Westminster

Presbyterian

Church 2155 University Ave.

Dubuque, IA 52001

563-583-1729

www.wpcdbq.org

hal@wpcdbq.org

Easter is coming. And I can't wait. Easter is especially meaningful for people who have lost dear ones in the last year.

That includes many among us at Westminster.

The final enemy, the final threat, of course, is death: our own death, the death of those most important to us, the death of ideas and institutions, the death of hope and love. It's the "insult of our mortality" someone called it. Death -- Jesus' premature death, and death in general -- is supremely logical, rational. We are born, we live, we wear out, we die. But resurrection...?

We'd love it if someone could just "prove" the resurrection. Presbyterian pastor and author Eugene Peterson remembers the preacher in his childhood church on Easter morning launching into a sermon on the thirteen incontrovertible proofs that Jesus rose from the dead, "proofs with which we could wrestle to the ground our unbelieving friends." Mostly Peterson remembers that it took the preacher an excruciating hour and a half, "by which time nobody much cared anymore."

To be sure, preachers, writers, artists have never done as well with the resurrection as they have with the crucifixion. And the reason is simple. The resurrection of Jesus from death does not fit into our human experience the way suffering does. We know about suffering. We experience suffering. Resurrection doesn't happen every day the way suffering does.

The disciples of Jesus watched helplessly as the real power of this world, rational, reasonable power exercised by the state, backed by the military, urged on by religious narrowness and self-righteousness, plotted, closed in on, condemned, tortured, and killed Jesus. Their dreams of a new society, a better world, died as life ebbed out of their friend.

And then, Easter morning! No one understands completely at the moment. They certainly didn't. Nor do we. Like them, truth about resurrection, about love stronger than death, comes as we allow it into our lives, our world view our hopes and dreams and commitments. Truth comes into our lives like light shining in the darkness. "Truth," Emily Dickinson wrote, "must dazzle gradually, or every man be blind."

This year, it's been Henri Nouwen who's helped me understand the truth a little better. He wrote this on the occasion of his mother's death:

"The resurrection is God's way of revealing to us that nothing that belongs to God will ever go to waste. What belongs to God will never get lost. The resurrection doesn't answer any of our common questions about life after death such as "How will it be? How will it look?" But it does reveal to us that love is stronger than death. God's love for us, our love for each other, and our love for those who lived before and will live after us is not just a quickly passing experience, but a reality transcending all

time and space." (from Our Greatest Gift) Happy Easter to you and yours!

Pictorial Directory 3

Youth CE 3

Church News 2

4

Foundation Grants 3

Calendar 5

Mission Team/Grants 4

Worship Scripture 6

Inside this issue:

The Day of Resurrection -- by Hal Murry, Teaching Elder

HOTLINE April 2017 Volume XVII, Issue 4

FROM YOUR

WESTMINSTER

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOUNDATION:

Be a WILLing Christian.

Remember ...

Westminster Presbyterian

Church in your WILL.

THANK YOU again to Westminster's "pew crew"! Additional space has been created, this time on the "narthex" aisle, to accommodate worshipers who need a little more space. The spaces created comply with ADA requirements. Thanks to: Doug Cheever, Cameron Fast, Bud Monson, Steve Mosiman, Don Ryerson and Randy Roos.

A UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE audit class has completed a 2016 Review of Westminster's financial records. There were NO irregularities. Several helpful practical suggestions were received by Westminster's Finance Commit-tee.

WESTMINSTER MISSION GRANTS awarded during March include:

$1750 to fund start-up activities of Westminster's "Green Team" which is committed to raising awareness and encouraging responsible stewardship of the earth. "Green Team" membership is open to anyone. Current members include: Mary Breiner, Doug Cheever, Jean Cheever, Rich Henderson, Marilee Loney, Denise Reyerson, Linda Stovall, Tom Stovall, Julia Smith and Marsh Wilfong.

$225 to Westminster's Care Team to purchase Westminster logo canvas bags to be delivered as welcome gifts to first time worship visitors. When first time worship visitors provide contact information, Care Team members follow up with a brief visit to share information about Westminster and a free gift. Care Team members writing this grant: Glinda Manternach, Suzanne Hockley Murry and Carlotta Schmidt.

The purpose of Westminster Mission Grants is to encourage friends and members of Westminster to engage in hands-on mission in order to be a blessing to our community and as a way of nurturing our own faith, consistent with Westminster's 2020 Mission/Vision Statement. See Linda Stovall or Deb Seiffert for more information.

SESSION (Westminster's Governing Council) HIGHLIGHTS FROM MARCH:

Accepted with regret, the withdrawal of the Rev. Lindsay James from consideration as worship leader for a proposed alternative worship service at Westminster.

Engaged in continuing exploration of the implications of Westminster's proposed governance reforms. Known as "policy governance," the reforms are seen as one way to implement Westminster's stated mission priorities at all levels of the organization.

Approved a request by Westminster's new "Green Team" to be formally recognized as a mission team of Westminster. The team has formed to encourage church members, friends and the broader community to care for God's creation by practicing wise, humble, responsible stewardship of the earth. A tentative date of April 23rd has been set for commissioning the Green Team at worship

Approved a motion requesting permission from the John Knox Presbytery's Committee on Ministry to form a Pastor Nominating Committee. This is the first step in the likely one-to- two-year process of seeking Westminster's next "called and installed" pastor. The motion was approved with encouragement from Rev. Murry, who has provided Interim pastoral leadership at Westminster since June, 2013.

The current members of Westminster's Session are: Cameron Fast, Mark Oberhoffer, Steve Peake, Leon Beebe, Terry Flynn, Deb Seiffert, Arden Woodrum, Pam Adams, Betsy Badger and Susan Taylor. Lois Pearce and Tom Stovall are Co-Clerks with voice, but not vote.

Church News

Volume XVII, Issue 4 Page 2

Sunday

August 27th

Page 3 HOTLINE

Youth Faith Formation News Thank you for all the volunteers that helped during the Star Wars Movie Night! Over 60

people were in attendance! What movie would you like to see in Fellowship Hall next?

Possibly Moana or Trolls? Let Mrs. Fast know.

Congratulations to our AMC Gift Card Winner! Over $100 was raised to help send WPC

Youth to Camp Wyoming!

It’s Not Too Late to Sign Up For Camp

Oops! You’ve missed the Early Bird Special. No worries your son or daughter

can still sign up for summer camp. On-line registration is available at

campwyoming.net. Parents if you have questions contact Lisa Fast.

Coming Soon: 50 Reasons Why Kids Like Camp

Camp Fundraising for WPC Youth at the end of April and early May

See Mary Breiner for details or find out how you can help!

Nursery Hours:

Sunday Mornings 9:00 am-Noon

For children ages 5 and under

Sunday Night Youth Group

4:00-7:00 pm

Are you in Middle School or High

School? If you are bored on Sunday

Nights come hang with us.

Westminster Foundation Grants

The Westminster Presbyterian Church Foundation was established for the purpose of generating financial resources in order to support, in part, specific projects within Westminster Presbyterian Church. The Board of Managers of the Foundation is pleased to announce that in May 2017 it will be awarding a grant or grants totaling approximately $4,100 for projects only within Westminster Presbyterian Church and is now inviting applications from interested organiza-tions, groups, or individuals from the Church.

Applications are available in the church office and must be submitted to the office on or before April 15, 2017 in order to be considered. Questions related to the application process may be directed to members of the Board of Managers who are: Betsy Badger, Edwin Blinks, Paul DeLong, George Hellert, Howard McLean, Doug Pearce, Norma Smith and Hal Murry.

Applications must include a description of the proposed project or activity, a budget for it, and the dollars being requested to fund it.

Westminster Pictorial Directories:

The Print Directory and

The New, “Living” Online Directory

The pictorial directory will be printed and distributed after Easter. The earliest print update is next fall.

But don’t stop sending updated photos and contact information to the Church Office. Updated items are quickly and regularly added to our secure Online Directory.

Unlike the dated Print Directory, the Online Directory lists all members, friends, and supporters and their latest photos and contact information.

If your e-mail address appears in the directory contact information, you can easily log in to the secure online directory:

Go to https://members.instantchurchdirectory.com/signup

Enter the e-mail address listed for you in the Westminster directory, choose a password, and confirm the password by repeat-ing it exactly a second time. Select the Request Log In button.

If all is correct, you will be told that a confirming message has been sent to your e-mail address.

Go to your e-mail, open the confirming message. You are now cleared to use the secure Online Directory

Page 4

Westminster Vital Statistics

Average Sunday Worship Attendance for March

2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

156 197 151 139 168

Financial Stewardship through February 28, 2017

(numbers rounded to the nearest 1,000)

Year-to-Date Operating Budget $66,000 2017 Expenses 55,000 2017 Income 89,000 Income over Expenses 34,000

Thank you! To God be the glory!

DACU (Dubuque Area Congregations United)

Delegate Meetings are held the 4th Tues. each Month

Next Meeting—Tues., April 25th -7:00 p.m.

Hillcrest Hadley Chapel, 2005 Hillcrest Rd.

Foster Care & Foster Care Review

Books and Bowls—April 23rd, 10:45 a.m. ( A week later than usual because of Easter.)

“Our Souls at Night” is our last book of the season. Aging and loneliness will not overtake 70 year old Addie as she makes a suggestion to 70 year old Louis that scandalizes their adult children and the town gossips. She feels this could be her last attempt at happiness. This book is a charming goodbye to, now deceased, Kent Haruf, who wrote of Holt, Colorado, in “Plainsong, Eventide and Benediction.” Everyone is welcome to join us.

Church News

Thank You On behalf of Becky and the kids thank you for the baby shower. We’d love to thank each one of you individually but there isn’t enough print space here! Also, for those of you that entered a guess about BrieElla’s stats (height, weight, arrival date etc.) apparently there will be prizes for the best guessers. Blessings to you all! Thank you!

Zach, Becky, Andrew, Anah & BrieElla Spurgeon

“God has called us to a new kind of fast –

Not to give up our bread, but to share it.”

What do these three programs have in common?

Joining Hands Peru – helps work on hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation

Neighbor to Neighbor – promotes reintegration of ex-offenders through the investment of jobs and education rather than return to prison.

Rebuilding homes in Syria to enable refugees to return to their homeland and rebuild their lives.

You Guessed It! All of these projects and more are be-ing supported by the dollars given through One Great Hour of Sharing. Please consider a donation.

Donation envelopes will be available in the church pews on April 2, 9, and 16 or anytime in the office.

The purpose of the Westminster Mission Grants program is to encourage the members of our church to engage in hands on mission that will benefit our commu-nity and our church. It is a way to nurture your faith and a better understanding of what the Westminster 2020 Mission/Vision Statement means.

The Mission Team awarded two Mission Grants this month:

* The first was for the Westminster Care Team for $225 to purchase "first time visitors gifts." Cloth tote bags with the church logo on them that will replace the mugs that were previously given.

* The second request was to the Westminster Green Team for $1,750. The funds include registration to become a Supporting Member of Iowa Interfaith Power and Light organization. It also includes the purchase of 500 custom grocery tote bags, a campaign to reduce the use of plastic

bags, and various start-up educational activities. This will help support their efforts in helping members of our church to think "green." The WPC Green Team currently has 10 members.

We are very close to awarding our next Mission Grant for a Puppet Ministry Team. We are waiting for an itemized budget to be presented. We will report more on this next month.

If you are interested in doing a Mission Grant see Deb Seiffert or Linda Stovall for more information.

GREEN TEAM UPDATE: Westminster's "Green Team" is committed to raising awareness and encouraging responsible stewardship of the earth. "Green Team" membership is open to anyone. The next scheduled meeting is 5:15 on Thursday, April 15. The Green Team would like to remind everyone that Earth Day is Sat., April, 22nd. Please think about what you can do to demonstrate care and good stewardship for the wonderful creation that God has provided for us!

Mission Team Grants Awarded

—go to website for a larger version

Volume XVII, Issue 4 Page 5 April Calendar

April 2 5th Sunday in Lent Sacrament of Baptism for Caitlin Carter Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Rev. Hal Murry preaches on John 11 Music: Adult Choir; Adult Handbells

April 9 Palm Sunday Rev. Hal Murry preaches on John 12 Music: Church Band, Adult Choir, Youth Handbells, Youth Choir (Processional!)

7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 13 Maundy Thursday Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

April 16 Easter 6:00 a.m. Sunrise! Worship

9:30 a.m. Rev. Hal Murry preaches on John 20 Music: Adult Choir

April 23 Commissioning of Westminster's Green Team Music: Timbrel and Lyre

April 30 Rev. Dr. Mark Achtemeier preaches Music: Adult Choir

Worship at Westminster

9:30 a.m. Sundays and this month

Two special services We Guarantee Immediate Seating

Available Every Sunday!

NONPROFIT ORG

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DUBUQUE, IA

PERMIT NO. 577

Westminster Presbyterian Church

2155 University Ave

Dubuque, IA 52001

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Contact Information:

2155 University Ave. Dubuque, IA 52001 563 - 583 - 1729

Join us for

Communion at

Bethany Home

April 16 at 1:30 p.m.

Parent Free Night

Friday, May 19th

More details to come!