Westover View Westover Hills Presbyterian Church July 2021
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7/1/21, 10:13 AM Westover View Westover Hills Presbyterian Church July 2021 https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 1 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Picture of Cedar Creek Falls at Petit Jean by Jane Estes. The mighty power of the falls is a symbol of the mighty power of God, and of God's Church and creation. We at Westover Hills are reawakening after the COVID-19 slumber. WHPC Session Notes Session Notes – May Meeting Rev. Carl McCormack moderated the May 2 session meeting, held via Zoom. Session removed, with regret, Betsy Barnes, who has been confirmed in Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, from the church roll. Treasurer Tammy Pflug reported that pledges are coming in at a good rate and we are meeting our financial obligations. The total amount contributed to One Great Hour of Sharing is $5,800. Session voted for the following: Change the time for adult Sunday school from 5:00 pm to 9:00 am. The time change will take place on May 16; for the time being, the class will continue to be conducted via Zoom. Approve the following safe, non-contact fellowship events: 1) Sunday, May 23, Fellowship Committee will offer a pre-wrapped Pentecost treat to worshipers after they exit the sanctuary. 2) Sunday, June 6 – the committee will provide drive-by lunch to go. Pay, from Preschool funds, bonuses to regular and substitute Preschool staff. Change the time of in-person Sunday worship, which has been 10:25 am for many years, to 10:30 am. https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 2 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Approve the Ministry Information Form prepared by the Pastor Nominating Committee. A second Automated External Defibrillator (AED) will be placed in the Gathering Space, near the kitchen and the gym. The Personnel Committee will meet by August to do annual staff reviews and recommend compensation and benefits packages before the church budget is developed. Sid McCollum reported that the Westover Men cannot recommend the reopening of the Farmers’ Market until new federal COVID-19 guidelines are issued for farmers’ markets. The Session discussed initiatives to “green” the church grounds and referred the effort to Property & Maintenance and Worship & Arts. Session Notes – June Rev. Carl McCormack moderated the June 4 session meeting, held via Zoom. Treasurer Tammy Pflug reported that in May we received $18,296.28 in pledge receipts and $4,683.50 for the building fund. The year-to-date total for the building fund is $44,913.95 toward an annual budgeted amount of $70,320.00. Total revenues for the first five months of the year are 51.62% of the budgeted total for 2021. $1,257 has been contributed toward the Presbyterian Women's Birthday officering. Eileen Joyce reported from her attendance at the June 5 virtual meeting of the presbytery: https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 3 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM · Two women were enrolled as inquirers and one as a candidate for ministry; · The property of First Presbyterian Church of North Little Rock, though the congregation is closed, is being considered as a site to be repurposed for worship, community gathering space, and an apartment building; · In support of the “congregational vitality” emphasis in the Matthew 25 focus, Rev. Jason Tucker, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Red Bank, NJ led worship and a theological discussion. Fellowship Committee plans to sponsor an outdoor Sip and Chat in July. Mission & Advocacy Committee reported that $63.83 of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering was contributed by way of our children’s fish banks. Preschool Committee reported that Play Days, with 60 enrolled, are beginning June 8. Enrollment for Fall 2021 is at 70 children (compared to 56 for Spring of 2021). Presbyterian Women are preparing for the August Treats and Treasures sale. Worship and Arts https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 4 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM People, in clockwise order- Pastor Carl McCormack and Liz Branch. Pentecost Sunday – The Birthday of the Church https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 5 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM People, in clockwise order- Pastor Carl McCormack; Courtenay Jackson; Ann Patterson & Max Snowden; and Christiana Eseme-Kuwong. We gathered! We rejoiced at being together again. We worshiped and, thanks to the thoughtful planning of David Austin, we listened to beautiful music. We heard live, inspired preaching from Pastor Carl. We participated together in the timeless Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time in a long time. We wore red masks for Pentecost, but our masks could not hide the smiles hidden below those protective coverings. We were blessed by our Fellowship Committee with special Pentecost treats following worship. In weeks to come, the Reopening Committee hopes to move us into more familiar phases of worship, but until then we all rejoice that we are moving in a positive direction. https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 6 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM People, in clockwise order- Charlie & Charlotte Frith; Laura Whitmore; Adrienne Kulousek; Janice Mitchell; Nancy Passini & Alex Thomas, Tom & Donna Callaway, Nancy Blackstone, Charlotte Frith, and Alice Ahart. A New Type of Communion Westover Hills typically celebrates communion with each individual proceeding at the appropriate time to the front of the sanctuary, tearing off a small piece of bread from a loaf held by an elder, and dipping the https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 7 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM piece of bread into a cup of grape juice held by an elder. The virus pandemic has caused us to change our pattern since we have started attending church in person. The loaf of bread has been replaced by a delicious gluten-free wafer made by Terry McCormack, wife of Pastor Carl. The wafer is in a very small Ziploc bag and the grape juice is in a small sealed container similar to a coffee creamer. Both elements are available for pick up at a table inside the sanctuary. When Is A Box Not A Box? When is a box not a box? When it’s a bed slat! At least that is what our oak collection box inside the Sanctuary began life as. Its journey began about 20 years ago, 25 miles west of Little Rock at Ferncliff https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 8 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Camp and Conference Center. The campus was expanding to the east and a part of the new camping experience was sleeping in the Tree House Cabins. These cabins, among other things, had a ‘fireman’s pole’ like a fire escape and seven-inch wide solid oak bed slats in the bunk beds! Fast forward to the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-21. The Re-Opening Group began meeting in April 2020, with the mission of planning to re-open the church when it was safe to do so. A part of that planning was not to be passing collection plates, for obvious reasons. The idea of having two collection drop boxes was finally agreed upon and Ray Stephens volunteered to build the boxes – and here is where the bed slats reappear in the story. During the pandemic, Ferncliff reduced its staff significantly and relied on a lot of volunteer assistance. One of the weekly volunteer groups, The Amigos (made up mostly of Westover Hills men), was tasked with repurposing the Tree House Cabins into a play area for the Nature Pre-School, which had moved from one side of the Ferncliff campus to the other. This meant tearing out all the bunk beds, and anything else that a little person might possibly encounter as a safety hazard (even the fireman’s pole had to go). Long story short, old rough-cut oak was available for re-use. An ample amount of wood was selected, and the project was started and then disaster struck! In the space of one week, a major cleanup of the woodshop was ordered and all of the project wood was hauled to the burn pile. We began over and scrambled to find enough oak to create one dropbox. If you examine the oak box carefully, there are only two pieces of wood that are cut from the same length of the board – the two pieces which are https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 9 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM laminated together for the top. Everything else is different. The box has character, a phrase used many times during construction. Ray would be remiss not to mention with gratitude fellow church member Randy Perryman and Ray’s friend at Ferncliff, Steve Mitchell. Randy opened his woodshop and routed the edges of the box, managed to miter the slot in the top, and gave invaluable advice on selecting and applying the finish. Steve Mitchell held Ray’s hand through the early rough phases of the construction. Ray could not have done this without them. The “Bed Slat Box” is Ferncliff’s gift to us at Westover Hills and further solidifies our bond. And the other collection box? When wood for the second box went to the burn pile, Ray retrieved enough birch plywood from scraps destined for the burn pile. Randy also helped put the finishing touches on this box. Last, but certainly not least, thank you to Kay Stephens, who lined the boxes and put up with Ray’s disappointments and surly temperament, especially when, the week before Pentecost, his Type A personality wanted everything to fit just so. And thanks be to God for the love of woodworking and for the sense of awe and reverence that it brings when the common bursts forth in beauty. https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 10 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Christian Education Christian Education for All Ages The Christian Education Committee is continuing to oversee virtual Sunday school. Just to give everything Covid-related a chance to continue to settle down, meeting in person is something we may propose after several more weeks. Nancy Passini continues to see to the educational needs of the https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 11 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM children. Adults are meeting via Zoom at 9:00 am on Sunday mornings (watch the CareLine for details on how to connect to the class) and are in the midst of a stimulating discussion of religion professor and Episcopal priest Barbara Brown Taylor’s book Holy Envy, an expression that Taylor uses to describe the ways learning about other religious traditions strengthens, rather than threatens, her own faith. Liz Branch is leading this discussion, which will continue till August 1. We’re also gearing up to promote the 2021 Cotham Lecture events, to be offered virtually by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine and coming up on September 12 and 13. Please mark your calendars. Levine will speak during worship on Sunday morning, the 12th, and again that evening, and once more Monday evening. She has taught New Testament and Jewish Studies for many years and is a gifted interpreter of Christian writings and traditions, speaking from her perspectives as a Jewish woman. Presbyterians 101 Class For an upcoming class called “Presbyterians 101,” the CE Committee is interested in questions you have about the Reformed tradition, Presbyterian beliefs and practices, and/or Westover traditions. Here’s your chance to ask about the Weird and the Wonderful! Send questions to David Stricklin at dbstricklin@sbcglobal.net or call and leave a message at 501.223.2894. Fellowship Ramadan Fast-Breaking Dinner on Saturday, May 1 https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 12 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM The gracious invitation below was for all of us at Westover Hills in May, and a number of us accepted the invitation. “Iftar” is defined as “the meal eaten by Muslims after sunset during Ramadan.” Photos show the tasty meal that our Turkish friends prepared for us. You are cordially invited to the Arkansas Culture and Dialog Center Fast-Breaking Dinner - Drive Thru Bring non-perishable food items for the Arkansas Foodbank Pick Up Your Iftar Dinner on Saturday, May 1, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Drive Thru Pickup - Arkansas Culture & Dialog Center 1501 Market Street, Little Rock 72211 https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 13 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Sack Lunch Sunday, June 6! https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 14 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Photos: Nancy Passini and Deanine Rogers – Top Left Donna Callaway – Top Right The Westover Hills Fellowship Committee sponsored a free “Sack Lunch” immediately after worship on Sunday, June 6th. The plan was to distribute the sack lunches outside, but because of the weather, tables were set up in the narthex and attended by Nancy Passini, Deanine Rogers, and Donna Callaway. Each sack lunch contained a sandwich (turkey, ham, PB&J, or pimento cheese), chips, fruit, and cookies, all items individually wrapped, as well as a bottle of water. Members took them home and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Thanks, Fellowship Committee! Life Quest Spanish Class Mexican Brunch Charlie Frith has been taking the Life Quest Spanish Class taught by Marcie Smith for over 15 years. Because of the pandemic, the spring session was offered via Zoom. On the last day of the Zoom class on May 20, everyone met at the home of Charlie https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 15 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM and Charlotte Frith for a Mexican Brunch. Everyone brought a Mexican dish and the food included the following: · Breakfast quesadillas with sour cream, scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheese · Mexican Rice · Sopapilla cheesecake · Fruit salad · Guatemalan black beans · Guacamole dip and chips · Cerveza The weather was delightful, and everyone ate on the deck with beautiful flowers and a waterfall in the background. Picture of Charlie and Charlotte Frith's beautifully thriving backyard. Mission and Advocacy Committee https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 16 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM El Zócalo and Women & Children First – MAP Projects During the month of May, Westover Hills members donated $480 to support El Zócalo, a local non-profit mission for immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador. The El Zócalo program offers social services, resources, and educational opportunities to help immigrants adjust to our United States culture. Two Friday afternoons in May, Alice Ahart, and Eileen Joyce worked alongside volunteers from El Zócalo to pack and give food boxes to recently immigrated families in need. Some of the El Zócalo volunteers shared about their lives and families in Mexico as we worked. It was a heart-warming experience and made us keenly aware of the struggle and commitment required to come to a new country, learn the language and assimilate into a different culture. During the month of June, the Mission and Advocacy Committee is requesting donations for the purchase of fresh fruit for children and their mothers who are being sheltered at the Women and Children First house in downtown Little Rock. We purchase fresh fruit and deliver it to the shelter; the weekly deliveries are greatly anticipated and welcomed. A Birthday Wish Planned a Party for Stewpot Thanks and Happy Birthday, Jason! On May 14, our diners enjoyed a big hotdog cookout in the First Presbyterian Church parking lot. The whole idea came about due to a volunteer’s birthday wish. Jason Benbrook wanted to do something special for our diners that involved personal contact and his charcoal grill. We all sang “Happy Birthday” to Jason but the party turned out to be for our diners. https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 17 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM So Friday morning a big crew of volunteers hauled tables, ice, potato salad, chips, hotdogs, and all the trimmings downstairs for a wonderful treat. We even had soft drinks and ice cream for dessert. The aroma of grilling hotdogs drew lots of attention even before lunch began. About 150 diners came through the line on Friday. We were all able to see, greet and bless our diners in person after a year of pandemic. Special thanks to Bryn, Bridgett, Kay, Nancy, Sherry, Nette, Lynn, Chris, Tricia, and of course Jason. Additionally our Ben E. Keith representative Nay Phillips came down to help serve ice cream. Thanks to Charlie for photographing the event. Ed got to supervise and set up since he had experience in Parking Lot Pizza Days. We are planning another event around the 4th of July. Watch for details! To view a short video of the event described above, click on the button below. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=OkBrkZZT138 https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 18 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Summer Fun Kicks off at Vera Lloyd! On Saturday, June 19, the Vera Lloyd youth and staff from the Monticello Campus traveled to central Arkansas for a visit to Ferncliff Camp. The day included a rotation of camp activities (archery, boating, fishing, etc.) and concluded with some relaxing time in the pool. Vera Lloyd asked for volunteers to assist with grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for the evening meal. WHPC provided $250 from the Pettus House account to buy hotdogs, hamburgers, buns, chips, cookies, and drinks. Charlie Frith and Ray Koone along with Ray’s son- in-law and two grandsons met around 3:30 to grill the hotdogs and hamburgers. Charlie and Ray and Ray's son-in-law (Tim Whitlock) and grandsons Luke, a junior majoring in biomedical engineering at U of A and Wilson, a recent graduate from Arkansas Tech, are shown in the photo below. https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 19 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Presbyterian Village Auxilliary https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 20 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM The Presbyterian Village Auxiliary met for the first time in over a year. Thank you to Westover Hills Presbyterian Church for hosting our meeting. We want to give the churches an update from Presbyterian Village (PV). Visitation has resumed at the Village with some guidelines. Lodge, Cottage, and Residential Care residents can have two visitors at a time visit in the resident’s room or outside. The only open entrance is the main entrance by the flag pole. Masks must be worn and all visitors are screened. Guests may not visit in common areas or https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 21 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM attend activities at this time. Pets and children under 10 are not allowed for Lodge or Residential Care residents. If you would like to visit a Health Care resident, call Robin Dickens* to schedule a visit and go over the Health Care Center visitation guidelines. Tours of the facility have also resumed and four new residents moved into the Lodge last month. If you or a loved one would like a PV tour, contact Debby Spradlin.* It is our hope that we can start back with the Auxiliary socials sponsored by each Presbyterian church this fall. Once approval has been given, the Auxiliary will contact each church to schedule their month’s social. If you have any questions about volunteering at Presbyterian Village, you can contact Jessie Gray, Activity Coordinator.* PV phone number is 501.225.1615 Preschool Update https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 22 of 35
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7/1/21, 10:13 AM Preschool News The 2020 - 2021 Preschool year ended with great fanfare. All the kids enjoyed a sweet treat to celebrate the close of school. And, we are beginning summer play days which promises lots of fun in the sun. Preschool Summer Activity Starts Jun 8 - https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 26 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Caution Continues To limit possible contamination and at the request of the Preschool, the Reopening Group asks that all persons enter the Education Building through the upper-level nursery hall door or the lower level Gathering Space door. Please continue to take and record your temperature and register your presence on a sign-in sheet. Let's do our part in keeping children and staff and healthy. Do you shop at Kroger? Is your Kroger card linked to Westover Hills Preschool community rewards? (The bottom of your grocery receipt will show to whom you are linked.) Kroger will donate $.05 for every grocery dollar that you spend to the recipient of your choice. Check it out by going to the Kroger website http://www.kroger.com and click on “rewards” to choose the Preschool to receive the Community Rewards bonus. It will not affect your discounts or gas points. Last year Kroger donated $199.41 to the Preschool; can you help increase that total? Your help is appreciated! Call Shawn Mittledorf at 501.666.0880 or Laura Whitmore at 501.416.5559 if you have questions. Presbyterian Women (PW) News Treats and Treasures 2021 https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 27 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Friday, August 13 marks the return of Treats and Treasures (TNT) to Westover. It is the 12th annual event (we aren’t counting last year when we had a worldwide pandemic pause). According to TNT co- chair Betty Glenn, the Presbyterian Women’s Preview event is a little different this year. “Because of Covid, we are skipping food and libations. We have also changed the time and will now open the doors from 4 pm-7 pm. The ticket price is $10.00 at the door.” As of this writing, patrons will be asked to wear masks. On the Westover website, (westoverhills.org) the church’s Covid policy for services and events is updated as protocols change, and we will follow WHPC policy at the time of our event. “Treats and Treasures is always a great shopping event and lots of fun!” Co-chair Mary Lois Stanfield adds, “Our annual ‘Big Sale’ starts at 7 am on Saturday, August 14, and runs through 3 pm. It’s a wonderful place to get furniture, garden tools, holiday items, and books. You can also pick up kitchen items for that new apartment at great savings. We hope good weather and great prices will bring everyone out to support PW’s community outreach programs." https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 28 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Through Sunday, August 1, Kay Stephens will be accepting jewelry for the TNT sale. All other items can be brought to the church beginning July 31st. If you need the jewelry to be picked up, please call Kay at 501.225.0491. If items are dropped off at the church, please let Kay know so she can pick them up and not clutter the church office. If there is room under the PW box, items can be placed there and Kay will pick them up. Volunteering at Treats & Treasures (TNT) TNT is a church-wide event that requires many volunteers to be successful. From prepping the donated treasures to cleaning after the event’s end, it is a massive effort, with countless hours of fun (and occasional frustration). If you can spare some time, please contact Betty Glenn at bettycarl@sbcglobal.net or Mary Lois Stanfield at merrystanfield@aol.com Dates and times for volunteering are as follows: Saturday, July 31 – donation drop-off, 10 am-2 pm https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 29 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Sundays, August 1 & 8, noon-3pm August 2-12, Mondays - Saturdays, 9 am-3 pm Tuesday and Thursday, August 3 & 5, 5-7pm Please bring your gently used items to donate: Westover Hills Presbyterian Church Saturday, July 31, from 10am-2pm Drive by our Fellowship Hall on South Rd. & volunteers will unload your car & hand you a receipt for your contribution. Then come and shop with us 12th Annual Treats & Treasures Preview Fellowship Hall, Friday, August 13, 4-7 pm Tickets at the door $10.00 Treats & Treasures Sale, Saturday, August 14, 7am-3pm FREE EVENT https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 30 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Details: www.westoverhills.org https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 31 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM The updated covid policy for Westover events is on our website at www.westoverhills.org for the current policy in effect for building entry. https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 32 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM Incarcerated Update On June 10, literacy volunteers Eileen Joyce and Kathy Rateliff (Carolyn Nash was out of town) made their way back to the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility (jail) for the first in-person classes since March 2020. The students were excited to see “live” people rather than “zoomed” ones. The men’s class is reading the memoir, Reading with Patrick, by Michelle Kuo. It’s the true story of a young Harvard grad who comes to Helena, AR to teach school through the Teach for America program. While horrified by the poverty of Phillips County, she tries to introduce the students to literature and history. One student, Patrick, touches her heart. After she leaves to attend law school, she learns upon graduation that Patrick has been arrested for murder. She returns to Helena to spend time sitting outside his jail cell, and they read classics together. The literacy class is engaged in a writing assignment that is linked to the book and classroom discussions. The women’s class will focus on group dramatic reading, incorporating new words into their vocabulary, and reading and reflecting on stories written by incarcerated women. Poetic Justice at McPherson Women’s Unit in Newport is finishing up the first distance learning session. The women’s writings will be published over the summer in an anthology. Plans for in-person Poetic Justice group sessions (two hours once a week for eight weeks) will begin as soon as the prisons reopen to volunteers. The teen art program continues at the Pulaski https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 33 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM County Juvenile Detention Center, twice a month through the summer months. If you or someone you know would be interested in volunteering for this program, please contact Kathy Rateliff at: aspasiacat@mac.com Honoraria Memorials May-June 2021 Nancy Evans - Gifts all for Music from: -Ray Koone -Kay and Ray Stephens -Presbyterian Women Richard Ezell - Gifts all for Music from: https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 34 of 35
7/1/21, 10:13 AM -Eileen Joyce -Donna & Tom Callaway -Ann Bell -James King -Laura & Fred Whitmore -Judi King -Joyce & Bill Smith Blanche Hethcox - Kay and Ray Stephens for Building Fund Westover Hills Presbyterian Church | 6400 Richard B. Hardie Drive, Little Rock, AR 72207 Unsubscribe {recipient's email} Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by office.westoverhills@gmail.com powered by Try email marketing for free today! https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/dashboard/home/ Page 35 of 35
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