June 22, 2017November 9, 2017 by Isabella

Commissioned Murals by Josh Goff

Work began June 22nd on the murals commissioned for the south and west walls of the church. The work is being done by graffiti artist Josh Goff, who also did the murals on our east wall, a few years ago.

Westminster United Church

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Westminster United Church

The Confederate symbol has been removed from the state banner, but the new one must include a certain phrase

Mississippi's flag gets a makeover, but does God belong on it? | Broadview Magazine

The Confederate symbol has been removed from the state banner, but the new one must include a certain phrase

broadview.org

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Westminster United Church

Anyone who is reading this post - whether you know it or not, the minister and staff in your community of faith has been working all-out since the beginning of the pandemic.

Many ministers have had to learn a completely new skill set to be able to continue to bring the community together for worship. Many other ministers have increased their pastoral connections. Telephone and online communications have increased. Many have had to create offices in their homes - which is great in many ways, but has also meant trying to learn what it means to have an office in the home, rather than a home in the office.

Lots of those ministers are parents. Some with children who are kids who have needs at home. Others with adult children (young and old) who have been sheltering far away.

Many of those ministers have had people in the communities of faith for which they have leadership responsibilities die, during this time of isolation. Some from Covid-19, some from other causes. In all of these situations, ministers have had to figure out how to be present, without being *there*.

Now, more than ever, the ministry and staff team's work is hidden. People can't even drop into the office and see the staff and ministers there (even if you're not quite sure what it is they're doing.) So, for some folks who don't know, there's the sense that ministers and church staff haven't *really* been working for the past few months.

I'm going to ask you to trust me on this one. They have. Quite possibly harder than ever before.

For you. For the wider community. For God.

Like many, many people, their sleep patterns have been disrupted, their stress levels are through the roof, and they are exhausted.

What do they need right now?

Well, a note of appreciation would go a long way.

If you aren't part of the elected leadership of a community of faith, you might want to check in with the congregational governing body, or the minister, or other church staff, to see what gifts you might be able to offer to support the ministry at this time. (For many of you in communities of faith who are gathering for worship in online spaces, this might be the time to offer to lead worship - either as an individual, or with a team! You'll be sitting in front of your computer, rather than standing in front of the congregation... and I promise you, God has lots to say through your life and faith.)

Ministry and Personnel Committees who support ministers and staff taking weekly times of rest that work in their new schedule, and, even more than that, support ministers' and staff members' requests to take their holiday time, as needed, would be extremely helpful.

Recognizing that we are in this for a long haul - with the possibility of additional future waves of Covid-19 requiring physical isolation from the community of faith - and that if your minister or staff requests a break right now, it's because they *need* it, would go a very long way in helping the pastoral relationship.

Your ministers and congregational staff are doing amazing things to support your faith and life.

Please, support them in theirs.

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Westminster United Church

We welcome you to Westminster United Church's service for the first Sunday of July led by Rev. Darrell Reine.

Please join us in singing today's hymns, with lyrics provided below. We would like to thank Clark Schaufele and Katherine Dowling for providing the piano and voice accompaniment.

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‘Morning has Broken’ VU #409

1. Morning has broken like the first morning,
blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!

2. Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
sprung in completeness where God’s feet pass.

3. Ours is the sunlight! Ours is the morning
born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!

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‘I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say’ VU #626

1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon my breast.’
I came to Jesus as I was,
weary and worn and sad;
I found in him a resting place,
and he has made me glad.

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down, and drink, and live.’
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me, your morn shall rise,
and all your day be bright.’
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till travelling days are done.

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Westminster United Church is a licence holder of church hymns through One License. 723953A

Westminster United Church service for July 5, 2020

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