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Archives for March 2019

IMPACT Update

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The local IMPACT (Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together) is a coalition of about 25 churches representing the three primary faith communities here. Westminster has been a participant for IMPACT’s entire 11 years. Indeed, former pastor Jim Baker helped found the group with other pastors. The organization works for local improvement of social justice, addressing systemic problems in our community, going beyond acts of mercy. Over the years, the focus has been on issues of pre-K access in the public schools, expanded bus routes to under-served areas, a dental clinic for those without health insurance, job training programs, drug rehabilitation center for women, housing for homeless and, lately, a better inventory of affordable housing in the city and county. IMPACT can take credit for accomplishing much in these areas.

Westminster has been a steady financial contributor to IMPACT, but our personal participation has waned lately, due to lots of reasons, including frankly some dissatisfaction with IMPACT’s confrontational style with local policy makers. Much of that style has abated,, but IMPACT still understands that forging justice is hard work, and requires persistent advocacy. I remain committed to the organization for its steadfast attention to problems in our community, and for its interfaith/interracial composition.

IMPACT’s yearly calendar involves issue identification in the fall, a period of research on the matter and meetings with local officials, culminating with a Nehemiah Action, at which IMPACT congregations hope to turn out more than 1000 people in support of justice. The name is homage to the prophet Nehemiah who spoke truth to power amid injustice of the time. This year’s action is at MLK Performing Arts Center on April 11, with the meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. We’ll be hearing updates on the difficult issues surrounding affordable housing, and pressing for a better governmental response. Join us, and stand up for social justice. Please see me for further information.

Steve Wilson

Celebrating the Emancipation of Enslaved People

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On a recent rainy afternoon, many gathered in the Rotunda to celebrate the emancipation of 14,000 enslaved people of a total population of 27,000 in Charlottesville and Albemarle County after the Civil War Rio Hill skirmish and surrender. We were celebrating Liberation and Freedom Day on March 3rd, 2019 with those who are descendants from the enslaved laborers who build the university, ministers, choir group, University architect, Board of Visitors member, faculty, staff and alumni and individuals from the community.

The choir was heartwarming with their message that no one can hold you down and you can make a difference, contribute and each have a valuable life. And James Murray, Vice Rector, told us that the child had been born at the hospital that day and he referred to the child as Hope. He laid out by stages of life what we as a community and the university together could do to give this child and every child here opportunities for a full and rich life. What an empowering proposal for us to work together to make happen in our lives and for the futures of our children.

We also learned of some of the realities of being a in slave labor. That the Rotunda itself took more than 1 million bricks to dig, form, bake, move, and build. And we learned that some of those bricks were made by children because their handprints are still in the bricks. We now have a commemorative vial of soil perfect for making bricks from the construction site marked with the date of the ceremony and the outline of the Memorial.

On site of the memorial one can see a sample slab. Only about 1/4 or so of the enslaved laborers is known their occupation or their name and the rest are slashes, like slashes from a whip as a line for each person. It is stunning.

Westminster Presbyterian Church last year made a gift of $2,000 toward the construction of the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers.  This represents our church’s continued commitment both to the causes of justice within our community and to our ministry to the University of Virginia. This site is important to the community’s and to the University’s ongoing reflection on its past, actions and building stronger relationships going forward.

I personally have been watching the progress on the Memorial as I walk to work each day and looking forward to its completion. The university is also planning a dedication ceremony for the completed project in Spring 2020. I hope you will join in that celebration.

Respectfully submitted,
Kobby Hoffman
Benevolence and Mission Endowment Committee

Ways to Care for God’s Creation

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We hope you were able to participate in the interactive quiz (“How Much Do You Know About How To Solve Global Warming”) offered in this section in the February 14 edition of the church newsletter.
As we seek ways to care for God’s creation, we wanted to focus on plastics for a minute in this edition. The world produces more than 300 million tons of plastic each year and it is estimated that up to 91% of the plastic is not recycled, threatening the environment and poisoning animals. As a community, I’m confident that our recycling record is better, however, there are changes coming to the McIntire Recycling Center starting July 1 and I suspect to residential recycling services as well. Because of the lack of a market for some recycled materials the MRC will no longer accept plastics with a recycling designation of ♻️ 3 to 7. This also includes plastic bags, PVC pipe, and automotive containers.
Effective immediately, even though the McIntyre recycling center will accept these items until July 1, they will be shipped to Raleigh, where they will be placed into a landfill. This is not the best option for this beautiful earth that God has given us.
What can we do?
1) Refrain from buying anything plastic that is not designated in the 1 to 2 ♻️ category.
2) Refrain from using any “one use” product (i.e., straws, plastic utensils, plastic bags, paper plates and cups, etc.)
The Green Team

Women’s Retreat

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Westminster women of all ages gathered at beautiful Graves Mountain for a weekend to explore “Grace: Mending What Is Broken.” Starting on Friday afternoon and running through Sunday morning, April 26-28, the retreat was a great way to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. Watch for news of next year’s retreat in the months to come!

Hunger Offering

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Every other month, Westminster and the Presbytery of the James invite you to give five cents for each meal you enjoy to relieve hunger locally and globally. A small amount from each of us creates big change. In 2018 congregations in this Presbytery contributed $68,153 to the Hunger Ministry. On Sunday, March 31, an offering will be received during worship with the proceeds going to our support food relief for our neighbors locally and those across the world.

The majority of funds distributed provide emergency food relief to people in need. These include emergency food centers; school backpack programs, and county food pantries. Other funds support efforts to eliminate the causes of hunger, such as agricultural training so that recipients can become self-sufficient.

A small portion of donations support advocacy groups. Bread for the World, a faith-based network, campaigns nationally for policy change. Locally, Virginia Hunger Solutions works to improve food security through state programs and improved policy.

These are some of the programs you support through the Hunger Offering:

  • Advocacy efforts to improve access to free breakfast and lunch programs for Virginia schools
  • Community grain banks for food security in Cameroon
  • Seeds for farmers in Haiti following hurricanes
  • Snacks to support education for child laborers in Guatemala

Worship

Our Mission

Sustained by grace, we are called to serve Christ, share God’s love, and work for justice in a complex world.

Our Values

With faith, hope, and love as bedrock Christian values, we also cherish the following:
  • Thinking and Learning
  • Inclusiveness
  • Fellowship
  • Stewardship
  • Courage

 

Westminster follows the Presbyterian Book of Confession and is a confessional church. You can view/read the Book of Confession at the PC(USA) website by clicking on the following link: https://www.pcusa.org/resource/book-confessions/.

Contact

Westminster Presbyterian Church
400 Rugby Road
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-2474
(434) 293-3133 | Email

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