THE
MESSENGER
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 262 State Street, Albany, New York March 2002
|
A Lenten Prayer
We long this Lent to be reformed in your image (or a reasonable facsimile?)
Break us open, God Make us whole. It will cost you More than life itself. Do you dare to risk everything?
Break us open, God. Make us whole.
Sandra Hanna
|
At a special meeting in January, the Session voted to create a new organizational structure at Westminster calling for ‘clusters’ comprised of small groups of people with common interests and goals, who will determine their own activities and schedules.
The main purposes of ‘clustering,’ as described by the ReVision task force that recommended it, are: (1) to empower small groups, (2) to open up the organization of the church to as many people as possible, and (3) to encourage the creative ideas and ministries of all members.
The concept is being tested with the creation of a Spiritual Development cluster, comprised of the former Christian Education, Worship, and Stewards of the Spirit Committees – and any others who would like to participate. (A key recommendation from last year’s Percept ReVision study was to work to make Westminster a more vibrant spiritual center.)
This cluster already has a small group that has taken on a new project, the sponsoring of “Faith Lessons” discussions on the death and resurrection of the Messiah, on Wednesday evenings this spring.
Some recent books by leading Christian theologians and reformers, such as Tom Bandy and Bill Easum, provide more information on the cluster concept in churches–and copies are available in our library for anyone who is interested.
Churches throughout the world have been looking for ways to stem declines in memberships, according to the task force, and inviting people to form or join small groups of fellow members with common interests has often proven successful. Each group decides its own goals, and members meet or work on a project for as long as they like.
An advantage of small groups in clusters is that they encourage people to get involved in activities that interest them without requiring long-term commitments. As few as two or three people can form a group and meet(or not meet and communicate in other ways) for as long as they like.
Peter McKee attended a two-day conference on church renewal held in Florida in mid-February, which was sponsored by the consulting firm of Easum, Bandy and Associates. The conference was titled: “Where is Jesus Going? Way, Way beyond Emmaus in the Gentile Mission,” and sub-titled: “Do you really want to be with Jesus in the mission field?”
The Biblical storytelling group initiated recently by Jack Knighton is a good example of such a group.
Members of the task force offering to help groups get started are Peter McKee, Anne Older, Allan Tedrow, and Sarah Williams.
They say: “If you have been waiting to be invited to join a group at Westminster to serve the Lord, want to serve but do not have a lot of time, here is your official invitation to join in!”
The Burnt Hills Oratorio Society will present a concert on March 24, at 3 p.m., in Union College’s Memorial Chapel, featuring two compositions by Alfred Fedak.
Invocation and Dance for Organ and Strings will display the talents of an orchestra of local musicians led by Ann Marie Barker, with Fedak at the organ.
The Web of Life: Litanies for the Earth, the major work being presented, gives the concert its “web of life” theme. Commissioned by the oratorio society in 2000 to commemorate its 30th year, it is set to a variety of texts from cultures old and new, far and near.
Fedak describes it as “an affirmation of the interconnectedness of all life and its relation to the earth and its creator.”
This will be the second performance of this piece, and it was said to have “a profound impact” on both singers and audience at its premiere in November 2000.
For ticket information, call 885-5472.
H. Carl McCall, Comptroller of the State of New York and a candidate for Governor, will preach during the regular morning service on Sunday, March 17.
A reception for Mr. McCall will be held in the Welles Room following the service.
Mr. McCall’s participation in the March 17 service will coincide with presentation of the 5th and final section of the oratorio The Glories of God’s Grace composed by Al Fedak and Carl Daw.
An ordained Baptist minister, Mr. McCall was educated at Dartmouth College, Andover Newton Theological Seminary and the University of Edinburgh.
He has served as NYS Comp-troller since May 1993, when he was appointed to fill an unexpired term. He was elected to the position in 1994 and then re-elected in 1998. Currently, he is seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor of New York.
Mr. McCall in previous years has served as President of the NYC School Board, New York State Senator, Ambassador to the United Nations, and Commissioner of the State Division of Human Rights.
Deaths: 2/5/2002 Rebecca C. Falvey
2/23/2002 Alfred B. Almstead, Jr.
Directory change:
Virginia Russum Keefe
24 Victoria Lane, Apt. H
Delmar, New York 12054
Westminster’s annual congregational brunch will be held this year on the traditional Sunday after Easter, which this year is Sunday, April 7. The Session is in charge of the program, with the Trustees preparing the meal, Deacons serving, and a volunteer group headed by Sarah Williams doing clean-up.
Two 50-year members, Julianne Mader and Mary Morrison, will be honored at the event. Both joined Westminster on April 13, 1953.
The brunch menu will feature a chicken and mushroom casserole, rolls, salad, and lemon cake. A vegetarian entree and sugar-free dessert will also be available upon request.
People are encouraged to sign up with an elder to attend the brunch. Everyone is welcome to enjoy this time of good food and fellowship; signing up or calling the church office in advance just helps the planners and cooks know how many people to expect.
The theme for the 2002 One Great Hour of Sharing Offering is “Serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received”–1 Peter, 4:10. As the gap between the haves and have-nots widens, it is important to remember that we all have God-given gifts with which to reach out and help others who are struggling or facing injustice.
This special offering will be collected on Palm Sunday, March 24.
Mary Jean Tedrow reports that there are many new books in the church library, including some acquired by Al Fedak about Ernest M. Skinner and Skinner organs. A video of a Taizé service is also there–along with a computer for your use, with an instruction sheet provided by Peter McKee. Everyone is urged to take advantage of these library services.
Lectionary for Lord's Day
March 2002
3 3rd Sunday in Lent
Exod. 17:1-7; Ps. 95
Rom. 5:1-11; John 4:5-42
10 4th Sunday in Lent
I Sam. 16:1-13; Ps. 23
Eph. 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
17 5th Sunday in Lent
Ezek. 37:1-14; Ps. 130
Rom. 8:6-11; John 11:1-45
24 Passion/Palm Sunday
Matt. 21:1-11; Ps. 118:1-2, 19-29
Isa. 50:4-9a; Ps. 31:9-16
Phil. 2:5-11; Matt. 26:14-27:66 or
Matt. 27:11-54
31 Resurrection of the Lord/Easter
Acts 10:34-43 or Jer. 31:1-6
Ps. 118:1-2, 14-24
Col. 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18 or Matt. 28:1-10
Deb Catozzi and Peg Hanlon are now serving as Sunday sextons, since Chris Trager has completed his college studies. They also work for the FOCUS food pantry. They will also be available on occasion to staff the building on weeknights.
The public phase of Westminster’s organ restoration fund drive got off to a rousing start on Super Sunday, Feb. 3–there was plenty of chili and mountains of cookies and brownies. Al Fedak provided interesting and relevant information about the history–and future–of our Skinner organ.
And there was harmony: to the strains of “Now Thank We All Our God–Sing the Song Together,” a fund-raising chart in the form of a musical score was unveiled, showing that during the first phase of the campaign to raise $250,000, more than $126,000 was given or pledged.
By mid-February, the total had risen to $138,700. By then, 19 families, 17 individuals, and six groups had provided financial support to the fund. Notable in the group category was the Frederick McDonald Trust grant of $10,000.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged or donated to the fund to return the Skinner organ to our sanctuary. Our chart will be updated regularly as more donations come in. To receive background materials about the fund-raising project, get more information, or make a donation, please call Julie Mader at church, 436-8544, extension 22.
Westminster’s Committee on Ghana, co-chaired by Lois Wilson and Carolyn Smith, will hold its next meeting on Monday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m., at church, and invites anyone interested to attend.
The Rev. Christian Ocloo, a Ghanian pastor who is spending a year at the Union Theological Seminary, will preach at Westminster on April 28 and then lead a second-hour program.
Four Westminster young people, Jack and Kyle Bossung, Alexandra Frye, and Nicholas Scaptura, have written letters to young people in Ghana, seeking pen pals, and Jack and Kyle were the first to receive a response. They sent a package back through relatives of Professor Kwadwo Sarfoh, a faculty member at the University at Albany and a member of the committee. The names of additional pen pals have recently become available.
Louise Burch has put together two mosquito net kits, a Presbyterian Women’s national project to help
reduce the spread of malaria in Africa. Westminster has received five more kits to be assembled by the end of the summer, and anyone interested in helping is asked to call Louise.
Ghana is located in western Africa, is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon, and has a population of about 19.5 million. English is its official language. The average life expectancy is 57.4 years. The 2002 Mission yearbook of the Presbyterian Church (USA) lists many ministries for the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
The Session heard at its February meeting that the church roof suffered a significant leak in January (requiring rearrangement of the choir room to avoid water damage) and it will need to be repaired when the weather permits. The No. 2 boiler also leaked and a replacement is being installed.
New officers of the Trustees are: President, David Klingaman; vice president, John Kinum; and secretary, Louise Burch.