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Home / News and Events

March 29, 2020 Session Meeting

April 1, 2020 by Kate Brinkley

A Summary of the March 29, 2020 Session Meeting

The Session began their meeting over “Zoom” at 1:45. Ruling Elders Present: Nadine Roddy, Anne Hedelt, Dan Heuchert, Will Hochstetler, Rebecca McGregor, Candace Spence, Ellen ThomasClarke, Wayne Cilimberg, Hal Collums, Dana Eastman, John Echeverri-Gent, David Heflin, Alyce Outlaw, Meredith Powell, Ruthie Buck, Jim Cauthen, Mike Moore, Ken Young. Recording Clerk Barry Parks. Teaching Elders present: Rev. Lynne Clements, Rev. Dorothy Piatt, Rev. Ken Henry. Staff present: Sandy Wilcox, Megan Sharp. Invited guest: Kobby Hoffman, Chair of the Benevolence Committee.

Highlights

  • Ken Henry, Moderator, summarized a pastoral letter from the Presbytery of the James, dated March 27, 2002. In light of this global health emergency, the POJ has acted in the following ways. 1. An Inspire Gift of $2,000 is being given this coming week to each of the 101 churches, five campus ministries, two P.C.(U.S.A.) mission co-workers supported by POJ, and 26 validated ministries. It is the desire of the POJ that churches and ministries use the Inspire Gift as they see fit.  2. Advance Fund for Pastors and Certified Christian Educators. Among many of the churches in the POJ, financial resources are being stretched, slowed, or drawing to a small trickle. Members of congregations are doing their best but, as employment is threatened and investments are fluctuating, the source of giving in our churches is being strained.  Therefore, the POJ has established an Advance Fund ($50,000 so far) . . . to be used solely to sustain pastors’ and certified Christian educators’ salary, housing, and benefits during these days. 3. Video or Audio License Reimbursement. The Trustees are announcing that any of our smaller churches who may need to purchase a license for audio or video conferencing can be reimbursed for the cost of the license. Such expenses will be reimbursed to the churches upon completion of an Expense Report with supporting receipts
  • Hal Collums, Worship Chair, made a motion to continue the suspension of all “in-person” worship services at Westminster Presbyterian Church from April 6 through April 30, 2020. M/S/C (Moved, Seconded/Carried)
  • Ruthie Buck, Peace, Justice, and Inclusion Chair, made a motion that WPC distribute $75,530 in benevolence gifts to our non-profit partners in the community. M/S/C.  Kobby Hoffman and the Benevolence Committee will seek the guidance of the WPC Budget Committee for how and when to distribute these funds. An additional $13,550 will be held back and hopefully distributed in the future. “We aspire to give, but we cannot responsibly give with so many unknowns.”
  • Session concurred with the Budget Committee that the Rugby Entrance Redesign project should be deferred. Dominion Energy has already taken down the canopy of the tree, so it is no longer the threat to passers-by it was.  We do not want to take funds out of our endowment funds when the market is so chaotic. M/S/C
  • Session also concurred with the Budget Committee’s recommendation that disbursement of the remaining Session-designated benevolence funds of the 2019 surplus be deferred until later in the year. At its Stated Meeting of March 8, 2020, Session approved distributing the funds among 3 recipients: (1) the POJ; (2) our own University Mission, and (3) the Voices of Jubilee ministry. At this March 29th Called Meeting, Session adjusted the amounts to be distributed as follows:  $6,900 to POJ as a one-time gift; $900 to University Mission; and $900 to the Voices of Jubilee. M/S/C
  • Anne Hedelt, Personnel Chair, made a motion to immediately close the WPC Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, office and Common Grounds through April 30, with the exception of special permissions granted by Ken or his designee for selected individuals to enter or work at WPC properties. M/S/C
  • Anne Hedelt also moved on behalf of the Personnel Committee that the compensation of the church’s hourly employees (the Assistant Sexton and the nursery workers), who are prevented from working by the suspension of worship services and the closure of church property, be continued through April 30, 2020. M/S/C
  • The Session decided to cancel its Stated Meeting of April 5, 2020, but to keep the Stated Meeting of May 3, 2020, on its calendar for now. The moderator will likely call a meeting later in April. M/S/C

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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

  • Charlottesville Area Community Foundation
  • United Way COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund
  • Alliance for Interfaith Ministries

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.

Filed Under: Common Grounds, Community Board, Gleanings Monthly Magazine, Graduate Students and Young Adults, Mission and Outreach, Peace, Justice & Inclusion, UKirk, Presbyterian Student Fellowship, Uncategorized

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

Filed Under: Common Grounds, Graduate Students and Young Adults, Mission and Outreach, UKirk, Presbyterian Student Fellowship, Uncategorized

Stewardship between the Before and After

March 26, 2020 by Kate Brinkley

In her wonderful sermon last Sunday, Dorothy referred to the uncertain period in which we now find ourselves as the “time between the before and after.” Although we are physically separated, our collective mission to serve Christ, share God’s love and work for justice during this time remains active and unchanged, albeit in a much different environment. Worship and music are now provided virtually (last Sunday’s service has over 500 views on YouTube), our Christian formation programs are now being delivered through online materials and video classes, and our Pastors and Deacons are now providing spiritual and emotional support to members of the congregation and students away from Grounds through phone calls, podcasts, group video get-togethers, and prayer partnerships. Efforts supporting our immigrant neighbors and sheltering the homeless continue, as does designating benevolence grants to mission partners in our community. Our staff is carrying on its work to manage and maintain our church facilities.

In just over a week, the church has transformed into one where Zoom, Google Hangouts and YouTube have become essential tools. As Dorothy noted, these efforts building a virtual Westminster help us to recognize that we are a community called together to share God’s love from all places, and that this calling is not limited by physical distance.

The Stewardship Committee is aware that some in our congregation may be facing challenges as a result of the economic slowdown, and that these challenges may impact their ability to give at this time. For others who may regularly give through the offering plate when we worship together, we ask that you practice financial stewardship in other ways while we are physically separated. You can give online, give using a one-time or recurring bill pay through your financial institution, or give by mail. Your faithful generosity fulfilling pledges during this period will support our being connected and spiritually nourished while apart and will help us share God’s love in new and creative ways. If you have any questions on giving, please contact Steve Brown in the church office at or 293-3133.

The Stewardship Committee

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Thanks to Westminster for Hosting PACEM 

March 25, 2020 by Kate Brinkley

Many thanks to the 100+ volunteers, our staff, and partner congregations who worked to make the PACEM men’s homeless shelter at Westminster a reality. The corona virus pandemic presented unprecedented challenges during our hosting period, but we nevertheless provided a warm meal and a safe place to sleep for 30+ men for sixteen nights. We extended our hosting period by two days when the shelter was unable to move to the next church due to the pandemic, and additional volunteers (including all three of our pastors, college students home unexpectedly, and folks from other congregations) stepped up when asked. The shelter is now housed at the Key Recreation Center downtown, where guests will have the space to place their beds six feet apart.
Every year it is remarkable to see how our church family comes together to host our homeless neighbors, but this year was particularly striking. While most of us prepared to quarantine ourselves at home and help “flatten the curve,” those without a home in which to quarantine were on our doorstep. Never before have these men, many of whom we have gotten to know over the span of numerous years, seemed more vulnerable. We ask that you join us in praying for their health during this crisis.
Many thanks to all who made the shelter at Westminster possible—we could not have done it without you. Your generosity in terms of time, talent, and treasure (many gift cards and donations were received!) was remarkable.
—The PACEM Committee

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Welcome

Summer at Westminster

March 1, 2022 By Westminster Presbyterian Church

This summer as the weather warms up and schedules relax, you are invited to connect with friends old and new at Westminster. Offerings include opportunities for fellowship, education, food, games, music, and time spent outdoors. Take a look at all of the options and post the calendar nearby, so you can find meaningful ways to engage in […]

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but the greatest of these is love.”
−1 Corinthians 13:13

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

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With faith, hope, and love as bedrock Christian values, we also cherish the following:
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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/.

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