Shortly after his retirement from Mobil Oil Company in 1973, George was stricken with a heart attack.  He lived for a year before a second attack took him on July 26, 1974.  His funeral took place at Westminster, and the music was particularly beautiful that day.  Doris relocated shortly thereafter to Whispering Pines, North Carolina, to the retirement home they had built together, where she is currently residing.

      When she learned through the church newsletter, which she reads faithfully each month, that a decision had been made to restore the Skinner organ, she knew that helping with this effort was the most fitting way to honor the memory of her husband.  She acted decisively and without reservation and has given the church a head start in its Organ Fund campaign.

       Doris, who was an educator much of her life, has appreciated the continued outreach of the church.  She recalls how much she too enjoyed listening to the organ music at Westminster and wonders if the “church mouse” that was built in the choir stalls near the “old” organ is still intact.  Their daughter, Betsy, a Junior Choir member, recalls how ominous it was to sit near that organ and watch Organist Doris play under the direction of Music Director Joel Dolven.  Many years have passed since that time, but the memories are  still fresh.  Perhaps it will be possible for both Doris and Betsy to return to Albany when the reinstallment is complete, to hear once again the wonderful sounds that remain in their minds and hearts today.     Rich Miller

From the Church Records

Baptism: 1/21/01 Anna Christine Williams, daughter of Mark and Kimberly Williams, granddaughter of Henry and MaryElizabeth Williams.

 Death: 12/21/00 Dorothy G. Lewis.

 Lectionary for Lord's Day

February 2001

 4    5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Isa. 6:1-8 (9-13); Ps. 138

    I Cor. 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11

 11   6^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Jer. 17:5-10; Ps. 1

    I Cor. 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26

 18   7^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Gen. 45:3-11, 15; Ps. 37:1-11,39-40

    I Cor. 15:35-38,42-50;Luke 6:27-38

 25   Transfiguration of the Lord

    Exod. 34:29-35; Ps. 99

    2 Cor.3:12-4:2;Luke 9:28-36(37-43)

 Mission Study Outlines Now on WPC Web Site

      About 80 members of the congregation are participating in the second phase of Westminster’s Mission Study.  Through the week of February 25, small groups led by one or more members of the congregation are meeting on a weekly basis.

      As an aid to our studies, one of our groups has created study guides which may be printed from the Church web site,     This page also has a link to the web site for Percept Group, Inc. which describes company products and support sources.

 New Deacon Elected

      The Church Nominating Committee selected Norman Andrews to fill a vacancy on the Board of Deacons, Class of 2003 (replacing Luise Ahlers). His name was presented to the congregation at the January 21 annual meeting, and he was elected.

Many Contributed to Advent Beauty, Events

      The Advent season at Westminster  is always busy, so there are many hands that must contribute to the special beauty we all experience!  This year, we thank especially:

      The Advent wreath lighters: the Scaptura family, the Wilhelm family, the Bossung family, Joy Tallmadge, Dot Haker and Emily Tallmadge, and the Tedrow family.

       The banner carriers: Greg Dwyer, Ben Wilhelm, Cara Brown and Matt Brown.

      The Christmas Eve acolytes: Alysan Brod, Cara Brown, Alexandra Frye, Annie Leue, Lauren McLaughlin and Karen Durgee.

       The Christmas Eve banner carrier: Michael Levato.

       The Westminstrels Bell Choir.

       The Westminster Choir.

       Those who spent a Saturday morning decorating the sanctuary and those who cleaned it up.

      The children who participated in the pageant, and the parents and adults who helped with costuming and “shepherding.”

       And to all who read, sang, ushered, taught and smiled during this blessed season:

      Thank you.

Sue Fedak

Parking Lot Use Studied

      The Personnel and Administrative committee of the Session is looking at the use of the parking lot by members and non-members. If you have thoughts or observations, please send comments to Peter McKee at or call him at 439-7368.

-February CE Events-

      On Friday, February 23, starting at 6 p.m., the Christian Education Committee is sponsoring a potluck supper and movie, “Bonhoeffer:  Agent of Grace,” with discussion afterward led by Dr. Rolf Ahlers of our congregation.

      Widely known in religious circles as a brilliant thinker and writer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) also played a courageous role in the German resistance to Hitler and the church struggle in World War II.  Opposed to the Nazis from the start, Bonhoeffer stood up for the rights of the Jews.  He reluctantly joined a conspiracy to overthrow the dictator, a course of action that would cost Bonhoeffer his life.  This film gives a vital portrait of Bonhoeffer:  the man, the teacher, the resistance fighter, the moralist, the prisoner and, eventually, the martyr.

      The committee has also invited Cass Shaw, Executive Presbyter of the Albany Presbytery, to speak to us that Sunday, February 25, at 11:30 a.m., on “Discerning Spiritual Gifts.”

Save This Date

      The committee advises everyone to save the date of Saturday, March 3, for a potluck supper and program featuring John Pelizza as speaker.  For both this and the Bonhoeffer event, families are asked to contribute a dish for supper, and people may come just to the program and not the supper if they wish.

      As part of its new Arts Ministry program, Westminster Church is pleased to announce that it is sponsoring a bus trip to Lincoln Center in New York City.

      On Wednesday, April 25, Westminster Church members and friends can board a chartered coach in the church’s parking lot and ride in comfort to see the Metropolitan Opera’s evening performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball).

      Thanks to the efforts of Albert Zeppieri, who made all the arrangements for this trip, we have secured very good Dress Circle seats at a very reasonable price.  The total cost per person, for both the bus and the opera ticket, is $101.

      Our bus will depart from the church parking lot at 10:30 a.m. on April 25, and will arrive in Manhattan about three hours later.  This means that trip participants will have the afternoon free to visit museums, do sight-seeing, or shop.  The opera performance starts at 7:30 p.m. and lasts about 3 hours, so we should be back at the church at about 1 a.m. (Fortunately, we can sleep on the bus!)

      For those who may not be familiar with Un Ballo in Maschera (and even for those who are),  Al Zeppieri  will lead an informal introductory presentation about the opera, sometime before the trip date.  Al is something of an authority on these matters - a retired SUNY prof, he taught humanities courses at SUNY-Cobleskill, and arranged similar trips each semester for his students.  Watch for the date and time of Al’s session, and plan to attend, whether you intend to take the trip or not - Al is an entertaining teacher, indeed!

      We have purchased 47 opera tickets, one for each seat on the bus.  In order not to lose any money, we must sell every ticket.  However, at this price, we expect that many people outside the church will want to take the day off and join us, when they learn of this opportunity.  So if you wish to come along, we ask that you call the church office as soon as possible, so that a seat can be reserved in your name.  On March 1, we will open the trip to folks outside the church, and after that date, may not be able to guarantee the availability of seats.  We also request that full payment be made by April 1.

      This is a great opportunity for some springtime fun and fellowship, and a great way to experience the spectacle of grand opera at one of the world’s great venues.  Please come and join us, and bring a guest!    Al Fedak

Join a Committee!

      The Session and the Trustees of Westminster have committees that meet regularly throughout the year and  are open to members of the congregation.  

      Committees that always welcome new members include: Christian Education, Communications-Evangelism, Mission and Peacemaking, Senior Issues Task Force, Service Guild, Trustees’ House Committee, and Web Site Committee.

Snow Policy Adopted

      The Session has adopted a policy that worship services will be cancelled only if the Mayor of Albany has declared a snow emergency, or the Pastor and Director of Music can’t get to church.

      If a service is cancelled, you can find out from a message on the church answering machine, WGY, or the church web site.  The information will be made available all three ways as soon as a decision is made. 

The Process Begins!

      On Saturday, January 13, three men from the Austin Organ Company arrived at the home of Anne and Tom Older on Englewood Place in Albany–and left a few hours later with parts of the Skinner pipe organ in their truck heading back to Hartford, CT, where the refurbishing process will get underway.

      Dr. Older reports that the dismantling and removal of some of the organ’s components (with many still to go) was “a lot easier than when we carried it up our stairway in 1976.”  He said he has played the organ very little in the past few years because it has needed reconditioning, and that he is happy to see it being returned to its original home at Westminster.       

February 2001