October 11, 2020

 
Dear Westminster Community,

The year 2020 has left most us wishing we could see the end of it as soon as possible.  It has forced many of us to frequently ask ourselves some very difficult questions. How we are going to make it? Or, what are we going to do if/when…?  Yet, facing trials and difficulties of all kinds is nothing new for the people of God.  And when those moments come, it’s never really the tragedy that defines them, but how they respond.

Westminster too, felt the hardship of this year.  Yet, we responded the way a faithful church always does; by reinventing itself and taking every opportunity to do work.

Nobody wants to live this year again.  But through it, we have become keenly aware of the redemptive work that God does all the time.  Bringing joy from sorrow, creativity from destruction, blessing from cursing, support from hardship, and hope from our despair.  Perhaps the Apostle Paul said it best:
 
“We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces
endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. This hope
doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts
through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
 
I want to say thank you.  Thank you for walking through this tough year with us.  Thank you for your participation, volunteering, and giving to make all that we do possible and worth-while. I trust that you have been blessed in your giving as you have seen the fruits of your gifts and labor be a blessing to others.
 
In this packet you will find a few things:  a narrative budget which gives an easy to see snap shot of the ministries of Westminster, an electronic giving form if you need to change that information or sign up for the first time, material about our endowment, a card to sign up for our Stewardship thank you box, opportunities to volunteer, and a pledge card for you to give thoughtful consideration what you will give to the work of God through Westminster in 2021.
 
It is our hope that you would give not only to sustain the ministry we are able to do together, but to also consider increasing your gift so that we can enhance our in person and online worship, create even better activities for our kids, youth, and adult education, and continue to look for more ways to serve each other and our community.
 
Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all,
 
Pastor Daniel Voigt
And
Stewardship Committee
 
 
P.S.  Let me also encourage you to consider coming or tuning in to our Worship Series in October where we will consider the question, How do we respond?, to all that life can throw at us.