FAITH IN ACTION

Surrey Services Honors Wayne Presbyterian For Sustained Support

On May 10, 2023, WPC was welcomed into the Jeanne La Rouche Founders Society at Surrey Services. This is awarded to supporters who have donated over $100,000 to Surrey since their beginning in 1981. To quote Surrey, “We would not be where we are without the remarkable generous spirit and foresight of the Wayne Presbyterian leadership and congregation over the years. Thank you for being our champion.” Scott Laird, chair of the Faith in Action Committee, accepted the award on behalf of WPC. Many WPC members have also been significant leaders and generous donors to Surrey over the years. Learn more about Surrey Services for Seniors at surreyservices.org.

Please Pray For Mitchell School Students And Leaders

Our CityLights partner in Southwest Philadelphia, Mitchell Elementary School, is facing some new challenges as the school year concludes. A finding of asbestos at the school led to an emergency closure which prevented students from returning following the Spring holidays. The school will be closed for the remainder of the year. Following three weeks of online learning, students now meet at Mitchell in the morning to travel by bus to McMichael School, losing an hour of classroom instruction each day. This means the last 30 days of school are in an unfamiliar place with not enough space for normal school functioning, and many activities such as WPC’s tutoring and library programs are on hold. Families, teachers, and students alike are being asked to be resilient and patient in an already difficult environment. Please pray that students will find comfort in their new environment, and the courage and energy to keep learning, and that teachers and administrators have the strength and perseverance to continue their work.

Member Spotlight

HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY

TO DR. CHARLOTTE ROWLAND, M.D.!

Charlotte Rowland was born May 12, 1923, and grew up in Nanticoke, PA. She earned her undergraduate degree at Bucknell University and her medical degree at Temple University as one of three women in her graduating class. Charlotte met her future husband, Harold, during her residency in pathology at Philadelphia General Hospital. They lived for 50 years in Wayne, where Harold was the family doctor whom our senior members at WPC fondly remember. Charlotte and Harold raised five children – Harold, Fred, Kathy (McCracken), Ann (Welsh), and Marion. Charlotte helped her husband with dictation in the office and went back to work when the youngest child, Marion, was three. She worked as a pathologist at Bryn Mawr Hospital, retiring in 1988.

As a retiree Charlotte volunteered at the Radnor Library and tutored at a school in Philadelphia. She was active in the League of Women Voters and Bible Study. She enjoys film, reading, and bridge. Charlotte has been a member of Wayne Presbyterian for about 65 years. Charlotte has 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and lives at Brightview Senior Living in Devon. Her entire family celebrated her birthday with a party at a hotel in Conshohocken.

Our deacons love to recognize significant birthdays of our members. Please visit the Member Portal to make sure we know your birthday!

COMPOSTING TO HELP CONTAIN WAYNE PRESBYTERIAN’S CARBON FOOTPRINT

At its meeting on April 18, Session voted in favor of a motion by Faith in Action/EarthCare to engage the services of Mother Compost to pick up organic waste from the church. Founded in 2018, this local company picks up compostable materials from commercial establishments and residences and delivers it to a high temperature, industrial composting facility at Linvilla Orchards in Media. Composting simulates nature’s waste management design, and thus represents a significant step in WPC’s quest to be a better steward of God’s creation.

A wide range of organic waste will be collected from WPC: vegetables and fruits, coffee grounds, meat,

EARTHCARE TEAMS WITH CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES TO LEARN ABOUT COMPOSTING

To begin to inform the congregation about our new composting initiative, Children’s Ministry and EarthCare jointly sponsored a program for young children and their families on Sunday, April 30. Mr. Gene Linkmeyer from Mother Compost gave a presentation for both children and adults on the mechanics, the logic, and the many benefits of commercial composting. The children very quickly grasped which materials are compostable and which are not, and they were happy to learn that the compost would help to grow the apples they enjoy. As a sweet treat during this “Sundae Sunday” program, all enjoyed

Update From Session

Your Session continues to meet often to move forward with many initiatives to improve church operations, realign leadership, initiate the pastor search process, and provide service and care to our members and community. We conducted a series of six Visioning Sessions where members and staff were invited to learn about the strategic framework we have created to guide our church forward. We shared information about our discernment process and the vision, mission, guiding principles, and strategic objectives that will focus our work for the next 12-24 months. We asked attendees to share questions, concerns, and ideas throughout the presentations and urged them to join task forces to help accomplish our goals. Our strategic objectives are as follows: seafood, eggs and dairy, condiments and oils, paperware, e.g., used coffee cups and plates (as long as they are not waxed), napkins, pizza boxes, and wooden and bamboo utensils. Look for labeled receptacles for compostable material in the church kitchen and the office kitchenette. Not accepted are coated cardboard, foil and wraps, and plastic. Given that approximately 50% of typical municipal garbage is compostable, the EarthCare team is optimistic that, by separating organic waste, WPC will be able to decrease the amount of trash that is incinerated or ends up in a landfill. ice cream with favorite toppings – in compostable bowls, properly placed in the new compost receptacle at the end of the afternoon.

If you are interested in getting involved in our EarthCare ministry, please contact Rutger Boerema (rutgerboerema@yahoo.com) or Pamela Jensen (jens0581@umn.edu). As an EarthCare Congregation, WPC is always looking for new and more sustainable ways to care for God’s creation.

1. Call a permanent Senior Pastor/Head of Staff

2. Grow and Revitalize Membership

3. Attain Full and Aligned Staff Operations

4. Support/Engage Young Demographics; Align to Multi-Generational Intention

5. Budget and Staffing/Program Alignment

6. Improve Session Governance and Effectiveness

We will summarize all feedback from the sessions in a report that we will share with the congregation and use to shape our planning and priorities.

Visit waynepres.org/resources and to find links to the full Visioning Session presentation and Session updates.

Music

Another Joyous Season In Music

Throughout Holy Week, the Sanctuary resounded with expressions of musical praise, from the Children’s Choir on Palm Sunday through Maundy Thursday’s moving Service of Darkness to the resurrection joy of Easter morning with brass quintet, handbells, and Chancel Choir. He is risen indeed!

The Children’s Choir worked hard to prepare for their exciting Palm Sunday performance. Under the leadership of Kirsten Santos Rutschman, the group of 12 children ranging in age from Kindergarten through 5th grade, met weekly on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. (prior to Joyful Noise) from February through April. These young singers do add a very special element of glory and praise to our worship!

On Youth Sunday, graduating seniors preached about how their experience in Westminster Choir has drawn them closer to their Wayne church family and to God. In addition, youth shared their talents in instrumental preludes and postludes.

Westminster Choir Wraps Up A Great Year And Celebrates Graduating Seniors

Early May marked the last day of practice and the annual trek (a few doors down!) to Capri Water Ice for the members of the Westminster Choir.

The Wayne Oratorio Society filled the Sanctuary with joyful performances of Beethoven’s Mass in C and Will Todd’s jazzy Mass in Blue on April 22 and 23.

Sunday upon Sunday, the Chancel Choir has sung truly inspiring music this past year. As the program year draws to a close, we extend heartfelt thanks to Matt Lista for directing since September and Paul Fleckenstein for accompanying since January.

Do you like to sing? Summer Choir begins June 18. No need to sign up in advance; just meet in the Sanctuary any Sunday at 9:10 a.m. to learn an anthem for the 10:00 service. Beginners and experienced singers alike are welcome, including high school youth.

Before Summer Choir starts, don’t miss Bell Sunday (June 4) and Orchestra Sunday (June 11). After the postlude, try ringing a bell – ensemble members will tell you about the wonderful musical fellowship of ringing in a bell choir. If Orchestra Sunday leads you to reflect fondly on playing an instrument in the past, please consider joining in the Fall.

The Director of Music Ministries search committee welcomes prayers for wisdom in reviewing the applications for our new Director.

New members are welcome in our Sunday ensembles. Please contact Kirsten at kirsten@waynepres.org or (610) 688-8700, x227 for more information about our vocal choirs, orchestra, and handbell choirs.

Under the leadership of Interim Director of Music, Dr. Kirsten Santos Rutschman, and helper, Sarah Ziegler, Westminster Choir has been blessing our congregation with their beautiful singing over the past school year. Most of the choir, including Sarah Ziegler, have been a part of WPC choirs since they were three or four years old, or when their families moved to this area in their elementary school years.

Please join us in congratulating the four graduating seniors: Sam Armstrong, Adam Bernholdt, Gavin Slate, and Lily Thompson! We wish them all the best in college and beyond and hope to see them performing with the Westminster Choir family during their college breaks.

If you know of any 6th through 12th graders who are interested in having fun with other youth and singing beautiful music in worship, please contact Kirsten Santos Rutschman at kirsten@waynepres.org.