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A Message from Gregory Knox Jones


It is estimated that 1 BILLION people in 193 countries will celebrate Earth Day this year. On Sunday, our Earth Care Task Force will help us celebrate Earth Day with a variety of fascinating activities.

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Next Seven Days

TONIGHT: Killing in the Name of Justice

Thursday, April 18, 7 p.m. on Zoom

With Kevin O’Connell, Chief Defender of the State of Delaware

Delaware has a long, dysfunctional relationship with the death penalty. Kevin O’Connell, a veteran of dozens of capital murder trials and appeals and one of the founding members of Delaware Citizens Opposed to the Death Penalty, will describe the history of capital punishment in the First State and share stories from the cases and people he has come to know working in this area over the last 35 years. Join us as we take a deeper look at the issues involved, as the Delaware legislature considers HB 70, An Act to Amend Title 11 of the Delaware Code Relating to the Death Penalty. Hosted by Westminster’s Peace & Justice Work Group.

JOIN US ON ZOOM

Zoom Meeting ID: 860 2752 1655

Westminster Handbells in Worship

Sunday, April 21

Westminster's Handbell Choir returns to play in worship this Sunday, April 21, during the 9 a.m. service in the Sanctuary. The group has been rehearsing every week since February and will be ringing five octaves of cast bronze bells. You won't want to miss this opportunity to hear their spring finale!

Earth Care Fair!

Sunday, April 21, 10:10–11:00 a.m. in Walton Community Hall

It’s coming! Celebrate Earth Day at our Earth Care Fair! Westminster’s Earth Care Task Force will have fun activities for all. Make a wind turbine and see it spin. Learn about native bees and butterflies. Filter a glass of water using the filters WPC helps supply to Guatemala! Enjoy some vegan ice cream. Make a pot from newspaper and plant a native sunflower seed. See what products our local company Eco Plastics makes from plastic waste, like the benches in our Sacred Grounds. Take a guess at which mode of transportation has the lowest carbon footprint. See you there!

Flying Solo Activities This Weekend

Flying Solo is for adults ages 25 to 90 who do not have a life partner and would simply like to enjoy fun and friendship with other Christians. If you enjoy laughing, having fun, and are looking for someone to "do things with," come check us out. We want you to join us!

  • Friday, April 19 – Cookout (weather permitting) and board games at Margo's home in Historic New Castle. Bring a dish to share. RSVP to Margo at margoreign@gmail.com.
  • Sunday, April 21 – Brunch at Catherine Rooney's at 11:20 a.m. followed by a visit to Longwood Gardens. We need a headcount for both events, so contact Bill Kate at billkaye3@verizon.net.

Wilmington Water Justice

Thursday, April 25, 7 p.m. on Zoom

With Christian Willaurer of the HOMES Campaign

H.O.M.E.S. Campaign is a state-wide volunteer organization focused on housing issues in Delaware. It's been organizing around water justice since 2020. H.O.M.E.S. Campaign will share information about water billing in Wilmington, how lower-income residents and neighborhoods with higher numbers of Black and Latino residents are impacted by the City's most harmful collection practices, and opportunities for reform. Join us to learn more! Hosted by Westminster’s Peace & Justice Work Group.

JOIN US ON ZOOM

Zoom Meeting ID: 860 2752 1655

Coming Up

Are You Considering Membership at Westminster?

Sunday, April 28, 10:10 a.m. in the Ruth Christie Room

Have you been considering membership at Westminster? Are you interested in learning more about this community of faith? Please join us this second session of a two-session Membership Exploration Series to discuss the Presbyterian tradition, Westminster’s ministry and mission, and ways to connect with our church family. There will also be an opportunity to become a member of Westminster at the end of this session.

Sanctuary Flowers

Dates available in May and June

Consider giving the flowers for Sunday worship to remember or honor loved ones or to celebrate an event, while expressing praise and thanksgiving to God. Please contact Linda Watson at (302) 571-6719 or lwatson@ycst.com. Flower donation available dates are May 5 and June 2.

LCS Room at the Table Breakfast

Wednesday, May 8

Lutheran Community Services, one of Westminster’s local mission partners, is holding their annual Room at the Table Breakfast on Wednesday, May 8. This year's event will be held at Riverfront Events, near Hyatt Place. Attendees will receive a catered breakfast and hear from clients and supporters of LCS during a one-hour program. To register, please go to their website at lcsde.org. We hope to see you there!

WPC's Team in the Highmark Walk

Saturday, June 8, 2024

What could be lovelier than a walk along the Wilmington waterfront in early June? Highmark’s Walk for a Healthy Community supports many non-profits in our area, including Friendship House. WPC has a team walking on their behalf: Westminster Walkers! You do not need to be a WPC member to be part of our team – all are welcome! Go to our team’s page, where you can sign up as a walker or sponsor (or both!). Questions? Contact Sandy King at sandyking@verizon.net.

Featured Photo

Last month, Adams Cassinga returned to Westminster to make a presentation and to thank our church for helping support his work. Adams is a wildlife activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the founder/CEO of Conserv Congo. Dedicated to protecting the biodiversity of the DRC, Adams and his team of volunteers fight illegal poaching/wildlife trafficking in the region by enforcing environmental laws, investigating and infiltrating trafficking networks, and conducting organized stings with authorities. He also supports conservation through education and community subsistence farming to curb poaching and ensure food security. Adams was selected for the U.S. State Department’s Mandela Washington Fellowship. He has been the subject of documentaries on his work.

 

Pictured left to right: Adams Cassinga, Steve Steinwedel, Wendy Hatch, Janet Steinwedel, and Denison Hatch.

 


Top header photo of flowering tree and cloister by Camilla Jones.

News to Note

Churches Partner to Support NLF

A special thanks to Aldersgate Methodist Church who gave New Life Furnishings (NLF) the opportunity to select furniture and housewares that were not sold at their rummage sale on April 6. Several NLF volunteers were on site to pick and pack the items quickly and load them into the McPheeters’ trailer and various cars. All the items were given to NLF for free and Aldersgate’s volunteers were very helpful — especially their Rummage Sale Coordinator, Nancy Hough. It was truly a team effort where a new partnership was created with a local church for the ultimate benefit of our clients in need of assistance.

Mary Magdalene Study Group

On April 6, members from the two study groups on Cynthia Bourgeault's book "The Meaning of Mary Magdalene," came together for a joy-filled retreat morning. We used material from Meggan Watterson's book, "Mary Magdalene Revealed," and the Diana Butler Bass book, "Freeing Jesus," to provide further provocation to our thinking about the role of Mary Magdalene. If you are interested in joining a study group on Mary Magdalene (there is one starting May 5), contact Janet Steinwedel at janet@leadersinsight.com.

Spring Cleaning? Bring the Books to WPC!

It is that special time of year when many of us take to "spring cleaning" in the hopes of clearing out the old and making more space in our homes. Our Little Free Library on Clayton Street is enjoying many visitors. If you have books that you want to free yourself of, please bring them to WPC. Leave them at the reception desk for Janet Steinwedel or Kathleen Kennan. Many thanks for your contributions. We hope you enjoy having more space.

Ditch the Lawn!

Want to save money, help birds and other wildlife, increase biodiversity, reduce greenhouse gases, stream flooding, and water pollution? Want to join a growing new trend? Reduce the area of your lawn! Mowed lawns shed almost as much rain (~90%) as paved surfaces (100%)! Most lawns are simply too big to be useful, with high maintenance costs, minimal wildlife value, low aesthetic interest, and negative environmental impact. Though our obsession with immaculate expanses of grass has been long in the making, it is not too late to change! See "Reasons to Reduce the Lawn in Your Landscape" from the University of Delaware. See what you can do!

A Care Tip from Your Stephen Ministry Team

Don’t we all want to live vibrant, meaningful lives? April showers bring May flowers. In Delaware, we don’t have to wait. Already we can see and smell the signs of spring. The signs of spring are easy to spot. Flowers are blooming and trees are flowering. It looks a bit like a party. The delightful smells of spring are here, too. So the next time you are out, take a minute to join nature’s party. For more information about Stephen Ministry, contact the Rev. Jill Getty at jgetty@wpc.org.


Spring into Action for NLF!

Spring is in the air which means it’s time to declutter! As you are doing your spring cleaning, please consider donating any gently used bath towels, twin/double sheets, blankets, or comforters to New Life Furnishings (NLF). We continue to need twin and double mattresses and box springs as well. Refer to our flyer and see what items you no longer need that would help our clients get a fresh start from homelessness. We are open Sundays (except Easter) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thank you for supporting this vital ministry.

Recent Life Events

Member Deaths

Please remember in prayer those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. To read the obituary, click on the orange link.


Judith “Judy” Coolidge Carpenter Herdeg

February 6, 1939 – March 26, 2024

 

Margaret “Margie” Porch Lounsbury

March 16, 1919 – March 28, 2024

 

Barbara M. Gorman

December 6, 1934 – March 31, 2024

Photo Prayer

The Westminster Weekly Word features a new Photo Prayer once a month. You may browse all Photo Prayers by Danny Schweers at any time by visiting photoprayer.com.

Latest Videos

Sunday Service – April 14, 2024

Delaware Historical Society Marks 70 Years Since Brown vs. Board of Education – April 11, 2024

Thank you to our dedicated staff and volunteers who work hard to provide these videos. If you have a Google/YouTube account, please sign in and give them a "thumbs up" on YouTube!

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Church Office Hours:

Monday – Friday

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.


Sunday Services:

9:00 a.m. (Sanctuary)

11:15 a.m. (Rodney Chapel)


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Lot located at N. Rodney and W. 13th Streets


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Westminster Presbyterian Church
Pennsylvania Avenue and N. Rodney Street
1502 West 13th Street | Wilmington, DE, 19806
(302) 654-5214 | info@wpc.org | www.wpc.org