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Chimes Chimes March 20152016 The Westminster CHIMES 1502 W. 13th Street • Wilmington, DE 19806 • (302) 654-5214 • www.wpc.org Holy Week at Westminster Palm/Passion Sunday – March 20 Worship – 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. Rejoice with a procession of palms to greet Jesus as we begin Holy Week. Maundy Thursday – March 24 Worship including the Lord’s Supper – 7:30 p.m. A powerfully moving choral work by Taylor Scott Davis, Return to Me, based on the Stations of the Cross, will be presented by the Westminster Choir, interspersed with scripture passages recounting Jesus’ journey from Pilate’s house to Calvary presented by our biblical storytellers, Westminster by Heart. Nursery care will be provided from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Good Friday – March 25 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Reflect on the crucifixion through silent prayer and meditation in the sanctuary or walk the Labyrinth in the Meeting Room adjacent to Rodney Chapel). Easter Sunday – March 27 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. Easter breakfast in Community Hall See page 03 for more information 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. Festive worship services to celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the promise of our eternal life, with music by the Westminster Choir, brass, percussion, and organ 10:15 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt (parents and children through 2nd grade meet in Grace Hall) The Westminster CHIMES is also available online in full color — visit www.wpc.org. CLERGY COLUMN Greg Jones, Senior Pastor/Head of Staff STRETCH YOUR SPIRITUAL SELF I am thrilled to tell you about two stellar events child to marry in April that I hope you will put on your calendar one, let alone today. The first dates to mark areApril 8, 9 and 10 become one!” when we will host our Westminster Distinguished (Amazing Grace: Speaker, Matthew Fox. If his name is unfamiliar, A Vocabulary of here is what theologian, Thomas Berry, said: Faith) Matthew Fox might well be the most creative, the most comprehensive, surely the most challenging For some people, the word “mystic” summons up religious-spiritual teacher in America. images of the occult and New Age philosophies. That is not Christian mysticism. A Christian Mystic If you are interested in 16th Century is a person concerned not with simply knowing Calvinist theology or 19th Century Christian religious doctrines, but living within the experience Fundamentalism, I suggest you skip this one. of God at the core of our being. It is what Jesus However, if you would like to hear from a 21st meant when he said, “On that day you will know Century cutting-edge theologian, you may find that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in Fox to be both inspiring and provocative. He you.” (John 14:20). It is what the Apostle Paul will explore the path of Christian Mysticism with meant when he spoke of “Christ living in me.” insightful commentary on the thoughts of some (Galatians 2:20) of history’s greatest religious visionaries; including Saint Francis of Assisi, Meister Eckhart, Thomas Matthew Fox will speak on Friday night, Saturday Merton, and Hildegard of Bingen. morning and Sunday morning. Prepare to have your spiritual self stretched! A bit leery of the term “mysticism?” With tongue in cheek, popular author, Kathleen Norris says, “The The second piece of exciting news is that word ‘mystic’ is as dangerous as the word ‘poet,’ the Peace Drums Steel Band is coming to if only because both words are so vulnerable to Wilmington! Many of you have supported this misunderstanding and abuse. When we describe vital and unique initiative for justice and peace in someone as a ‘poet’ or a ‘mystic,’ we generally the Holy Land. The Peace Drums Project has placed mean it as a warning – here is someone whose a set of steel drums in the Israeli school, Leo Baeck head is in the clouds and who can’t get places on (Haifa, Israel) and the Palestinian school, Mar Elias time. Someone we admire, or profess to admire, (Ibillin, Israel). These two bands – comprised of if we hold a romantic, sentimental view of either Jewish, Christian and Muslim middle-schoolers – poetry or religion. But we wouldn’t want our combine to make the Peace Drums Steel Band. continued on page 03 02 1502 W. 13th Street • Wilmington, DE 19806 • (302) 654-5214 • www.wpc.org The Westminster CHIMES The media portrays Israelis and Palestinians as mortal enemies. However, as these children make music together, they become friends and break down stereotype images of “the other.” Their parents meet with one another and learn that they share common hopes and dreams for their children. Here at home, the Peace Drums Steering Committee comprised of Jews, Christians and Muslims meets monthly to better understand one another and develop friendships. You will have the opportunity to experience this grassroots peacemaking effort on Wednesday, April 13. That evening, we hope to pack the new auditorium at Cab Calloway School of the Arts as the Peace Drums Steel Band kicks off their concert tour that will include concerts in Philadelphia, Mount Kisco, New York, Abington, Pennsylvania and the University of Delaware. I hope you will see and hear the sound of peacemaking when the band takes the stage on April 13. Blessings, Easter Breakfast Sunday, March 27 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. Nurture your body as well as your spirit and soul on Christianity’s most glorious day of the year...Easter Sunday! The deacons are busy planning the annual Easter Breakfast. Join us starting at 8:00 a.m. Breakfast will be served continuously until 11:00 a.m. in Community Hall, so you can enjoy this hearty meal before, during, or after the 9:00 a.m. service or before the 11:15 a.m. service. Remember that the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services are identical on Easter Sunday. We normally need to charge attendees to cover the costs of the breakfast; however, due to the generosity of a Westminster family, the costs of the Easter Breakfast have been covered and there will be no charge this year. Look for more details in the Weekly Word e-newsletter and the Sunday worship bulletin or contact Deacon Keith Pierce ([email protected] or 302-654-2508). March 2016 03 Music at Westminster presents Winter Musical Gala 2016 From Bach to Gershwin: Music of the Church, the Opera Stage, Musical Theatre, and Then Some! Friday, March 4 8:00 p.m. Featuring Diana Milburn, soprano Sharon Babcock, mezzo-soprano Hunter Torggler, tenor Jerry Polman, baritone The Westminster Choir and special guest Barbara Prugh, trumpet Paul Fleckenstein, organ/piano/director NO ADMISSION CHARGE; OFFERING RECEIVED RECEPTION FOLLOWS Art Exhibit Opens March 4 Paintings by local artist Constance M. Simon will be on display in Westminster’s upstairs gallery for the month of March. In conjunction with Wilmington’s First Friday art loop event, Art on the Town, the exhibit will open at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 4, just prior to our Winter Musical Gala. Connie’s paintings range in subject from grid structures to still life. 04 1502 W. 13th Street • Wilmington, DE 19806 • (302) 654-5214 • www.wpc.org The Westminster CHIMES WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 2016 Easter Lilies If you wish to make a contribution toward the decoration of the church on Easter Sunday, you may do so in memory of, or in honor of, loved ones. Please complete this form, make checks payable to Westminster Presbyterian Church, and place in the offering plate or return to Susan Alexander at the front desk by 12:00 noon on Monday, March 14. For any form received after that date, the names will be listed in the April 3 bulletin. DONATION AMOUNT $20 $40 $60 $80 $100 Other $ _________________ PLEASE PRINT NEATLY In Memory Of: (FOR THE DECEASED) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Deceased Person’s Name In Honor Of: (FOR THE LIVING) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Living Person’s Name Given By: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Donor’s Name and Telephone Number If you wish to take a lily home with you, you may do so following the 11:15 a.m. service on Easter Sunday. Plants remaining after that service will be delivered to our homebound members. Westminster Presbyterian Church 1502 West 13th Street Wilmington, DE 19806 (302) 654-5214 www.wpc.org March 2016 05 Kudos to Susan Moseley, Church Educator Susan, a certified Christian educator in Approximately one year ago, Susan the PC(USA), is coming up on 12 years as began a certification program in spiritual educator with Westminster Presbyterian direction with the Haden Institute in Church. During the first few years, her Hendersonville, North Carolina. She work with us expanded from part-time will be certified as a spiritual director to full-time and from children and youth in January 2017. Spiritual direction is only to education programs for all ages. an ancient practice in the church that Susan also serves as staff liaison to the involves deep personal and spiritual Christian Education Committee, the reflection on one’s walk with God. Adult Education Subcommittee, and the Earth Care Task Force. For Susan, You might have heard or guessed that environmental justice is more than just Susan is a “child of the manse.” Her a personal passion; it is a spiritual and father was a classic gentle-hearted moral issue. Presbyterian minister of the South, and her mother was a Christian educator. Both are now deceased. Her sister is a Presbyterian minister currently serving as the interim executive presbyter for Baltimore Presbytery.
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