Christian Education News . . .

Join us at TuesdayNightTogether – beginning February 14^th.

Food, Fun, and Fellowship for all ages!

2^nd & 4^th Tuesdays at 6:00 – 8:00pm through April 24^th

6:00pm   Light Supper  Suggested Donation: $2 ($5 per family)    (in the fellowship hall)

6:30 – 8:00 pm   Activities for All Ages

(childcare provided in the nursery for children, ages infant to Kindergarten)

Kid’s Club  (grades 1 - 5)   Led by Pastor Christine Long   (in the fellowship hall)

Youth Fellowship  (grades 6 – 12)

Led by Lara Crutsinger-Perry, Youth Ministry Coordinator   (in the youth room)

For Adults

“Sustainable Faith”  led by Linda Bell   (in the chapel)

“How Much Is Enough?”  Parenting Class led byDonna Burkhart  (in room 8, CE wing)

Conversation and Craft Fellowship, facilitated by Phyllis Ryan  (in the library)

For a full description of these classes see the Adult Christian Education Brochure or church website.

Sunshine Preschool News . . .

The year began with children making winter crafts and wishing for some snow.  In fact we made fake snow for them in our sensory box.  But we did not have to wait too long to experience the real thing a few weeks later.  They came back to school after that with many stories about that eventful week and we played with more snow in our playground.  We thought about how animals and birds live in the winter and made rice cake bird feeders to help them out.

This month we also talked about pets and some children brought their pets in for show and tell.  They continue working on the zoophonics curriculum and do many number and science activities.

It has been our desire this year to start a scholarship fund, to help young families financially while having enough resources to run a good program.  I am happy to let you know that some of our preschool parents have spearheaded the “Cup of Sunshine” coffee fundraiser, selling different varieties of coffee from Olympic Crest Coffee roaster.  We will have more information about it soon and hope our congregation will support us in this effort.

Now as our children prepare to celebrate Valentines Day, we wish God’s warm love to surround our church, our preschool and our lives.

Dinali Dhammapala, Director of Sunshine Preschool

Request for Acolytes

Worship ParticipationOpportunity

for Children and Youth

The acolyte is the person (usually a child or youth) who lights the candles at the front of the sanctuary during the beginning of the service and extinguishes the flames at the end of worship.  Our ushers are available on Sunday mornings to help the acolytes with instruction and lighting the brass candle lighter.

Sign-up Directions:

• Children and youth of any age may participate.  Children 3 to 5 years of age may need a parent to participate with them.
• There are sign-up sheets on the bulletin board in the narthex next to the library.
• There is a spot for 9:00am and 11:15am worship services.
• Please assist your child/youth to sign up.
• Please sign up for only one Sunday so that many have an opportunity to serve in worship.  If we end up with empty spots we will call or email those already signed-up to add another Sunday.
• If you need to trade dates, contact the family of another child/youth on the list for the date you would like.
• If you need to cancel due to illness or emergency, please contact me by cell phone (360-259-9595) or e-mail (ctlong@wpcoly.org).

Please contact Pastor Christine Long with any questions.  Office: 360-357-5750 /        Cell: 360-259-9595 / E-mail: ctlong@wpcoly.org

Pastor Christine

New Member ClassOpportunity

We have tentatively scheduled a New Member Class for Saturday, February 25^th from 9:30am until 2:00pm.  Lunch will be provided.  Please contact the church office or note on your Friendship Card at worship if this date works for you and if you would like to participate in this class.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call the church office or talk to Pastors, David or Christine.

The New Member Class gives you the opportunity to meet new people and learn more about being Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian Church.

See How Our Garden Grows

Westminster is starting a garden!

This spring Westminster Presbyterian Church will be starting aCommunityGardennext door on the former Boulevard Nursery site.  Now isn’t that appropriate?  It will be small in scale consisting of four raised beds – sort of a Pilot Project.  The food grown there will be donated to the Thurston County Food Bank.

We are currently looking for people who are excited about this idea and would be interested in the planning phase of this project.  You do not have to be a gardener in order to get involved, although we certainly welcome those of you with green thumbs.  There is a lot to do for people with a variety of interests and abilities.  We also would like to encourage people of all ages to participate.

Our first informational and planning meeting will be held Sunday, February 26^th during the Sunday School hour in the fellowship hall.  Come one, come all.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Carol Vannerson at 280-5718 or carol.vannerson@comcast.net

Carol Vannerson

for Mission & Fellowship

“Golden Delicious” Invites You

Come join the Golden Delicious Group for after-church lunches (or dinner) once a month, usually at a local restaurant.  Sign up at the Golden Delicious table located in the narthex and prepare for a good time of fellowship and conversation.  Coming events are as follows:

Sunday, February 12th, 12:45pm

                             Black Bear Restaurant

                            955 Black Lake Blvd SW

                             Hosts:  Dave and Lillian Clark

Sunday, March 11th, 12:45pm

                             The Garden Room in

                                         Panorama’s Chambers House Restaurant

                             Hosts:  Jim and Beverly Nielson

If you have questions, please give me a call.

Charlotte Petermann, 456-4137

for Golden Delicious Group

For and About Our Members and Friends . . .

Our prayers and sympathy to the family of Naida Banker.  Naida died January 25^th, 2012 and had been a member ofWestminster since 1962.

Our prayers and sympathy to the family of Cay Martin.  Cay died January 20^th, 2012 and was a member ofWestminster for fifty years.

Our prayers and sympathy to the Sandy, Carly and Makenzi Crouch following the death of their husband and father, Larry Crouch.  Larry died February 6^th, 2012.

A memorial service will be held for Larry atWestminsterthis Saturday, February 11 at 3:00pm

You are invited to celebrate with Zona Mae Brink on her 90^th birthday.  There will be an open house Saturday, February 11^th at theVistaVillageCommunity Center from 2:00-4:00pm.  You are asked to wear red and “no gifts” please.

You may sign up for Friendship Dinners until February 14^th.  Please call the church office or sign up on your Friendship Card this coming week in worship.  If you have questions, please callJoan Schlect at 456-4674.

Camp Quixote, Olympia's homeless camp, is running short of volunteer hosts through February at the First Christian Church downtown, 701 Franklin St SE.  If you can help, please check the host calendar at http://sites.google.com/site/campquixoteoly.  Or, you may call Jill Severn at 753-2095.  The Camp is grateful for your support. 

As the new year begins we know that many church activities continue with the same schedule and others are added or changed.  Please contact the church office with your meeting information so that we can keep our calendar up to date.  It is especially important to know who is meeting when and where so that we can adjust our new heating system schedule as needed.