June Hotline. Westminster. Presbyterian Church CAPITAL CAMPAIGN MORE THAN HALF-WAY. Inside this issue: Be a WILLING Christian. Remember Westminster

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1 June Hotline Volume XVIII, Issue 6 June 2018 Westminster Presbyterian Church 2155 University Ave. Dubuque, IA hal@wpcdbq.org Inside this issue: Church News 2 4 Capital Campaign 1 Vacation Bible School 3 Youth News 3 Calendar 5 Outing at Backbone State Park Worship Scripture 6 FROM YOUR WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOUNDATION: Be a WILLING Christian. Remember Westminster Presbyterian Church in your WILL. 4 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN MORE THAN HALF-WAY Through Sunday May 27, gifts to The Spirit Is Moving! Capital Campaign for Sanctuary improvements totaled $62,164. The goal for the campaign is $100,000, to be used for: creation of an expanded area for hospitality/fellowship with enhanced accessibility at the back of the Sanctuary lighting improvements electrical system updates installation of a digital projection system improvements to the sound system The Spirit Is Moving! continues through mid-june. If you would like to contribute please write "capital campaign" on your check and/or use one of the special Spirit offering envelopes mailed to all members and friends of the church. Spirit envelopes have also been placed in the pew racks in the Sanctuary. This is Westminster's first capital improvements campaign in over two decades. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING about The Spirit Is Moving! Capital Campaign... As I journey through my life, I have experienced a wide variety of events and changes, both good and bad, that have brought me to where I am now. One of the most important of these is my new-found faith in God and our church -- not only my church family, but also the church building where I worship our Lord. I myself, and I hope generations after me are able to become members of our church family and also worship God in our house of worship. Through God, I have felt the Holy Spirit move me to commit my heart and soul to help our current and future generations have the opportunity to worship in our church, as I have. To this end, a few of our church members and I have worked over the past year trying to design improvements to our sanctuary. After much prayer, discussion, research and working together, we have arrived with the improvements that we hope will serve our church family for another 100 years. -- Mark Oberhoffer "I feel a warmth at Westminster! To me it is a church filled with positive, friendly, kind and fun people who I am happy to call my friends. Doug and I have been members since 1963 and have witnessed its ups and downs. But even in the troubled years, I knew God was present right here at Westminster, so we committed to stay! Under Hal's leadership we have seen so many ups! And today, I am humbly proud of who we are as a church - opening our hearts and doors to all. I truly believe this church improvement project is part of God's plan for Westminster's future. I support it happily, openly, and wholeheartedly!" -- Lois K. Pearce "One of the first things I experienced as your pastor is your deep love for your church. I love it too! Along with you, I've become increasingly aware of the need for Westminster to both enhance accessibility for most of us already here, while at the same time broadening our appeal to generations raised in today's digital culture. A positive outcome for this campaign addresses both needs. And it will signal prospective pastors that Westminster is ready and willing to invest in BOTH the present and the future. When that happens, we'll KNOW 'The Spirit Is Moving!'". -- Hal Murry

2 Volume XVIII, Issue 6 Page 2 Church News from Boards and Committees "WESTMINSTER UPDATE "with Interim Pastor Hal Murry follows worship on June 3. Topics this time include: Church Finance 101 (How is mission and ministry funded by mature, healthy congregations?); the pastor nominating process (Where do we stand now?) and your questions. This informal, conversational meeting is held in air-conditioned Fellowship Hall, fifteen minutes after worship. THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE reports that beautiful new drapes have been installed in the Church Nursery. The drapes replace worn-out venetian blinds that had become a safety hazard. Thanks to Pam Adams for overseeing the project, made possible by memorial gifts received in memory of Wes Heitzman and Don Carlson. CONGRATULATIONS to Sue Dravis and Paul Uzel who have been elected and commissioned as John Knox Presbytery's delegates to this summer's General Assembly (the PC(USA)'s national governing body). The Assembly meets every other year, this summer from June in St. Louis. Delegates will attend from all 173 Presbyteries in the USA along with advisory delegates from all over the world. HIGHLIGHTS from the Westminster Foundation Board of Managers quarterly meeting on May 16: Approved two grants: $1,700 to Westminster's Property Committee to assist with sidewalk improvements that will mobility and access at the Sanctuary entrance; and $10,000 to Westminster's Spirit Is Moving! Capital campaign. Grants are funded by earnings from the legacy of generous donors. Have you remembered the church in your will? Received an annual update from the Foundation's investment advisor, American Trust. Said thanks and farewell to Ed Blinks and Jennifer Klinkhammer whose service on the Board is concluding. Ed is completing 16 years of service on the board. Jennifer is relocating. EVER WONDER? How do we know when the Bible is wrong? What does it mean to love God and to be an American Christian today? Even though Biblical literalism is Christianity's most public face in America, is there an alternative way to understand the Bible? Hal Murry's summer book study, Convictions by Marcus Borg, tackles these provocative questions and many more, beginning June 10 through August 19. Marcus Borg was a leading scholar on the historical Jesus, and this was his final book. His writing is clear and accessible, intended especially for laypersons. We'll use a simple chapter-a-week approach, so if you have to miss a week, it's easy to pick up again. Books will be available in the Narthex on June 4. Suggested donation is: $10. "If we aren't going to talk about our convictions by age 70, then when?" -- Marcus Borg in Convictions. The Mission Garden has been expanded and is growing!!! We added an assortment of berry bushes too! Needed are tomato cages so we can support our pepper plants. We also need the 4 inch pots that one gets when buying flowers. Helpers are needed at our off-site garden areas. Call Rich at or Marsha at

3 Page 3 June Hotline Youth Faith Formation Congratulations to Katey Theis for completing her babysitting class. Katey is the latest person to be a Junior Nursery Attendant. Youth Group Summer activities will be posted on the family Facebook page.

4 Page 4 Church News The Sympathy of the Congregation is extended to the family and friends of: Howard Wallace, member, whose oldest son, David, from the Twin Cities area, passed away. Carl Osuch, member. Services will be at Westminster on Friday, June 29th. Congratulations Graduate To A.J. Johns, husband of Jillian Becker Johns, and son-in-law of Laura (Becker) Barrett, who graduated with a MBA from the University of Iowa. Westminster Vital Statistics Average Sunday Worship Attendance for May Financial Stewardship through April 30, 2018 (numbers rounded to the nearest 1,000) Year-to-Date Operating Budget $127, Expenses 112, Income 157,000 Income over Expenses 45,000 The Spirit Is Moving! Capital Campaign for Sanctuary Improvements thru May 27th Congratulations! To Hong Yang & Kevin Xu on the birth of their new baby boy, Yi Xu born on April 27th. Hao Xu is the new big brother! Congrats! Their address is: 2091 Clifford St Gather with us on July 8, 2018 and discover God s creation at To George Maruyama's Life Celebration/100th Birthday Luncheon Sat., June 16th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall Please RSVP on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex by Mon., June 11th or call the office at Members of George's family who will be here are: Tani & Geoff Maruyama, George's brother, Allen (former associate pastor here at Westminster) & Rose Maruyama and their children Sarah and John and their families who grew up in Dubuque. Also George's brother, Joe and his sister, Virginia and their families will also be here. Backbone State Park via Kayak, Canoe, Paddle boat, Swimming or Hiking. Additional Information and a Signup sheet is in the Narthex Kayak, canoe, paddleboats - $10 for ½ hr or $15 for one hour Bring your own lunch: water and other beverages will be provided. Questions? Contact Deb Seiffert: debseiffert@gmail.com or Lisa Meester : lisam@mediacombb.net

5 Volume XVIII, Issue 6 Page 5 JUNE Calendar go to website for a larger version

6 Westminster Presbyterian Church 2155 University Ave Dubuque, IA NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID DUBUQUE, IA PERMIT NO. 577 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED This summer, Hal Murry preaches from the Gospel of Mark. Bring your favorite Bible to church if you'd like to follow along and take notes! June 3 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Rev. Hal Murry preaches on Mark 1:1-20, "The Overture" Join Us for Worship at Westminster 9:30 a.m. Sundays Contact Information: 2155 University Ave. Dubuque, IA June 10 Rev. Hal Murry preaches on Mark 1:21-45, "An Ordinary Day with Jesus" June 17 Father's Day Sacrament of Baptism for Miles Tod Malone Rev. Hal Murry preaches on Mark 2:1-22, "Conflict Stories" Join us for Communion at Bethany Home June17 at 1:30 p.m.