The Messenger March 2021 - Westwood Presbyterian Church
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The Messenger March 2021
New Officers
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering
Congratulations to the newly
installed officers for the class Each year during the Lenten Season the PCUSA
of 2023. receives “The One Great Hour of Sharing
Offering” on Easter Sunday. This year it will be
They are Elders: Bob Estridge, on April 4, 2021. This is part of our worldwide
Bob Long and Tim Turber; also ministry to 1) To rebuild hope by providing
Deacons: Andrea Estridge and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance monies and
Jeanne Riechers. Thank you people power to work alongside communities as
for being willing to serve. they recover after the devastation of natural or
Remember them in your human-caused disasters. 2) Grow and provide food
prayers as they serve. through “The Presbyterian Hunger Program.”
3) Participating with communities in “Self
Development of People,” through responding to
racism, oppression, poverty and injustice.
Education is provided about the impact of these
ills. Please give generously on April 4, 2021.
Thanks!
Daylight Saving Time begins
Sunday, March 14, 2021 Deacons – March 7 – after worship
Administration – March 14 – after worship
Spiritual Gr/Outreach – March 15 – 6 pm
Session – March 15 – 7 pm
12 Bonita Gay
Newsletter Deadline
for April is 17 Dale Alvey
March 18th. 31 Bob Estridge
23 Bonnie & Richard Martin
Welcome to the first Deacon’s Corner of the New Year. We had our
organizational meeting on Saturday, February 6. Officers were elected
and members assigned to the different committees. Our new chair is
Andrea Estridge. Dale Alvey and Jeanne Riechers are heading up the
“Prayer Chain.”
We are in discussion about whether or not to continue the Christmas
project or focus on some other mission. For now, we will collect items
as if the project is continuing. If we change, we will donate the items to
other groups. For March, the items we are collecting are: Cleaning
Products (laundry detergent, dish soap, hand soap, all purpose cleaners).
We will continue the Chili Supper. This was unanimous. We are
looking forward to getting back together. Pray that we will be able to
do so, soon! God bless.
Westwood Financial Report - 2021
January: Receipts Expenses Balance
Current Funds 2,885.50 6,378.77 -3,493.27
Per Capita 190.00 0.00 190.00
Benevolence 25.00 100.00 25.00
Total 3,100.50 6,378.77 -3,278.27
Year-To-Date:
Current Funds 2,885.00 6,378.77 -3,493.27
Per Capita 190.00 0.00 190.00
Benevolence 25.00 0.00 25.00
Total 3,100.50 6,378.77 -3,278.27
More detailed financial reports are available upon request
from Steve Anglin or the church office.
“The Meaning of Lent”
The clue to the meaning of Lent can be found by looking at the two days that bracket it, Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday. On Ash Wednesday, it is customary in many congregations for persons
to have ashes placed upon their heads while they are being told, “Remember that you are dust, and to
dust you shall return.” In other words, we are confronted by the fact of our mortality in a vivid
physical encounter. On Good Friday, we witness the death of another human being, and we are told
that in his death, we all have died. Lent certainly is intended to end at the cross, but it begins with the
human condition that we all share, and it takes on the character of a pilgrimage...
The lessons through Lent provide an opportunity to examine ourselves in relation to the mystery of
the cross as a sign of the new covenant and to examine ourselves in terms of the covenant we made
with God through Baptism or which we expect to make if we are preparing for baptism or
confirmation. As we did not celebrate Advent pretending Christmas had not happened, so we do not
celebrate Lent as though we know nothing about Easter. Lent is a time of “festive fasting” in the
words of Adrian Nocent: “...Indeed the whole Lenten fast is festive because it is leading up to the
victory and return of the Spouse.”
The traditional color in the West for Lent has been purple, recognizing that we are decorating for
the king who is on his way to mount the throne of the cross.
Prayer for Lent
All-seeing God, You know our motives as well as our deeds: nothing we think or do is a secret to You.
May our piety grown out of love for You, our generosity out of genuine care for others, our prayers
out of deep thankfulness for the treasures You entrust to our stewardship. Guide our time of fasting
and self-examination toward the deepening of our faith and the effectiveness of our service, in Christ's
name. Amen.
Norman
Questions for the Forty Days of Lent
As you travel the forty days of Lent, will you have the courage to take the time to reflect on your
relationship to God? The following questions will help:
• Who am I meant to be?
• What am I meant to do with my life?
• Who is God to me, really?
• What are the temptations of my life and how am I handling them?
• Have I made the choices that speak positively about who I am and who God wants me to be?
• Where does my ultimate allegiance lie?
May you take some quiet time to spend time with God. God will bless you, tremendously.
Community Meal Center Prayer Concerns
When you're shopping, don't forget
to pick up a package of Little Miscellaneous concerns:
Debbies for the Meal Center. Bonita Gay
Fred Sloneker
Ruth Mollett
Summer Estridge
Michael Gesell (Marlene) lymphoma
Bill Craft
Mark Combs – home
Kristi Craft
The Usher Sign Up Sheet for 2021 is
on the church bulletin board. If you In Nursing Home/Assisted Living:
would like to usher in the New Year, Windsor of Cape Coral: Dick Flynn
either stop by and sign up or call the Westover: Catherine Gibson
church and tell us which month you will Sheridan at Mason: Bill Mountsier
be available. Thanks!
National & International Concerns:
Our country, Natural disasters, violence, unity
Our armed forces worldwide
Missionaries across the world
Peace in our world
Local Concerns:
Our church
Cities of Hamilton & Fairfield
Serve City / Haven House / Community Meal Center
Churches in community
Corona virus victims & cure
Per Capita Request Congregational Prayer:
Each year The Presbytery of the As we continue to pray for our sister churches in the
Miami Valley publishes “Expected Miami Presbytery, and for all the churches in our
Payments” for each active member community in Ohio.
of each church. For the year, 2021,
they are requesting a total of $50.
In years past, the Session has voted
to give what fits our budget. The
Session also invites members, who
are able, to pay all or a portion for
yourself. If you have questions,
please talk to Rev. Godfrey or a
member of the Session.
Special Offerings PCUSA The following was received in January from The Director of Special Offerings and Appeals from our Presbyterian Mission Department. Dear Faithful Friends, During this season of unrest and change, we depend on our Church, faith, family and God's grace to see us through. Together our gifts work to build God's household where all can find shelter, where all can find love. Thank you! Following is a record of your gifts to Special Offerings from the week ending December 5, 2020, through week ending January 2, 2021; on 12/9/2020, $123.75 for the Peace and Global Witness offering (Peacemaking). Your congregation's giving, when combined with that of others, will share the love of Christ with those in need. As 2021 begins, we look back in gratitude, for the ways the Church has been faithful to its calling despite the incredible challenges of 2020. These gifts mean so much more than the dollars that are given, and represent lives being changed. Thank you, again, for giving to enable all people to know God's life-giving welcome in Jesus Christ. Please let me know how we can support your efforts. Together, we are the church, building the household of Christ. With gratitude for your partnership and prayers for continued grace and boldness in your ministry. Bruce Wiebe, Director, Special Offerings, Presbyterian Mission
A Prayer as We Enter the Season of Lent
God, our Creator, guide our hearts as we enter this season of Lent.
Create in us hearts that are shaped by the concerns of your heart,
that the thirsty find refreshing and the hungry are filled,
the oppressed are set free and the oppressor is transformed,
and all may know joy and shalom.
Jesus, our Redeemer, guide our minds as we enter this season of Lent,
that we might have your mind about us as we navigate our daily lives,
as we live with and for one another,
as we care for your creation,
as we seek to love as you love.
Holy Spirit, our Sustainer, guide our steps as we enter this season of Lent,
that we keep in step with you, going where you lead us.
Grant us courage to be stretched in our faith.
Teach us to walk in the paths of justice, with kindness and humility.
God, who is beyond us and at the same time with us,
guide us as we enter this season of Lent,
that we shed what is old and put on the new life Jesus brings.
As we have been reconciled to you through Jesus,
by your Holy Spirit let us engage in the ministry of reconciliation.
Amen and Amen.
Terry Kukuk, Executive Presbyter
Ash Wednesday, 2021
Westwood Presbyterian Church
1068 Stahlheber Road
Hamilton, OH 45013
Address Service Requested
2021
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