Devotional by Anne Remington Perhaps there are some people who feel they have never been loved. However, I suspect that everyone of us has experienced kindness; knows what kindness is. In that knowing, we have the ability to pass it on. A part of love is kindness. We do not have to love someone in order to be kind. We may even hate a person or that person may hate us. And yet, we can still be kind. Kindness can help to unravel hate. (That reminds me of a quote by Abraham Linc

This is the time of year when many young people are graduating. Little ones may move up from pre-school to Kindergarten. Those in elementary school sometimes have a graduation ceremony as they move up to middle school. Middle school students may graduate to high school. Everyone in high school has a graduation, as do those who finish college and university programs. Graduation symbolizes leaving one stage of life and moving on to the next. It can be an exciting time and

Devotional by Karen Schoeppach Did you hear that when you were a child? Have you said that to a child? “Yes” to both for me. It’s a common thing to hear and to say, but is it a good thing? Is telling a child to say they are sorry producing a genuine apology? Is it a real expression of regret or repentance? The answer, in many cases, is probably “no”. Instead of just “telling” children to “say” they are sorry, we need to first “teach” children to “be” sorry. We need to

God of mercy, our hearts are broken for the violence that surrounds us, the violence that is within us. Heal our rage; mold it like a potter into wisdom and courage. But to not unbreak our hearts. Let them remain shattered for those who grieve— for we are all one family— and for our own part in a nation of violence. Mold our sorrow with your strong and steady hands into wisdom and courage, that we may speak and act to assist in the mending of this world, in the strength of yo

By, Anne Remington (A moving, hopeful message given by Angela Williams Gorrell at Calvin University on January 10, 2022) Dr. Gorrell, along with others at Yale University, had been doing an in-depth study of "joy." Suddenly, within a short period of time, her father died from opioid addiction, a nephew committed suicide, and a second nephew died young from heart complications. Dr. Gorell went went into a period of despair and experienced a feeling of powerlessness. Joy seemed

Thank you, Westminster Family, for all the baby items brought in for the Mother’s Day Baby Shower. Diapers, wipes, outfits in several sizes, and all the beautiful knitted and crocheted items will be distributed to local agencies. How wonderful to know that babies and mothers in need will receive these items and feel God’s love through our efforts. Thank you, again, on behalf of Presbyterian Women here at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Karen Schoeppach

After two “pandemic” Mother’s Days, how nice it was to celebrate with family and friends. Some were able to celebrate in person, while others were still using video chats and phone calls due to distance. The holiday celebrates mothers, but there are people who do all that a mother does without the benefit of the title. I wonder if we shouldn’t give them a day as well. Perhaps one day we will. Our memories of the mothers and “others” who are no longer with us fill our hearts.

Devotional by Karen Schoeppach “Influencer”, that’s a word we hear quite often these days. Although it is a common term, I didn’t really know what it meant. So, I did what my young family members are always telling me to do: I googled it! The basic definition is that an “influencer” is someone in your group or industry who can “influence” your target audience. Or, perhaps I should say, “convince” that audience. Companies and industries use influencers to assist in market