Volume LXIII Number 5 May 2019

a publication of westminster congregational united church of christ

2019

On May 26th

at 2 pm in the afternoon,

we will celebrate our 140 years

of witness and service

as Spokane’s first

and oldest church.

Puerto Rico Team

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monthly newsletter is aWestminster Congregational

United Church of Christ publication.It is usually published around the

28th each month (schedule permitting).

To include something in next month’s edition,email your article to:

or drop it by the church office.

The newsletter deadline is the20th of each month.

Church Staff:

The Rev. Andrea CastroLang

All of God’s People

Verne Windham

Janet Hubbard

Nicolette (Nikki) Rode

Andréa Reese Hekimian

John Larson

Chartered on May 22, 1879, Westminster stillserves, still prays, still offers it’s witness ofGod’s love and welcome.

We will pray that the sun will shine on us, andthat the people of the city of Spokane will joinus in our celebration!

The celebration is for all the members andfriends of Westminster, and for the city ofSpokane as well.

We hope to have guests from City Hall, fromthe Spokane Tribe, from the ecumenical andinterfaith community that we participate in.Our Conference Minister, the Rev. Mike Dentonwill join us. We hope that together we can

remember the past, and look with hope and courage to the future.

We will have the original signed Charter, on loan from the Museum of Arts andCulture.

We will have an art show on display throughout the church.

In our celebration service, we will hear newly commissioned celebration musicwritten by Janet Hubbard.

After our service, there will be a reception for all in our social hall to sharenibbles, tell stories and enjoy the day.

Please plan to come, and bring along friends and family. Share our welcome,share our witness, help us build our future in this city.

Let us continue our witness to the love of God and the love of neighbor, here onthe corner of 4th and Washington!

Continued from cover . . .

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Spokane's Gay Pride week is coming soon! As in thepast, Westminster will partner with OutSpokane andparticipate in the Interfaith service, and also in thePride March and Festival. We are looking for greatparticipation from our Friends and Family Members atWestminster. Below you will find the dates to save.In the meantime, we are looking for volunteers tomarch with us and to man the Westminster booth atthe festival that weekend.

Also in the next few weeks, we will be working oncreating some Pride Rocks to distribute at thefestival. Cathy Gunderson has been collecting andpainting the rocks and we will enhance these rockswith positive words geared toward this year's theme:"To Thrive not just Survive". Look for the rocksduring Sunday School and after church at coffeehours.

The Thrive theme is very meaningful to the LGBTQcommunity who started the march for civil rights fromthe Stonewall riots in NY City, 50 years ago. Thetheme is also meaningful for Westminster as wecelebrate 140 years and look to the future where ourwonderful church will continue strong and aim toThrive!

Kelly Cox is looking for help to organize this year'sPride activities and will be seeking commitments forvolunteers in the next few weeks. Please contact himif you would like to volunteer:

Kelly Coxemail: kc10562@gmail.comcell: 917-887-6398

SAVE THE DATES:Pride Interfaith Service -Wednesday June 5, 6:30 at the McGinnity Room

Pride March and Festival -Saturday June 8, 12PM, Spokane Riverfront Park

Look for updates in Pastor Andy's Hot Sheet and onFacebook.

Kelly Cox ~

So, Easter has come, and Spring is here, and our 140th

Anniversary Celebration is almost here. A grand weekend ofcelebration is planned around Memorial Day weekend,May 26.

But why celebrate?Because Jesus did.

I do not speak in jest. One of the gospel messages that wehear over and over again in church, is that Jesus celebratedwith others. He celebrated at a wedding in the town of Cana,he ate dinner with the tax collector Zacchaeus, he feastedwith scribes and Pharisees of wealth and importance.

His enemies called him a glutton and a drunk.

But we know better.

We know that Jesus found the table a place where peoplecould relax a bit, chat, open up their hearts and minds.Powerful healings and powerful stories were shared aroundtables where Jesus sat.

This is what we strive for at Westminster! We seek to be aplace where people can open up to the love of God known inother people. We want this church to be a place of powerfulstories shared, and hearts and lives healed!

Our celebration is not merely for us, it is for the neighborwho is still seeking a church of acceptance. It is acelebration for the exiles and refugees of faith communitiesthat were rejecting and cold. It is a celebration for thepeople of love and care who came before, and even moreimportantly, it is a celebration of the call of God for us tocontinue! We have served every age and every part of thecity community through all our years…and in that service wehave been trying to show others what the kingdom of Godlooks like!

We want people to get a glimpse of a world, perhaps only fora moment at a time, in which there is enough love andenough laughter and enough welcome and enoughcelebration to heal a heart, to give someone hope, to share aglimpse of joy!

So, hold on to your hat, because we are celebrating! Andthanks, to so many of you, for your bountiful commitment tothis work of making God’s love known; seen and felt andtasted…shared by you so that others might know of God’slove for them.

In love and gratitude,

Pastor Andy ~

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Puerto Rico Mission Trip Presentation May 5

Five members of Westminster participated in a recentmission trip to Puerto Rico. Mary Rupert, Kent Johnson,Margaret Ennis, and Randy and Linda Crowe worked to helprestore homes damaged by Hurricane Maria. During worshipand fellowship time on May 5, they will share stories oftheir experiences and adventures. The mission trip wassponsored by the United Church of Christ and the ChristianChurch (Disciples of Christ). Twenty-five people from eightWashington state congregations took part in the trip.

The first Apple Blossom Teas was held by Mrs. Cowley (wifeof the first pastor of Westminster). It was her custom toinvite the women of the church to meet with her when theapple blossoms were in bloom. In conjunction withWestminster’s 140th celebration, the women of the JoannaChapter will carry on that tradition. So dress up in yourfinest, or come as you are, for afternoon of fun in high style.

We need ten table hostesses who will provide teapots andchina with table settings for four. We need volunteers tobring finger sandwiches and sweets to complete our menu.There will be a raffle for a Gift Basket ($1 per ticket).Suggested ticket price for the Tea is $10. Friends and familyare welcome!

If you are interested in being a table hostess or you want tojoin in on the fun, please call Margaret Ennis at509-202-0317 or Linda Stephens at 509-893-1550.

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RECYCLING! It’s good to recycle, isn’t it? Most of us arerecycling these days.

In recent months, there has been a lot in the news about adecrease in outlets for our recyclables. I have heard severalpeople ask, “Should we still be recycling?” A recent articlein The Week, magazine addressed this issue. Here areexcerpts from that article.

Between the late 1980’s and January 2018, China welcomedour recyclables. They converted much of it into cheap goodswhich they then exported. Then, China banned most importsof “loathsome foreign garbage” and now the recyclingindustry has few outlets to send its products. As a result,many cities are now paying to have its recycling hauled awayto be burned or buried.

What about the remaining outlets for our recyclables? Theyare reluctant to take our recycling. The reason for this is thatAmerica seems to have a group of “aspirational recyclers”who toss unrecyclable items such as bowling balls, usedsyringes, even dirty diapers into their recycling bins. Theseitems contaminate the rest of our recycling. The added costof cleaning this material makes the products made fromrecycling so expensive, manufacturers prefer to buy cheapernew materials. This, of course, leaves few markets for theserecycled goods.

With this dreary scenario, what are we to do? For one thing,it is important to CLEAN your recyclables before throwingthem in the green bin and be sure what you are recycling istruly recyclable. The top of our bins has an excellent displayof what can be recycled. Even more important is to MAKELESS WASTE! Buy the light weight cloth bags that areavailable to put your produce in. Take your own bagsshopping, not only to the grocery store, but to departmentstores as well. Think about the packaging of the products youbuy. A lot of it is very wasteful. Surely, you can think of moreways to: REDUCE, REUSE, and yes, continue to RECYCLE.

Sponsored byPacific Northwest Conference United Church of Christ

This spiritual retreat for women of all ages is anopportunity to acknowledge that we are woven into the

web of all creation, and to celebrate our connections withGod and with one another. This retreat is a time to nurtureyourself and your soul. At beautiful Camp N-Sid-Sen on

the eastern shore of glorious Lake Coeur d’Alene, we willweave a tapestry of time together. We will take time for

discovery, sharing, singing, worshiping, praying, andrelaxing. In community and in solitude we will experience

a time of restoration and renewal.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1968

Register online at www.n-sid-sen.orgCost: $110 (cabins) or $125 (lodges)Weave Us Together leadership team:Rev. Lynn Nelson bamba2@q.com

Rev. Linda Crowe revlindacrowe@gmail.comRev. Courtney Stange-Tregear courtney@pncucc.org

Terry Zakar tazakar@hotmail.com

Did you Know. . .

The Blue Recycle bin contents go through a very sortedway to become usable items again? An up-close tour isavailable of Spokane Material and RecyclingTechnology(SMaRT) Center. Contact Erica Dellwo, mastercomposter/recycler, to inquire about upcoming tour datesby sending an email to erica.dellwo@gmail.com.  Moreinfo on their site at spokanecountysolidwaste.org.

The Artisans Ark-Spokane, Are disabled folksdisassembling for recycle all items with a cord or battery.

Call 509 325-4489 for hours of operation.

Easter…The season of transformation

The love of God opens us to the possibility oftransformation.

A change, movement of the Spirit.

Have you been called, to make a change in your relationshipwith God and others?

Converting old responses to new ones?

Listen, pray, and respond to your transformation in God’slove.

Jenn Marquis, Spiritual Directionmarquisjenn@gmail.com

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May 20 "Educated" by TaraWestover. Facilitated by KayStevenson at the home ofKaren Wilson-Bell.

June 17 "Wind in my Hair"by Masih Alinejad.Facilitated by Nosrat Wippleat the Park Bench in ManitoPark.

July 15 "The Cassandra" bySharma Shields.. Facilitatortba at the Park Bench

August 19 "The UndoingProject" by Michael Lewis.Facilitator tba, at the ParkBench.

WESTMINSTER CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

March2019

MonthlyBudget

MonthlyDifference

YTD2019

YTDBudget

YTDDifference

Total Income 23,158.74 14,450.00 8,708.74 54,798.97 43,350.00 11,448.97Less Total Expenses 28,565.30 22,397.67 6,167.63 72,904.53 65,043.01 7,861.52Net Income (Loss) (5,406.56) (7,947.67) 2,541.11 (18,105.56) (21,693.01) 3,587.45

2019 Pledge Information as of April 3, 2019:

2019Total

Pledges

2018Total

Pledges

2018PledgesReceived

2019PledgesReceived

2019Pledges

Outstanding

2019 AnnualPledgeBudget

YTD PledgeBudget

difference122,983.12 104,530.12 101,165.12 35,731.58 87,251.54 100,000.00 10,731.58

The Book and Salad Clubcontinues to meet the 3rdMonday of each month at noon,in the homes of participants.As always, all are welcome.You need not have read thebook to participate, however asalad is appreciated. Wantmore information? You can callMarilynne at 747-0659; or talkwith any member of the group.

Summer Parkways

June 20 | 6 - 9 pm

Summer IS coming!

Yeah, and so is . Celebrating our 140thAnniversary, we will share our joy at a booth (similar tothe Pride booth) during the Summer Parkways’ four-mile-long loop street party.

Between Comstock and Manito parks, all sorts of non-motorized travel on traffic-free streets will occur. Folks

travel the loop skating, walking, jogging, skateboarding,pushing scooters, etc. This is the 10th year and the crowdhas grown to attract a several hundred. Kids selllemonade and cookies in front of their homes; neighborsshare activities such as stilt walking; plus there’s lots ofentertainment along the loop.

All ages participate, shouldn't we? A sign-up board to staffour booth will be coming out late April. Meanwhile, savethe evening of June 20th to help with our booth on ManitoBlvd.

Cathy Gunderson ~

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Joanna Women's Chapter will meet thesecond Wednesday in May.

We will not be meeting from Junethrough August, but will resume ourmeetings the second Wednesday ofSeptember.

Linda Stephens, Chair ~

April Attendance

4-7 4-14 4-21 4-28

72 84 155 88

5/7 Bonney Allan

5/8 Linda Crowe

5/10 Rebekah Smith

5/12 Alisher Meredith

5/13 Gilbert Escandón

5/17 Sara Weaver

5/20 Ella Althoff

5/22 Jane Baker

Jasmine Meredith

5/27 Joyce Malone

5/31 Phinn Thompson

Sunday, May 5

Oddjobs? Who ya gonna call?

A group of Gonzaga students have formed a group thatcan be contacted to perform: pet care, moving help,general labor, babysitting, application help, shoveling,raking, or cleaning, to name a few. You name the price.Find them at oddjobbers.org

S.O.N. Committee will not convene Junethrough August, but they will continue toseek your support for service-actions inour city.

They will keep you posted.

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I covenant with you, members and friends ofWestminster Congregational United Church ofChrist:

Westminster Congregational United Church ofChrist embraces a spirit of hospitality founded inthe gospels of Jesus Christ & a willingness to liveout that welcome in meaningful ways.

As an Open and Affirming Church, ourlongstanding culture of welcome extends to allpeople regardless of sexual orientation,race/ethnicity, gender, physical ability,socioeconomic status or faith background.

In this digital age, the church takes many pictures ofbaptisms, choir performances and concerts, worshipservices, mission trips, special presentations, SundaySchool, fellowship activities and community outreachprojects. We use these pictures to record, to promote, andto celebrate our church ministries. Pictures are used onbulletin boards, in slide shows and PowerPointpresentations, in publications, and on our church website.

However, some persons may choose not to have theirphotos, or photos of their children, used and we respecttheir wishes. Therefore, we are providing a Media Opt-Outform for individuals or families who prefer NOT to havephotographs of themselves used by the church. This formcan be obtained through the church office.

If you have no objection to church use of your photograph,you DO NOT need to sign or return one of these forms.

Liturgist: Matt Wood

Deacons:Kelly Cox, Jim McPherson,Doris Holdaway. . .

Hospitality: Potluck Coffee Hour (everyone)

Liturgist: John Windham

Deacons: Hazel Kotlan, Mary Seaton

Hospitality: Education & Spiritual Growth

Liturgist: Alan Mackay

Deacons: Wes Johnson, Gary Allan

Hospitality: Music & Arts

Deacons: Jim M, Maxi D, Gary A, Kyle L

Hospitality: Members of Westminster - 140th

Liturgist: Karen Wilson-Bell

Deacons:Sara Weaver, Mary SeatonDoris Holdaway, Hazel Kotlan

Hospitality: Deacons

5 Sunday Bloomsday! 10:30 am Communion Sunday

3:00 pm AA group6 Monday 7:00 pm bell choir *summer break begins*8 Wednesday 11:30 am Joanna Chapter 5:15 pm Eleventh Step AA group 6:30 pm Deacons9 Thursday 5:30 pm Yoga *on break through August* 6:30 pm AA Group12 Sunday Mother’s Day

Art show through May 28 10:30 am Mark Boyd shares about N-Sid-Sen 12:30 am Education & Spiritual Growth 3:00 pm AA group13 Monday 7:00 pm bell choir practice*summer break*15 Wednesday 5:15 pm Eleventh Step AA group 6:30 pm Trustees16 Thursday 5:30 pm Yoga *on break through August* 6:30 pm AA Group17 Friday Women’s Retreat begins, thru Sunday

7:00 pm SAYC -

19 Sunday 10:30 am worship with Rev Courtney Tregear 11:30 am WestCAT 3:00 pm AA group

4:00 pm Sp Symphony Chorale in concert20 Monday 12:00 pm Book & Salad

7:00 pm bell choir practice*summer break*21 Tuesday 2:00 pm Poetry22 Wednesday 5:00 pm Council 5:15 pm Eleventh Step AA group30 Thursday 5:30 pm Yoga *on break through August* 6:30 pm AA group26 Sunday 2:00 pm worship: 140th Celebration & Reception 3:00 pm AA group27 Monday Memorial Day

7:00 pm bell choir practice*summer break*29 Wednesday 5:15 pm Eleventh Step AA group30 Thursday 5:30 pm Yoga *on break through August* 6:30 pm AA GroupJUNE1 Saturday 1:00 pm Apple Blossom Tea2 Sunday 3:00 pm AA group

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UCC-wide offering JUNE 9