Current news at westminster
March/April Newsletter
LGBTQ+ Support
The Q Center/ACR Health has agreed to partner with Westminster Presbyterian Church to bring their support services to Cayuga County. The Q Center is in Auburn every 2nd and 4th Monday from 3pm – 7pm. There is also a parent group on the 4 th Monday from 5pm -7pm. There will be snacks, games, fun and a dinner provided. The Q Center is a reputable organization with the most experience in counseling the LGBTQ+ youth population. These facilitated support groups are potentially life saving services that, up until now, have not been provided in Cayuga County. Have additional questions? Call the Q Center at (315) 475-2430 or email qcentercny@acrhealth.org.
Children’s Worship Center
The Children’s Worship Center provides an age-appropriate worship space for young children aged 3 years through 2nd grade. The children experience a bible story told with 3-dimensional figures, respond to the story, share prayers and a feast, and feel God’s presence in the quiet of the worship space. The Worship Center is based on a Montessori model. Jill Fandrich will be the Storyteller for the post-Easter stories in April. Easter stories are: Jesus is Risen: Appearance to Mary Magdalene (4/8), Road to Emmaus (4/15), Good Shepherd and the Wolf (4/22) and Good Shepherd and the Lord’s Supper I (4/29), and Good Shepherd and the Lord's Supper II (5/6). On May 13, the children will hear the story of the Ascension and on May 20 the story of Pentecost.
Elder Care Conversation Circle
Are you caring for an aging loved one? Westminster hosts a support group on the last Tuesday of each month to allow people who are "parenting their parents" and dealing with the struggles and stresses of health care, family dynamics, and figuring out living options for aging family members. The group meets 7-9pm on the last Tuesday of the month in the church social room, and welcomes new members at any time.
Sunday School
Kids in grades 1-6 meet every Sunday in the Junior Room during the Education Hour with teachers Jill Fandrich and Audrey McNally for music (vocal and handchimes), lesson, and a craft or activity based on the day’s lectionary reading, which provides an opportunity for the kids to go deeper into the message which was shared in morning worship.
Loose Change Offerings
The loose change in the offering plates is designated toward a special cause each month. In April, the loose offerings support the restoration of Opendore, the home of equal rights activist and suffragette Isabel Howland in Sherwood, NY.
Westminster Women
The next meeting of the Westminster Women is Tuesday, April 17, at 1:30pm in the church Social Room. The leader of Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga County will present a program about all they do and the opportunities to help with their programs. Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend.
Refresh
The next meeting of the Refresh Women's Group is Saturday, April 21 at 10am.
Property Work Day
The Property Committee holds monthly work days on the third Saturday of each month. Please plan on joining them on Saturday morning, April 21, from 9am to 12 noon. There are lots of spring clean-up projects on the agenda, as well as continuing work on the Junior Room kitchen and the Christian Ed office.
Salvation Army Miracle Kitchen
Westminster cooks and serves a hot meal for the guests of the Salvation Army Miracle Kitchen on the 4th Sundays of 5-Sunday months. Our next opportunity is April 22, 3-6pm Join the merry band of cooks and servers by letting Susan Marteney know you’d like to help. We need about 10-12 volunteers.
Volunteers Needed: School Lunch Ministry
Westminster is partnering with Auburn United Methodist Church and Genesee Elementary School to provide nutritious hot meals for all students and families during the upcoming Spring Break, April 23rd-27th. The lunch is served at Genesee Elementary from 12-1pm. Volunteers are needed any day to help cook from 9am-12pm at AUMC and/or serve at the school from 11:30am-2pm. No cooking experience is needed, just a desire to serve families in our community. Please contact Chris Patch at ChrisPatchTMT@gmail.com or (315) 664-0782 by April 13th.
Contemplative hike April 28
Whether you want to get outdoors, need a break from the commotion of life, or are feeling drained and disconnected, this hike is for you. Spending part of the hike in silence and part in conversation, we'll find renewal as we become more mindful of our bodies, our thoughts, and the soil beneath our feet. Together, we will reconnect with God. On Saturday, April 28, from 10 am to 12 pm, we will hike the beautiful Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, hopefully enjoying the spring wildflowers and the song of the thousands of birds that call Montezuma home. It's about 20 minutes from Auburn. Anyone is welcome to join us, whether affiliated with the church or not. In fact, this would be a great opportunity to invite a friend, neighbor, or family member. Hikes are moderate in difficulty and will include uneven, dirt paths and probably either snowy or muddy trails. RSVP is required. Please contact Patrick (pastor@westminsterauburn.org, 315-253-3331). Detailed information will then be provided.
Cayuga County Habitat for Humanity Women Build 2018
You can change a woman’s life on May 12th along with Cayuga County Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s, 15 Grant Avenue. Build a deck or picnic table, paint, install kitchen cabinets and more at this home rehab project. All volunteers are invited to the on-site breakfast and lunch sponsored by Wegmans. Habitat supplies all the tools, and there will be experienced supervisors to guide you. Meet Loni, the partner family mom, who will be the proud owner of this home. Pick up a volunteer form in the Narthex or stop in and get one in the church office.
Westminster Book Group
The Westminster Book Group resumes meeting on the third Thursdays in April and May at 7pm in the social room. The group has chosen the following books:
April 19: Auburn, New York: The Entrepreneurs’ Frontier by Scott W. Anderson, available at Seymour Library, Leader Robyn Warn
May 17: A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, available at Seymour Library
September: Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak
Graduates
Westminster will honor its members who are graduating from high school, college, or graduate programs on Baccalaureate Sunday, June 17. If you or someone you know should be included in this recognition, please let Linda MacKay, moderator of the Membership and Evangelism Committee, know by May 20.
Cards to Shutins
Our church members who cannot attend worship love to hear from their Westminster friends. If you'd like to write a note to any of our shutins, there is a basket of cards in the narthex. Just leave your card there and the address and stamp will be added by the church office. Thank you for reminding our older members that they are close to us in our hearts and minds.
Evangelism 101
What is it about Westminster that you love? How does this church help you feel God's presence in your life? We bet you know someone who would like to experience what you do in this community of faith. Sharing your story could lead to inviting a friend to church. If you think that sounds hard, it's not. Over the next few weeks and months, we'll be talking about how to share your story in "Minutes for Evangelism" as we gain momentum for Rally Sunday on September 9 which will also be "Invite a Friend" Sunday. Stay tuned for more!
Coupons for the Personal Care Pantry
The Mission and Stewardship Committee has created a personal care pantry for walk-in members of the community in need of toiletries and household cleaning supplies. If you have extra coupons that can be used to purchase these types of products, please see Kim Patch or place them in the designated basket in the narthex.
Traffic and Parking
Construction has begun on the new regional welcome center which is being built across the street from the church. The city has created a new 3-way stop intersection, traffic pattern, and pedestrian walkways in front of the church to make vehicular and pedestrian traffic safer. Please be aware of the changes around the church. To ease traffic congestion on weekdays, especially when the nursery school is in session, enter the church parking lot from Court Street and exit onto William Street. Church members may use the church parking lot during the week when attending a church program or on church business. Permits are available from Melanie.
Sensory Mitts Ministry
If you are a knitter or a crocheter, you can help Westminster in our Sensory Mitts Ministry. A sensory mitt is a double thick mitt or muff made with embellishments attached inside and out in order to provide a stimulation activity for the restless hands of people with dementia, Alzheimer’s or autism. Making a mitt or muff is fast, easy and fun, even for you’re just a beginner. We’ll provide a pattern, instruction and yarn if you need it. For more information, contact Annette Bell by leaving a message at the church office 315-253-3331. A brochure with instructions is available here: Sensory Mitts. The group meets the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:00 pm and welcomes new members.
The Coat Tree
Building on the success of our Little Free Library and knowing that the fall Rummage Sale has been postponed, The Mission & Stewardship Committee bets you have an extra coat or two in your closet. Donate your winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves & mittens and gently worn boots to a new mission of our church – The Coat Tree. Located in the hall of the Administration Building on a real coat rack, Patrick can offer the items as a supplement to the Personal Care Pantry. Items must be clean and ready to wear and sizes for men and women and boys and girls are welcome. Please hang your donations on the rack and place other items in the correct box. We also need sturdy hangers.
Prayer Shawls
The Westminster prayer shawl pantry needs re-stocking. If you knit or crochet and would like to help re-stock the Prayer Shawl pantry it would be very much appreciated. We have a small supply of donated yarn and we also have patterns. We just need willing volunteers. If you are interested and need yarn or a pattern, please contact Monta Faye Tuxill.
Children and Worship
All ages are welcome in worship, and we also provide options for young children in nearby locations to the sanctuary. Older children (grade 3 and up) worship with their families in the sanctuary; there are lectionary-related worksheets, books, and other resources available at the back of the sanctuary to engage children in worship. Elena Madden and Chelsea Smith provide loving care for infants and toddlers in the social room. We also have a Baby Corner in the sanctuary, with rocking chairs and a playmat, to provide a cozy spot for parents to cuddle with their infants and be in worship together. The Children's Worship Center provides an age-appropriate worship experience for children age 3 through grade 2.
Wednesday Noon Study: Come to the waters
The Wednesday noon study resumes Wednesday, April 11 with a concluding discussion of the role of the flag in worship. Beginning April 18, we will begin a creative and relevant series about water. Our conversation will take us from spirituality to environmental concerns to natural disasters, even to our own Owasco Lake. Special focus will be given to the role of water in the Bible and will draw on the PC(USA) Horizons Bible Study "Come to the Waters." The rich imagery of water throughout the Bible helps us understand and articulate our faith. Just as water nourishes our bodies, so the Scriptures on water nourish our souls. We will meet in the conference room of the Education Building on Wednesdays at noon. Feel free to bring a lunch! If you're interested, please contact Patrick at pastor@westminsterauburn.org or call the church at 315-253-3331 so that he can add you to the email list.
Citizen Column
Westminster is featured in a monthly column in the Auburn Citizen. Here are:
Jill Fandrich's March 25 column "Telling the Holy Week stories to children"
Patrick Heery's Feb 25 column "Lent: The time is now"
Jill Fandrich's Jan 28 column "Westminster grant supports show based on neo-Nazi rally"
Audrey McNally's Dec 31 column "How sacred music has shaped my faith"
Patrick Heery's Dec 3 column "Where you'll find God this Christmas Eve"
Jill Fandrich's Nov 5 column "What comes after 'thoughts and prayers'?"
Patrick Heery's October 15 column "Finding the strength to fix our democracy"
Jill Fandrich's September 10 column "Church starting new caregivers group"
Patrick Heery's August 13 column "New Hiking Ministry Offers Renewal"
Jill Fandrich's July 16 column "The Redefinition of Missionaries"
Patrick Heery's June 18 column "Sabbath: a bus pass to paradise"
Patrick Heery's May 21 column "How does a pastor grieve?"
Jill Fandrich's April 23 column "The Gospel According to Flatland"
Audrey McNally's March 26 column "Discovering the Psalms"
Patrick Heery's Feb 26 column "Lenten Journey: Death and Beyond"
Jill Fandrich's Jan 29 column "Are We Ready For Another Reformation?"
Patrick Heery's Jan 1 column "When the Holidays Hurt"
Jill Fandrich's Dec 4 column "Need for Community and Conversation"
Annette Bell's Nov 6 column "Saints Among Us"
Patrick Heery's Oct 9 column "Does Auburn need a hero? No, it needs you"
Patrick Heery's Sept 11 column "Seeing Beyond Doom" (15th anniversary of 9-11)
Jill Fandrich's August 14 column "Auburn Youth Reflect on Triennium"
Patrick Heery's July 17 column "Where is God in times of violence?"
Jill Fandrich's June 19 column "Ordinary Time"
Patrick Heery's May 15 column "Why I Have Come to Auburn"
Jilll Fandrich's April 24 column "Church Doors Open Out,"
Dwain Lee's March 27 column "Saying Goodbye to Westminster."
Church App!
Check out Westminster's “app” to access events, calendar information, photos, lectionary readings, Facebook and Twitter posts, and more on your smartphone or tablet. To get the church app, search for Church Link App in the App Store on your phone or tablet. Download the app (it’s free!), and then search for Westminster by zip code 13021.
LGBTQ+ Support
The Q Center/ACR Health has agreed to partner with Westminster Presbyterian Church to bring their support services to Cayuga County. The Q Center is in Auburn every 2nd and 4th Monday from 3pm – 7pm. There is also a parent group on the 4 th Monday from 5pm -7pm. There will be snacks, games, fun and a dinner provided. The Q Center is a reputable organization with the most experience in counseling the LGBTQ+ youth population. These facilitated support groups are potentially life saving services that, up until now, have not been provided in Cayuga County. Have additional questions? Call the Q Center at (315) 475-2430 or email qcentercny@acrhealth.org.
Children’s Worship Center
The Children’s Worship Center provides an age-appropriate worship space for young children aged 3 years through 2nd grade. The children experience a bible story told with 3-dimensional figures, respond to the story, share prayers and a feast, and feel God’s presence in the quiet of the worship space. The Worship Center is based on a Montessori model. Jill Fandrich will be the Storyteller for the post-Easter stories in April. Easter stories are: Jesus is Risen: Appearance to Mary Magdalene (4/8), Road to Emmaus (4/15), Good Shepherd and the Wolf (4/22) and Good Shepherd and the Lord’s Supper I (4/29), and Good Shepherd and the Lord's Supper II (5/6). On May 13, the children will hear the story of the Ascension and on May 20 the story of Pentecost.
Elder Care Conversation Circle
Are you caring for an aging loved one? Westminster hosts a support group on the last Tuesday of each month to allow people who are "parenting their parents" and dealing with the struggles and stresses of health care, family dynamics, and figuring out living options for aging family members. The group meets 7-9pm on the last Tuesday of the month in the church social room, and welcomes new members at any time.
Sunday School
Kids in grades 1-6 meet every Sunday in the Junior Room during the Education Hour with teachers Jill Fandrich and Audrey McNally for music (vocal and handchimes), lesson, and a craft or activity based on the day’s lectionary reading, which provides an opportunity for the kids to go deeper into the message which was shared in morning worship.
Loose Change Offerings
The loose change in the offering plates is designated toward a special cause each month. In April, the loose offerings support the restoration of Opendore, the home of equal rights activist and suffragette Isabel Howland in Sherwood, NY.
Westminster Women
The next meeting of the Westminster Women is Tuesday, April 17, at 1:30pm in the church Social Room. The leader of Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga County will present a program about all they do and the opportunities to help with their programs. Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend.
Refresh
The next meeting of the Refresh Women's Group is Saturday, April 21 at 10am.
Property Work Day
The Property Committee holds monthly work days on the third Saturday of each month. Please plan on joining them on Saturday morning, April 21, from 9am to 12 noon. There are lots of spring clean-up projects on the agenda, as well as continuing work on the Junior Room kitchen and the Christian Ed office.
Salvation Army Miracle Kitchen
Westminster cooks and serves a hot meal for the guests of the Salvation Army Miracle Kitchen on the 4th Sundays of 5-Sunday months. Our next opportunity is April 22, 3-6pm Join the merry band of cooks and servers by letting Susan Marteney know you’d like to help. We need about 10-12 volunteers.
Volunteers Needed: School Lunch Ministry
Westminster is partnering with Auburn United Methodist Church and Genesee Elementary School to provide nutritious hot meals for all students and families during the upcoming Spring Break, April 23rd-27th. The lunch is served at Genesee Elementary from 12-1pm. Volunteers are needed any day to help cook from 9am-12pm at AUMC and/or serve at the school from 11:30am-2pm. No cooking experience is needed, just a desire to serve families in our community. Please contact Chris Patch at ChrisPatchTMT@gmail.com or (315) 664-0782 by April 13th.
Contemplative hike April 28
Whether you want to get outdoors, need a break from the commotion of life, or are feeling drained and disconnected, this hike is for you. Spending part of the hike in silence and part in conversation, we'll find renewal as we become more mindful of our bodies, our thoughts, and the soil beneath our feet. Together, we will reconnect with God. On Saturday, April 28, from 10 am to 12 pm, we will hike the beautiful Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, hopefully enjoying the spring wildflowers and the song of the thousands of birds that call Montezuma home. It's about 20 minutes from Auburn. Anyone is welcome to join us, whether affiliated with the church or not. In fact, this would be a great opportunity to invite a friend, neighbor, or family member. Hikes are moderate in difficulty and will include uneven, dirt paths and probably either snowy or muddy trails. RSVP is required. Please contact Patrick (pastor@westminsterauburn.org, 315-253-3331). Detailed information will then be provided.
Cayuga County Habitat for Humanity Women Build 2018
You can change a woman’s life on May 12th along with Cayuga County Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s, 15 Grant Avenue. Build a deck or picnic table, paint, install kitchen cabinets and more at this home rehab project. All volunteers are invited to the on-site breakfast and lunch sponsored by Wegmans. Habitat supplies all the tools, and there will be experienced supervisors to guide you. Meet Loni, the partner family mom, who will be the proud owner of this home. Pick up a volunteer form in the Narthex or stop in and get one in the church office.
Westminster Book Group
The Westminster Book Group resumes meeting on the third Thursdays in April and May at 7pm in the social room. The group has chosen the following books:
April 19: Auburn, New York: The Entrepreneurs’ Frontier by Scott W. Anderson, available at Seymour Library, Leader Robyn Warn
May 17: A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, available at Seymour Library
September: Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak
Graduates
Westminster will honor its members who are graduating from high school, college, or graduate programs on Baccalaureate Sunday, June 17. If you or someone you know should be included in this recognition, please let Linda MacKay, moderator of the Membership and Evangelism Committee, know by May 20.
Cards to Shutins
Our church members who cannot attend worship love to hear from their Westminster friends. If you'd like to write a note to any of our shutins, there is a basket of cards in the narthex. Just leave your card there and the address and stamp will be added by the church office. Thank you for reminding our older members that they are close to us in our hearts and minds.
Evangelism 101
What is it about Westminster that you love? How does this church help you feel God's presence in your life? We bet you know someone who would like to experience what you do in this community of faith. Sharing your story could lead to inviting a friend to church. If you think that sounds hard, it's not. Over the next few weeks and months, we'll be talking about how to share your story in "Minutes for Evangelism" as we gain momentum for Rally Sunday on September 9 which will also be "Invite a Friend" Sunday. Stay tuned for more!
Coupons for the Personal Care Pantry
The Mission and Stewardship Committee has created a personal care pantry for walk-in members of the community in need of toiletries and household cleaning supplies. If you have extra coupons that can be used to purchase these types of products, please see Kim Patch or place them in the designated basket in the narthex.
Traffic and Parking
Construction has begun on the new regional welcome center which is being built across the street from the church. The city has created a new 3-way stop intersection, traffic pattern, and pedestrian walkways in front of the church to make vehicular and pedestrian traffic safer. Please be aware of the changes around the church. To ease traffic congestion on weekdays, especially when the nursery school is in session, enter the church parking lot from Court Street and exit onto William Street. Church members may use the church parking lot during the week when attending a church program or on church business. Permits are available from Melanie.
Sensory Mitts Ministry
If you are a knitter or a crocheter, you can help Westminster in our Sensory Mitts Ministry. A sensory mitt is a double thick mitt or muff made with embellishments attached inside and out in order to provide a stimulation activity for the restless hands of people with dementia, Alzheimer’s or autism. Making a mitt or muff is fast, easy and fun, even for you’re just a beginner. We’ll provide a pattern, instruction and yarn if you need it. For more information, contact Annette Bell by leaving a message at the church office 315-253-3331. A brochure with instructions is available here: Sensory Mitts. The group meets the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:00 pm and welcomes new members.
The Coat Tree
Building on the success of our Little Free Library and knowing that the fall Rummage Sale has been postponed, The Mission & Stewardship Committee bets you have an extra coat or two in your closet. Donate your winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves & mittens and gently worn boots to a new mission of our church – The Coat Tree. Located in the hall of the Administration Building on a real coat rack, Patrick can offer the items as a supplement to the Personal Care Pantry. Items must be clean and ready to wear and sizes for men and women and boys and girls are welcome. Please hang your donations on the rack and place other items in the correct box. We also need sturdy hangers.
Prayer Shawls
The Westminster prayer shawl pantry needs re-stocking. If you knit or crochet and would like to help re-stock the Prayer Shawl pantry it would be very much appreciated. We have a small supply of donated yarn and we also have patterns. We just need willing volunteers. If you are interested and need yarn or a pattern, please contact Monta Faye Tuxill.
Children and Worship
All ages are welcome in worship, and we also provide options for young children in nearby locations to the sanctuary. Older children (grade 3 and up) worship with their families in the sanctuary; there are lectionary-related worksheets, books, and other resources available at the back of the sanctuary to engage children in worship. Elena Madden and Chelsea Smith provide loving care for infants and toddlers in the social room. We also have a Baby Corner in the sanctuary, with rocking chairs and a playmat, to provide a cozy spot for parents to cuddle with their infants and be in worship together. The Children's Worship Center provides an age-appropriate worship experience for children age 3 through grade 2.
Wednesday Noon Study: Come to the waters
The Wednesday noon study resumes Wednesday, April 11 with a concluding discussion of the role of the flag in worship. Beginning April 18, we will begin a creative and relevant series about water. Our conversation will take us from spirituality to environmental concerns to natural disasters, even to our own Owasco Lake. Special focus will be given to the role of water in the Bible and will draw on the PC(USA) Horizons Bible Study "Come to the Waters." The rich imagery of water throughout the Bible helps us understand and articulate our faith. Just as water nourishes our bodies, so the Scriptures on water nourish our souls. We will meet in the conference room of the Education Building on Wednesdays at noon. Feel free to bring a lunch! If you're interested, please contact Patrick at pastor@westminsterauburn.org or call the church at 315-253-3331 so that he can add you to the email list.
Citizen Column
Westminster is featured in a monthly column in the Auburn Citizen. Here are:
Jill Fandrich's March 25 column "Telling the Holy Week stories to children"
Patrick Heery's Feb 25 column "Lent: The time is now"
Jill Fandrich's Jan 28 column "Westminster grant supports show based on neo-Nazi rally"
Audrey McNally's Dec 31 column "How sacred music has shaped my faith"
Patrick Heery's Dec 3 column "Where you'll find God this Christmas Eve"
Jill Fandrich's Nov 5 column "What comes after 'thoughts and prayers'?"
Patrick Heery's October 15 column "Finding the strength to fix our democracy"
Jill Fandrich's September 10 column "Church starting new caregivers group"
Patrick Heery's August 13 column "New Hiking Ministry Offers Renewal"
Jill Fandrich's July 16 column "The Redefinition of Missionaries"
Patrick Heery's June 18 column "Sabbath: a bus pass to paradise"
Patrick Heery's May 21 column "How does a pastor grieve?"
Jill Fandrich's April 23 column "The Gospel According to Flatland"
Audrey McNally's March 26 column "Discovering the Psalms"
Patrick Heery's Feb 26 column "Lenten Journey: Death and Beyond"
Jill Fandrich's Jan 29 column "Are We Ready For Another Reformation?"
Patrick Heery's Jan 1 column "When the Holidays Hurt"
Jill Fandrich's Dec 4 column "Need for Community and Conversation"
Annette Bell's Nov 6 column "Saints Among Us"
Patrick Heery's Oct 9 column "Does Auburn need a hero? No, it needs you"
Patrick Heery's Sept 11 column "Seeing Beyond Doom" (15th anniversary of 9-11)
Jill Fandrich's August 14 column "Auburn Youth Reflect on Triennium"
Patrick Heery's July 17 column "Where is God in times of violence?"
Jill Fandrich's June 19 column "Ordinary Time"
Patrick Heery's May 15 column "Why I Have Come to Auburn"
Jilll Fandrich's April 24 column "Church Doors Open Out,"
Dwain Lee's March 27 column "Saying Goodbye to Westminster."
Church App!
Check out Westminster's “app” to access events, calendar information, photos, lectionary readings, Facebook and Twitter posts, and more on your smartphone or tablet. To get the church app, search for Church Link App in the App Store on your phone or tablet. Download the app (it’s free!), and then search for Westminster by zip code 13021.
