Dear Westminster Presbyterian Church Family,

Please read on for an update from the Session’s September meeting.

WESTMINSTER PARK UPDATE

Charlie Kelly, Ruling Elder and Park Committee Chair, presented an encouraging report on the ministry happening at Westminster Park. Bright Side Youth Ranch, a local ministry that provides equestrian therapy to children who have experienced trauma, utilizes unused acreage in our Park for trail rides. We encourage you to take a few minutes to watch an impactful video of how Bright Side Youth Ranch is specifically using our Park to share the gospel with children in our community.

Our 300-acre property along the river is a gift to the community, welcoming thousands of visitors each year. To keep the Park beautiful and well-maintained, we rely on the help of volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering at Westminster Park or in any of our other ministries, please visit wpcgo.com/volunteer.

MISSION COMMITTEE UPDATE

Rev. Jonathan Taylor, Pastor of Congregational Care and Missions, recommended that funding support for local and domestic missions be overseen by the Missions Committee, which already manages our Faith Promise funds. As a reminder, any funds given beyond what is required for global missionary support are used for local missions. The Missions Committee uses a thoughtful and reliable process for evaluating support requests, and will now apply this same approach to local missions. The Session unanimously approved this change.

OFFICER CANDIDATE COMMISSIONS

It is almost time to elect new officers! Each year, the congregation nominates qualified, godly men to serve as your elders and deacons. These men are trained and interviewed by the Session to determine their calling to serve as church officers. The Session will form commissions to interview men who will stand for election in December. Please keep an eye out for a notice of a congregational meeting to vote on new officers.

PRESBYTERY DELEGATES

You may not be aware, but our church is part of a larger body of churches in the York County area, Fellowship Presbytery. On Thursday, September 25, several members of our Session will be attending the quarterly meeting of our presbytery. Rev. JT Hoover, Pastor of Families and Children, will be moderating this meeting. Please be in prayer for our elders as they manage the business of the presbytery and seek to care for churches in our area.

SESSION RETREAT

On September 5–6, the Session gathered for an in-town retreat with guest preacher Joe Novenson. The weekend provided valuable teaching, prayer, and fellowship, allowing our elders to grow in wisdom, unity, and spiritual maturity. We are grateful to Pastor Novenson for leading us and for sharing God’s Word with the congregation on Sunday morning.

PRAYER

During the meeting this month, your elders devoted extended time to prayer, praising God for His faithfulness and seeking His guidance for our church. Prayer is central to the work of the Session, reminding us all of our dependence on the Lord, uniting us in purpose, and keeping the ministry of Westminster grounded in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Please stay tuned each month for continued updates from the Westminster Session. If you have questions about any of the items mentioned in this monthly update or want more details, please email wpcsession@wpcgo.com.