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Mission Statement

Mission
Westminster Presbyterian Church is a multiracial congregation called by the radically inclusive love of God in Jesus Christ to ministries rooted in grace-filled hospitality, social justice, and transformation.

Vision

A commitment to a spirit of welcome for all people that knows no boundaries to inclusion and welcomes all gifts and talents in works of worship, ministry, and service. (Grace-filled hospitality)

A commitment to identify and dismantle all the ways we are impacted by systems of oppression and to partner with neighbors to do the same in our city and beyond. (Social Justice)

A commitment to challenge and nurture the congregational community in body, mind, and spirit. (Transformation)

Values

Inclusion: Justice: Service: Learning: Community:

Inclusion:
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people’” (Luke 2:10). The good news of Jesus Christ is for all people. In Jesus, we are called into community where our diversities are welcomed, celebrated, and no longer the source of division and hostility (Galatians 3:27-29). Race, gender, nationality, class, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ability, or other aspects of our God-given humanity are meant to be celebrated and will never be used as a barrier to full participation in Westminster’s worship, ministry, and service.

Justice:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). Knowing that God has made us all one in Jesus, we must actively resist the powers of the world that seek to divide us. Racism, including white supremacy, sexism, nationalism, classism, heterosexism, and ableism are systems of power that oppress people and hold us captive. They have no place in the Church or in the rest of society, and we are committed to resisting these powers wherever we encounter them, until justice flows down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).

Service:
“Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs’” (John 21:15). Jesus calls us to love him by loving and caring for our neighbors. Throughout his ministry, Jesus attended to the physical and spiritual needs of people by feeding them, healing them, and teaching them. The Spirit gives us each different gifts and calls us to use those gifts in love to serve our neighbors (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

Learning:
“And a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him’” (Mark 9:7). With Jesus as our teacher, we are called to love God with hearts, souls, and minds and to serve as witnesses to the good news of Jesus Christ (Matthew 22:37). As we learn from and with each other, through worship, study, and fellowship, we grow in faith and love.

Community:
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1). From the founding of the church, the followers of Jesus were called into community. Jesus calls individuals to follow, but never to follow him alone (I Corinthians 12:14). We are called to live in community with each other, recognizing our interconnectedness and mutual responsibility to support and learn from each other.

Following the risen Christ, and seeking to make the Church a true community of hospitality, the mission of More Light Presbyterians is to work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people of faith in the life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in society.

“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.”

― James Baldwin

Westminster in a Minute…

Sunday, April 18^th

Third Sunday of Easter

Schedule of Events

9:30 – Adult Discussion Class: Caste:

The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.

11:00 – Worship

Scripture: Luke 24:36b-48

Message: “Witnesses to These Things”

12:00 – Zoom Session Meeting

Information on each can be found in the announcements below

Announcements

The Adult Discussion Class will continue its discussion of Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. We will be talking about Chapters 4,5, and 6.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/99195541873?pwd=c3lIa2hSRlRZQU12VzNhdm9sVmFUdz09

or call: 312 626 6799

Meeting ID: 991 9554 1873

Passcode: 485781

You need not have read it to participate.

Here is a link to the book (Kindle or hardcover) at Amazon

Wednesday:

Topic: Lunchtime Bible Study – What does it mean to say Jesus died for us?

Time: Noon

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/94739016002?pwd=YWYwa0R6cUUxeEJYaUhSV0tSQjZ4Zz09