THE WESTMINSTER VOICE
Westminster Presbyterian Church
2921 Airport Boulevard
Mobile AL 36606
(251) 471-5451
Helping you answer God’s call!
NOVEMBER 2009


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The Teaching Elder
By David C. Mauldin

Thanksgiving Day is a strange anomaly in our secular culture. It survives as a holdover from the days when Christianity was a dominant force in American life. Giving thanks requires both someone to say thank you and someone to thank. That second part almost implies the existence of a higher being. After all, if there were no God, whom would you thank? Yourself? Your parents? Your employer? No one in particular?

The origin of Thanksgiving goes all the way back to the pilgrims. On December 13, 1621, they invited their Native American neighbors for a feast and gave thanks to God for preserving them through a difficult journey and hard first winter. In 1789, President George Washington declared a national “Day of Thanksgiving to God.” President Abraham Lincoln later followed this example and set aside the fourth Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving. Presidents continued this tradition up until 1941 when Congress permanently established the holiday. I am not sure when the NFL first put football on Thanksgiving Day.

Most anyone who bothers to reflect on all the good things in life will probably feel grateful. Feeling grateful makes us want to thank someone. Is the existence of gratitude in our hearts one more clue that ought to point us to God? Maybe so. None of us is as grateful as we ought to be, but what do you do with that gnawing sense that you have more than you deserve? Could that be your soul desiring to thank your Creator? Christians will say, “Yes, of course.” I wonder what others say.

I hope there is never a move to do away with Thanksgiving. I doubt there will be, because it is the sort of holiday that can be cleansed of any significant religious content. It can be about family and football—and shopping, naturally. Thanksgiving is good for the economy. It can be about a vague sense of gratitude that doesn’t necessarily have an object. In other words, we can give folks the day off to be thankful without worrying whom they thank, if anyone. That’s too bad. I would rather Thanksgiving be so religious that it would offend people. It ought to be so much about God and belief in his providence that it could not be sanitized for a secular society. At one time Thanksgiving was a way we as a nation acknowledged God’s role in our common life. I mourn the loss of that.

I am in favor of the separation of church and state. Let me tell you why: because the state always messes up the church. Can you imagine if the mission and priorities of the church were set by politicians? One fears to imagine it. At the same time, I am against the separation of politics from values. What does that mean?

Think of it this way: Laws and public policy always have a purpose. They are meant to do something. And, they are meant to do something good. They are designed to achieve some good purpose in society. But what is good? How do we define good? How do we know when we’ve achieved it? That’s where values come in. A person’s basic beliefs about what the world is like and the values that grow out of that picture determine his or her answer to the question “What is the good?”

Sometimes broad consensus is easy. Take the matter of law enforcement and reducing the number of murders. Nearly everyone would agree that is a good goal. The only questions are how to do it and where it fits into priorities given limited resources. Other times, consensus is impossible. Think abortion.

Here is my concern: In recent decades a successful effort has been made to get religion out of the public square. “Religious beliefs and religious values have no place in politics,” we have been told. Separation of church and state has been invoked. The problem is, there is no such thing as value-free politics. All decisions are necessarily based on someone’s understanding of how the world works and someone’s values. If we exclude religion from the discussion, whose values are we left with?

All decisions are made on the basis of values. All values come from answering the big questions: How does the world work? What are human beings? Do we exist for a purpose, and if so what is it? The big questions are always “religious,” even when people believe there is no God and we are here by chance. Therefore, I see the effort to remove religion from public life as an effort to smuggle in a very different set of beliefs and values. I favor the separation of church and state. I oppose the separation of politics from values. Better to be clear about the beliefs and values we are using than to pretend we aren’t using any.

I worry about America because we as a people no longer share a common set of values. I worry more that we are moving toward a common set of values that looks nothing like the Christian values we once agreed on.

I think Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. I wish everyone would celebrate it, not just as a day for food and football, but as a time to honor God. This holiday I know readers of The Voice will be giving thanks to God. I hope that you will remember to thank God for his blessings to our nation. Also pray for our country. We are more prosperous than any nation ever has been, so praying for prosperity seems a bit greedy. I will pray that the Christian church will challenge and change our society. Not the way we used to, by operating from a privileged position close to power, but rather by living the gospel in such a way that people’s eyes are opened to a different way of living and a different set of values.

I will pray for God to raise up Christian leaders in government, academia, and the sciences. That he will bless those we have with courage and wisdom.

Thanksgiving is a day to remember that God is in control, and that every blessing we have comes from his hand. May all Americans feel grateful, and may their gratitude point them to God.

********** Thanksgiving is also a time to gather with neighbors. Westminster takes part every year in an ecumenical worship service with St. Pius Catholic and Pleasant Valley United Methodist. This year the service will be at Westminster on Sunday, Nov 22—time to be announced.

Just in time for our service, Evangelicals and Catholics Together has issued a statement on the Blessed Virgin Mary. It covers what both sides can agree on, as well as where we differ. It ends with a prayer acceptable to both sides, and I hope I can get the other churches to use this in our ecumenical service. The prayer is:

Almighty and gracious God, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was in the fullness of time born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from whom he received our human nature by which, through his suffering, death, and glorious resurrection, he won our salvation, accept, we beseech you, our giving thanks for the witness of Mary’s faith and the courage of her obedience.

Grant to us, we pray, the faithfulness to stand with her by the cross of your Son in his redemptive suffering and the suffering of your pilgrim Church on earth. By the gift of your Spirit, increase within us a lively sense of our communion in your Son with the saints on earth and the saints in heaven. May she who is the first disciple be for us a model of faith’s response to your will in all things; may her “Let it be with me according to your word” be our constant prayer; may her “Do whatever he tells you” elicit from us a more perfect surrender of obedience to her Lord and ours.

Continue to lead us, we pray, into a more manifest unity of faith and life so that the world may believe and those whom you have chosen may, with the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, rejoice forever in your glory. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and forever. Amen.

That seems appropriate just before the season of Advent. I appreciate the work of Evangelicals and Catholics Together. The dean of my divinity school, Dr. Timothy George, is a participant. Since 1994, they have issued seven statements that show both how much we have in common with our Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ and also how deep the few differences go. I hope you will come to the service and celebrate our shared faith in Jesus Christ.

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Beeson Update

My next seminar in Birmingham is January 4-17. I am currently doing field supervision and preparing for the seminar. My field supervisor this semester has been the Rev. Dr. Mark Mueller, formerly associate pastor of Spring Hill, now pastor of First Presbyterian in Huntsville. Our discussions have been a blessing to me and I pray God’s blessings on Mark and Toby as they move and start a new call. Through hard work, I have now completed all my assignments for January up until Tuesday of Week 2. Just three days left, plus research for my big paper. Next summer I will be on sabbatical. (Yes, I have been here nearly 7 years!) I will be gone roughly May, June, and July. Please begin praying for the session and me as we look to make this time meaningful not only for me but also for the church. We are beginning to think about who will fill in during those months and what focus the church might take. I have two goals. I will spend two months in Canada working on a major project: I want to lead a discussion group on “faith and doubt in the writing of Flannery O’Connor.” You’ll be hearing more about that. I’m planning it in Canada, but I’ll host the group here in Mobile. One month I will spend in Birmingham; half at the next Beeson seminar, half researching my dissertation. I am willing to do what it takes to become a better pastor. Are you willing to do what it takes to be a better elder? Deacon? Or church member? Let’s all give God our best.

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Financial Snapshot

2009 Budget: $237,500

Needed each month: $19,791
Income in September: $12,740
Income year-to-July 31: $148,142

Projected 2009 shortfall: $39,977

At the session meeting our treasurer reported on 2010 pledges: As of Oct 20, we had received 52 pledges (11 were new pledges; 23 were increased from 2009) for a total amount of $152,000. Several more pledges will likely come in. If you have not yet pledged, you may still do so. Thanks to everyone who did. We do not want to plan a deficit budget in 2010.

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On the tables outside the sanctuary you will find information and envelopes about two life-changing ministries done by Presbyterians in Alabama. One is the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega. The other is Alabama Presbyterian Campus Ministry. The envelopes are for (you guessed it) contributions you might wish to make to these worthy endeavors.

I cannot say enough good things about the Home for Children. It is one of the best things we do as Presbyterians in this state. As for Campus Ministry, we’ve never been really good at that, but we are trying a new model with a proven record of success: a full-time campus minister working out of a church-based situation. A new ministry at the Univ. of South Alabama is starting under Molly Broders out of Spring Hill Presbyterian.

We wanted to make this information (and the chance to give) available to everyone.

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Jane Blatchford recently participated in the Honor Flight Trip to Washington D.C. for the Veterans of World War II. Highlights of the trip were visiting the World War II Memorial and witnessing the changing of the guard at the Arlington National Cemetery followed by the laying of the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns.

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Thank You

Dear WPC Family,
You will never know how much your ministry to us during Barbara’s illness and following her death have meant to us. Thank you for all the food, monetary gifts, cards, calls and emails.

We are trying to cope and find our way through the grieving process.

Love, Charles and Britton Gollott

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Thank you

Dear Friends:

Thank you the prayers, cards, and food given to me during my recovery from my accident. A special thank you to WOW (Workmen of Westminster)!! You gave me so much by helping me return to my home. I am healing well and hope to be back in church soon. God has blessed me in so many ways!
Alice Godfrey

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Thanksgiving Turkey Winners:
At the Fellowship Potluck on October 18th, these are the names of the turkey winners drawn from the pledge cards that had been turned in by that date—Al & Nan Reed, Bob Stanley, and John & Barbara Potts. The turkeys will be delivered before Thanksgiving.

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Early Childhood Program
by Maureen A. Henderson
“Moe”

Fall Has Arrived

This is my first time writing for the “Voice” since I was asked to fill the position as director for our school. All of our prayers are with Trattie for a full and speedy recovery. Words cannot express my appreciation for the support I have received from everyone. I am pleased to report that our Fall Festival was a huge success. A great big thank you to our incredible teachers and parents who made it all possible. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Mr. & Mrs. Paul Dekle, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Riley, Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Weaver, Mr. & Mrs. Mark Perea, Donna Brill, C. H. Enterprises, Bizzy B’s Bowtique, and Jimmy Gresham for their generous donations. Thanks to Liz Garland, our school also benefited from a fundraiser at Kidz Klozet Consignment Shop.

November is in full swing. The faculty and children are busy preparing for our annual Indian Pow Wow and numerous other Thanksgiving activities. We wish you all a blessed and peaceful holiday. Let us all remember to give thanks to God for allowing us to be a part of our Westminster Presbyterian Family.

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Samaritan’s Purse

Shoe Boxes have all been taken. If you did not receive one and would like to fill a box just wrap a shoe box in Christmas paper. We were not able to get as many as before. The dedication of these boxes will be on Sunday November 15th. If you cannot fill a box but would like to contribute the cost of shipping each box is $7.00. Thanks for you help in this very worthwhile project.

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Angel Tree
This year the Angel Tree will be up on November 29th. Please take an angel for our friends in the nursing homes. They will need to be returned by Dec. 13th for their parties. This project is another way we show our love to those who we do not know. You are their angel.

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Wednesday Wheelers
On November 18th we will depart the church at 9:30 for a visit to the Mobile Museum. We will be visiting the New Greek Revival Exhibit. Cost for admission is $4.00. Lunch will be at Mama’s on Dauphin Street.

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Smore’s Supper Club We will meet on Friday evening November 13th at 6 at the Segars Center. Note change of date. Jean and Charles Taylor and Missy and Jimmy Gresham.

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Bay Area Food Bank
Thank you for your generous contributions. Since the beginning of this project you have donated a total of 1,085 pounds of food. Keep up the good work!

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Service Commission
Each year Westminster supports a number of local benevolent organizations. Each month, I will list a few of them and describe what they do in our community. Thom Fultz, Chair of the Service Commission

G.R.O.W.T.H. - a division of the Strickland Youth Center comprised of abused and battered girls ranging in age from about 12 to 18. Our gift is used to help provide them with a Christmas party with other churches helping in providing gifts and personal needs.

Penelope House - provides food and shelter for battered women and their children. Helps them to find jobs and housing so they can be independent and self-sufficient.

Mission of Hope - a non-profit, in-care program, dedicated to restructuring the lives of male indigent alcohol and drug abusers. It is an arm of the church that reaches out to those who have desperate spiritual, physical and emotional problems. Services offered include bible studies, discipleship training, counseling, rap sessions, alcohol/drug films, recreation and job training.

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Evangelism Commission

A time honored effective method of Evangelism is your personal testimony, just telling about your spiritual pilgrimage. The skeptic may deny your doctrine or attach your church, but he cannot honestly ignore the fact that your life has been cleaned up and revolutionized.

Now I’m not talking about some stale, dragged-out verbal marathon. That kind of testimony never attracted anyone. I’m speaking of an effective, powerful missile launched from your lips to the ears of the unsaved. Consider these fine suggestions:

1. You want to be listened to, so be interesting. It’s a contradiction to talk about how exciting Christ is in an uninteresting way. Remember to guard against religious clichés, jargon and hard to understand testimony.

2. You want to be understood, so be logical. Think of your salvation in three phases and construct your testimony accordingly,

a) before you were born again—the struggles within, the loneliness, lack of peace, absence of love, unrest and fears.
b) the decision that revolutionized your life and,
c) the change—the difference it has made since you received Christ.
3. You want the moment of your new birth to be clear, so be specific. Don’t be vague. Speak of Christ, not the Church. Emphasize faith more than feeling. Be simple and direct as you describe what you did or what you prayed or what you said. This is crucial.

4. You want your testimony to be used, so be practical. Be human and honest as you talk. Don’t promise, “All your problems will end if you will become a Christian”, for that isn’t true. Try to think as unbelievers think.

5. You want your testimony to produce results, so be warm and genuine. A smile breaks down more barriers than the hammer blows of cold, hard facts.

Let your enthusiasm flow freely. It’s hard to convince someone of the sheer joy and excitement of knowing Christ if you’re wearing a face like a jail warden. Above all, be positive and courteous. Absolutely refuse to argue. Nobody I ever met was “arm wrestled” into the kingdom. Insults and put-downs turn people off.

Ask God to open your lips and honor your words—but be careful, once your missile hits the target, you’ll become totally dissatisfied with your former life as an earthbound secret-service saint.

Thanks to Charles Swindoll for these words.

— Nan Reed

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November Birthdays

3 Mary Wyatt Hargrove
5 Joshua Kimbrell
7 John Potts
9 Billy Wilkerson
9 Trattie Ollis
11 Clarissa Fountain
12 Dave Swann
13 Mallorie Watson
14 Stevenline Waritay
15 Gerald Larison
16 Claude Hutchinson
18 Samantha Cash
20 Ed Calametti
21 Tracy Hunter
21 Kaitlin Kelley
22 Elizabeth Partach
23 Jacquelyn Morgan
24 Charles Taylor
27 Glenn Garside
27 Davis C. Hargrove
27 Rebecca Thomas Moore

Apologies to anyone inadvertently omitted.

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Nile Luncheon Club

The Nile Luncheon Club will meet on Saturday, November 7th at 12:00 noon at the Segars Center. For information contact Thelma McMillan-479-1579

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Workmen of Westminster (WOW)

The Workmen of Westminster will have the Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 7th, 2009 at 8:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. Cost will be $4.00 for adults and children under 10 will be free. The price increase will help absorb the cost.
Sunday Breakfast, Nov. 1st at 9:00 am. Cost will be $4.00 for adults and $1.00 for children.

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November Assignments

Greeters
Front Porch—Carl Nazarian
Hall—Alison Cash

Ushers
Alfred Cash
Ed Calametti
Stan Carpenter
Stephen English
Virgil Russell
Arnold Watts

Liturgists
Nov 1 – Charles Taylor
Nov 8 – John Butler
Nov 15 – Mike Sorocak
Nov 22 – Diane Harvey
Nov 29 – Shirley Jacobson

Communion
Elder in Charge: Jerry Larison
Alternate: Jean Buckner

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Loaves and Fish
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 11:15 am
Bill Fox
Dorothy Moore
Al & Phyllis Smith

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November Meetings

Commission Meetings
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

Deacons Meeting
Monday, November 16th at 9:30 a.m.

Session
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

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Prayer and Care

Pray for the officers elect as they prepare for their responsibilities.

Special Needs:

Mari Arnold, Alfred Cash, Bill Fox, Alice Godfrey, Charles Gollott, Rene Green, Missy & Jimmy Gresham, Nell Hardin, Shirley Jacobson, Craig Kavanaugh, Al & Ardell Ladner, Dorothy Moore, Trattie Ollis (Preschool Director), Dot Otterbach, Martha Ragland, Al Reed, Phyllis Smith, Jackie Swann, David Watson, Marge Wehner.

Homebound, Assisted Living, Nursing Home:
Cogburn: Doug Chamberlain, Bernard & Elizabeth Todd
Hearthstone: Mary Randall,
McAuley Place: Reggie Wheeler,
Robertsdale Healthcare Center: Lois Elleard,
Somerby of W. Mobile: Frances Duval,
University Oaks: Eleanor Conyers, Mary Weissinger

Home: John & Emmagee Black, Carolyn Cousar Jernigan, Norva Potter, Charles Richmond, Harriet Stanley, Bill Sturgeon.

Members’ Families/Friends who need our prayers:
Mike Combre (son-in-law of Dorothy Moore),
Bill Conner (brother of Nan Reed),
Bill Clark (father of Tracy Hunter),
Jim Crane (friend of the Calamettis)
Nancy Delchamps (friend of the Carrolls)
Elizabeth Denson (daughter of a friend of Betty Mayes)
Virginia Godfrey (mother of Alice Godfrey),
Sarah Godwin (friend of Diane Harvey)
Robin Goffi (friend of the Sorocaks)
Christina Gregory (daughter of Shirley Jacobson),
Alfred Griffin (nephew of Glynn Teichmann),
Ralph Holley (nephew of Flo Painter),
J.C. Kavanaugh II (son of Craig Kavanaugh),
Family of Sgt. Steve Kirscharr (friend of Glenn Garside)
Eddie Mayes (son of Betty Mayes)
Pickens McMillan (son of Thelma McMillan)
Michael Melendez (great-nephew of Walter Rose)
Elvie Nicholson (sister of Rene Green)
Partee Family (friends of the Ladners),
Madeline Prine (aunt of Nan Reed),
Deanie Skinner (friend of Susie Hargrove),
Marina Sintros (friend of Shirley Jacobson)
Anita Toole (friend of Mable Kahalley),
George Weiss (grandson of Walter & Dorrie Rose)
Elizabeth White (granddaughter of Jeanne White),
Kevin & Cassie Williams (grandchildren of Phyllis Smith)
Jake Winlow (friend of the Sorocaks)

In the Military:
Kenneth DeLon Bosarge, U.S. Army Retired (wounded Veteran); Pate Caldwell (son of Swift Pastor); Dallas H. Carl (great-nephew of Mary Wilkerson); Ryan Gregory (son of Shirley Jacobson); Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Headrick, Chaplain U.S.Navy (brother of Jerri Lynn Garside and son of Rev. Jerry Headrick), Christina Patton (granddaughter of Thelma McMillan), Andrew Rose; Eric Weiss (son-in-law of Walter & Dorrie Rose).
In Iraq: James Watkins (friend of Al & Phyllis Smith), Daniel Powell (nephew of Walter & Dorrie Rose).
In Afghanistan: Joel Gresham (nephew of Missy & Gresham)
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Westminster Presbyterian Church
2921 Airport Boulevard
Mobile AL 36606
(251) 471-5451
The corner of Airport Blvd. and Sage Avenue

E-Mail: wpcmob@bellsouth.net
Web Page: www.westminstermobile.com

Worship: 11:00 a.m.

Rev. David C. Mauldin, Pastor
Jan Neverdahl, Organist

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