the Westminster

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WILMINGTON, DE NO. 576 � JULY/AUGUST 2011

CHIMESSunday, September 18, 2011

FAMILY 5K RUN/WALKGrab your running shoes as we celebrate Westminster’s 125th anniversarywith a Family 5K Run/Walk! Our honorary chairs, the Honorable and Mrs.

Thomas R. Carper and the Honorable and Mrs. Michael N. Castle, will be atthe “starting line” at 1:00 p.m., and the proceeds from the event will benefit

Family Promise and Friendship House. Registration forms are availableonline at www.wpc.org. For questions or if you would like to volunteer the

day of the race, contact Cindy Love (LovesDE@comcast.net) or SallyMcBride (sfmcbride@comcast.net).

Friday, November 11, 2011

125TH ANNIVERSARY

CONGREGATIONAL DINNER

Celebration will take place at Wilmington Country Club. More details coming soon!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Concluding Worship Services

9:00 and 11:15 a.m.

125TH ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATIONS CONTINUE!

125TH ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATIONS CONTINUE!

F RO M O U R D I R E C TO R O F YO U T HF RO M O U R D I R E C TO R O F YO U T H

M U S I C A N D H A N D B E L L SM U S I C A N D H A N D B E L L S

Shhhhh! Make your life SOUND better!

Mary Beth DavisDirector of Youth Music

and Handbells

July/August 20112

Summer can be a noisy season! Children squeal, carshonk, lawnmowers hum, and radios blare. Summercan also be peaceful and quiet, with time for reading,

gardening, and savoring the outdoors. Whether noisy orquiet, sound affects us. Most of us have grown so accus-tomed to suppressing noise that we don’t think much aboutwhat we are hearing or about how we listen. I came acrossan interesting article based on a lecture by Julian Treasurethat I have adapted. (http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/julian_treasure_shh_sound_health_in_8_steps.html) Tohear his lecture and others about sound, go to TED.com.

Here are 10 things about sound and your health that youmay not know:

1. You are a chord, a collection of vibrations. I wonder: Isyour chord major, minor, or a cluster of dissonance?

2. One definition of health may be that the chord is in com-plete harmony. I wonder: How in tune are you?

3. We see one octave; humans with great hearing can hear10. I wonder: As you age and your hearing capacitiesdiminish, can you listen with your heart as well as yourears?

4. Listening can be more powerful than speaking. Men typ-ically adopt a reductive listening style, listening for some-thing specific, a point or solution. Women tend to adopt anexpansive listening style, enjoying the journey, going withthe flow. Other listening styles include active, meditative,and critical listening. I wonder: How much better wouldyou be for your family, friends, and children if you focusedyour listening more toward grace than judgment?

5. Noise harms and even kills. The report “Noise and itsEffect” (Alice Suter, 1991) says, “Even moderate noise levels can increase anxiety, decrease the incidence of help-ing behavior, and increase the risk of hostile behavior.”World Health Organization (WHO) findings (LARESreport) estimate that 3% of deaths from ischemic heart disease result from long-term exposure to noise. That

means 210,000 people are dying of noise every year. I won-der: Do you take noise seriously?

6. “Schizophonia,” an unhealthy state, is where what wehear is unrelated to what we see. Daily we invite the voicesof those we do not know or see into our world throughradio, television, iPods, and smartphones. I wonder: Towhat voices are your children listening? Does what theyhear align with what they see?

7. We squash music to fit into our pockets, and that comesat a cost. Compressed music, music that has been engi-neered into an MP3 format, often does not contain the sub-tleties of live performance (i.e., the pluck of strings, thebrush of drum heads, or the hum of children’s voices), andsome believe it makes you tired and irritable. I wonder: Canyou hear the difference between live and compressedmusic? If opportunities for live music making are provided,will we (and our children) be less tired and irritable?

8. Headphone use is creating a deaf generation. Accordingto the American Medical Association, more than 19% ofAmericans ages 12 to 19 years exhibit some hearing loss.One study found that 61% of college freshmen showedhearing loss (Leeds 2001). I wonder: Can we encourage ourchildren and teens to use headphones responsibly?

9. Natural sounds, water, wind, and birds are good for us,and so is silence. Biblical writers who encourage us to bestill, quiet, and meditative are on target with good health. Iwonder: Do you make time for natural sounds and silence?

10. Make your life SOUND better. Improve your health insix ways: listen consciously, protect your ears, befriendsilence, train your voice (sing!), make music, and speak up(especially when sounds around you are too loud)! I won-der: Will I see you singing in worship? What would theworld be like if you were a steward of sound?

Enjoy your summer,

Mary Beth Davis

July/August 2011 3

Month of Musical MasterworksAUGUST 2011

Once again, our 10:00 a.m. worship service eachSunday morning during August will featuremajor instrumental concertos, with the three

movements interspersed throughout the service. Thesolo parts will be played by outstanding guest instru-mental soloists, with the orchestral accompanimentsplayed by Paul Fleckenstein on the organ. This year’s

repertoire features works from the German Romanticera, with styles ranging from profound to playful.Each week, the first movement of the concerto will bethe prelude to the service, beginning at approximately9:50 a.m., so be sure to come to church early so youwon’t miss any of the great music! Here is the lineupfor the month:

AUGUST 7Carl Reinecke: Flute Concerto in D major, op. 283Kimberly Reighley, flute

AUGUST 14Johannes Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, op. 77Timothy Schwarz, violin

AUGUST 21Carl Maria von Weber: Clarinet Concerto no. 2 in E-flat, op. 74Joshua Kovach, clarinet

AUGUST 28Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto no. 1 in G minor, op. 25Julie Nishimura, piano

Westminster Choir 2011-2012 SeasonFIRST REHEARSAL: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31Ever thought about singing in our blue-robed adult choir? For three seasons of the year, our Westminster Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings and sings at the 9:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday mornings. While we pride ourselves on making great music and being part of the worship service, any current choir member will tell you that we’re more than a choir – we’re like a family, and we always have arms open to take in new family members. What’s the first step? Contact Paul Fleckenstein, director (302-654-5214, ext. 121, or paul@wpc.org).The choir encompasses singers of all levels of ability and experience, and we can find a place for you!

July/August 20114

WPC@125Remembrances CHARLENE WEAVERI remember traveling in June 1981 to First Presbyterian

Church in Coalport, West Virginia, where Jim Bennetthad been invited to preach. Ten eager travelers all packedinto a rented white van and headed south. Fred and JulieSchmitt, Barbara Wheatley, and Charlene Weaver chaper-oned the high schoolers, including Win Bookhardt, SusanLaw, Ellen Schmitt, Allison Wheatley, and KimberlyWeaver. On the first night, we slept in sleeping bags in thebasement of the Presbyterian church in Petersburg, WestVirginia, whose minister was John Earl, former studentminister at Westminster. In Coalport, we were assigned toa bunkhouse, with bathrooms and cold water showers inanother building. On Sunday, Barbara and Jim went toFirst Presbyterian Church, while the rest of us attendedtwo other VERY small churches. We were shocked that theeight of us outnumbered the congregants. On the wayhome, at a final rest stop, Fred Schmitt attempted to play atrick on Jim Bennett. It backfired big time! We continue tolaugh about it to this day.

ELEANOR AND TOM CHARLESEach minister and many members have been building

blocks in our religious life.

Dr. Christie: visiting us in 1953 and taking time to visit ourson’s rabbit, coming down from the chancel to give a per-son a hymnal, and also coming down to adjust the shadesso the sun did not shine in his face.

Fred Mathias and Jim Bennett: encouraging us to return toWestminster in 1967 after we were away for six years.

The choir: singing from the balcony because there was nospace in the Chancel at that time.

Members like Jim Brooks who welcomed us to the CouplesClub and remembered our names; Bill Hess, chairman ofUrban Mission, who had a vision to start a scholarship pro-gram for needy students; Forrest and Helen Funk, whoattended a series of Sunday evening meetings with us enti-tled “Family Spiritual Life,” which were inspirational forus as a young couple; and Trina Hogan, who worked withTom to help the Sunday School children select the missionthey wished to help.

NANCY JONES BARLOWI remember going to Sunday School as a five or six year oldin the old Rodney Chapel with the vaulted ceiling. Mrs.Fothergill and Mrs. Morrow were some of the teachers. Wemet together in the center, and after a short service we

went to different corners according to age groups. Dr.Christie was beloved by all. A few years later, we met inGrace Hall. During that time, I learned many verses of theBible (which I still remember today) to earn my own Bible,the King James Version, my favorite, cherished to this day.Bill Jamieson and my father, Paul Jones, were head of theSunday School. We gave a Christmas Pageant in GraceHall, which had a stage. I played the part of Mary, and Dr.Christie came up to me afterward and gave me a little kiss.

Later memorable times were attending Westminster BibleCamp at West Nottingham. We had Bible study in themorning, sports activities in the afternoon, and Vespers inthe evening. This was a very inspirational experience andprobably the true foundation of my faith. As I think aboutWestminster, I realize that all the rites of passage in my lifetook place here: joining the church and professing myfaith, my wedding, our daughters’ weddings, my parents’funerals, and our grandchildren’s baptisms. It truly repre-sents the alpha and the omega.

NANCY AND HERB BODENAfter 46 years of membership, there are numerous remem-brances that stand out. The proudest moment we experi-enced was when our daughter, Kim, became WPC’s firstyouth elder as a teenager. She worked with Garrett Daw-son on home communions and with Peg Gray on theParish Life Committee. Truly rewarding.

Nancy: Chairing the WPC bazaar with Fay Gates, Char-lene Weaver, and others was a time of fun and fellowship.At that time, Ann Jacobs and her committee decorated thelower halls with mannequins in Victorian costumes com-plete with hatboxes, Christmas trees, and other greenery.Times have changed, but the bazaar continues to be aviable means of support for the community.

Herb and Nancy: We “church shopped” when we movedto Wilmington in 1960 and ultimately chose WPC as ourchurch home. Dr. Donald Wilson, pastor at the time, com-mented, to our chagrin, “I have observed you for fouryears, wondering if or when you would join the church.”So much for anonymity!

July/August 2011 5

As we are commemorating Westminster’s 125thanniversary, longtime member Russell O. Joneshas generously offered to provide for the restora-

tion of two of our stunning stained glass windows inmemory of his parents, Rose B. and John Paul Jones, whojoined Westminster in the early 1940s. The windows arepresently under considerable stress, both having beeninstalled in 1958. The Passion Window, located in thewest transept, and the Children’s Window, on the eastwall of the main sanctuary, will be removed soon for thisrestoration.

The Passion Window was executed by the Henry WilletStudio, Philadelphia, and dedicated on February 9, 1958.The three large lancets of the Passion Window illustratethe story of Holy Week (Christ's triumphal entry intoJerusalem on Palm Sunday, a Last Supper scene, and theempty cross of Good Friday), and the two narrowerlancets contain the symbols of Communion (bread andwine, wheat and grapes). The second window, the Chil-dren's Window, was created by James Powell and Sons,London, and dedicated on October 19, 1958. The threelancets of the Children's Window illustrate Jesus as a boytalking with leaders in the temple, Jesus as an adult hold-ing a young child in his arms and surrounded by olderchildren, and Christ shown with his disciples setting a lit-tle child among them.

Three members of the Property Committee, Bill Nace,Denison Hatch Jr., and chairman Bob McFarland,arranged to procure two bids for the project from twonationally recognized glass restoration companies. Bothcompanies agreed that the two windows have the sameproblem of deflection throughout the matrix of leadingthat supports the thousands of individual pieces of glass.Although the leading can flex and bend with the stress,the glass cannot, and ultimately the deflection will causeglass to break under the strain. The Stained Glass Com-mittee of the Property Committee unanimously agreed toaccept the bid from Willet Hauser to remove the win-dows, perform the restoration in their Minnesota work-shop, and return the windows in the fall. Willet Hauser isthe same firm that restored the stained glass window inthe east transept during the summer of 2007.

Stained Glass Windows to Be Restored

The Passion Window

The Children's Window

July/August 20116

ENERGETIC YOUTH

OFFERINGS

IMAGINATIVE CHILDREN'S

OPPORTUNITIES

Sunshine Choir (grades K to 2) and D.R.U.M. (grades 3 to 6)will continue this fall. For more

information and a registration form,go to www.wpc.org, click on“Learn” from the main menu, and then select the Christian

education link for age 2 to grade 6.

CATCH THE BEAT!Register Now for Sunshine Choir and D.R.U.M.!

180° YOUTH MINISTRY

Launch NightSUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

5:00 to 7:00 p.m.All youth in grades 7 to 12 are invited to the launch of another great 180°

year as we shoot back to the 1950’s era, a time of jukeboxes, diners, hoopskirts, crew cuts, and the bouffant hairdo! Activities will include dinner,

a milkshake-making contest, a look back in time, cast auditions,and crew sign-ups for “Uncle Phil’s Diner,” this year’s din-

ner theatre presentation.

180° Pool Party What: 180° Pool Party (for youth in grades 7 to 12)

When: Sunday, August 21, 3:30 p.m.

Where: Chris Hickey’s house, 7 Hickory Drive, Glen Mills, PA 19342

Why: To swim, splash, laugh, eat, talk, see oldfriends, and meet new friends.

Please RSVP to Jamie Hickey (610-358-2812).

July/August 2011 7

July/August 20118

Get Ready, It’s Here!Lock-In 2011

Saturday, October 1, at 8:00 p.m. to Sunday, October 2, at 10:00 a.m.Youth in Grades 7 to 12

Invite friends and mark your calendars now for this not-to-be-missed event! For more information, visit the 180° table at the

Christian Education open house on Sunday, September 11, or contact a member of the Youth Ministry Team.

180° YOUTH MINISTRY

ATTENTION: Parents of Third and

Fourth Grade Children!By Susan Moseley

During worship on Sunday, October 16, our thirdand fourth grade students will be presented withtheir very own Bibles. They will each receive a

copy of the Contemporary English Version, which uses avery simple, modern style that is easy to read and under-stand.

Many of these children have been active in our Chris-tian education programs provided at both 9:00and 10:10 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Biblestories are foundational for all our chil-dren’s programs, so those who partici-pate become familiar with many of thekey stories of our faith. The presenta-tion of Bibles then is not meant to bean isolated event or just a sweet tra-dition; it is a significant moment con-nected to a lifetime of learning.

The Christian Education Committeerecognizes the responsibility to help ourchildren learn to use their Bibles in waysthat are appropriate to their age and thatwill encourage them to discover and exploretheir relationship with God, with the faith commu-nity, and with themselves. Therefore, a special workshopwill be held for third and fourth grade children and theirparents on Saturday, October 15. During the workshop,Anne Ledbetter will work with the children to help themget acquainted with their Bibles. They will learn how thescriptures are organized, how to look up a specific pas-sage, and so on. Meanwhile, Susan Moseley will meet

with the parents and give them guidance on how toexplore the Bible with their child. As adults who want toteach our children about God, we often forget that theBible is a book written about, by, and for adults. To makethe Bible important to children too, we must considertheir various abilities and needs at different developmen-tal stages. We will also explore ways to respond to the

many questions children have about Bible storiesand faith.

Attending the workshop on that Saturdayafternoon is important preparation for

children receiving a Bible the next dayin worship. If you are the parent of athird or fourth grade child, please putthese two dates on your calendar:• Saturday, October 15, 3:00 to 5:00p.m. at Westminster• Sunday, October, 16, 9:00 a.m. or

11:15 a.m. worshipThere will be a registration table for the

workshop at the Christian Education openhouse in Community Hall on Sunday, Sep-

tember 11, at 10:10 a.m.

The whole congregation promises at every baptism tonurture our children in the faith. Modeling an open mindand a love of learning is one of the ways we keep thatpromise, so parents, children, and all members of everyage and stage are encouraged to participate in worshipand education on Sunday mornings to learn and growtogether as faithful disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

July/August 2011 9

The initial gathering of “Young at Heart,” Westminster members and friends of “retirement age,” was a festiveluncheon held in January that received rave reviews from the more than 100 who attended. Subsequently, wedeveloped and distributed a questionnaire to determine what other types of events and activities this group

would most enjoy. Thirty-five surveys, representing the opinions of 48 people, were received, and the results aresummarized as follows:

Fellowship

1. Luncheons at church or local restaurants2. Wine and cheese events at retirement communities3. Visits to local attractions4. Dinners at church5. Musical groups, movie Saturday, armchair travel pro-grams

Group Day Travel

1. Washington – memorials, museums, art galleries,White House, Arlington Cemetery2. New York – Radio City, theater, museums, art gal-leries, shopping3. Philadelphia – museums, historic sites, orchestra,baseball game, Ice Capades

Christian Education

1. Weekly daytime Bible studies2. Current topics/social issues/mission work

Mission Outreach Efforts

1. Clothing and food donations2. Packing kits for disaster relief efforts3. Making soup to be frozen for homeless winter sanctuary4. Serving food at Emmanuel Dining Room5. Packing lunches at Food Bank of Delaware

After reviewing the responses, we developed a prelimi-nary plan for Young at Heart that includes the following:

• One large luncheon event to be held alternately inJanuary or February• Four smaller luncheons at church with a speakeror visit to a local attraction• Two bus day trips a year – one in the fall (Septem-ber or October) and one in the spring (May or June) • One wine and cheese event, rotated among localretirement communities• Investigation of possibilities for an ongoing Biblestudy program.

If you have any thoughts on these or other activities, orif you would like to organize an event or join our plan-ning team, please contact any of us – we look forwardto hearing from you! Also, be sure to sign up for ournext luncheon on Saturday, July 23 (see article below).

Young at Heart Planning Team

Young Moving ForwardAT HEART

Sally BrooksMary Kay HadenCappy HankeRod HigginsSue Linderman

Frank PickeringJoyce RustonJulie SchmittFrank WaldburgerLaVerne Weaver

YoungAT HEART

SATURDAY, JULY 30 – 12:00 NOON

The next event for “Young at Heart,”retirement-age Westminster membersand friends, will take place on Satur-day, July 30. Join us at church at 12:00noon that day for a light lunch and aprogram by our wonderful formerinterim Associate Pastor Edee Fenimore

titled “The Wise Ones Around theWorld.” Please let us know you willattend by calling the church office (302-654-5214). The cost for lunch is $8,payable at the door. This will be a greatopportunity for fellowship and fun –we look forward to seeing you there!

July/August 201110

Anne Ledbetter

Anne Ledbetter is associate pastor at Westminster and will mark her17th year at WPC on September 1, 2011. In 1994, Anne was workingpart-time at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin,

Texas, counseling women and ministering to older adults at a local church,and she was looking for a change. Her advisor handed her a telephone mes-sage about an opening at Westminster and said “this is you.” Be it God's call-ing or serendipity, Anne responded and moved to Wilmington with her hus-band, Keith McGowan, and their three children, Evans, Lea, and Mary Reid.Since her arrival at Westminster, she has enriched our lives with her leader-ship, innovative thinking, and compassion for our members and programsserving our faith community.

Anne was born in Monroe, Louisiana, the second of four children (she has three brothers) and the grand-daughter of a pastor. Her father was an orthopedic surgeon, and her mother was a homemaker and full-time volunteer. Anne graduated from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and from Austin PresbyterianTheological Seminary, and while serving Westminster she obtained her doctorate. She enjoys traveling andstays fit by hiking, biking, and practicing yoga.

It would not be possible to list here all of Anne's duties and leadership roles at Westminster, but in gener-al, she coordinates the pastoral care of the congregation by “companioning people at key junctures in theirlives.” She loves parish life and all of its diversity and derives particular joy from writing prayers for wor-ship. In addition to supporting the head of staff, Anne has supervised the Stephen Minister program andadult education, trained and coordinated the deacons, led mission trips, and facilitated the developmentand support of small groups.

Anne encourages our members to share and use their spiritual gifts in and through the Westminster com-munity.

Susan Moseley

Susan Moseley is the church educator at Westminster. She was born inKershaw, South Carolina, and truly can say that she “grew up in thechurch”: her father was a Presbyterian minister, and her mother had

training in Christian education. Her older sister is also a Presbyterian minister.After graduating from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, Susanfollowed her mother's example by enrolling in the Presbyterian School ofChristian Education in Richmond, where she earned her master’s degree inChristian education. While in Richmond, Susan met her husband, Jim, whonow serves as Executive Presbyter of New Castle Presbytery.

We owe Susan's arrival at Westminster to Anne Ledbetter, who served on the search committee that

MEET THE STAFF

July/August 2011 11

brought Jim Moseley to New Castle Presbytery. When Anne learned that Jim's wife was a church educator,Susan was invited to interview at Westminster, and in 2004 she was hired as our educator.

Susan's role as church educator combines her many talents, including planning, flexibility, good listeningand people skills, creativity, a love of learning, and a leader of young children and youth, but her overallresponsibility is to oversee the educational programs for all members and their families. She enjoys theopportunity to be creative and innovative in her ministry and appreciates the teamwork and synergy of theWestminster staff. If Susan could plan the best Christian education program possible, it would involvemore and more volunteers (“we always need more”) to help with the many educational offerings for chil-dren and youth.

Susan and Jim have two grown children, Sarah (a special education teacher) and Mark (a college student).She loves music, including Carolina beach music, which she insists is “not the Beach Boys.” Susan and Jimhave served many churches from Virginia to Missouri to North Carolina, but Susan feels most at home inWilmington, her favorite of all their stops along the way.

Generous Contribution to Westminster Staff

When the budget was approved at the annual meeting in January, it included no increases in salary forstaff. However, Westminster recently received a generous and anonymous gift in the amount of $25,000from a member, and the gift donor stated that “the funds be used as bonuses or temporary increases to

the 2011 remuneration already budgeted for the dedicated employees of the Church.” The Personnel Committeewas directed to determine the timing of the distribution. At its meeting on May 18, the PersonnelCommittee approved distribution of the extra compensation to all staff on May 31, 2011.

In difficult times, extraordinary acts of kindness and generosity like this gift inspire all of usto do more. The Spirit moves each of us in different and special ways to share our compas-sion and our abundance with fellow servants of God. We thank this special donor and ourdedicated staff for their ongoing commitment to Westminster and the people we serve.

Fred IobstConvener, Personnel Committee

Core Value 1Commitment to Lay Ministry: We see thisfrequently demonstrated in our worshipservices with lay readers, our elders anddeacons, and our Stephen Ministers.

Core Value 2Refuge for the Hurting: Our pastors encour-age us to love one another in Christ and toshow compassion. Many church projectsmeet this core value. A Stephen Minister is acaregiver, acting in love for another person.

Core Value 3Every Christian a Minister: Each of us hasspiritual gifts. Westminster asks us to share

these gifts with each other. Being a StephenMinister is a way of using a set of spiritual giftsin caring.

Core Value 4Bear One Another’s Burdens: We need eachother to share our sorrows. A Stephen Ministerhelps a care receiver in a time of crisis to bringChristian love and encouragement. Godintends for us to be cared for and to not bealone.

If you would like a Stephen Minister to assistyou in a caring relationship, please call Dr.Anne Ledbetter (302-654-5214).

Core Values for Stephen MinistryEach church with a Stephen Ministry embraces core values related to that ministry, and Westminsterhas acted on such values in relation to Stephen Ministry for more than 20 years.

July/August 201112

2011 Financial Update As we enter the summer season and the midpoint of the calendar year, I write to update you on Westmin-

ster’s finances.

Through May 31, 2011, we have a budget shortfall of $75,000. Income is $45,000 below budget, and this islargely a result of pledges for 2011 falling short of our expected goal. Unless we have a surge in giving at theend of the year, as we did in 2010, this will be difficult to make up.

Expenses currently exceed budget by $30,000. Some of this is due to timing and will likely self-correct duringthe year. However, due to the difficult winter and some unexpected maintenance expenses, our occupancyexpense exceeds budget and may be difficult to bring within budget during the remainder of the year. Wecontinue to monitor expenses closely in an effort to meet budget.

On a more positive note, I am pleased to report that outside the operating budget, members have generous-ly supported beyond expectations One Great Hour of Sharing, the Japanese earthquake recovery, and Habi-tat’s fundraising to build two houses in memory of Chad Miller and his brother Chris.

Given the uncertain economy, Westminster reserved the 2010 operating surplus of approximately $55,000 tohelp cover any shortfall in 2011. That surplus has aided Westminster in meeting its daily expenses duringthe first half of the year, but it will not be adequate if contributions do not pick up. Moreover, using the sur-plus for the 2011 shortfall means that it has not been available as hoped for to supplement our property fundand benevolences, which were reduced in 2011.

Here is what you can do to help: • Make a pledge if you have not yet pledged.• Pay your pledge on a timely and full basis.• Continue your regular contributions.• Consider an increase in your 2011 pledge or contribution, if possible.

God has called Westminster’s members to pursue many important ministries on which a large number ofpeople inside and outside of Westminster depend. Please prayerfully consider how you can help sustain andgrow Westminster’s vital mission.

Clark CollinsConvener, Joint Finance Committee

13July/August 2011

Upload Your Picture to Our New Online MembershipDirectory!

Our membership directory is nowonline (and password protected),and your help is needed to make

it complete! Please log in and updateyour profile – you can upload photos aswell as provide more information aboutyourself, including activities, interests,business information, and more. Toaccess the directory, go to www.wpc.org,click on “Member Login” in the upperright corner, and then click on the greenquestion mark to get started. More infor-mation about the directory will appear inthe next issue of The Chimes.

Westminster’sAnnual Bazaar 2011

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4 (1:00 to 8:00 p.m.)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 (9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)

SETUP WEEK:October 30 to November 4

100%of the net proceeds earnedduring our bazaar are given

to mission causes that are important tothe people of Westminster. This year’sevent celebrates a WPC legacy of amaz-ing service and compassion that began in1886 when the Rodney Street ChapelWoman’s Missionary Society was firstestablished. Two of the group’s goalswere to encourage a greater interest inmissions and to deepen the spiritual lifeof members through prayer and service.

Today several hundred people make thismajor WPC mission fund-raiser a successby donating items to be sold, working ona bazaar committee, and helping duringthe week of the bazaar. Please contactSusan Williamson (302-478-1922 or susanwilliamson@comcast.net) or send anote to 123 Hitching Post, Wilmington,DE 19803 as soon as possible to say thatyou can help this year.

July/August 201114

Westminster’s backpack project helps students in need.

Despite the fact that it is early summer, before we know itthe stores will start filling up with ruled paper, marble com-position books, #2 pencils, pink rubber erasers…evidencethat the start of school is closer than we think! Buying schoolsupplies is always fun, and making sure you have the toolsyou need is an energizing rite of passage. Gathering thesesupplies is easier for some than others, so Westminster isteaming up with two local schools to help students in needgear up for the start of their academic year. To make thishappen, we need your support!

What is the project?

For the second year in a row, the Urban Mission and Mem-bership & Evangelism Committees have selected neighbor-ing UrbanPromise and East Side Charter Schools as therecipients of a total of 200 backpacks. These elementaryschools have a large percentage of students who qualify forreduced-cost school lunch, an economic indicator used toidentify students in need. The schools have provided a list ofsupplies most needed by students, and it is our job to fill the200 backpacks.

How can you help?

You can help in two different ways. First, you can purchasea set of supplies to fill one (or more!) backpack(s), place theitems in a zip lock bag, and deliver it to the church. Therewill be a large trunk available near the reception desk foryou to make your donation. If you would like, you can alsodonate $10 to cover the cost of the backpack that will trans-port your supplies to a student who will be so excited tostart the school year this way!

On the other hand, if shopping for school supplies is not onyour to-do list, you can simply write a check to cover thecost of the supplies ($10), or the backpack ($10), or both.Please make your check payable to Westminster Presbyteri-an Church and write “Backpack Project” in the memo line.

When will the project start?

This project will launch with ourVacation Bible School program onJuly 25. At that time, we will pro-vide everyone with the list ofschool supplies needed for eachbackpack. Supplies will be collect-ed over several weeks, and thepacks will be filled and ready to goby August 21.

What happens on August 21?

On Sunday, August 21, during our wor-ship service at 10:00 a.m., Westminsterwill host a Blessing of the Backpacks open to allmembers and visitors as well as neighborhood children.Children will bring their backpacks to church that day andour clergy will bless the packs and all of their cargo, helpingto launch the school year with God’s abundant blessings andthe love and support of our church family. At this time, wewill also present the 200 filled backpacks to representativesfrom UrbanPromise and East Side Charter Schools, who willdistribute the packs to students when they return in lateAugust or early September.

Who can I call if I have more questions?

Contact Karen Dietz (302-656-0343), Sue Linderman (302-239-7650), or Kris Qualls (302-652-7272) if you have anyquestions or would like to be part of the team filling thebackpacks and/or transporting the backpacks to the schools.

Thank you for joining the backpack team!

Thanks in advance for your support of this wonderful mis-sion opportunity. It is a project in which every member ofour church family can participate and one that will be asrewarding for all of us as it will be for the students at Urban-Promise and East Side Charter Schools.

Westminster’s July andAugust Mission Emphasis is

EDUCATION

WESTMINSTER’S BACKPACK PROJECT

CELEBRATES ITS FIFTH YEAR!

July/August 2011 15

Willie Eatmon, a freshman at Lincoln University, is studying physics and computerengineering. Willie has a GPA of2.7 and said, “The scholarship Ireceived gave me hope in a timewhere I thought my educationwould stop due to financial rea-sons.”

Nichelle Holland, a freshman at Delaware Technical andCommunity College, hopes tobecome a nurse. Nichelle said,“I am very grateful to have ascholarship to help pay for col-lege. When you consider thefact that none of my parentswent to college, we don’t knowhow to go about paying for it letalone how to afford it.”

Michelle Holland, a freshman at Delaware Technical andCommunity College, is alsoplanning to become a nurse.Michelle said, “Like my twinsister Nichelle, I didn’t comefrom a privileged background.An opportunity like college is ahuge gift, especially since col-lege wasn’t considered anoption in our family, neighbor-hood, or my high school. The majority of my siblings didn’tgraduate high school. I want to use my education to betterthe world by helping those in need medically and showing

my community that you can grow beyond negative stereo-types and low expectations.”

Layshawn Hemingway, a junior at the University of Mary-land Eastern Shore, has a 3.2GPA and is majoring in criminaljustice. Layshawn hopes to go tograduate school for counselingand stated, “I want to be a juve-nile counselor so I can help juve-nile delinquents get on the rightpath before it is too late.”

Shandy Perez, a junior at the University of Delaware, ismajoring in organizational andcommunity leadership with afocus in criminal justice. Shandysaid, “My goal with this degreeis to work with juveniles and beable to help them get their livesback on track once leaving thecorrectional system.”

Denise Commodore, a junior at Eastern University, has a 3.4GPA and is studying elementaryeducation. Denise asserted, “Thescholarship gave me hope andfocus. For the very first time inmy college career I was financial-ly cleared and able to register forclasses on time. Thanks to thisscholarship I was able to worryless about how I was going tofund the semester and more about my assignments.”

The WPC Scholarship/UrbanPromise College Retention Fund Program (WPCScholarship/UPCRF) was successfully implemented this past year, and the UrbanMission Committee has decided to continue the program with a $5,000 contribu-

tion. This scholarship fund provides financial assistance for students who have pro-gressed through the UrbanPromise mentoring and youth leadership training programs and are now engaged in post-secondary education. The fund was created to help “bridge the gap between costs and other funding sources (scholarships,summer jobs, etc.)” and to help prevent forced interruptions of education because of an inability to bear the cost.

Westminster recently received a lovely letter of appreciation and an impressive update about students who received financial assistance from the 2010/2011 WPC Scholarship/UPCRF.

By providing a variety of programs, UrbanPromise offers a ministry through education for Wilmington’s disadvantagedchildren and youth. UrbanPromise has a private Christian school for grades pre-K through 7 and a small private high schoolwith a focus on at-risk teens. There are also after-school and summer camp programs that provide a safe place for teens, aswell as young children, to have an array of enrichment experiences.

There are numerous volunteer opportunities at UrbanPromise. To become involved or for more information, contact NancyDoyle (302-636-9061 or nannydoyle59@aol.com) or Kris Qualls (ksqualls1@comcast.net).

WPC Scholarship and UrbanPromise in Action

July/August 201116

Overcast skies kept bike riders and supporters cool asthey spent the day at Tubman-Garrett Park in Wilm-ington on Saturday, June 11. The atmosphere, how-

ever, was anything but cloudy as nearly 200 riders pedaledthe streets of Wilmington and the Delaware Greenways insupport of Habitat for Humanity's annual Bike 2 Build event.This year's event organizers set the bar high with the goal ofraising $250,000, enough to build two new homes to honorthe memory of Rev. Chad Miller and his brother Chris, whowere tragically killed in a kayaking accident on June 9, 2009.Westminster was thrilled to host members of Chad andChris's family, including their parents, Paul and Ellie Miller,Chris's widow, Nicole, and their cousin Dustin and his wife,Sarah, who travelled to Wilmington for the event.

The Millers had the opportunity to get to know TamekiaMathias and Robin Baker, who will be working with Habitatto build their new homes with funds raised from this year’sevent. Darin Thomas, who will be the homeowner of thehouse built with funds raised from last year's event, also hadthe chance to meet the family. Senator Chris Coons attendedthe event and shared a beautiful prayer with the crowd gath-ered before the 15-mile ride. He reminded everyone thatwhile we cannot understand or make sense of a tragedy suchas Chad and Chris’s deaths, events like Bike 2 Build give usthe opportunity to do something positive for the future.

Many members of the Westminster community also volun-teered their time at the fabulous Westminster booth, whichhad lots of information about WPC, including color copies ofThe Chimes, information on upcoming events, sign-up forms

BIKE 2 BUILD

July/August 2011 17

for Vacation Bible School and the 5K Run/Walk in Septem-ber, and business cards with convenient contact and worshipservice information. Red helium balloons with the“WPC@125/Bike 2 Build” logos and an eye-catching pop-corn machine attracted attention from throughout the park.Our pastors, Greg and Anne, showed us they are in greatshape as they both participated in the ride as part of West-minster’s 40-person team.

Although the overall fundraising goal had not been reachedby the time the ride started, Habitat has raised more than$150,000, with donations still coming in. To date the West-minster team “WPC@125” has raised more than $42,000,well on the way to our overall goal of $50,000, which is theamount needed to fund our upcoming “Road Show Build.”

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more informationon that Road Show Build, coming Saturday, September 24,to Westminster’s front lawn! Those of you who participatedin our 2007 build at Westminster know what a terrific expe-rience it was; for everyone else, you have a real treat in store!This will be a great opportunity for Westminster’s members,visitors, and neighbors to learn more about Habitat's pro-grams and get some hands-on experience by framing out theBaker and Mathias homes on the church lawn.

Thank you so much to everyone – riders, donors, boothworkers, and planning team members – who contributedtheir time, talent, and treasure to make this year's event sucha huge success. Without their support and enthusiasm, thisevent would not have been possible.

A BIG SUCCESS

July/August 201118

WESTMINSTER VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZED BYHABITAT FOR HUMANITY

On Thursday, April 14, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County held its annual din-ner at the Chase Riverfront Center in Wilmington. This year, Habitat for Humanity ofNew Castle County marked its 25th anniversary as a vital force in providing affordable

homeownership in our area. Hundreds of local supporters gathered to celebrate past accom-plishments and look to the future, especially to the official launching of construction at the Mill Stone community to be builtat Vandever Avenue and Market Street in Wilmington.

Representatives from Westminster had the opportunity to sit at the dinner with Robin Baker and Tamekia Mathias, theprospective homeowners of the houses to be built with funds raised at the 2011 Bike 2 Build, dedicated to the memory ofRev. Chad Miller and his brother Chris.

It was a festive evening made possible by the dedicated staffof Habitat for Humanity, the countless hours of constructionwork by hundreds of volunteers, and the “sweat equity” ofthe prospective homeowners. A highlight of the evening wasthe awarding of the “2010 Volunteer Group of the YearAward” to Westminster Presbyterian Church. Accepting theaward on Westminster’s behalf were Teresa Lunardi, the lead-ing fundraiser for the 2010 Bike 2 Build, and Rev. Greg Jones.

We are grateful that our partnership with Habitat enables usto support community stabilization and homeownership insuch meaningful ways and we look forward to many moreopportunities to put our faith in action, making a difference inour community.

You will have agreat chance to sayyou built a house if

you mark your calendarfor Saturday, September 24, when members ofWestminster as well as the local community willbe framing two houses on the front lawn for ourHabitat for Humanity families. As mentioned inthe article about Bike 2 Build in this issue of TheChimes (see page 16), these houses will be dedicated to the memory of Rev. Chad Millerand his brother Chris. More than 100 volunteerswill be needed that day, so if you cannot hammer, perhaps you could check in volun-teers, hold boards, or help feed this army ofworkers. There is much to do to complete thisamazing undertaking, so when you see Bob theBuilder (Ralph Lewis) and his assistant Wendy(Camilla Jones) coming toward you in Augustwith a sign-up sheet, please say “YES.”

Picture Yourself With a Hammer

July/August 2011 19

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ESHARING OUR WEALTH

During the first week of June,Westminster donated furniture,kitchen supplies, linens, and tow-els to two women graduating from the Friendship House pro-gram and to a family of four from Family Promise. The furni-ture from our church garage was also made available to twoclients from our church who needed food as well as furniture.

Now that the garage is nearly empty, we are seeking addition-al donations of furniture and household supplies. If you haveaccess to a truck and would like to assist with pickup anddelivery of donations, please call Helen Walker (302-478-9022). Please remember that we are not a moving company and would appreciate your help in getting itemsto the church that you can put in your car or SUV.

GOING FAST!

There are only four more chances this year to prepare and serve lunch to hungry men, women,and children at Emmanuel Dining Room West, with one volunteer needed on July 4, one onSeptember 4, and two on October 4. Please contact Camilla Jones (302-421-9249 or camillagreg@yahoo.com)to sign up.

ANOTHER GREAT FAMILY PROMISE WEEK

Starting on Memorial Day weekend, Westminster hosted four grateful families in our class-rooms-turned-bedrooms for another successful Family Promise week. We welcomed three sin-gle mothers with a total of six children ranging in age from six to 16 years as well as a couplewith two young children who “graduated” and moved into their own apartment at the end of the week.

Many volunteers made the week go smoothly. We had several new overnight hosts – Donna and Fred Nel-son, Anne and Frank Waldburger, Donna and Chris Schultz, and David Klindienst and Art Aranilla. Davidand Art even provided dinner on their overnight shift – over and above the call of duty! Sue and GaryBryde, Marlys and Don Kerr, and Mary Lou and Charlie McDowell were repeat overnighters. The dinnervolunteers, also including Jane and Fred Iobst, Donna and Clark Collins, Elizabeth and Stephen Poole,Marylu and Roland Pamm, and a group from St. Stephen's Church, not only provided dinner but enjoyedeating with the families and helped clean up afterwards. As always, Jeanne Checkel was on hand mostevenings to supervise the kitchen and dishwashing – we could not do without her. Jeanne also did the shop-ping for the families' breakfast and lunch food. Carol Bova and her crew took care of the setup and take-down of the bedrooms.

Our next Family Promise week begins August 7, a time when many people will be away on vacation, so get-ting help that week may be a bit more difficult than usual. Would you (or you and a couple of friends) con-sider providing a meal for our families that week? You can contact Mary Lou McDowell (302-655-8662 orMaryMcDowell5@aol.com) if you want suggestions for easy meals. Dinner is usually served at 7:00 p.m.and is over, including cleanup, by 8:00 or 8:30 p.m. We also need couples to be overnight hosts. Duties arelight and easy – just be there!

Overnight hosts eat with the families and then read and relax until bedtime, with a 10:00 p.m. curfew for thefamilies. The next morning, the van leaves early – often 5:30 a.m. – to take the families to the Day Center,where they spend time looking for housing and employment. Overnight hosts often drive the van to andfrom the Day Center, but this is not a requirement of the job. We can always use additional van drivers ifyou would like to help in that way.

If you are interested in being an overnight host or van driver, please contact Marlys Kerr (302-654-2404 orMarlysKerr@aol.com).

Emily Bova delivers furniture to two women graduatingfrom the Friendship House program.

Pastors

Rev. Dr. Gregory Jones

Rev. Dr. Anne Ledbetter

Rev. Jill Getty

Chimes Creative Director

Nikki Thorn

1502 West 13th Street

Wilmington, DE 19806

302-654-5214

www.wpc.org

Next Chimes Deadline:

Monday, August 8, at 11:00 a.m.For the September 2011 IssueSubmission guidelines atwww.wpc.org/communications

SEE IT IN COLOR! THE CHIMES IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE IN FULL COLOR! VISIT WWW.WPC.ORG

July/August 201120

Westminster Presbyterian Church was certified asan Earth Care Congregation by the PresbyterianChurch (U.S.A.)'s Environmental Ministries on

May 19, 2011. This honor speaks to the great com-mitment that Westminster has to caring forGod’s earth.

To become an Earth Care Congregation,Westminster affirmed the Earth CarePledge to integrate environmental prac-tices and thinking into all facets of itschurch life and completed projects andactivities in the fields of worship, educa-tion, facilities, and outreach.

The Earth Care Congregation certification isdesigned to recognize churches that make thecommitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till andkeep” the garden.

“It is exciting that Westminster Presbyterian Church is ded-icated to stewardship of God’s earth. The congregation’s

actions and commitment are an inspiration topeople of faith who are answering God’scall to care for the earth,” said Katie

Holmes, associate for Environmen-tal Ministries.

The Earth Care Congregationsprogram was started in 2010 by PC(USA)Environmental Ministries. The goal of theprogram is to inspire churches to care forGod’s earth in a holistic way, through inte-grating earth care into all of their churchlife. The Earth Care Congregation certifica-

tion honors churches that make that com-mitment and encourages others to follow

their example.

For more information about Westminster’s Earth Careprogram, contact Anne Ledbetter (302-654-5214 x124).

For more information on the Earth Care Congregationsprogram, go to www.pcusa.org/earth-care-congregations.

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ISCERTIFIED AS AN EARTH CARE CONGREGATION!