On-Line Worship Only to Continue Through August 15 by Diane Kane

On-line worship only to continue through August 15 By Diane Kane

The sanctuary may be closed, but Webster Presbyterian Church is going strong. Tuesday, May 19, the session of this church voted to continue worship online throughout the summer. As you know, I am the chair of the Worship Committee, but I am not a “sitting elder”. Therefore, I can sit in on session meetings and take notes, speak if I am asked to prepare a report, but I am not a member of session and do not vote. On Tuesday, May 19, there was a called meeting to consider the date for returning to the sanctuary for live worship. We should ALL BE PROUD of the work of the elders in preparing for this vote. Everyone had done their homework: making phone calls to other churches and non-profit organizations, contacting medical personnel and agents from our insurance and utility companies, surveying our own members, reading up on air quality, the CDC guidelines, presbytery guidelines, and directives from the state and county. Ralph Faxel reminded us that although “we are all in this together”, every member has a different level of risk as we find a new normal. Allen Brown admonished us to put aside our personal biases of being lonely or bored and consider what is safe and prudent for all. Gary Mossman reminded the session that until we could open worship to everyone that wants to attend, we should not open. James Kinzler, chair of Buildings and Grounds, presented us with a list of safeguards that would have to be in place in order to return to the sanctuary. Consider whether you could be comfortable in this kind of environment, or whether participating at home through Zoom and recorded services is more your style.

 No one 65 years or older should attend. Take the temperature of all participants and staff – Have qualified staff or volunteers take temperature for all people entering the Facility and administering a health protocol. Those persons that cannot pass the screening will not be permitted to stay.  Maintain Social Distancing  No singing – No choir and no congregational singing All in attendance must wear a mask  Skip every other pew – members of the same household may sit together, members not attending with a family must be seated 6 feet away from the next congregant  Families will need to manage children to maintain Social Distancing, no nursery provided  Establish one door in and one out and follow path, exit by family unit. Staff or volunteers will need to monitor doors.  Remove all literature (Bibles, Hymnals, other papers) We would have to reinstitute screen facilities and operators will need to be in place  No communion, no passing of the peace, taking up a collection, or responsive readings  Sanitize all surfaces after use – per the State Protocol. This sanitization can be done by our contractor, M&A Cleaning Service. If the facility has groups in places other than the sanctuary and other times other than Sunday, this would require additional cleaning during the week.  There will be no coffee hour or fellowship activities.  Recommend that the Facilities not be used for outside groups at this time.  Signage and other action as noted by the Insurance Company will need to be completed.  AC filters are not HEPA, would have to be changed weekly.

To me, it sounds like this kind of interaction would be less like “church” than what is done now. More than once, Bill Dixon stated “WPC is not closed, the facilities are closed. All that makes us a church is still in place—worship, mission, Bible Study, Godly Play, pastoral care.” After 2+ hours of deliberation, the session settled on August 15, 2020, as our earliest date to return to sanctuary worship. During this time, the worship committee is hard at work to improve our capabilities for live-streaming, so that you may still worship at home if that is your preference. We are investigating new media platforms going forward so that we can make other WPC events such as art-talks, Kirkin’ of the Tartans lecture series, Lunar Communion service, movie nights, covenant groups open to a wider audience.

Mission

Missioning During a Pandemic

When Mission Team sent you a request for “ways you help”, I expected to have a deluge to help write this article. Did- n’t happen – You must all be so busy making history that you don’t have time to write about it. So here goes. As we closed the church campus doors, WPC members moved into Mission Mode, reaching out to others in various ways. • The WPC session has created a new assistance fund, specifically for WPC members who need a helping hand. A “Constant Contact” alert was sent out, notifying the congregation about the fund and how to donate. Congregation members are invited to give to both this fund and the “Community Assistance” fund, to provide funding to assist people who may be struggling to make ends meet during the statewide “Stay-at-Home” order. • We organized the Palm Sunday One Great Hour of Sharing and were able to send over $1700 to PCUSA in support of international disaster relief. This is the first of 4 special offerings in 2020 • Groups began making masks to protect themselves and others both locally and in Galveston’s UTMB. • Ordinary get-togethers morphed into Drive-Bys, including a very special one for our Glenn and Geri Foster prior to his surgery May 13th. Glenn is doing well now. • Family Promise of Clear Creek moved 2 families into hotel rooms for over a month when church campuses closed. WPC forwarded $875. from a designated fund to cover much of the hotel for our Host Week of April 26th. • Easter Lilies were distributed after Joseph’s Nursery gave us the beautiful lilies that we saw on the WPC online service. • Soup appeared at folks’ homes unexpectedly along with an occasional baked goodie. • Members received calls mostly weekly from the elected deacons and elders. Others received thoughtful and inspirational notes – real letters in the MAIL! • Our WPC pastors and staff along with a crew of volunteers turned the Worship Service into an online version. No excuses anymore that you are too busy Sunday morning as you can participate on your own schedule! • Clever volunteers from various Bible Studies signed up for ZOOM meetings, and the Children of WPC even have their own Godly Play program (Sunday at 9 a.m.).

How do YOU do mission these days? Could you telephone a WPC member (maybe 2 or 3?), perhaps someone you don’t know well? How about preparing a tasty treat for another family? Try to reach out to another person daily – perhaps you could call one of your relatives or a friend who lives in another city or state. One of our members answered the call for masks with “I’ve already made 50” and another, a first responder, promised to make another 10. We will need many more when WPC campus reopens for worship services. Support ICM by shopping in their Resale Store. Finally, pray unceasingly – for our pastors and staff, for our membership, for our community, for our country and finally for those in other countries. This is all OUR MISSION when we recognize opportunities for “little resurrections”. Keep on keeping on.

Seekers Women’s Bible Study Starts New Study

We are starting a new Bible study starting May 21st – June 25th called: Fierce: Women of the Bible Who Changed the World, By Jennifer Cowart Meeting (by Zoom) is from 7:00 to 8:30 on Thursday nights. It’s become trendy to use the word “fierce” when describing women at the top of their game, but women have been fiercely changing the world for thousands of years. In fact, the Bible tells of many fierce female characters who made hard decisions, offered hope, boldly repented, shared their faith, and blessed those around them. Although some are less well known than others, these women can teach us how we, too, can Jennifer Cowart live into our callings, honor the Lord, and even change the world through our courage, faithfulness, and obedience. Here is a link about this study: https://youtu.be/hny5Sw0u0sE

Once completed we will take a summer break then start back up in September - Date to be determined. We will start with the following study: Lose Control: The Way to Find Your Soul, By Mary Shannon Hoffpauir Learn to live in total dependence on God through a study of 1 Samuel. You know when you’re carrying a very full cup of coffee, and you have to really focus on keeping the cup level, and then the doorbell rings and your dog bounds through the room knocking the cup right out of your grasp? You had plans. You were in control. Until you weren’t. And you never really were. Mary Shannon Hoffpauir says this is a great way to look at what we say and what we do. Often, we think “God is in control”, but we live like we are. It takes spilling a hot, burning mess to make us realize what little control we have and how dependent on God we truly are. This six-week Bible study on 1 Samuel is for women of all ages.

Mission/Family of Faith

Sisters in Faith Update

Since we are not sure what the future holds for social gatherings, we will not be organizing a new season of Sisters in Faith at this time. Please plan to keep up with your current sister by phone, cards, etc. When we know more about what to WND is Back…Sorta! expect we will revisit the possibilities going forward. Wednesday Night Dinner at WPC is on again!! At least sort of. If there is enough interest, how about we meet on Zoom on a Wednesday night at 5:30pm for about 45 minutes and have dinner together? We can either pick a type of entre for the night (say, chicken, fish, etc.) or do it potluck. Everyone fixes their dinner at home and join in on Zoom. If someone wanted to try some games for the kids, that would also be fine. “Pre-pandemic” Sisters In Faith gathering at Abuelo’s

We’ve even had Zoom gatherings, If there is enough interest and it goes well, perhaps thanks to Jeannette. Can you imagine we can do this once a month until Bouton Hall is all of those women trying to talk at the same time? It was fun, and good to open again. Email your ideas and interest to Dan see each other! Walker at [email protected].

On Line Worship, (Continued)

When this pandemic shutdown started back in March, I told Pastor Helen that the Bible passage that kept invading my gardening (I always practice Bible-by-Heart on my knees in the dirt) was the Pentecost story. “When the day of Pente- cost had come, they were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1).” I could not figure this out, because we were obviously not together in one physical place. Maybe we were in the same boat, having to be separated from family and friends, working from home, tracking down necessities like toilet paper.

“Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:8-12) The pandemic has touched every state in America, every continent, every age group. EVERYWHERE people are trying to make sense of it and working to find a cure.

“All the believers were together and held everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.“ (Acts 2:44-46) Haven’t you been encouraged by the stories of giving, and sharing, and self-lessness you hear? Are we “doing church” better by being mindful of the needs of the vulnerable, the poor, the anxious among us? How are we “passing the peace” to others?

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to pray- er.” (Act 2:42) and “broke bread at home ... with glad and generous hearts praising God and enjoying the favor of others.” (Acts 2:46) Webster Presbyterian Church is still offering Sunday School and Bible Study through zoom, Godly Play for the children. Covenant Groups are still meeting, and members that didn’t like driving at night to a meeting place can participate. Family Promise has found a way to continue to host families in hotels. Sisters in Faith can facetime over a tuna sandwich at home.

There are more people that “watch” worship each week from the website than typically participated in worship on Sun- day. On Palm Sunday, the service was viewed by 440 people. That had to be more than just our current members. We have been able to maintain contact with members that have moved away or are homebound. Those front-line workers that are on the job on Sunday mornings can worship at their convenience. “And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47). Maybe this is the Pentecost story--AD 2020.

PCUSA is providing guidelines for churches when considering returning to public worship. If you would like to read more about this topic, click on the blue link below.

https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/covid -19/returning_to_public_worship_may_2020.pdf

Family of Faith Congratulations to Our 2020 Graduates

Chloe, the granddaughter of Chad, son of Julie and Mark Mr. and Mrs. Reese Terry, Stonebarger, is graduating will graduate from Foxcroft from Clear Springs High School in Middleburg, VA School where he studied with where she completed her the CCISD Culinary Arts final two years of High Magnet program for 3 years. School, following several He has been accepted into the years of school in Paris. internationally acclaimed Chloe will attend Rollins Culinary Institute of America in College in the fall where she Hyde Park, New York for next will major in psychology and year, where he will pursue a participate in the equestrian four-year degree in Restaurant club as a jumper. Chad Cummings Business Management with an Chloe Christenson emphasis on Culinary Arts.

Caleb, son of Jennifer and Sebastian, son of Kevin and Chris Kidwell, grandson of Deena Houg, graduated James and Debbie Kidwell with honors from Texas and Sandra and Bill Dwyer, is Connections Academy. He graduating from Clear Falls plans to study Industrial High School. He is currently Drafting in college next fall. serving on the Galveston Beach Patrol. He intends to go to Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. His family is so proud of him...his tenacity, his valor and his ethical spirit. Sebastian Houg Caleb Kidwell

Elsa King Evelyn Rix Crystal Rorrer Elsa, daughter of Derren Evelyn, daughter of Frank Crystal, granddaughter of and Tacy King, is and Karen Rix, is Missy and Geoff Rorrer, is graduating Summa Cum graduating from Clear Lake graduating from Clear Falls Laude from Clear Creek High School. She will attend High School where she High School, where she Penn State University in the served as a varsity was a 4-year varsity soccer fall and will major in Cheerleader. Crystal hopes player. She will attend Rose Classics and Ancient to pursue a degree in Hulman Institute of Mediterranean Studies. business. Technology next year to study Biomedical Engineering and plans to attend medical school.

Family of Faith

Mykala Strahan Audrey Looney Tristyn Bemis Mykala, daughter of Al Strahan Audrey , daughter of Ross Tristyn, grandson of Doug and and Pam McCraw, will graduate Looney and Tina & Louis Blake, Sharon McCann, graduated May 4, from Clear Falls High School is graduating from Clear Brook 2020 from Embry-Riddle after taking honors classes in High School. She is an active Aeronautical University – Daytona both Math and English in member of Clear Brook Pals Beach with a Bachelor of Science in addition to the exploration of volunteering at Heartis, Aeronautics and minors in Applied Science, Astronomy, Spanish Brookside Intermediate and Meteorology and Aeronautical and Forensics. In the fall, she Hope Village. She was also a Studies. He graduated with Magna plans to attend Texas Tech member of the CB Color Guard Cum Laude honors and will be where she has been accepted for 2 yrs. She will be attending participating in a summer internship to the Honors Program and will San Jacinto Jr College her program with the Air Force pursue the study of freshman year and then Association in Washington, D.C. Biochemistry with an long term transferring to Texas State After his internship, he plans to interest towards Xenobiology. University majoring in French. pursue a Master of Science in Her goal is to be a teacher in Human Security and Resilience France through ERAU Worldwide while he continues to chase after his dream of flying in the United States Air Force.

Fayth Anne DeLeon Jamie Allison Marley Melissa Fitzgerald Fayth, granddaughter of Jamie, granddaughter of Melissa. granddaughter of Helen DeLeon, graduated Helen DeLeon, graduated Carolyn "Bambi" Fitzgerald, from Tulsa welding school in Magna Cum Laude from the is graduating from San Diego March 2020. Fayth has University of Houston School State with her BA. already begun a job in her of Business, with a focus on field as a production welder Marketing. She had been for Saber Industries in offered a position with Conroe TX. GEICO that is currently on hold due to the Coronavirus.

Family of Faith

A BORN-AGAIN'S EPIPHANY We Never Closed

I disembark at Kroger's We never closed.

Caught on the cusp of We have shifted Standing and plodding We have adapted Doing my clumsy-cane schlep We have changed

While gazing at a Moslem Mom We have struggled We have had technical difficulties Wearing a white Hijab* and dark Jilbab* We have extended grace Following four children Cavorting on the corner of We never closed. Misbehave and We'dBetterBehave. We have laughed We have wept She faces me. We have wondered Then they all do. You need help? She calls. We have celebrated All stare and nod in assent. We have grieved We have yearned

I'm just admiring your family, I say, We never closed. Counting them one two three four. Grinning We have lost connections to some I have four. We have found new relationships with others We have lived the fullness of the Table of God

I have five. We never closed. She smiles. One is home. We have worshipped in new ways together We all smile. Praying together Confessing together Hearing together They're tons of Singing out of sync “together” Work Being sent into the world to serve together But in the end They are worthy of it all. We never closed.

Someday we will gather again We beam as one. Someday we will hug again Someday we will fully rejoice in this expanding Body of Christ that God is revealing before us

By Jane “The Rev” Wenninger But that day has not yet come.

So for now, we will continue being the gathered church *Hijab is a head scarf Called together *Jilbab is the outer robe worn in public Praying together Exploring the Word together Seeking justice together Serving together

We are the church. We are the Body of Christ. We never closed.

The author of this poem, Bruce Reyes Chow, was the youngest person ever elected as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), in 2008. He is a minister and author in San Francisco.

Family of Faith

06/01: Madison Haggard 06/19: Scott Clement 06/02: Nicholas Posluszny 06/20: Sonia James Emily Boyer 06/21: Blaine Goeckler 06/05: Erika Lopez James Kidwell Nicholas Parraz Ingrid Shulsky Carter Parraz 06/22: Nancy Moebius 06/06: Megan Hicks Walt Johnson 06/08: Allen Brown 06/23: John Rosborough Mark Godwin Marilyn Branham 06/09: Janice Smith-Bagheri John Jordan Blake Bachtel Peter Tobia Historic Flyovers in Our Area 06/10: Lois Phillips Autash Bagheri

Elena King May 6, 2020 – The U. S. Navy Blue Angels precision jet flying Rebecca Hisle group, flew over the Houston Area, and Ellington Airport in 06/11: Shelby McNeill 06/24: Dorothy Evans particular, to honor first responders and healthcare workers in the nation’s time of an unprecedented pandemic. “The mission Drake Boyer 06/25: William Chase of the Blue Angels is to showcase the teamwork and Calvin Nelson professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps 06/12: Paul Harano through flight demonstrations and community outreach while 06/13: Ron Wenninger 06/26: David Ford inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country.” Due to COVID-19, no one was allowed on the grounds of William Dwyer Darryl Menard Ellington Airport and visibility was limited from ground level. It Libby Cravens appeared at first that the planes would only be seen from 06/14: Patty Lusk other locations than the one from which I was viewing. Cappi McNeill 06/27: Erik Kinzler However, the jets did fly low enough so the fans near Ellington Airport were not disappointed. 06/16: Paula Bray Jonathan Snowden 06/28: David Murphy May 8, 2020 - The Lone Star Flight Museum (at Ellington Sandra Mossman Airport) held its Fly to the Finish Flyover Commemorating the Melanie Moore 06/29: Beverly Crockett 75th Anniversary of VE day and the End of World War II. These are just some of the names of planes in the aerial 06/17: Cleo Jones Chad Cummings parade: North American B-25/PBJ-1, North American P-51 06/30: Joseph Godwin Mustang, Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, Beechcraft BE-18/SNB, Beechcraft T-34 and many, many more. The fence on ground level was a small barrier to see the magnificent vintage aircraft in all their glory. The only thing Deacon Care Team better for viewing would have been in person. We will be returning to our regular rotation of Deacon Care Teams this month. For the month of June, the Deacon Care Team will be Mary Goeckler, Jamie Mar- tinez and Jeanette Schwarz: Their contact information is listed below:

Mary Goeckler: Phone: 281-474-3319 Blue Angels Flyover to honor healthcare workers and first responders during COVID pandemic Email: [email protected] Jamie Martinez: Phone: 832-776-7235 Email: [email protected] Jeanette Schwarz: Phone: 281-770-7212 Email: [email protected] Fight to the Finish Flyover from Ellington commemorating the 75th anniversary of VE Day

Please reach out to one of these deacons if you should have any pastoral care concerns that arise during the

Watch this video clip below to see more month. They will coordinate with Pastor Helen to assist about the Lone Star Museum and Ellington.. you.

https://vimeo.com/417060772 Sam Houston had a great view!

Family of Faith

Go for Launch Dragon Crew!! Who Are Those Masked Guys???

They still don’t have an official name, but they sure have been staying busy! This group of men has been helping out in many ways — rebuilding homes, helping people pack, delivering things to ICM, and much more. It seems that when there is a need, this group will show up — masked and ready to work. Thank you for all that you have done to help members of your family of faith. Go forward, and conquer, Fab Four ( sometimes 5 or 6?), Masked Men (+ a couple of women?) Masked Mavericks On Saturday, May 30, SpaceX launched U.S. astronauts or Masked Marauders? They may just remain Un-Named. from American soil for the first time in nine years. It also became the first private company to send humans into orbit.

Astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, drove their Tesla to the pad to prepare for launch. One of the NASA officials said that this would be a different flying experience for both experienced test pilots. He said it would be more like “flying an iPhone than a jet”. From the “Star Wars” space suits to the streamlined crew capsule, you could tell this was going to be a new experience. It was also the start of public-private partnerships in space travel. After traveling 17,000mph for 19 hours, the astronauts reached the International Space Station. Godspeed to this successful flight and exciting new journey!

Let Me anoint you with My Presence. I am King of kings and Lord of lords, dwelling in unapproachable Light. When you draw near to Me, I respond by coming close to you. As My Presence envelops you, you may feel overwhelmed by My Power and Glory. This is a form of worship: sensing your smallness in comparison to My Greatness.

Man has tended to make himself the measure of all things. But man’s measure is too tiny to comprehend My majestic vastness. That is why most people do not see Me at all, even though they live and move and have their being in Me.

Enjoy the radiant beauty of My Presence. Declare My glorious Being to the world!1

Devotional inspired by Timothy 6:15-16; James 4:6; Acts 17:28; Psalm 145:3-6

Family of Faith

There have been numerous Flamingo sightings around our area. This flock seems to be very busy these days spreading joy Kathy B.’s house and love to all, especially on birthdays. Beware!! You could be next. What must the neighbors be thinking? Happy Allen and Miranda Brown found Flocking, y’all. an explosion of rain lilies in the WPC gardens. Beautiful!

Ruth L.’s house

Lauren Kuehner celebrates her 5th birthday with lots of cards from her church family!

Part of our socially-distanced team who has been working so hard to provide us with worship services each week. Great job, but we still miss seeing you in person!!

Glenn got a noisy, but musical (???) send-off before his surgery. He’s had good reports and is doing well. Yea!!

A Special Thank You! Part of our socially-distanced team who has been working so hard to provide us with worship services each week. Great job, but we still miss seeing you in person!!