From the music department: We have two new songs for this Sunday, one a Matthew 25 hymn and one for Mother's Day. Take some time to listen and see some of the back story by following the links above.

It’s Children’s Chimes this week. They have been practicing all spring and are ready to offer their newest piece!

Our member, Michele H, will provide a testimony about how the song What Color Is God’s Skin has impacted her spiritual path and her understanding of God. Take a look at the lyrics or listen to the song before Sunday!

Congregational Meeting May 19

We are meeting at 11:00 following the regular Sunday morning worship service for the purpose of electing church officers as well as making some changes to the bylaws regarding our church officers. There will also be a few short presentations. For the meeting agenda, click here. For the bylaws with proposed changes in red, click here. To review the strategic plan, see the 2023 annual report here.

Questions? Plan to attend one of the Q&A sessions with elders either May 5 or May 12 at 6 pm on Zoom. Link to join the meeting is here or find it on the front page of the church website.

Looking Ahead

May 12, 6 pm: Q&A with elders (Zoom)

May 13, 1-6 pm: Red Cross Blood Drive

May 13 @ 6 pm: Women's Night Out

May 19 @ 11 am: Congregational Meetin
May 22, 10:30 am: VBC Planning Meeting

Access the full church calendar here. To add or correct something, please email office@salemwestpres.org.

Opportunities

Deacons invite you to find your inner “Martha” and participate in one of our Congregational Support Teams. As part of Westminster’s congregation, we support and care about each other and search for ways to show that, so deacons believe you will find these two new teams meaningful, a way to get connected, and low impact on your life. Congregational Support 1: Memorial Reception Team which prepares, sets up, hosts, and cleans up from celebration of life events. Congregational Support 2: Visitation Team--Possibilities include outreach to those homebound due to mobility or health issues, hospital visits, or delivering home communion. These teams are deacon-assisted and have no regular meetings. Orientation training is provided, and you can volunteer as you are available. Sign up on the chart in the narthex; contact Dianne Greenlee (dianne.greenlee@gmail.com) or Deanie Anderson (deanieha51@gmail.com) with questions and to volunteer. Our congregation helping our congregation--you are needed and wanted!

The next Women's Night Out will be at Los Arcos Mexican Grill (4120 Commercial St. SE) on Monday, May 13 at 6 pm. If you don't like Mexican food you will like this place. Contact Michele Hare 408-402-2396. Hope to see you there.

VBC Registration (8/26-8/30) is open! $10.00 per child, or $20.00 maximum per family. Register children at:

https://westminster-presbyterian-church-salem-or.mycokesburyvbs.com/register-child.

Pay at: https://onrealm.org/salemwestpres/give/VBC.

We need VBC volunteers! Planning meetings: Wednesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 22, both at 10:30am. Come help shape our camp adventure! If you would like to help in any other way, please contact Terri Crall (tcrall71@gmail.com).

Loan Retirement Campaign

Boulder Hall was completed on February 5, 2010. In 2023, the loan was renewed for another five years. Our last Building Fund Campaign also ended in 2023. To continue making payments, a new campaign is needed. If the drive can raise approximately $225,000, the loan could be paid off in 2026. A new two-year pledge drive started May 5th, with packets either picked up that day or mailed. Please return your pledge by June 2nd. Thank you in advance for your generosity. 

FYI

Dear Westminster Family! 

You may notice that items and furniture are moving in the church! As a result, all of our nursery, Sunday school, and Children's Ministry items are shuffling and finding new homes. We have signed a temporary lease with our childcare provider to begin moving in and setting up their classrooms. They need to do this before their final inspection with the state later this month. Please excuse our mess and bear with us as we move toward welcoming new friends into sharing our space! A more formal introduction and start date for childcare will be made after session meets to approval a final lease agreement this month. Thank you to everyone who has served on our committee or provided feedback and labor to get us to this point! We appreciate you and are excited for this new chapter! 

Vik Schaaf for the Childcare Taskforce

Thanks--Diaper Drive

From Family Building Blocks:

Because of you, we are able to offer free and voluntary services including Therapeutic Classrooms, Home Visiting, Parenting Education, Respite Care, and Family Mental Health Services, all provided in a supportive parenting community. We hope you take pride in the impact your gift makes to support families like Jahir's:

Gregoria, a single mother, felt alone and overwhelmed when Jahir was born with health concerns, including Down Syndrome and a heart condition. She was facing raising a medically fragile child, alone, in a new community. She and Jahir were soon introduced to FBB. Nataly, their Home Visitor, remembers the first time she visited their apartment when Jahir was just four months old. They had no furniture except a table and chairs. Gregoria was nervous about someone coming into her home, but during the first visit, she felt an instant connection to Nataly. Jahir is now a joyful, thriving part of our Therapeutic Classroom in Independence, at Indy Place!

Thanks to all who contributed!

Pray for

Sally Neely is fighting to recover from her recent illness. Please pray for her strength, pain relief and calm release from this illness.



Westminster Presbyterian Church