Thank you for your gifts to last Sunday's "Soupper Bowl of Carig."  Westminster gave $49.37, which will provide food through the ministry of the Agua Fria Food Bank.

Kevin Holmes and Andrea Hopkins began their married life on Saturday, January 30 with a wedding and reception at Westminster.  Congratlations!

Sunday School classes are going great and we are beginning to learn about Advent and the meaning of Christmas.

We still need someone to help in the classroom. If you are interested, please call the church office (602-274-2122).

Marcia Weiland

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is responding to this earthquake through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and its partners. Presbyterian World Mission is gathering information on the safety and status of our mission personnel and ecumenical partners in the area. For updates on the earthquake and the church’s response, please visit PDA. Initial reports indicate a large number of casualties and widespread damage especially in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

You, too, can be part of God’s answer to prayer for those affected by this disaster. Information on the situation and prayers and worship resources are available through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Funds from One Great Hour of Sharing are already helping with the initial response. You can give to the ongoing relief through PDA account number DR000064. Gifts can also be made by phone at (800) 872-3283 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (EST) and checks can be mailed to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA  15264-3700.

 One Great Hour of Sharing

 Jesus said "Do you love me? Feed my sheep."

More than 60 years ago, in response to the devastation of World War II, a Saturday evening nationwide broadcast asked Americans to give generously the next morning in their churches. A remarkable variety of national leaders and celebrities gave their efforts to the broadcast, and more than 75,000 churches responded.

Since that first Sunday of "One Great Hour of Sharing", churches everywhere have set up offerings to ease hunger, assist disaster programs and give needed funds to homeless and under-developed individuals and countries.

For at least the past 10 years, the offering has received about 20 million dollars among the denominations. All funds collected reach out to worldwide causes. None is kept in individual congregations.

For our part, the Presbyterian Church USA, sponsors 3 programs — Self-Development of People, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Westminster’s session has proposed to give to OGHS on Easter Sunday. Members and friends of the church have special envelopes in their offering boxes. Additional envelopes will be provided and placed in the pews.

Beginning Sunday, March 14^th and continuing through Easter, inserts in our worship bulletins will highlight ministries involved in the program. The gap between those who have enough and those who do not continues to widen, so we are urged to respond to these messages by giving as much as we are able on Easter Sunday. Thankfully, Presbyterian churches have a history of generosity. There is no reason to believe, even in these difficult times, that we shall disappoint in 2010.

Checks should be made out to our church. Thank you!