The Adult Education Committee would like to thank the following individuals who contributed to adult Christian education this fall as class leaders: Winston Barham, Sarah Bedford, Adrienne Kim Bird, Barbara Deaver, David Garth, Jim Hassmer, Ken Henry, Earle Hilgert, Beth Hochstetler, Abe Hostetter, Gene Locke, Zanne MacDonald, Molly Peck, Dick Riley, Chip Sanders, Elizabeth Schlipper, Derry Wade, Leanna Whitmore, Ron Wiley, and Gail Wiley. These leaders provided wonderful classes covering the historic and contemporary church, Bible study, spirituality, social justice and life and faith.

The committee has been working on the spring schedule, and is excited to offer another great series of adult Christian education and spiritual growth opportunities (a brochure will be forthcoming in early January). Our spring classes will kick off on January 13 with what is sure to be an outstanding class led by Rev. Jill Duffield, Editor/Publisher of The Presbyterian Outlook. Classes for the remainder of the spring will include offerings on the Old Testament, Hebrew poetry, a Louise Penny book study and Sage-ing as a spiritual practice. In addition, Deborah Rexrode, Associate for Stewardship at Presbytery of the James will lead a class in March on creating a culture of generosity, and, on March 31, Prof. Samuel Adams, Professor of Old Testament at Union Presbyterian Seminary, will return to Westminster to build on his extremely well-received class last year. Additional classes for later in the spring are still being developed. 

Beyond these spring offerings, the Faith and Family, Contemporary Theology, and Opening Doors classes will meet each Sunday, and the Tuesday Evening Bible Study and Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet during the week. 

Plan on joining us in the spring for an exciting curriculum providing outstanding opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship. 

As of this week, 204 households have returned their pledge cards as part of our financial stewardship campaign. Thank you so much for your faithful and generous response supporting the ministries and programs at Westminster, especially to those who stepped in this year to pledge for the first time (14 households), including our new members, and those who stepped up and increased their pledges over last year. 

We are oftentimes are so overwhelmed by the activity of our daily lives that things we intend to do slip through the cracks. As a gentle reminder, members of the Stewardship Committee and Session are contacting those who have not yet submitted a pledge (e.g., 61 households that pledged last year have not yet pledged this year) asking that you faithfully consider how the gifts God has entrusted to you can be dedicated to do God’s work at Westminster, in our community and in the world. Over recent Sundays, you have heard how your pledges this year made our 2018 stories in Music and Worship, Christian Education, Pastoral Care and Fellowship, and Mission and Outreach. With your support, many more will come in 2019 showing our love for God and our neighbors, particularly as we call a new Associate Pastor to lead our social justice and University ministries. 

If you have misplaced your pledge card, you may pledge online, find a pledge card in the pew racks, or call Kate Brinkley in the church office, 434-293-3133, who will be happy to mail you another card or send you a stewardship packet. 

Again, thank you for your support of Westminster’s many ministries and programs and your practice of stewardship this year.

Jim Cauthen, on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

“I have lived all of my life with violence. My children are the reason I am fighting. I want them to live without all of the suffering I have experienced. Living in the church – this is the first time I can breathe; the first time I can sleep; the first time I have not felt afraid.” – María Chavalan Sut

“Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church is proud to offer sanctuary to María, and we consider her a member of our faith community. We join in her cry for justice. We implore any and all necessary authorities to intervene so that María can be free! We do this because María is a child of God, imbued with dignity by her Creator. Offering sanctuary to her is not a political act; it is an act of faith. In Christ, there is no such thing as citizenship, borders, or political parties. Christians have been offering Sanctuary for thousands of years. As United Methodists, our social principles “urge the Church and society to recognize the gifts, contributions, and struggles of those who are immigrants and to advocate for justice for all.” We are here and will be here for María until she is free.” —  Rev. Isaac Collins, Wesley Memorial UMC.

Specific ways that you can help:

Visit this google form to sign up for ways you can help! Included are accompaniment (providing presence and security within the church), fund raising, grocery shopping, health care, hospitality needs, interpretation/translation, and media/communications.

WPC members interested in accompaniment,  please contact Gene Locke, ,  or Gail Wiley, . We plan to have a brief training after the 11:00 service in the coming weeks.

Groceries, shopping, hospitality, please contact Irene Townsend,

Support Maria in using her skills to contribute to sanctuary expenses:

1. Tailoring and alterations: Your request will be translated and pricing & timing information will be sent back to you. If you would like to contribute fabric and sewing accessories, contact  & she will pick them up after 12/1.
2. Cooking/catering: contact Irene Townsend,  or email your request, .

Donate:

Write a check; Memo: Maria… to Wesley Memorial UMC, 1901 Thomson Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903

Help tell Maria’s story:   LIKE the Facebook page:  Hands Off Maria!