A Poem

This is a wonderful poem and picture that my daughter made for me as a Father's Day present about 10 years ago. The picture is from 1985 or '86 when we spent a very happy day spent at Pictured Rocks National Monument in Munising, MI. Micah can be seen as a toddler and Melia must be a first grader. I was 30 something. There is a picture of the poem as the layout seems to add to the feeling and meaning.


Inadequate words of good intent to sooth things unspoken.
I show my heart, my need, your constant gift of patience, kindness, this is love.

Take peace, know that you have given all-
Know that He knows, Know that he loves- that the eyes of a proud Father look down upon you as the eyes of a daughter look up for guidance.

Things lost, life rushes on- you’ve not been swept aside.
A constant faith, unending selfless striving to show your heart, to fill the need with your gift of patience, kindness, this is love.

A nice picture

This picture was taken at Max's Deli. Lily was about 2 months old at that time. A lot of folks have been asking about Teri. She has just been transfered to a new recovery program, It is a 90 day to 6 month program. She cannot call home for the first 2 weeks. I hope she can find some help there. If you email me, I can send her address.

More New Baby News!

In the middle of all the crazy stuff going on with our family, I was so happy to find out that MIcah and Kimberly are expecting a baby boy! This is the latest ultrasound. It is a close up of the babies face. They have chosen, Jediah, for his first name. It means "hand of God". Micah wants to call him Jedi for short. I can't wait to have another baby around. Lily has been growing up so fast. She is walking and starting to talk. A few days ago words began to have real meaning for her. It was so fun to watch. She can say and understand; up, cracker, cheese, shoes, olive, and cat. It is amazing how you can have a meaningful conversation with so few words. Well, at least Lily and I can.

Kind Words from Pastor Nancy Schell

You might have heard of the hard time our family has been going through. The church has been wonderfully supportive and kind. Here are some kind words from Rev Nancy that were written for the church newsletter:
Dear Family,
We here at Westminster are a particular part of the family of God. Called together by our Lord, we continue to learn day by day what it means to be a healthy family. How does each of us learn the skills necessary for living together? How do we care for each other, support each other, accept each other for the persons we are?
For almost eighty years, Westminster has been my family--through the good times and the hard times. Eight years ago, we called Rev. Steve and Teri Norman into this family, to walk with us and help us grow and change. I have watched as Steve has helped us find a new vision of what Westminster can become.
I have admired Steve's honesty, openness, and vulnerability. One of my continuing frustrations is how we can care and love each other if we are not willing to admit where we are hurting. How can we be "wounded healers" unless we are willing to reveal our own struggles? Pastor Steve has been a model of this by his personal integrity.
As the Apostle Peter wrote in his letter to the Christians scattered over the known world, "You are a kingdom of priests." Today each of us here at Westminster is a priest for our God, speaking for our Lord to the people and speaking for the people to our Lord. Right now we are called to pray to God for Pastor Steve and Teri in their struggles, to care for them, and support them with our love. Tomorrow any one of us might be the one who stands in that place of need.
Together let us be the Body of Christ!

Dear church -

Worship is more that sitting in the sanctuary on Sunday Mornings. The word "worship" actually means "work of the people". We often think of worship as prayer, preaching, sacraments and singing. Worship can involve all four elements, but worship is more than that. Worship is serving God. Everything we do as service to the Lord is worship. When we share God's love in real tangible ways it is worship. Just imagine you could be washing the dishes and worshiping God at the same time. No cathedral, no organ, no pulpit necessary! So, why is it necessary to meet together on Sundays?

We need to be together in worship on Sundays because we are part of a community together. Following Jesus is more than a solitary pursuit. It is also a walk along side and with others who are also following Jesus. There are times to worship alone and times to worship together. There are times we worship through serving God and others in very practical, visible ways and times we worship and serve in ways that may seem invisible. Singing out together, speaking out together, believing God hears and responds may not seem practical to some, but things happen unseen - deep in our hearts. These are the invisible workings of God in us that become visible as we live out our worship in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit mysteriously moves through the prayers, songs, words, signs, hand shakes, hugs and symbols we share on Sunday morning. Worship should always be God-centered, but we do benefit and receive hope and strength when we worship the living God together. We have a lone solitary life in Christ and a together body life in Christ. Both are real and both are necessary parts of the Christian life. Come; let's worship together this Sunday.

Capernaum

We are blessed to have an awesome ministry meet at our church called the Capernaum Project. The minster to youth and youg adults with disabilities - The local paper published a wonderful article about them at http://www.rosegardenresident.com/rg-cover.shtml - or click on the title of this article

New Baby on the Way

Well, Micah and his girl friend Kimberly are expecting. Here the sonogram. Kimbery is sure you can see the face. Teri and I are happy to have another grandbaby on the way. Lily has a new cousin on the way.

Jammin at the open mic

I'm sitting using the free wifi at an open mic that Melia is putting on. Not many people here - so I felt brave enough to sing a few songs. How strange that the few people who were here decided to take that as their que to leave. I seem to have that affect on folks.... I used to play country music but no one could every figure out which country it was from...

Holy Huddles

Someone once criticized Sunday morning worship by calling it a holy huddle. I guess the put down is deserved when a church becomes self-centered and isolated from her community. But when church is Jesus-centered, servant-minded and turned outward towards her community a holy huddle could be a positive thing and a necessary part of being whole and healthy.

In football the huddle is a time for the players to gather behind the scrimmage line in order to plan the next play. In the best sense, Sunday worship is kind of like a holy huddle. A weekly time to gather together all the players on God's team so we can regroup and get the plans for the next play.

Could you imagine what it would be like for a football team if players stepped on to the field without attending the huddle? How could they ever hope to get the ball across the field? How could the coach plan the plays not knowing which players knew the plans or would show for the game?

With this in mind, part of the Faith Promise Card asked Westminster members to make worship and prayer priorities for 2006. I was encouraged to see that out if all the Faith Promise Cards received, 54 individuals pledged to make worship and prayer priorities for 2006. This is a great start, but I would like to see that number increase before the year is over. I'm hoping that at least 200 people would make a commitment to be in worship and to pray for our church in 2006. It is hard to be a winning team, when players miss the huddle. Consider sending a email (steve@revnorman.com), phoning a message (294-7447 X12) or drop a note in the offering basket and let me know that you want Westminster to be winning team and will make worship and prayer priorities in 2006.

Jr High Time

Well, it's 2;26 AM and I just discover a wireless access signal in the Christain Ed building. What am I doing here at 2:30 AM? We are having a fun cool Jr High lock in! We went to see the new Narnia Movie - It was great! Earlier in the day we decorated a room to look like Narnia. The kids had to enter through a wardrobe and we had a lamp post and stone table. The thought it was pretty cool. Right now the girls are in one room watching movies and the guys are in another room playing video games. True jr. high!

Becoming one church with two main languages and many cultures

"For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." From Is. 56:7

Our congregation is made up of individuals from many different cultures and countries. In 2003, we received a Transforming Church Grant from our denomination to help us grow as a church and explore this wonderful thing that God is doing at Westminster. In 2004, we were able to move Rev. Stella from a non-ordained position to an ordained call to Associate Pastor of Hispanic Ministries. Every Sunday, separate worship services are held in Spanish and English. There are many other Spanish classes and ministries during the week as well.

The goal is not to bring everyone to the same cultural behaviors, but to bring everyone to a more full relationship with God. We are committed to celebrating the differences between the people within the church and seeking to help each person meet God in the setting which they feel most natural.

Some of the activities associated with this effort are:

• Intentionally combine activities with English and Spanish speaking members
o Men’s Breakfast
o Women’s Retreat
o Mother’s Day Dinner
o Cross-Preaching
o Bilingual Services
• Build more leadership from Communidad Latinoamericana for the whole church –Deacons/Elders

Celebrating Children and Youth, being intergenerational

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them..." From Matthew 19:14

Westminster has always placed high value on children and youth. We see the youth and children of the church as part of the body of Christ today, and the core of the church tomorrow. Over the next year, there will be an intentional emphasis on building Westminster's youth ministry.

Along with the value given to the children and youth of the church is a desire for healthy connections between all age groups. WPC has a strong belief that the older members of the church have valuable insights for the younger, and that activities and programs that encourage contact and cooperation among older and younger members of the church are beneficial to the vitality and growth of the whole church.

Some of the activities associated with this effort:

• New youth director for Jr. and Sr. High
• Develop volunteer staff for youth programs
• Fix-up CE Building
o Nursery remodeled
o Playground remodeled
o Bathrooms remodeled (3 more)
o Carpets in 2 rooms (3yr. old & computer room)
• Intentional intergenerational programming

Reaching out to others by showing God’s love in practical ways

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" 1 John 3:18


We desire to reach out in a way that will allow and encourage open conversations about how God loves us.

Some of the activities associated with this effort are:

• Servant Evangelism outreaches
• A church-wide philosophy of ministry that focuses on practical applications of faith

Becoming a faithful partner with our neighborhood

"The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." From John 1:14, The Message

Westminster is actively involved with many of the neighborhood associations, business associations, and volunteer groups operating in the same community as the church building. Many of these groups currently use the Westminster facilities for meetings. Neighborhood involvement is a response to God's call to be good stewards of the world. It is also a way to live out God's command to love our neighbors. As Westminster takes seriously its commitment to the local community, all church members will be inspired to be good stewards in their own local communities.

Some of the activities associated with this effort are:

• Create a greater awareness in the congregation of WPC's community involvement.
• Further a common understanding of the Biblical basis for community involvement
• Increase Westminster’s visibility in the neighborhood
• Making our property more attractive and accessible

Yoda's Parents

Here is Yoda Baby with her Star Wars parents!

Yoda Baby

I'm interrupting all this church talk to post a picture of my granddaughter as Yoda.

Inspiring personal outreach in our own communities and around the world

"You are the light of the world….let your light shine…" From Matthew 5:14 –16

One statement from a town hall meeting was something like this:
" I see a big emphasis on the church reaching out to its local community, but where do I learn how to reach out to
my friends and my community? "

One of the primary ways we see God working through Westminster is in the actions of church members reaching out to their neighbors.

Westminster is called to provide the training we each need to effectively reach out to our neighbors and show God’s love to those around us. A picture of this ministry would show the members of our church spread out through all of the neighborhoods in which we live and work, each individually reaching out to the people we know.

Some of the activities associated with this effort are:

• Making worship and prayer a priority
• Short Term Missions program
• Strategy to assimilate new people
• Leadership Training program
• Small Group Ministry

2006 WPC Vision

"So that the follower of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." From 2 Timothy 3:17

Over the last two years, there has been a deliberate effort to seek out God’s will for our church. This has included the work of the Vision Team formed in 2004, a series of Town Hall meetings with the congregation, and a large portion of the Session activities during 2005. Church leaders have been seeking God's leading, listening to you, and searching their hearts to discover what God is doing in the midst of our church. Early on in the process the session decided not to cast their own visions and ask God to bless what they wanted to do. Instead, the session has been seeking to discover what God is already doing because it is blessed already.

The results of this effort have been summarized in the following description of the primary objective of the church for the near term:

EQUIPPING AND CALLING CHRISTIANS OF ALL AGES TO ANSWER THE CALL OF GOD ON THEIR LIVES.

This vision comes directly from our mission statement and grows out of two presuppositions that are core values of Westminster. The first is a firm belief that all people have a God-given purpose in life. The second is the conviction that God calls the church to equip and inspire people to answer that call. The qualifying words, "of all ages,” speak to our commitment to seeing everyone of any age as a vital part of God's church.

I'll be blogging the descriptions of the major objectives and characteristics of the planned ministry of Westminster, and a set of specific goals for Westminster for the next 12-16 months.

Heading Home

We were happy that Dad could be near home for the rehab part. They sent a van and transported him to Placerville.

Sitting Up and Walking

The big challenge was to get up and walk!