Finding A Place At The Table

Worship at West on Sunday, Feb 3

At West Church this Sunday we will have a special opportunity to reflect on our own responses to God's call in our lives, and to celebrate the ways that some in our congregation have answered God's call to serve.  4 members of West were recently involved in a mission trip to New Orleans  to help rebuild homes and lives.  Despite the time that has passed since Katrina, the Gulf Coast still struggles in the aftermath of flooding.  We will hear about this trip on Sunday during the Service of Worship.

In addition, we will install new officers who will serve on the Session.  These men and women were elected by the congregation last November, underwent a period of study and preparation, have been examined by the session and now they will begin their active service on the session upon their installation on Sunday. 

As we welcome new officers, we also will be offering thanksgiving for the gifts and leadership of those who are rotating off active service.  Our congregation's life is richer because of the gifts these members have shared through their service on the session.

Installing new officers, saying thanks for those who are rotating off, and hearing about a mission project to New Orleans encourages us all to ask ourselves how God calls us to respond to God's love each and every day.

Spending $720 Million Per Day?

How individuals, churches and nations spend their economic resources says a lot about priorities, about who and what we trust, and about the vision we have of who we are called to be.  What does the $720 million we spend per day on the war in Iraq say about our priorities?  What does it say about who and what we trust and about our faith and hope?  There's a  video from the American Friends Service Committee that looks at what the $720 million spent per day on the war in Iraq could fund.  Watch the video.  How do you think we should be spending  $720 per day? 

Carl Mazza for GA Moderator

Carl Mazza, Director of Meeting Ground, was recently nominated by a unamious vote of New Castle Presbytery  for the post of 218th Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).  Learn more about Carl's vision for our church by checking out his page on the  Meeting Ground web site    There you will find some of his motivation for seeking the post, some biographical information and links to some of his writings.  Carl also has a blog,    Carl's Blog   in which he says he hopes that it can become a forum for his stand for moderator. 

Scruples and Departures

Recently there have been a couple of developments in our denomination that are of interest to those of us who are working and praying for a denomination that is inclusive and just. On January 15 the Presbytery of San Francisco approved Lisa Larges as "ready for examination with departure". Read more about this on TAMFS web site. See also More Light's statement and the Covenant Network of Presbyterians statement about this historic decision.

Lisa has been a candidate for ordination for 22 years. Although this is not the end of her journey toward ordination, it is a very significant step towards it, and towards that day when the Presbyterian Church truly welcomes all of God's children to serve the church and the world with the gifts God has given. 

The Presbyterian News Service reports that Presbytery of the Twin Cities restored the ordination of Paul Capetz as minister of word and sacrament. Capetz had laid aside his ordination in 2000.  According to the Presbyterian News Service, in asking for his ordination to be restored Capetz declared a "scruple" indicating that he could not affirm G-6.0106b  because it would require homosexuals to take a vow of celibacy if they wished to seek ordained office.  He indicated such vow is inappropriate because a person's sexuality is "inescapable"  and that a vow of celibacy would create a "false kind of works righteousness" according to the Presbyterian News Service.     The Presbytery of Twin Cities declared that his scruple did not constitute a failure to adhere to the essentials of reformed faith and they restored him to the exercise of ordained office.

Welcome to Our Blog

Welcome to West Church's blog.  We  plan to  use this blog to share news of our church's life and mission, and to share information about issues and organizations that are near to our heart as a faith community.  From time-to-time there may be devotional material posted here and perhaps even a sermon or two as well.    We invite you to check out our church's web site often.