How to Get Involved |
"… one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully…" II Cor 9:6
Getting involved at Westminster is not so much a question of how, but how to choose from the many possibilities. There is something for people of all ages, all talents, and all amounts of available time. And Westminster depends on you. Prayerfully consider how you might give of your time and talents to your church community. (See essay below from 1999 Stewardship brochure.)
The best thing you can do is to contact one of our pastors, Betty, Rebecca (especially for youth) or Jack or our Director of Christian Education, Nancy (especially for Sunday School). They can discuss with you your particular needs and interests and they know where the needs of the church are most pressing. This Web site can be informative, but is just a good starting point for the personal contacts that make a church run.
The Time and Talent Sheet that is distributed during the annual stewardship campaign is a good place to go to look at a wide range of activities at Westminster. Many of the items are described on the Web site under Committees and Commissions, Serving at WPC, Serving Beyond WPC. For church jobs that center around the worship service (like ushers, flowers, lectors, etc.) see responsibilities. Once you have identified a group or committee, you could refer to the Contact People page for an associated name and phone number.
Sunday School An ideal way to get involved. You are
already at church for worship service (right?). All of the classes offer
ample opportunity for discussion and you will get to know a group of fellow
students quite well. Do not worry if you are not a talker. Quite students
fit in just fine (and are often considered wise! (See Proverbs 17:28) Do not
worry if you are still in first grade in your knowledge of the Bible
and/or theology. Most likely you will be in a group that includes others in
the same boat. You do come to the class with your life's particular
concerns and celebrations and spiritual needs. Also don't worry about
joining a class mid-stream. It's not a problem. (more
info)
Mid-week Bible study classes. Again an ideal way to
get to know a particular group of fellow students. The classes are designed
to foster fellowship. Many lasting friendships had their beginnings in these
classes. (more info)
Supper clubs Great get-togethers with an emphasis on
fellowship (and good chow). (more info)
Yard clean-up days All ages! (more
info)
Inter-faith
Hospitality Network, Habitat for Humanity, Flood
Relief
Athletic Teams Women’s Retreats Men’s Breakfast Fellowship WWW.Adults
This is just a sampling. Committee work is a great way to get to know some committed folks. Again take a look at the various Groups.
Still wondering? Give Betty, Jack, Rebecca or Nancy a call!
Essay from 1999 Stewardship brochure: The Church Home If you haven’t already done so, look through the Alive booklet or browse this Web site. It is abundantly clear that life at Westminster is teeming with an amazingly rich variety of activities: worship, nurture, outreach, stewardship, fellowship and education, accompanied by all those memorable unplanned moments that defy categories, those things that make Westminster uniquely yours. Where does this rich fabric of activity come from? Does it come from the staff? Of course. A lot does. But as hard and as competently as they work and as many hours as they put in during a week, for each one of those hours many more hours are put in by member volunteers. We have a staff of fewer than 10, even including part-timers. But consider: we have over 40 Sunday School teachers teaching 14 classes, 50 Stephen Ministers, 34 Church Officers, each with particular responsibilities, 40 different Committees, over 100 Activities itemized on the Time and Talent sheet! The list could go on. You get the picture. Does it come from your financial contributions? Of course. A lot does. The church will spend about $700,000 on its operations and benevolences this year. This can be thought of as the "life blood" of the church. But it does not begin to constitute the whole body. No money comes our way when we teach or wipe runny noses or pull weeds or welcome or listen or reach out. If we think of the totality of the Westminster enterprise as "equity", then it is largely sweat equity! The picture is starkly clear. A prodigious amount of what Westminster does is done by the staff and financial contributions. But the lion’s share of the meaningful, down-in-the-trenches discipleship of the church, those things that the church is called to do, is done, as it must be, by each of us. Making It Our Church Home The church needs us for its vitality. We came to Westminster looking for a church home. We can do that by getting involved in the work (and play!) of the church. Join others in sprucing up the grounds, delivering Meals on Wheels, serving on a committee, teaching a class, singing in the choir, acting in a play, joining a supper club, chasing kids on the playground, cooking pancakes … Step up! Join in! |