WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1521 NW 34th Street
Gainesville, Florida 32605
LENT
– a time of reflection, prayer, and preparation for Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
LENTEN MEMORIES
What do you remember about Lent from your childhood?
A MEMORY OF LENTEN SERVICES
I was raised in a large church in downtown Indianapolis. The entire family was expected to attend Ash Wednesday Service and every Wednesday Lenten service during Lent. When we arrived at the church, my parents would go to choir practice and I was told to go and sit with Mr. Donard in the sanctuary. The minister would begin at 7:15 pm with a song service of the old hymns that were not in the hymnbook. We were also given a history of each hymn. The hymns were projected on the wall above the door at the side entrance to the Sanctuary. We would sing without organ or piano until the organist would appear about halfway through the song service and would play the music for the songs. (He was at choir practice and could not be at the song service.) I remember the minister on one occasion telling the organist to move off the organ seat and to let him play since he was not playing the hymn correctly. I still have the memory of Rev. Daries standing in front of the church singing the hymns and making sure that we knew all of the words to the hymns. Our family would attend each Wednesday night during Lent.
-from Pastor Rhonda
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HONORS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” — Proverbs 21:3
“God sends the Church to work for justice in the world: exercising its power for the common good; dealing honestly in personal and public spheres; seeking dignity and freedom for all people…” — Book of Order, W-5.0304
It is abundantly clear through the gospel narrative and the greater witness of the Bible, that God has called us, as people of faith, to seek justice for those most marginalized in our world. As a Matthew 25 denomination, it is the vision of the Presbyterian Church USA to eradicate white supremacy and dismantle institutionalized racism. Furthermore, in an effort to do the “hands & feet” work the Lord ordains, we must act and bear witness to the gospel in these crucial times.
For more information about the PCUSA policy on racial justice,
go to
https://www.pcusa.org/bearingwitness/
Sunday Worship Services are streamed live at 9:30 a.m. using the Zoom platform available for computers (Windows or Mac), tablets, as well as most smartphones. The connection is a video conference call with access upon request.
Contact the church office at 352-378-4032 for the meeting ID . Access begins at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday by clicking on the Zoom link provided.
To join by phone and listen to the service, dial into 1-312-626-6799 and enter the meeting ID of 419 746 5410 when prompted.
The Ministry Information Form provides a description of the life and work of Westminster Presbyterian Church. It was prepared for the Pastor Search in Fall 2019 by the Pastor Nominating Committee, and was approved by the Session and the Presbytery of St. Augustine. The document was prayerfully and carefully developed and reviewed by the Pastoral Nominating Committee and Session, and is a useful example of how a Presbyterian congregation can work today.