Snow Days

Worship for Sunday is cancelled! Please join us for the Christmas Eve service at 7pm. And the Christmas Cantata and Dinner is rescheduled for December 27th. Please do not go out unless you absolutely have too! Be safe and warm. Blessings!

Devon

God is Good!

As I walked into the sanctuary on Sunday morning, it felt good. I guess I need to say that God felt good in that place. As folks slowly meandered in for service you could tell everyone was glad to see one another and be together to worship God. During the passing of the peace, which I realized I caused to last forever, a visitor asked if I would be willing to open the doors of the church for new members. With tears in my eyes I said of course we will. Following the sermon, I opened the doors of the church to those who wished to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and those seeking a church home. As I waited, 10 visitors joined me up front! 10 of God's children walked up to the front and asked to join Westminster in ministry. The tears came rolling down my face and I was overjoyed! We prayed, cried, laughed, and rejoiced as we welcomed each one of them. Mark, Kelly, Lexi, Brandon, Amber, Hunter, Stephanie, Rick, Tracy, and Sierra are the newest members at Westminster. On Sunday I reminded the church that our goal this year for new members was 10. Well, we exceeded that goal and now have 11 new members! Next year, 20! To God be the Glory! Amen CHURCH!

PCUSA News...

Hey, we made the news! All of our work towards becoming a more outwardly focused congregation is starting to pay off! Check out this article. http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09738.htm

What a Sunday!

Today, we just had a wonderful time in worship. Well, at least I did. And I hope others did as well. We are still looking at the Epistle to the Ephesians and talked about the importance of building the body of Christ. Exploring the importance of how we are building one another up as disciples of Christ, followed by how we are building the body with those who visit...do we connect folks with ways to deepen their relationship with God, and third, are we building the body of Christ through our ministries with and for the community. We are looking at how we are called to be disciples in Kanawha City. The adventures never end at Westminster! Then we got a good laugh when Susan invited people to fellowship and she forgot that she was suppose to provide the food for fellowship! Oh well! And one of the amazing things that happened today is that Cathy came up to me after worship and asked if she could pray for me. I accepted very graciously and enjoyed having someone pray for me. Anyway, I hope everyone had a blessed Sunday! Enjoy the week and look for how we can continue to build the body of Christ in partnership with God.

An After School Program!

It is so amazing what happens when you listen to God and wait for God's answer! After a year of trying to figure out what God has in store for Westminster, a member from the community has come forward! Kelly Winnell has felt called to start an after school program at our church. Kelly will begin as the after school director on August 1st, but is already making contacts! There is a lot of work to be done and we are really excited out this outreach opportunity. When we did our needs-based assessments, this is one of the areas that people felt incredibly strongly about. YOU felt an after school program and/or tutoring program was needed in our area. So, here it is! If you have any questions, please feel free to chat with Devon. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and receiving help!

YARD SALE!

On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we are organizing stuff for the yard sale...And the yard sale takes place Saturday, June 20th. Also, we will have a bake sale to go with it! Bake some goodies this week and come help organize. All proceeds from the yard sale will go towards local mission. Let us know where our community needs help!

What an amazing Saturday!

Saturday was so exhausting, yet so filling at the same time! After almost five hours at the Kanawha City Community Association Fair...where Susan met every single person and invited them to the block party and to church...we had the Community Block Party. Back to Susan, what amazing gifts she has! She loves talking to folks, finding out if they need prayer, seeing if they are connected with a local church, and invites folks to worship. The fair was her place! And then we all moved over to the block party. Guessing, we had over 100 people of all ages at the block party. Good food, wonderful entertainment by the Presby Pickers, and fun for the kids. Cecil said that was some of the best music he has heard in a long time! I hope if you were able to come out that you enjoyed yourself! I know I truly enjoyed during the day and loved seeing so many wonderful people. I hope the folks of the church know what a blessing that evening was to so many people in our community. Looking forward to the next one! Peace, Devon

Community Block Party

On Saturday, June 13th, we will be having our summer community block party. We will be celebrating the end of the school year and the celebration of summer. Free food, games, arts and crafts, Presby Pickers, and Jupiter Jump! Looking forward to seeing you at 4pm!

Spring is Here!

Well, it has been a while since I have posted anything about the church. Over the course of the past few weeks, the church has been getting a face lift! The cracks are less obvious in the ceiling of the sanctuary and the printed paneling has disappeared downstairs. The classrooms are now a pretty yellow and the nursery is ready for children. It is amazing what a coat of paint can do for the church. By making an investment in the church, we are continuing to get ready for what God has in-stored for our congregation. Soon we will begin the process of updating our landscape so the outside of the church is a welcoming as the inside. Our greatest asset is our people. Westminster has a wonderful group of people who are love God, love one another, love church, and will love those who come to worship with us. Come and help us grow in faith!

The Great Commission

One of the charges Jesus gave the disciples is called the 'Great Commission'. The Great Commission also charges each and every one of us to go out into the world, proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to remember that Jesus is with us always. Let us make this true. Let us as Christians of the 21st century re-create how the church ministers to people. We are very good at ministering to one another, but the Great Commission charges us to minister to those we encounter daily. The Great Commission reminds us that Jesus wants us to go out into the world and not only into the church. Remember that during the time of Jesus they did not worship in churches...they worshiped in homes, in hiding, in places off the beaten path, and in public spaces. Not behind the walls of the church. So as we continue to discern God's will for our churches, let us remember that we go forth into the world...just as the first disciples did!

Happy New Year

Well, we are officially in 2009! What a blessing to be here as your pastor and working with you to discern God's will for our congregations!!! As we start 2009, we are focusing on prayer. Prayer is central to the Christian tradition and for Presbyterians. This year, I am asking you to continue to walk with me, pray with me, talk with me. As Christ goes in front, beside, and behind me, I ask that you join me this new year. Take this new journey with me and see, through prayer, where God is leading us to go. You never know, God just might lead you to talk with someone new, someone you haven't spent much time with, and someone who might be different from you. I hope that through prayer, worship, fellowship, meals, and bible study, we can discern God's will together and grow our churches!