Good Afternoon Westminster,

I want to update you on some events being held during the Lenten season:

WEDNESDAY EVENING LENTEN SERIES

Join us at 5:45 p.m. each Wednesday evening during Lent 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.

THE BREATH OF LIFE: A SIMPLE WAY TO PRAY

“The Breath Prayer is a short prayer of praise and petition that is meant to help us become aware of the presence of God. ‘It is a way to have on our lips what is always in our heart.’” This five week study on breath prayer, led by Ginny Baker, continues Wednesday, March 23 and conclude on Wednesday, April 13. We  meet in the McKinnon Room for about an hour immediately following the Lenten service in the Sanctuary. Those interested are asked to contact Ginny Baker. Books are $10.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LENTEN STUDY (McKinnon Room)   “Learning Forgiveness”

This six-week study from The Thoughtful Christian continues Sunday. Some of the topics to be discussed include, “Who needs forgiveness?,” “God’s Love and Judgment,” “The Call to Forgive” and “Forgiveness and Reconciliation.” Copies of the lesson are available in the Narthex of the Sanctuary and in the church office. Join us each week during Lent for this unique journey.

THE ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING OFFERING

OGHS will be collected through the season of Lent. The offering is used to support those whose lives have been impacted by disaster, as well as those made vulnerable by hunger, disease, unemployment and environmental degradation. Our gifts are divided among the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

FLOWER GUILD

Please help the Flower Guild this Easter as they adorn the sanctuary in celebration of our Lord’s glorious ascension from the tomb. Checks of any amount are welcome and can be made out to Westminster Flower Guild in honor or memory of loved ones. These names will be included in the Easter Sunday bulletin and Abbey. Easter lilies will be available after the service to deliver to those who are unable to join us or to recycle into your garden. Thank you for supporting this annual tradition.

WESTMINSTER PLAYERS PRESENT “GOD’S FAVORITE” by Neil Simon

Who knew misery could be so funny? God’s Favorite, Neil Simon’s comical retelling of the Bible’s Book of Job will be presented April 8-10 at Westminster. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. After wealthy Long Island businessman, Joe Benjamin is visited by God’s eccentric messenger from Queens, his life takes a drastic turn for the worse. Destruction, devastation and divine comedy rain down on Joe to test his faith. With a pair of simple-minded twins underfoot, a rebellious, carousing son and wife Rose’s kvetching, you’ll be laughing to keep from crying. Will Joe put an end to his family’s suffering by renouncing God, or will he hold fast to his faith come what may? The admission price is a $10 donation at the door. A nursery will be provided for young children.

Happy Friday Westminster! Aren’t you loving all this sunshine? Someone shared with me this great saying yesterday – “If the grass seems greener on the other side of the fence – it is time to spread fertilizer”. =) I’ve been thinking about how important it is to apply this simple phrase in our lives. The Lord has blessed each of us with so much grace in this world yet we easily find ourselves burdened with feelings of loss, anxiety, and desire for “more”. I’ve loved the teachings of Anne Dungan and Tim Crais in “The Losses of Our Lives” Sunday school class this semester. I encourage you to read the book one day. The author does a fantastic job in teaching us to name our loss, grieve it, and then move on in life so that we can live it abundantly. The examples she shares and the classroom discussions we had were totally awesome. This coming Sunday, participants in this class will lead worship at both services. I appreciate the willingness of the five people who are going to share from the pulpit their experiences as well as the others who will serve as Liturgists. You will also get to listen to some of the scripture that we got to study in this class. The season of Lent is a very powerful season of the church life. I hope that you will embrace it and get involved in all the many programs that are in store for us. Buran will lead us off with the Ash Wednesday service this coming Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Please make plans to attend! On Wednesday nights following Ash Wednesday, we will hold our annual Lenten Series (soup dinner in Fellowship Hall then service in Sanctuary). If you never have been to one of these services – please try it. I bet you will find it very meaningful. Learning to take time out of our merry-go-round lives to sit, pray, and listen is a gift to be treasured. Ginny Baker is offering a “Breath of Life” prayer class immediately following the service. Books are available for $10 each and there is a signup sheet in the Schilling Gallery. The adult Sunday School class will hold a Lenten series class entitled “Learning Forgiveness”. It begins March 13.  Hugs, Renee Wiesehuegel

Good Afternoon Westminster,

Isn’t it awesome to drink in this sunshine the Lord is blessing us with today??? I don’t know when I have been so ready for winter to be over with than I am this year.  You want to know something cool? The bulbs I planted from the Easter flowers last year are making their way into the world this week at home. The symbolism of all this new life around me is a “postcard” from our wonderful Lord that He continually holds each of us in the palm of His hand – and for this – I am so very grateful! =)

I just got word from Mary McKeehan that Jack Barron is participating in the Orchid Show at Westtown Mall this coming weekend. The display of orchids can be found in the rotunda that is located near the inside entrance of  JcPenney. He told me the best times to see them are Saturday afternoon until 9 pm and then again on Sunday from noon to five.  I am excited to see them!

Enjoy your day!

Hugs,

Renee Wiesehuegel

With the registration for our All Church Retreat officially over tomorrow, I am happy to announce that there are 113 of us traveling to Fall Creek Falls in April. I am SO excited to spend the time together! There is a group forming to go see the play “The Silver Whistle” on that Friday at the Cumberland County Playhouse which is about half way from Knoxville to Fall Creek Falls. If you are interested, please see Betty McKeehan. If you haven’t registered yet but would like to go – please contact me and I’ll try to book you a room. Camping is available all the way up until the time of the retreat. We currently have eight families who are going to camp.

On February 27, immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship service, there will be an informative meeting regarding the Dominican Republic mission trip scheduled for June 4 – 11. If you would like to attend, please meet up with the group in the Library.

On March 1, Buran’s last class in the BLT class will be studying Psalms  23 and 91. I really appreciate the insight that Buran has given us as well as the class discussion of what the psalmist is saying to us. It has been a really great class. You are more than welcome to join us this coming Tuesday at noon!

ORGANIST CHARLES BOYD TOMPKINS will be heard in recital at Westminster Church Friday evening, January 21, at 8:00 as part of this season’s Musica Organi series. Dr. Tompkins is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan and is University Organist and Professor of Music at Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina. He has presented recitals and workshops throughout the United States, and has been a featured artist at national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the College Music Society, and the Music Teachers National Association. His program will include music by J. S. Bach, Bruhns, Dandrieu, Langlais, Mendelssohn, and Rorem, among others. Admission is free and the congregation is cordially invited to attend. A nursery will be provided. Do come join us that evening!

The Westminster parking lot is a winter wonderland!  The snow is absolutely gorgeous! We have decided to postpone tonight’s Epiphany Party until next Wednesday (January 12). Hopefully all that yummy soup that Worship, Music, and the Arts cooked for us tonight can be put to great use!  So mark your calendars for January 12th!

Nurturing News:

We have several members in our congregation who are dealing with some major medical issues either with  themselves or loved ones. Please pray for comfort, peace, and healing for them all. Our God is an awesome God!

We received the wonderful news that Sandra Williams got her neck brace off today at Vanderbilt Hospital and is begging to come back to work in the morning. J The staff has greatly missed her presence at church. Thank you for all your prayers and supports during her recovery!

Stay home and be safe!

Hugs,

Renee Wiesehuegel

We have decided to cancel Sunday worship due to the snowy conditions. We hope that you have a very safe and happy Sunday!

Merry Christmas Westminster! What a beautiful Advent season we have had together at Westminster! I look forward to our Christmas Eve services tonight. The bulletins for both the 5 pm and the 11 pm services have been posted on the website under the “Worship” tab. Just a reminder that both our December 26 as well as our January 2 worship services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Sunday School will resume on January 9. I hope that your Christmas is full of joy, peace, hope, and love! God is Good! All the Time!

Christmas miracles really do happen!  If you attended last evening’s performance of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, you witnessed one.  For most miracles, a lot of prayer, preparation, and persistence precede the actual event.  Last evening was no exception.  Our youthful actors and actresses and their parents spent hours memorizing lines, attending rehearsals, and balancing already busy schedules.  They braved falling temperatures in the stage wings, makeup brushes and lipstick applicators, and costume challenges.  Our young directors Eric Adamcik and Ryan Rotella learned how much organization, flexibility, and enthusiasm are needed to manage twenty some younger participants.  The stage management by Becca Millett and Joseph Hutzenbiler changed the fellowship hall stage into the real world of the Herdman children.  Transformations were complete as the black eyes, pink cheeks and reddened lips were applied by our make up artists, Maggie Bendy, Anna Milam and even the Yates’ babysitter (who was Imogene in her church’s production several years)  with the extra help of the stage mothers.

A village of elders facilitated the production in ways that the kids may never really fully appreciate until they are parents and adults themselves.  Jeff Pless provided the invisible actor on the stage with his light and sound magic.  Barbara Adamcik provided the artwork for the posters and programs so beautifully printed by the Bendy’s United Printers in addition to mentoring the student directors. Tricia Bell sent out many e-mails providing a communication link.   Stage Moms Extraordinaire (SMEs) Angela Partelow , Kathryn Oakes, Laura Stockdale, and Ruth Yates spent hours coordinating costumes, props, set pieces, and providing final assistance the evening of the performance to get all the little ones on and off the stage in fine form and on cue.  Linda Judge-McRae and her army of parents made sure the little tummies were satisfied the afternoon of the Christmas choir concert and play.    Parents and Grandparents encouraged, cajoled and possibly even gave a bribe or two to encourage their children to participate.  The effect was miraculous, as miraculous as the Herdmans’ transformation.

As for me, and I imagine for many of you, to experience Christmas through the eyes and actions of children is the most wonderful gift; we laugh, we are tearfully touched, and we are reminded of the innocence brought into the world on that first Christmas with the Christ Child.  Blessings to all of you during this Advent season and thank you for sharing your children with all of us at Westminster. 

Lisa Trofatter

Happy Monday Westminster! Only 19 more days until we get to celebrate the birthday of our sweet Savior!  The Advent music shared last Tuesday set the tone for my advent season. I appreciate our choir members who give of their time and talent so freely! I had the joy of sitting behind Julia yesterday at worship. What a gift she gave me when she heard the congregation sing the refrain of  Angels We Have Heard on High. Wouldn’t  it be awesome if we would respond to God’s calling with her kind of response??? Amazing stuff could be done! She was smiling from ear to ear and enjoying singing. The love that she gives us so freely is a lesson to be learned.

Speaking of wonderful music – the Children’s Christmas Service will be held on Sunday afternoon, December 12, at 5:00, followed by the Youth Christmas Drama “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Participating in the service will be the Boys’, Chancel, and Girls’ Choirs and the Westminster Choristers singing traditional carols arranged by David Willcocks and Peter Van Eenam as well as music by Guillaume Costeley and Eric Whitacre. I hope you are making plans to attend both programs.

Other items of interest:

• Foyer groups shuffle in January. What an awesome thing Sue Murrian started here years ago! They are a great way to make new friends or renew old friendships at WPC. Please call Sue (524-5638) or email her (suebobintn@aol.com) to join a group, drop out for a while, or with questions.  
• Bell Ringers are needed for our Salvation Army station: the shifts that still need to be filled are: Friday (10) from 10 to noon, and 2 to 4 and then on Monday (13th) noon to 2 and 2 to 4. Please email me back if you can take a shift(s) and I’ll sign you up.
• FISH deliveries are this Thursday: I can’t even begin to tell you how many phone calls we get daily here for food and utility payments. FISH is a great ministry here in Knoxville. To volunteer to make deliveries – call Barbara Wilkinson (300-8845). She will pair you up with someone to deliver some bags of groceries.

If there are any of you who have some extra time on your hands this coming Friday – I will most likely need some extra hands to prepare the bulletin, the program for the Children’s Christmas Service, as well as the Christmas drama program.  I will know better as to what time that volunteers are needed as I get closer to Friday.

Hugs,

Renee Wiesehuegel