University, Mission & Outreach Archives - Westminster Presbyterian Church

Resources for the Charlottesville Community & Ways to Help During the COVID-19 Crisis

April 1, 2020 by Kate Brinkley

UVA Medical Center Blood Drive

Virginia hospitals are experiencing a severe blood shortage across the state. UVA Health encourages members of the community who are healthy & eligible to contact the American Red Cross to make an appointment to donate at one of their fixed locations.

Charlottesville City Schools Free Lunch Program

Charlottesville City Schools is offering free lunch to students during the coronavirus pandemic. The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is creating a school-based fund to support their food delivery efforts.

General Ways to Give & Receive Support

Support Cville is the most comprehensive website listing ways for people to give and receive support. Here are a couple specific links through Support Cville:

Contribute to local nonprofits, restaurants and UVA students.
Receive money, supplies and services.

Donate to COVID-19 Support Funds

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

The food bank needs healthy volunteers to help with local relief efforts. See their statement on COVID-19 and their Volunteer page. To find volunteer opportunities, click here.

Free Internet Access

COMCAST Xfinity is now offering free hotspots to anyone who needs them for free until approximately May 13, including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots and then launch a browser. AT&T and Charter Communications are also providing free public Wi-Fi, now until approximately May 13.

Peace and Justice in a Pandemic

April 1, 2020 by Kate Brinkley

We are experiencing the beginning of a season of collective mourning — not only for lives lost and livelihoods disrupted, but also for the loss of normalcy. Even those of us who are relatively privileged and healthy during this global pandemic are grieving postponed plans. Some of the plans I’m grieving included The Border Is Here immigration workshop led by UVA students, the dedication of the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers, an opportunity to care for the earth around us through a joint cleanup day with student environmental groups, and our ministry of hospitality with students during Open Study Hours at Common Grounds.

While these plans have been postponed, we can still practice compassion now. In addition to observing physical distancing policies to slow the spread of the virus and help “flatten the curve,” we at Westminster have been asking how we can be in solidarity with the most vulnerable people in our community during this global health crisis — how we can help “flatten the curve” of economic and other suffering.

The Benevolence committee has continued meeting remotely so that Westminster can continue our vital support for nonprofit organizations during a challenging time. We will share updates on our community partners in the coming weeks. In this edition of the e-newsletter, you’ll find a list of local resources and ways to (give and receive) help during the COVID-19 crisis. In addition to supporting the church, several members of the Westminster community have decided to contribute part or all of our anticipated government stimulus checks to relief efforts. I invite you to consider what safe way(s) you might practice social solidarity with our neighbors during this time. Let’s “flatten the curve” together in whatever ways we can.

Finally, please pray for the university students among us who have experienced dislocation and disruption. I have been reaching out personally and through group messages on behalf of Westminster to offer pastoral support and will continue to do so. UVA’s administration is aware of our community’s presence and will share with us through United Ministries at UVA any opportunities to be of service that may arise. In addition, 20/30 CreW has made our Wednesday Wind-Down event weekly so that graduate students and young professionals have the opportunity to provide mutual support more frequently through Zoom conversations.

I trust that better days are ahead and that God is at work in the meantime, inviting us into partnership in healing.

With hope,

Dorothy

Worship, Pray, and Sing with Us Online

March 23, 2020 by Kate Brinkley

While you stay at home in an effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, you’ll find hopeful and comforting messages, worship, and music in the videos below. We are the church still, safely sequestered in our homes.

Worship Services

Messages from Worship Leaders

A Conversation with Healthcare Workers, May 8

Ken Henry speaks with Kevin Adams, James Moak, and David Strider

We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight, April 17

Megan Sharp, soloist; Jonathan Schakel, pianist

In this strange time of Covid-19, we find ourselves relating more and more to Thomas in the John 20 text that is the appointed text in the Lectionary this week; verses 19-30. How can we feel like an Easter people when we are isolated and alone, unable to see and embrace family and friends. Do the Alleluias that were sung on our behalf ring as true if we do not sing them ourselves?
This week I share with you the hymn that we often sing together on this second Sunday of Easter; We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight with words by Henry Alford, tune by Samuel McFarland, and harmonization by Richard Proulx. I hope that you might find this a comfort and a reminder that God is always near, even when we are doubting and feeling alone. Our faith is one that does not rely upon our imperfect vision, but on the knowledge of the love of God. Easter blessings, Megan

An Invitation to Palm Sunday Worship from Lynne, April 2

Lynne invites us to gather our palm frond or a branch from a flowering bush — whatever will help us celebrate Palm Sunday on April 5 together online.

An Invitation to Worship from Ken, March 26

“Now is not the time to lose faith,” seems like a good sermon title for the story of Lazuras and for the times we’re living. Ken also sings “I’ll Fly Away” for us!

God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me
Prayer of St. Patrick

Megan Sharp, soloist; Jonathan Schakel, pianist

“One prayer that I am finding helpful in this time of constant change and worry is the Prayer of Saint Patrick or Saint Patrick’s Breastplate. This prayer reminds us of Christ’s presence everywhere around us and the strength that comes from our Christian faith.” Megan

A Invitation to Worship from Dorothy, March 21, 2020

“I’ve been thinking about this recommendation that we should practice social distancing, and I wonder if we can see in that an invitation to realize a deeper sense of community.” Dorothy

A Message from Lynne, March 21, 2020

“We are a creative people, because we were made by a creative God, one who continually offers us opportunities to use our imaginations and our intellects…I invite you to see worship and Christian Formation a bit differently at this time.” Lynne

A Song from Ken, March 20, 2020

“Jesus and a woman at the well meet…and Jesus talks about this living water, a water that wells up inside us, a spring water that is always there for us.” Ken

A Message from Ken, March 18, 2020

“How do we begin to deal with our own anxiety or somehow move forward through it and not let it hinder loving and caring for the people around us?…We have a choice…Will I be swept up in anxiety…or will I find a place to ground myself?” Ken

Resources

Resources for Lent
For Adults, Families with Children, and Teachers of Classes of All Ages

Worship for March 22 Online!

March 22, 2020 by Kate Brinkley

Join us for worship online now by watching this video filmed in Westminster’s sanctuary. You’ll find many of elements of worship we participate in and are fed by each Sunday: prayer, scripture, music and a message from Dorothy. She invites us all to take part in this new and unusual way to find community and connect with one another.

If you’d like to participate more fully in today’s service, click here for a worship bulletin.

It’s difficult to imagine a better time to become one of Westminster’s Prayer Partners. As a part of this prayerful community, you can lift up those in our church and local community, as well as those across the country and throughout the world in prayer. Please click here to watch a message from Lynne on becoming a part of Prayer Partners. Contact to join Prayer Partners.

Check for video messages, resources, and information from Ken, Lynne, and Dorothy at www.westminsterva.org.

Peace be with you.

Bring Family, Friends, and your Appetite!!!

February 19, 2020 by Kate Brinkley

Come to the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 25 at 6 p.m. in fellowship hall. Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your appetite! Feast on the food — pancakes, sausage, and fruit — and on the fellowship!

Resources for the Charlottesville Community & Ways to Help During the COVID-19 Crisis

Peace and Justice in a Pandemic