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9 am – 12 pm June 19-23

VBS is quickly around the corner. We need youth and adult heroes to help with Hero Hotline Vacation Bible School! We need Pre-VBS Prep Help & Decorators, Registration Helpers, Crew Leaders, Bible Story/Drama Participants, Craft Station Leaders, Science Station Leaders, Music Leaders, Recreation Leaders, Preschool Leaders & Snack Helpers. Contact Jill Reichert TODAY to let us know you can be a HERO, too!

Westminster is extending its Campus Ministry partnership to Cheyney University. Founded in 1837, and located less than 4 miles from WPC, Cheyney is the first Historically Black College and University in the nation. In September 2022, Cheyney Received PA Hunger-Free Campus Certification in recognition of its efforts to combat food insecurity. However, students have many needs, particularly with non-food items. During the month of April, Westminster will be collecting: toilet paper, paper towels, tissues (these are not provided to students on campus),

laundry pods, feminine products, packaged snacks and drinks. Please drop off donations in bins located in the Heckert Center (Near Cafe 10 West) or mail to the church. Questions? Contact Ann Hatfield

10:45 am Sundays, April 23 – May 21 • Hybrid (Spellman Jr & Zoom)

In this five week hybrid series with Dr. Manfred Brauch, we will seek to engage the Old Testament, as well as to be engaged by it. We will survey the story of Israel and its faith traditions via an overview of its “birth” over the course of a 2000-year history, the content of the Old Testament, the great variety of its literature, its history and cultural contexts, its major themes, its importance for our understanding of the New Testament, it’s problematic dimensions for the Christian faith, and its continuing significance for Christian faith and life. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Jennie Clark.

April 23          Introduction

A Historical overview of Israel’s story and its faith traditions — within the larger context of the history of the ancient Near East — as expressed in the great variety of the “Library of books” that make up the Old Testament.

April 30          The Cultural/Social/Historical Contexts of the OT

In this session we will explore how the OT reveals that Israel’s history and faith traditions contain both aspects of it’s historical-cultural contexts and ways in which her faith, her understanding of the nature and purposes of God stands over against aspects of that context.

May 7             The “Problem” of the Old Testament

There are matters within Israel’s faith traditions and history – as articulated within various parts of the OT – that have raised serious issues and indeed objections throughout Christian history. Already within the OT, there are significant voices, especially in the prophetic literature, which raise objections to, and in some cases reject, theological convictions and religious/social practices in earlier eras of Israel’s story. That “critique” continues in the teaching and practices of Jesus and in the writings of his earliest followers. That reality raises the question: What are the implications of this “internal critique” for Christian life and faith and for our understanding of Scripture as “Word of God”?

May 14           The OT is Indispensable for Christian Faith and Life

Much of the New Testament is inexplicable apart from the faith traditions of Israel in which the NT is grounded, and which it completes. As Paul puts it, “Christ is the end (goal, climax, completion) of the law.” (Romans 10:4). We will explore the continuity within the unity of the Old and New Testaments.

May 21           The God of the Old Testament

In this final session we will explore the central understanding of the nature of God and God’s purposes for human life, as these emerge from the various dimensions of Israel’s faith traditions. It turns out that “the God of steadfast love and faithfulness”, revealed in the pages of the OT, is indeed the God whose nature is fully and completely disclosed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and that “the way of Jesus” is indeed the “way of Yahweh”.

A big thank you to everyone who kindly donated socks to the annual Sock It To Us Drive. This year we collected 1,820 pairs of socks! We will distribute them to Tick Tock Early Learning Center, St. Agnes Day Room, CYWA Gateway Shelter, Chester County Migrant Ministries, Atkinson Men’s Shelter and Broad Street Ministries.

For the past 20+ years Westminster collected winter coats. This year we decided to pivot and collect new Warm Winter Blankets (Twin or Full Size preferred but Queen accepted too) from October 15 through November 5. We will distribute the blankets to Chester County Migrant Ministries, Safe Harbor, the Community Warehouse, West Chester Food Cupboard, the St. Agnes Day Room, and Prevention Point of Philadelphia. Blankets can be dropped off in the bins around the building or ordered online at Amazon, Walmart or your favorite retailer, and sent to the church directly at 10 Pleasant Grove West Chester, Pa, 19382. Questions? Contact Laureen Smith.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is a community on a mission to Know Christ and Make Christ Known! Knowing Christ creates abundant life for us and for all the world, we are called to thrive and to help our neighbors thrive. Currently, 89.6% of our operating budget is supported by your annual gifts and pledges. Your pledge helps our leadership plan faithfully and responsibly for the future year at Westminster. We pray you consider increasing your pledge in 2024, if you are able, we challenge you to work toward a tithe (10% of your income).

Commitment Sunday is this Sunday, October 22. We will joyfully celebrate and dedicate all our gifts in support of our mission. You can pledge online, mail your pledge card to the church, or bring your pledge card with you this Sunday. Thank you for being a part of Westminster and our life-affirming work of Knowing Christ, and Making Christ Known and for all the ways you support Westminster and share abundant life together. Questions? Contact Sandy Kurek.