Presbytery has approved the congregational mission study. This study serves as background material for the Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC). They will use it to prepare their documents to be submitted for the search for the next Head of Staff. So, it is on to the next step of the interim process. And that is good news. Stay tuned, we will keep you informed.It seems to me the month of March is a...  Read More

In the brief space of five days the incremental pledges received have surpassed our initial goal. In fact, WPC is now on its way toward meeting the stretch goal.All this in about five days. I will defer to the weekly Friday email “thermometer” to supply the accurate numbers. You are responding to Session’s invitation to join them in making incremental pledges.I have been involved with a number of ...  Read More

During the annual meeting a question was raised concerning the elimination of the paid choir choristers’ positions. Would the paid choristers be restored? Let me fill out my answer a bit more. This drive is a whole church life and ministry focus. Quite frankly, it would be a shame to raise enough to restore the paid choristers while we then don’t have enough to maintain our current pastoral and ad...  Read More

I think challenges are, generally speaking, a good thing. A significant challenge can grow the strength of our perseverance. Once we make our way, by God’s grace, through a challenging time, we find we have learned and grown and discovered a deeper strength. In that way a challenge can refine and prove the authenticity of our faith and commitment.Yesterday WPC members received an email detailing a...  Read More

We celebrated Ash Wednesday this week. The Season of Lent has begun. While the four weeks of the season of Advent prepare us for the joyous celebration of the Messiah Jesus’ birth. Lent prepares us for the celebration of Easter while reminding us of the cost of our salvation.The season of Lent is a time for personal reflection in preparation for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. It is a ti...  Read More

Our first reading for the 10:00 service this Sunday is Matthew 7:7-11. It is the ask-seek-knock set of verses. In these verses, Jesus is encouraging his followers to persevere in prayer.“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”Jesus then f...  Read More

Our first reading for the 10:00 service this Sunday is Matthew 7:7-11. It is the ask-seek-knock set of verses. In these verses, Jesus is encouraging his followers to persevere in prayer.“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”Jesus then f...  Read More

Each year about this time congregations fill out statistical reports for the PCUSA. One of those stats is reporting the number of people on the membership rolls. That membership number contains a number within a number.There is an official number, which for WPC, is around 900 or so members. While that represents the official number of folks on the rolls, the truth is we have about 550 of the 900 w...  Read More

Updates are important. You have probably received notifications on your cell phone that an update is available for you to download and install. That may also be true for any software you have on your computer at home or at work. Updates keep the software current and running well.Updates are also important for congregations. They take a different form but are just as important. This Sunday, followi...  Read More

I have to admit I am not one who loves January. I know there are people who really enjoy winter and snow and such. Others escape January by embracing the Snowbird life. Then there are those of us who are not thrilled with winter but cannot escape it.I have a choice each January. I can complain about the cold, short, dark days of winter. However, I strive not to choose that option. Here is the opti...  Read More

I hope you all enjoyed a good and happy Christmas time. We have crossed from 2023 into the first week of 2024. Is it too early to mention Easter? I have a friend whose faith is deep. Whenever I see him, he greets me, “Happy Easter!” He does so no matter the time of year; spring, summer or fall, his greeting is, “Happy Easter!” For him Easter is all the time. I always return the greeting to him.Let...  Read More

I’ll begin with the wish which you’ve probably already guessed. Becky and I wish you all a very merry Christmas! May your travels be safe and your hearts fuller than your Christmas stockings! May you rejoice in the festive hope of Christmas. To us a Savior has been born.Now the question. Remember, 70 -85% of people who visit a congregation come because someone in that congregation invited them. Ch...  Read More