of the church and will help out in the preschool as a substitute. Thank you, Lauren, for your year of commitment and service to WPC s preschool ministry. Welcome, Robin Rosser! The good news is that Robin Rosser has accepted the position of director of preschool ministries. Robin recently retired as a teacher at A. I. DuPont Middle School. She is a deacon at Westminster and has also served as Vacation Bible School Director for the past five years. Robin brings so many wonderful gifts to this ministry. She is extremely organized, dearly loves children, knows many of our young families already, and she is a long-time, committed member of Westminster. We are very blessed to have Robin in this position. As you know, it takes many parent volunteers to keep all of our children s programs running smoothly. Please get to know Robin and offer her your prayers and support as she begins her new work among us. I give in remembrance of those who for more than a century gave generously so that Westminster could grow to what it is today. I want to help ensure that it remains a vibrant church for generations yet to come. Fred Nelson (Session) I give because Christ gave for us and my early parental teachings were it is better to give than to receive. Westminster Presbyterian Church enables that legacy to continue. Cathy Higgins (Deacon) November

4 Unpack Your Family Nativity Scene Advent Workshop Sunday, December 1 10:10 a.m. in Community Hall This year s Advent Workshop will be extra special, because we are going to display a collection of crèches or nativity scenes belonging to members or friends of Westminster around the perimeter of Community Hall. we will also have a large station in the center of Community Hall where all ages can make Christmas cards for the Christmas Boxes. Please unpack your family crèche, or find the nativity scene you had as a child, or bring a brand-new one that you would like to display. Please put your name(s) with the crèche and hopefully a brief story about its significance for you or your family. The crèches must brought to the church before Thanksgiving so that they can be set up on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. The display will not remain up all week, so you can take your nativity scene home anytime after 12:00 noon on that Sunday (December 1). Wouldn t it be wonderful to have 100 different nativity scenes set up for viewing and reflection as we prepare for Christ to be born in our hearts this Christmas? Come Out and RING! Westminster s Adult Handbell Choir, Reverberations, will rehearse from Wednesday, November 6, to Wednesday, December 11, and ring in worship on Sunday, December 15. Rehearsals are from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. in the Youth Music Room. We are always in need of ringers who are able to read a musical score. Please contact Mary Beth Davis if you are interested. Welcome, New Member! Jennifer Van Zanten Jen, a forensic scientist (a DNA analyst), works for the Medical Examiner of the State of Delaware. She loves to scuba dive and travel but prefers to spend as much time as possible with her husband, Sam, and daughters Victoria (age 5) and Juliet (age 2). Jen first visited Westminster because she read about Westminster online. I give to WPC so that the many mission trips and youth activities can continue to be offered. Robin Rosser (Deacon) We welcome our newest member into our church family W. 13th Street Wilmington, DE (302)

5 The Westminster CHIMES Financial Stability for a Mission Hospital and Nursing School Is It Possible? The Kasai Christian Medical Institute (IMCK in its French acronym) began 59 years ago in the (then) Belgian Congo. It has served the Congolese despite the insecurity created by wars, looting, political upheavals, and economic decline. IMCK is ranked among the top such institutions in the country, but its existence is now threatened by financial starvation. As head surgeon and PC(USA) mission worker Dr. John Fletcher explained when he visited WPC last year, IMCK struggles to meet its basic payroll and purchase needed medical supplies. Patient fees are not enough, and grants from its sponsoring churches continue to shrink. Treating malaria at IMCK equal portions of love and medicine. To help turn this situation around, the Presbyterian Foundation has set up an endowment fund and is asking for Presbyterians to contribute. Westminster sent a $1,000 donation this year, and our gift was doubled by matching funds from New Castle Presbytery. If EVERY Presbyterian Church member in North America were to donate ONE DOLLAR, the resulting fund would contain an endowment of more than $2 million. Its earnings would make up the shortfall in operating expenses, and IMCK would gain greater financial stability. Westminster s Water Ministry Supply an extended Guatemalan family with safe water by giving a water filter through Echo Giving in the World. Contact echo@wpc.org for more information. Learn more and follow progress at or contact Bill Moore (2wrmoore@comcast.net). Consider designating Congo Africa in your Echo giving this year. Echo Giving in the World forms are available on the literature table, or contact echo@wpc.org. November

6 Throughout October, Westminster members and friends gathered in one another s homes to share fellowship, refreshment, and conversation. In small groups, we watched our new Westminster video We Give and talked about our experiences with faith, church, and one another. We hope you had the opportunity to participate and that you found it to be a rewarding experience. If you were not able to attend (or if you d like to see the video again!), we encourage you to visit the home page of our website ( As we approach the season of Thanksgiving, we reflect again on the many blessings in our lives. God s grace surrounds us and imbues us with a sense of deep gratitude. Even in the most difficult of times, we know that we are not alone. If you have responded gratefully to God s grace by making your 2014 pledge to Westminster, we thank you. If you are still considering your response, we ask that you take this step of faithful commitment by Sunday, November 10. If you have any questions or if you need additional information or materials, please call the church office ( ) or contact any member of our Stewardship team. With deep gratitude for your generosity, 2014 Stewardship Team The Rev. Dr. Greg Jones Sue Linderman Craig Stabler Melissa Stabler Jon McPheeters Fred Nelson Christine Schiltz Bob McKeown Fred Iobst Dick Jolly Debbie Brown Nicole Hughes Grace, Gratitude, and Generosity To me, giving is the Christian thing to do. It s pretty simple, really. If I call myself a Christian and try to lead a Christian life, I need to walk the talk. There are no options. There are so many people with so little in this world; how can I in good conscience turn a blind eye to their need? Polly Pyle-Carter (Session) In Loving Memory Recent Member Death Please remember this individual and keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. Sarah B. Tompson March 30, 1923 October 9, W. 13th Street Wilmington, DE (302)

7 The Westminster CHIMES A Wonderful Way to Give For those of you who are making withdrawals from your IRAs: The extension of the American Taxpayer Relief Act into 2013 permits you to make contributions this year directly out of your traditional IRA to Westminster (or other qualified charity) without including this part of your distribution as income. For example, this means a taxpayer in the 25% federal tax bracket would save the 25% federal tax on the distribution while meeting the requirements for taking the IRA distribution (no income, no tax). A taxpayer in the 15% bracket, with substantial income in dividends and capital gains, could conceivably get a double saving of 30% as total income is lowered and more of the dividends and capital gains fall into the zero tax window. Among other advantages, it is possible that a reduction in reported income could avoid an increase in Medicare premiums that kick in at a higher income level. Further savings would also come from reduced state income tax. We cannot give tax advice and recommend that you review your individual situation with your tax advisor, but don t let this opportunity pass without due consideration. Remember, the contribution must be made directly from your traditional IRA to the charity of your choice. To obtain this benefit for your 2014 pledge, you would need to make an advance contribution before December 31 of this year. And, of course, you could use this method to finish any unpaid pledges for Bequest Received Westminster Presbyterian Church will accept donations of stock from your portfolio. You can make a special contribution, pay your pledge, prepay your pledge, or a combination of these. Westminster sells the stock and directs the net proceeds from the sale based on your instructions. By contributing the stock directly, you should not be taxed on any capital appreciation. We recommend that you consult with your tax advisor about this. If you want to learn more about how to make a stock donation, contact Church Administrator Debbie Brown (debbiebrown@wpc.org or , ext. 129). Westminster has been blessed with a $10,000 bequest from the Alfred A. Fischer and Frances B. Fischer Family Trust. Frances Fischer was a former member of Westminster. She joined the church in 1967 and was active until Her last known address was San Marcos, California. This bequest will be included in the endowment that supports the annual operating budget. We give to Westminster to enrich lives with God s love. Mark (Deacon) and Lori Shiflett November

8 Debbie and The Women s Day Center By Dede Johnston It is an unusually hot day in September. I sit down with Debbie at one of the long tables in the basement of the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew at 720 North Orange Street, which is Friendship House s Women s Day Center. The doors opened this Wednesday at 6:30 a.m., as they do every weekday, to homeless women for the early morning hospitality program that offers a place to shower, a rest room, beverages, and a sanctuary from the heat outside. I have known Debbie for seven years and witnessed her most remarkable walk on the road back from homelessness to an independent and self-sufficient life. Genell Walls, Manager, Women s Day Center Pam Ray, Manager, Women s Day Center I asked her to share her story with me for my church family. Debbie explains, I was first incarcerated in 1997 for drugrelated offenses. I used to have a life, two jobs but once I started getting high, it was all done. Until 2003, I was in and out of prison. When I was out, I would be on the streets at night and come here and sleep in the day. Pam and Genell would get me appointments with my doctors and my case manager. I didn t make them. I have a wonderful family downstate, but I was too ashamed to call them. My mom would call Genell to check on me. She sent clothes and care packages for me to Friendship House. I have a wonderful family. For 12 years, I came here and took a shower. I struggled with addiction, but Pam and Genell never gave up on me. They got on me to stay clean and keep my appointments, and I love them to death. Now, I am living in Canby Park Apartments. I have been clean for four years. I have a car and my license back after 11 years, and I visit my family downstate three or four times a month. I drive by the old scene I am not part of that now. Pam and Genell never gave up on me. I love them to death. When I asked Debbie what she would like people to know about the Women s Day Center, she said, Debbie Friendship House was a safe haven for me for 12 years. I struggled to get clean. Without the one-on-one help that Pam and Genell gave me, I don t know where I would be. Now I am clean and I stay compliant. I make my appointments. I enjoy my grandson. Did you know he will be three in December? It is so good to be a part of my family again. I think often of Debbie s story, of her journey and what she has faced and overcome. I know that her words have slipped into my heart as mysteriously as the Spirit of God slips into the hearts of all of us. I think how terribly important to the times her story is a story that does not end with a sense of obstacles overcome unconditionally. Debbie s story, like my own story and all of our stories, is one of overcoming a process that, through God s grace, is without end W. 13th Street Wilmington, DE (302)

9 The Westminster CHIMES Would You Like a Copy of the Westminster Member Photo Directory? Copies of the Westminster photo directory will be available in December! If you would like to purchase a copy, the cost will be $15. Please call the church office ( ) to reserve your copy, or sign up at the reception desk. Please mail or bring your check for $15 made out to Westminster with Photo Directory on the memo line. If you have any questions or would like to see the photo we have on file for you, please contact Sue Linderman (srlinder@dca.net or ) or Nicole Hughes (nhughes@wpc.org or , ext. 130). And remember, you can access our online member directory at any time! It is updated regularly and a secure login protects your information from the public. If you are currently an active member of Westminster and haven t yet created a password to access the online directory, you may do so by going to and clicking on MEMBER LOGIN in the upper right-hand corner of our home page. When you reach the sign-in screen, click on the green question mark. Choose a method to verify your and follow the prompts. It s quick and easy! If you have any questions or need help, please contact Nicole Hughes. Worship at Westminster Table Blessings: Sharing and Caring By Mary Beth Davis As a parent of grown children, our kitchen table is rarely full, but this past weekend I found myself at table with my entire family plus two. That s right, all six of us, plus two girlfriends, crowded around our kitchen table enjoying takeout pizza. I know each of us would describe it differently, but for me it was heaven on earth as we shared childhood stories, recounted past baseball games, talked NFL, caught up on school and work, and laughed. Just like old times a precious gift! What is it about table time? What is it about the table? When we intentionally sit at table and invite others to join us, we learn to value not just the presence of one another but also the diverse and unique gifts that each of us bring. We experience a meaningful time of sharing, caring, and getting to know one another. Our relationships are built, strengthened, and reconciled around the table. Shirley Erena Murray s hymn For Everyone Born, A Place at the Table started this table conversation back in September, and I wonder how it is going. Have we practiced God s radical hospitality and overflowing generosity both at home and at church? Have we been creators of justice and joy? At the end of this month, we will find ourselves at Thanksgiving table. I pray that there you will be mindful of God s open and abundant table overflowing with table blessings for all and give thanks. Enjoy! November

10 Prepare to Share It Is Time for Christmas Boxes! Only four more weeks to shop? That s right! December 8 is the deadline for delivery of food items and Wish Star gifts to fill 125 baskets for families in our community who are in need. Yes Christmas is coming, and many elves have already been busy preparing for this annual church-wide outreach program. Community agencies have submitted referrals. The Phix-It Corps Elves have assembled and placed one Christmas tree in the Pavilion and another near Rodney Chapel. Elves have cut, coded, and hung Wish Stars on the trees. Other elves have prepared log books for you to sign out each Wish Star. Now it s your turn to be an elf! Here are some things you can do: Pick one or more Wish Stars from a tree. Be sure to sign the log book by the tree for each star you take! This step is so important. Please don t forget! Buy a gift for the child or adult indicated on each star you take. Wrap the gift, attach the Wish Star to the package, and bring the gift(s) to church by December 8. There are brochures by each tree with buying guidelines and gift suggestions. A range of $10 to $20 per gift is suggested to ensure that children in each family are treated in a similar manner. Please remember that the gifts must fit into our packing boxes! There will be an elf at each tree on Sunday mornings to answer any questions. Donate any of these food items by December 8: boxes of cereal and stuffing mix and canned sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, and fruit. Place your donations in any of the boxes in various locations around the church. Write a check to WPC for the purchase of a food certificate. Write Christmas Box Project on the memo line of your check. These donations will go toward ShopRite gift certificates so that families can buy a turkey or other main course for Christmas dinner. Be a Special Toy Elf! In addition to the Wish Star gift, a Santa gift will be purchased for each child age 12 and younger. You can make a special donation by writing a check for the Shopper Elves to use to buy these gifts. Write Toys for CB Project on the memo line of your check. Checks can be placed in the collection plate on Sunday mornings or mailed to the church. Help make Christmas cards for the boxes. Watch for announcements and information on the Advent Workshop on December 1 during the 10:TEN education time, and then enjoy making W. 13th Street Wilmington, DE (302)

11 The Westminster CHIMES Christmas cards for our boxes of food and gifts and for WPC carolers to take to our shut-ins on December 22. Bake cookies for the Christmas boxes. Elves will gather in the WPC kitchen from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 7. Please sign up for this event with Master Cookie Elf Jim Carter ( ). Help wrap and sort gifts. Join Sandie Reinicker and her elves when they wrap the Santa gifts and sort the Wish Star gifts in preparation for packing night. Contact Sandie for details. Plan to attend the Box Packing Dinner Party on Friday, December 13. Watch for announcements and more information in the Weekly Word e-newsletter and Sunday worship bulletins. This is truly a joyous evening as packing elves load the Christmas-wrapped boxes with food and gifts, a sign of our sharing Christ s love with our neighbors. Plan to help on Distribution Day on Monday, December 16. Hospitality elves, chauffeur elves, and distribution elves are needed on this day. Contact Marlys Kerr for more information. Thank you so much! There are so many ways that YOU can make someone smile this Christmas! I give to Westminster because I see what a difference the church makes in this community and beyond. Kris Ruebling-Jass (Deacon) Recent Birth We welcome this child into the Westminster family. Garrett Webb Hoopes Born September 8, 2013 He is the son of Tara and Matt Hoopes, brother of Matthew Hoopes, and grandson of Gaye and Cal Morgan. We give because we want to contribute to the vitality of the church. Diane (Deacon) and Chad Chandler November

12 How Your Generosity Is Helping to Alleviate Hunger Hunger is called the world s greatest solvable problem and an invisible epidemic by those who feel it and those who work to eliminate it. Hunger keeps children from reaching their potential and leads to more frequent illnesses. In Delaware, 23% of children live in poverty, the chief cause of hunger. Seniors are also greatly affected by lack of proper nutrition. financial gifts to many organizations that feed men, women, and children. Our policy is to give only to those programs that we also support with our volunteers, so that means Westminster volunteers can be found in many sites that give food directly to the hungry. This is where you will find Westminster s food donations, dollars, and money: Christmas Boxes ($4,800) Members prepare boxes with gifts and donated cans and boxes of food for a Christmas meal for 125 families. Emmanuel Dining Rooms ($4,400) Volunteers prepare lunches on the 4th and 17th of each month. Emmanuel Dining Rooms serve 550 meals a day to men, women, and children. Pictured are Marlys Kerr and Mary Lou McDowell, our Family Promise coordinators. SNAP (the federal food stamp program) allows for $2 per day per person. Seventy-five percent of families using food stamps have children, and one-third of recipients are the elderly and those with disabilities. In a recent Gallup poll, Delaware placed third behind Mississippi and Alabama in the percentage of residents who struggle to afford food. One in four Delawareans receive emergency food assistance though food pantries, soup kitchens, school lunches, and meals supplied through other institutions. Westminster takes seriously the command of Jesus to feed the hungry. The Urban Mission Committee, though your pledges and donations, distributes Food Bank of Delaware ($1,100) The Food Bank of Delaware serves 241,600 people each year. Volunteers serve on the board and sort donated food. Hanover Food Pantry ($8,900) Volunteers distribute food to 45 families every Thursday. Westminster members bring boxes and cans of food each Sunday, and the donations are taken to Hanover Food Pantry and LCS Food Pantry. LCS Food Pantry ($8,750) Members donate food and can help distribute food to 50 families a day (Monday to Friday). Saturday Morning Breakfast ($21,000) Volunteers prepare breakfast and serve more than 200 people each week. Saints Andrew and Matthew Volunteers bake quiches for Sunday breakfast for the residents; W. 13th Street Wilmington, DE (302)

13 The Westminster CHIMES donate peanut butter and jelly, bread, coffee, tea, and sugar for other programs; and prepare and serve soup and sandwiches during the bitter winter nights through Code Purple. Family Promise ($5,600) Volunteers prepare guest rooms and serve breakfast and dinner to families four weeks a year. At the 2013 Mission Fair in September, Bob Cox and Henry Tatnall discussed the importance of food closets in our community. Epiphany House Volunteers prepare a meal to share with the women residents each month. If hunger and doing something about it is important to you, the Urban Mission Committee will help you become involved and welcomes your ideas and your energy. I give because I feel I get back so much more from the church and its mission than I could ever give. I give because I believe in Westminster. I give because I am blessed and because I can and think it s the right thing to do. Nancy Fleming (Session) Don t Forget Your Undies on Sunday, November 10! Sunday, November 10, is Undie Sunday, an opportunity for our community to support the homeless populations in Wilmington and New York City by providing a wardrobe basic: underwear. Especially needed are men s undergarments, including men s underwear, t-shirts, and socks. Women s undergarments will also be accepted, but the male homeless population is larger and in more need. New long underwear will also be accepted. All donations to this drive must be new. Westminster is a facilitator for multiple opportunities to share and to give. It inspires the attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit. John Krill (Session) Garments can be placed in the containers at the 1502 and 1506 entrances that day or any day the week of November 10. New, clean underwear is a luxury for many. Thank you for your generosity and care! November

14 Ways to Combat Hunger Locally During November and December, our mission emphasis is alleviating hunger. Westminster is very involved in providing meals and food to those who are in need in our greater community. Here are several ways you can help feed hungry families: Family Promise Provide a meal and hospitality to the families who will be living at Westminster. For more information, contact Mary Lou McDowell ( ). Hanover Food Pantry/Lutheran Community Services (LCS) Food Pantry Bring canned or boxed food items to Westminster every Sunday. High-protein foods such as canned meats and tuna, beans, and peanut butter are especially needed. Canned vegetables, fruits, rice, and cereal are also important. Every Wednesday, Susan Alexander screens and refers families to these food banks. Please place your donations in the large gray plastic cans found near the entrances to our church and in Community Hall. For more information, contact Jim Carter ( ). You can also help sort or deliver food to Hanover Food Pantry one hour per month (contact Susan Williamson at ) and LCS Food Pantry one day per month, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. weekdays (contact Steve Tindall at ). Christmas Boxes This great Westminster tradition provides food and Christmas gifts for 125 local families in need (approximately 450 people). See page 10 for more details about this project. Preparing and Serving Meals to Hungry People This provides a wonderful opportunity to feed not only the stomach but also the souls of those who are less fortunate. Contact one of the members listed below to get involved, and have a powerful, positive impact on our community! Emmanuel Dining Room West serve lunch on the 4th of each month (Camilla Jones) Melissa Stabler and Nancy Fleming help out at Saturday Morning Breakfast. Emmanuel Dining Room East serve lunch on the 17th of each month (Patty Rittenhouse) Saturday Breakfast Club serve breakfast every Saturday at the former West Presbyterian Church (Tenney Wheatley, Sue Weissinger) Sunday Breakfast Club serve breakfast four weekends a year at Saints Andrew and Matthew Episcopal Church (Frank Waldburger) Sojourner s Place Birthday Project provide dessert and hospitality monthly (Jeanne Checkel) Andrew s Place prepare and share dinner with elderly men at Saint Andrew s Episcopal Church (John Doyle) Epiphany House prepare and share dinner with women on the second Wednesday of each month (Dede Johnston) Code Purple prepare soups for use as needed during winter (Beth Bowersock) In addition, there are opportunities to help sort and/ or deliver food: Food Bank of Delaware per arrangement (TJ Roe) Meals on Wheels two days per month (Jill Voss) W. 13th Street Wilmington, DE (302)

15 The Westminster CHIMES Flying Solo Activities for November 2013 Flying Solo is a singles group offering fellowship and support for singles of any age in our area. There is no need to be a member to join us, and we especially welcome newcomers! Come connect with friends and make new ones at some or all of these activities. Mark your calendar! Sunday, November 3 Brunch after church at 11:30 a.m. at Catherine Rooney s in Trolley Square. Saturday, November 16 Card night starting at 7:00 p.m. Contact Cathy Lang (cathylang36@yahoo.com) if interested. Card game ideas are welcome, and please bring a snack or drink. Upcoming activities: December (date TBD) Christmas outing to Longwood Gardens; details to follow. December 31 New Year s Eve party at Margo Reign s home (margoreign@comcast.net). January 11, 2014 (tentative) Clothing exchange at 7:00 p.m. Bring clothes that you would like to trade for another article of clothing. Any clothing not traded can be donated to a good cause. Hosted by Cathy Glober. February 2014 (date TBD) Super Bowl party; details to follow. Sunday, November 17 Brunch after church at 11:30 a.m. at Catherine Rooney s in Trolley Square. Westminster is a central part of our lives. Our church family embodies our view of the Christian way of dealing with our fellow man and the magnificent world in which we live. We treasure the stimulating sermons and education classes, the marvelous music in our inspiring sanctuary, the opportunities for community outreach, and the nurturing friendships that have so enriched our lives. We support Westminster to ensure the continuing prosperity of this great institution, and we do this through an annual pledge so the Church can responsibly plan and manage its finances. Charles (Trustee) and Mary Lou McDowell I give because I m convinced Westminster its members, its staff, and its programs makes the world a better place in countless ways. Dick Jolly (Session) November

16 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Wilmington, DE Permit No West 13th Street Wilmington, DE Pastors The Rev. Dr. Gregory K. Jones The Rev. Thomas R. Stout The Rev. Jill Getty WPC Director of Communications & Database Management Nicole Hughes Graphic Design by Trellist Marketing & Technology Next Chimes Deadline: Monday, November 4, at 11:00 a.m. For the Dec 2013/Jan 2014 Issue Submissions can be made at Happy Thanksgiving From the Westminster Staff As a reminder, the church offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Westminster CHIMES is also available online in full color visit