Musings from Mark…

I have pondered what words to place on the website in the area called “Greetings from our Pastor.” I was caught up wondering how to express a proper word of welcome, and at the same time try to communicate something about the nature and beliefs of our community. When I shared this dilemma with a member she responded that it would actually be quite simple.  Her response, as I recall, went something like this: ‘I can think of no more appropriate word of welcome for the site than what you say each week at the beginning of worship.”

Hearing those words was a real “aha” moment for me. So that is exactly what I propose to do.  What follows is the essence of the weekly greeting. I say essence because the exact wording may change but the message does not. Here is the message of welcome, grace, we have come to know through Jesus and we offer it as a message of welcome to all who come across our place on the web.

“Good morning. It is my pleasure to welcome you here in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we gather in this place to worship God, to hear the stories of our faith, to sing songs, and extend hospitality and reconciliation, If you hear nothing else than the simple great good news that God has called you by name and loves you more than you can even think or imagine, than you have heard the most important message: Grace.

As you leave this place you are going to encounter all sorts of messages about your value and worth that are based on things like: Your income, where you live, your race, your gender, your sexual orientation, and (being St. Louis specific) where you went to high school, and many more.

 

 

When you hear these messages if any of them do not affirm your identity as a beloved child of God, those messages are lies. And because there are so many messages that do not affirm this identity, we need to hear this repeated regularly.

When we really hear and receive and believe this message it is then we can whole heartedly give thanks and say Amen!”

So we invite you to come and hear this great good news we proclaim and seek to live out each day. Make sure to stop by our place on the web and see the new ways we are working to share our story.

Peace and Grace,

Mark

 

The Westminster Staff

Reverend Mark Bradshaw-Miller
Pastor & Head of Staff

LaMesha Brown
Office Manager
(Photo to come…)

Mark
Custodian
(Photo to come…)

 

Our Choir

Music is at the heart of our congregation.

The Chancel Choir leads the congregation in singing each Sunday September – June. This Choir is open to all who want to share their musical talents and give praise to God through singing music of different styles and periods.

Westminster Bells is a handbell choir that enhances the worship services several times during the year. This choir is open to all who read music and would like to ring a bell. Westminster has a wonderful 3 manual pipe organ with a façade that graces the front of the sanctuary.

Westminster Concert Series comprises of 6 – 8 concerts that are presented on Sunday afternoons. The concerts are free to the public with only a free will offering taken. The concerts have featured: members of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, solo instrumental and vocal programs, chamber music, and choirs.

Faith-building at Westminster

Adult Education
The Sunday morning adult class meets at at 9:30 A.M. This class studies the Bible as well as current events. There is always lively discussion.

Children’s Church
Children ages 4-10 are invited to participate in Children’s Church immediately following the time for Children. The class is using a Curriculum called “We Believe” In includes core stories from the Old and New Testaments, as well as appropriate session for the seasons of the year. The children will also receive ‘take home’ sheets to encourage continued learning at home… These sheets make it easy to ask your children what they learned in Sunday School.

Nursery Care
Sunday morning Nursery Care is available for children under three should you wish to take advantage of it.

 

Westminster works

Union Communion Ministries
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Joining Hands Against Hunger
Visit: http://www.pcusa.org/hunger/jhah/peru.htm
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Grace and Peace Winter Night Shelter for Women
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Presbyterian Women
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Family Dinners
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Adult Explorers
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Film/Book Clubs
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Concerts
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Our Partners

UCM Vision: Neighbors and congregations living in caring community.

Member Congregations: Pilgrim Congregational Church, United Church of Christ; Union Avenue Christian Church, Disciples of Christ; Westminster Presbyterian Church (P.C.U.S.A.)

Goals: To build a thriving, healthy community in which member congregations and neighbors partner to strengthen one other. To strategically allocate the resources and energies of Union Communion Ministries to all forms of outreach ministry, including direct services and systemic change. To structure Union Communion Ministries in a well coordinated, simplified, and effective way, so that congregation members and neighbors clearly understand the vision and mission of the ministry. To engage neighbors and members of the three churches in vital new ways of outreach that will be central to congregational and Union Communion life.

To call people to new depths of faithfulness through Union Communion Ministries, so that outreach ministry may become a means for evangelizing new and current members, and for bringing God's healing to all. Union Communion Ministries is a non-profit corporation that seeks to revision the mission of its predecessor organization, Joint Community Ministries, a voice
in the Union/Delmar community since 1966.

 

Affiliate Links:

Presbyterian Church USA

Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery

Synod of Mid-America

Better Family Life, Inc.

Ivory Perry Park Concert Series

Central West End Association

Union Avenue Christian Church

Pilgrim Congregational Church

MCU/CACI

Urban Ministry

Racial Justice

Restoring the Core

 

      Westminster
      Presbyterian Church
      (PCUSA)
      5300 Delmar Blvd.
      Saint Louis, MO 63112
      (At the corner of Union
      and Delmar)

      Ph: 314-367-0900
      Fax: 314-367-0999

      (Contact Us:)
      westminster@sbcglobal.net

Sunday Morning Worship
(Weekly)
11:00AM.

Summer Worship
(June - August)
10:00 A.M.

Sunday Schools
(September - May)
9:30 A.M.

Outreach Ministries

• Union Communion
  Ministries
  
• Joining Hands
  Against Hunger
• Grace & Peace Winter
  Night Shelter for Women
• Meal-A-Month Program
• Family Dinners
• Adult Explorers
• Community Concerts Series