Faith formation is a lifelong endeavor. Adults meet during the Education Hour following worship for forums in the social room to explore a variety of topics, including bible study, spiritual disciplines, mission and service, contemporary issues, and more. Leaders are members and guests. 

Upcoming forums: 
Feb 24: Changes to the Book of Order
Jill Fandrich will lead a discussion on how the Presbyterian constitution is amended, looking at this year's proposed amendments, especially an interesting one about churches endorsing or opposing political candidates. 

March 3: Changes to the Book of Confessions
It's been proposed that Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" be added to the Presbyterian Book of Confessions. We'll discuss how that happens and what it means. 

During the Sundays of Lent, March 10 through April 14, the Lenten Adult Forum Series will be
"Lent 4.5 Christian Simplicity."
 
Instead of giving up chocolate or meat during Lent, how about giving up bad habits that impact the environment or starting new habits that help protect our Earth?
 
Starting March 10, the Christian Education Committee is offering a series of Adult Forums during Lent that will focus on a different aspect of a more sustainable and responsible lifestyle every week, inspired by a program of the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center called Lent 4.5, a faith formation program which inspires and informs Christian communities on how to use the traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to protect God's creation, embrace Gospel justice and nurture spiritual fulfillment. It offers practical opportunities for people of faith to apply the values of Christian simplicity to their everyday lives.
 
What does Lent 4.5 stand for? If the Earth were divided equally among all of us, each person would receive 4.5 acres, a fair share. All we need should come from these 4.5 acres - food, clothing, home, energy, etc. In America, in contrast, it takes over 22 acres to support the average person's lifestyle. You see the discrepancy?
 
The series of planned discussions around food,
consumption,  water, energy, transportation, and gratitude provides a new way of observing Lent to help us care for God's creation by taking steps towards only using our fair share of resources.

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Book Group

The Westminster Book Group will meet on March 21, April 25, and May 16 in the Social Room at 7pm. In March the group will choose a book for May. Please attend and express your preferences or let Ann Wiley know what you’d like to suggest
 
On March 21, the group will discuss Seeking a Better Country, a history of the Presbyterian Church in the United States by D.G. Hart and John R. Muether. Ann Wiley and Tony Gero will lead the discussion. The church has copies that you can borrow. Check with Melanie to see if one remains in the workroom, or ask Ann Wiley to help you locate a copy.
 
On April 25, the group will discuss Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. Seymour Library and the Finger Lakes Library System have multiple copies of this book about care for elderly and disabled people, palliative care and its role in treating all patients, and care of people in the last stages of their life. The elder care conversation circle will join the book group for this discussion, and Jill Fandrich will lead. Please attend any book group meeting if you are interested, even if you have not read the book, and please invite others from the community who may be interested too.

Lenten studies

Westminster’s Soup and Study series is a long-held tradition, meeting together for five Wednesday evenings during Lent to share a simple soup supper followed by exploration of a Lenten theme. This year, we build on the stewardship theme of being a “Matthew 25 Church,” seeing those in need and taking action to help.
 
Each Wednesday in Lent, we will gather in the social room  at 6pm for two choices of homemade soup (provided by the participants on a sign-up basis). At about 6:30, we will begin discussion of the various verses of Matthew 25, facilitated by someone in our community who is actively serving to address that specific need.
 
We will include a brief discussion of possible congregational or individual response.
 
March 13: I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. Nancy Sheffield, Calvary Food Pantry
March 20: I was in prison and you visited me. Paul and Kim Dungey, prison ministry
March 27:  I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Daryl Files, InterFaith Works, focusing on specific volunteer needs
April 3: I was naked and you gave me clothing. Christina Thornton, Chapel House Homeless Shelter
April 10: I was sick and you took care of me. Dr Brian Bennett on the palliative care approach to treating illness and disability throughout our lifetimes
 
All ages, including families with children, are welcome to attend Soup and Study so that all can learn about God’s work in our church and our community, and think about our individual calls to respond.
 

  

wednesday noon study group

The Wednesday Noon Study takes a break during Lent so that people can attend the Wednesday Evening Soup and Study series. Watch for information about the next Wednesday Noon Study starting in May.