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Meet Rebecca Heilmann: Seminary Intern

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Rebecca Heilman is in her third and final year at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. She was born and raised in Valdese, NC, and was baptized like her father, her grandmother, and her great grandfather at Waldensian Presbyterian Church, where she grew up around a strong and valued Waldensian heritage and culture. She graduated from Presbyterian College in 2014 studying International Studies and Christian Education. Rebecca, then, deferred her first year of seminary to serve as a PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) in Zambia, Africa. Throughout her year in Zambia, she lived with a host family, taught 5th and 6th graders, and tried her best to live into the Zambian culture. As for Rebecca’s passions, she enjoys reading, walking, hiking, movies, fellowship with friends and family, any sort of art or craft project, and throwing clay on a wheel to relieve stress and to attempt to shape something beautiful!

We are excited to have her with us this year, serving and learning alongside us! She will take part in worship leadership, church school programs and youth activities, and observe Presbyterian polity at work in Session and sessional committees.

Welcome, Rebecca!

Westminster Organ Concert Series presents Les Canards Chantants

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The Westminster Organ Concert Series continues its 38th season on Sunday, October 15, at 4:00 pm, with a concert by Les Canards Chantants.  An a cappella vocal ensemble specializing in music of the Renaissance, the “Singing Ducks” will present a program of music from the time of the Reformation.  The program, “From Transcendence to Transparency,” marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with music by Clemens non Papa, Johann Walter, and Thomas Tallis.  Organist Jonathan Schakel will also join the ensemble.  The concert is free and open to the public and will be followed by a reception.

Music Notes – October 8, 2017

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This week the choir sings an anthem by the English composer, John Rutter.  Rutter attended school in London with John Tavener, and both began composing in their teens.  Rutter is now most well known for writing Christmas carols, the first of which he had published when he was 18.  He went on to university at Cambridge and served for several years as director of music at Clare College.  His anthem, “Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace,” sets a text widely thought to be by St. Francis of Assisi.  The earliest source of the text, however, is no older than 1912, and the repeated references to the self are uncharacteristic of Francis’s writings.  This Sunday the Choristers make their first contribution to a service this fall, singing the anthem “God of Many Names” by Dolores Hruby.

Facing Racism workshop – October 21st

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In light of the recent events in Charlottesville, Westminster members are invited  to a workshop entitled Facing Racism, October 21, from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. to be held at First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. W. Mark Koenig, Coordinator for Racial and Intercultural Justice with the Presbyterian Mission Agency, and his colleague Rev. David Bowie will lead interested participants through an interactive workshop to equip them to initiate conversations around racism in our congregation and community. Participants will explore the power and privilege that perpetuate racism and examine their own experiences related to race, power, and privilege. Tools and resources will be presented for disrupting racism and engaging in anti-racism work. Space is limited; please RSVP by Oct. 13 to Susan Lawson in the First Presbyterian Church office, or 296-7131.

Town Hall Meeting at 8:30 Service

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The Music and Worship Committees have been considering what draws people to the 8:30 service at Westminster.   In an effort to open this conversation to all Westminster worshipers, we will hold the second of three town hall style meetings this Sunday, October 8 to hear what you think of the 8:30 service.  This brief meeting will occur right at the conclusion of the 8:30 service, around 9:15 and include a time to share thoughts as well as a time to fill out a brief survey.  The meeting will conclude at 9:30 to allow folks to attend Christian Education classes.  If you are unable to attend the meetings, the survey will be available in the church office and the gathering place.  We are excited by the response and enthusiasm of our 8:30 worshippers.  If you have not had a chance to add your voice to this conversation, please come on Sunday, or pick up a survey to fill out.   Completed surveys may be given to ushers after worship or turned in to the church office.

 

“So faith, hope, and love abide, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.”
−1 Corinthians 13:13

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: http://www.pcusa.org/book-confessions.

Contact

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

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