What a wonderful February Westminster shared! The first Sunday, we honored the amazing Janet Trotter, for her lifetime of service in the name of Christ. At 91, Janet chose to not serve for another year on Session. Tessa Eichenberger, Dick Pogue and Judy Wyrick spoke about their teacher and friend. I compared Janet to Junia in the early church—“outstanding among the apostles” and a “benefactor to many”.
And what a lovely Valentine Lunch the Women of Westminster/Presbyterian Women enjoyed!
I am grateful for our attempts to be mindful of our pervasive racism as a society. Grateful Dr. Kimberly came from Pitts-Chapel to accept our check for $1,500 for the renovation of their stained glass on their historic building. I look so forward to seeing the beauty of stained glass with people of color included.
Thanks be to God for the Gibson Chapel choir, who brought life and joy to our sanctuary when we worshipped together. And thanks be to God for our choir! Music is the heart of worship. I love to hear Eric’s voice and every voice—I love hearing Lynda on the piano and Marga on the pipe organ!
Like every month, (and every day), there was both joy and sorrow in February. We joined the world in mourning on February 6th when a 7.8 earthquake struck, killing more than 51,800, (45,000 in Turkey, and 6,700 in Syria thus far). Westminster sent $600 to Presbyterian Aid to help the earthquake victims.We marked our foreheads with ashes and remembered our mortality as we began the season of penitence called Lent on Ash Wednesday.
My heart’s happiest moment at Westminster in February? When adorable little Gwen sat on my lap while the choir sing! Oh the children. Jesus knew the special joy too—“let the children come” he proclaimed.
As we reflected on Black History month throughout February, the benediction I gave is pictured below, written by our Black American writer, James Baldwin. May we “Say Yes to life and embrace it wherever it is found”…
One must say Yes to life, and embrace it wherever it is found - and it is found in terrible places. … For nothing is fixed, forever and forever, it is not fixed; the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, the sea does not cease to grind down rock. Generations do not cease to be born, and we are responsible to them because we are the only witnesses they have. The sea rises, the light fails, lovers cling to each other and children cling to us. The moment we cease to hold each other, the moment we break faith with one another, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out. --James Baldwin