To review the study guide for the Lenten Series Sunday School class for February 21, 2010 click here:

http://www.wpcknox.org/studyguide/christianity-for-the-rest-of-us-chapters-1-3.doc

Books are available in the church office for $15 each.  We hope you’ll join us in the McKinnon Room at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday throughout the Lenten season.

Westminster’s Ash Wednesday service will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary on February 17, 2010. Ash Wednesday began as a day of penitence to mark the beginning of the Season of Lent – the forty days preparation for the celebration of Easter.  A Lenten Series will be offered each Wednesday evening beginning February 24 through March 31. We will gather at 5:45 p.m. for a simple meal of soup and bread, followed by a service of evening prayers in the sanctuary. This reflective time focuses on scripture, song and prayer as we prepare ourselves for Easter. In addition to the Wednesday night program, our adult Lenten Series during the Sunday School hour will study the book entitled “Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith” by Diana Butler Bass. We hope that you will join us!

Raise your hand if you are ready for Spring? I sure am. With a wintry weather forecast for the next 3 out of 4 days – I was elated when Dick and Joanne Steinle told me about an upcoming bulb giveaway. “Knoxville Green” has given out 1.5 million bulbs and plan to give out more tomorrow morning (Feb 13) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, they expect that all the bulbs will be given away by 1 pm. They will be at Winston Square (202 North Seven Oaks Drive). It is in the first center PAST Home Depot on Kingston Pike. This same group is responsible for all the lovely daffodils that carpet the land along Pellissippi Parkway.  Maybe I will get to see you out there in the morning. =) If I don’t see you there, then maybe I will see you at the Progressive Dinner Saturday night at 6 p.m. There are 72 of us meeting at Charles Town Landing and then going to our host families for dinner and then all ending up at Westminster for a yummy dessert. I can’t begin to thank the Fellowship Ministry Team for all your behind-the-scene work for this annual event! You are awesome!

Hope you have a very Happy Valentines weekend.

Hugs,

Renee Wiesehuegel

Good Morning, Westminster!

Helpful hands are needed for the Wednesdays With Westminster dinner on February 10.  The food is taken care of, but we need volunteers for serving and clean-up.   Please call or email Renee or Sandra if you’re able to help.

The Community Service ministry team will be serving dinner at the Presbyterian Youth Student Center on Sunday, February 28.  Donations of food or funds to purchase food are needed to feed this group of about 35 students.  Please contact Kathy Shilling at jkshilling@comcast.net or 470-8993 to make a contribution.  On behalf of the Community Service team and the students who share the dinner, thank you for your support.

Our much-anticipated progressive dinner is Saturday, February 13.  The evening begins with appetizers at Charles Towne Landing at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at our hosts’ homes at 7:00.  The evening ends with dessert at Westminster.  The sign-up sheet is in the Schilling Gallery.  Please note whether you’re bringing an appetizer or a dessert.  The cost is $10 per person, and childcare is provided.  You won’t want to miss it!

News from the Presbytery of East Tennessee:

Our denomination has sent some $409,000 in aid to Haiti, along with 35,000 “Gift of the Heart” emergency kits.  Carlos Martinez, a PCUSA representative is in Port-au-Prince to help assess the situation and future needs and to help deliver what is most needed.   The PDA website, http://www.pcusa.org/pda/help/goh.htm,  is an excellent resource for news and information about how we can help.

Please note:

Today’s Abbey shows a 12:15 p.m. time for the confirmation class.  The class actually meets during the Sunday School hour, at 10:00 a.m.

Have a blessed day!

-Sandra

Here is what we have planned for Wednesday, February 3:

5:45 – 6:30  Dinner – Beef stew, vegetarian stew, salad, bread, dessert. You do not have to make reservations and the dinner is free unless you want to make a donation at the door.

6:30 – 7:30  Activities – nursery for infants through age 4 and programs for ages 5 through 5^th grade. Middle schoolers and high schoolers will be led by Angela Partelow and Leslie Rotella and will play “Apples to Apples” and other games. Adults have two choices:

            “Serpent Handling Believers: Three Families and their Faith” by Fred Brown & Jeanne McDonald

            “Understanding Mormonism” by Buran Phillips

     Bring family and friends and come enjoy the food, fun, and fellowship at WWW.