Organ Recital by Catalina Vicens

August 21, 2019 by Kate Brinkley

The Westminster Organ Concert Series begins its 40th season of concerts on Friday, August 30, at 7:30 pm, with a recital by Catalina Vicens, a specialist in performance on historic keyboard instruments. The program, entitled “A Musical Pilgrimage from the Middle Ages to the Baroque,” includes some of the earliest known written keyboard music, as well as works by Conrad Paumann, William Byrd, and Juan Cabanilles. Ms. Vicens, originally from Chile, has performed throughout Europe, the USA, and South America, is a guest professor of harpsichord at Oberlin Conservatory and a Ph.D. candidate at Leiden University.

The Westminster Organ Concert Series was begun in 1980 to share the newly installed all-mechanical baroque-style pipe organ with the community. The organ, built by Taylor & Boody Organbuilders of Staunton, Virginia, has 18 stops and over 1100 pipes. For more information, call 434-963-4690 or visit www.westminsterorganconcertseries.org

August 12, 2019 by Kate Brinkley

Autumn at Westminster means many things: the university begins its school year (and we have a new associate pastor for that ministry!), our regular worship schedule returns with Sunday services at 8:30 and 11 a.m., and the church school year begins with classes for adults, youth and children at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. On September 8 at 9:30, we’ll enjoy breakfast, information about many of our ministries; games for kids who will meet their teachers; plus photos and reflections from youth pilgrimage to the Tetons. Join us!

https://www.westminsterva.org/program-year-begins/

Exciting News!

August 5, 2019 by Kate Brinkley

On July 28, we welcomed Rev. Dorothy Piatt to Westminster as Associate Pastor for University and Social Justice Mission.

Most recently, Dorothy completed a two-year Resident Ministry program at First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, Mich. As part of a team at First, she helped re-launch and re-energize that church’s Campus Ministries.

Prior to her residency, Dorothy interned at Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville, while earning her M.Div. from Vanderbilt Divinity School. There she worked with church leadership to deepen the congregation’s commitment to justice and full inclusion for LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, as well as working on intentional anti-racism and intersectional justice through liturgical and educational series, trainings, and purposeful conversations.

In her letter to us, Dorothy wrote of the resonance of our congregation’s needs with the pastoral ministry to which she feels most drawn: “working at the nexus of church, academy, and community to build relationships and welcoming young adults into communal life while helping foster social awareness among them to promote justice.”

Blessings,

Ron Wiley and the members of the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee

The Grand Adventure: Pilgrims in the Tetons

July 12, 2019 by Kate Brinkley

Recently, a group of 15 youth and adults head to the Grand Tetons on Pilgrimage 2019: The Grand Adventure. It has been a year in the making and much longer in the preparing. The group went hiking, horseback riding, visited Yellowstone, took part in an environmental service project, enjoyed cooking and singing around a campfire and sleeping in lux-yurts! Each day, the group gave thanks for moments of wonder and took part in times of silence and sharing.
We are grateful that WPC takes seriously the baptismal promise of caring for and nurturing the faith of its children and youth through its financial and spiritual support of this important part of the youth ministry here.