July/August Newsletter

 Dear Westport Presbies,

We are delighted to announce we have hired an Interim Pastor!  Pastor Jared starts in August.  Pastor Susan’s last Sunday leading our worship service will be August 4, and Pastor Jared will join her in co-leading the service.
Susan, we thank you for all you have done to get us this far!

We will have a post-service luncheon on Aug 4 to welcome Jared to Westport Presbyterian.  Please bring in a cold dish to contribute.

Jared L Witt

In his work as an “interim pastor,” Jared’s work focuses on helping the congregations prepare for the next chapter of life and ministry. This work involves strategic planning, pastoral care, staff leadership, preaching and teaching. As a theologian, pastor, and licensed therapist, Jared finds joy in exploring the many ways that God’s love leads us into deeply satisfying lives. His recent interests include organizational change, risk-taking, and the ways spirituality can sustain justice work by cultivating values like curiosity and playfulness.

Originally from Kansas, Jared earned his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and his Ph.D. from the Religious Studies Department at Yale. He has served congregations in Connecticut, New York, and Kansas. Following nine years as pastor of First Presbyterian in Fort Scott, KS, Jared served for two and a half years as interim pastor at Second Presbyterian in Kansas City, MO. Jared teaches in the D.Min. program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, sees a few clients when he can, and leads suicide prevention training in schools.

News In and Around the Community

• Support our Boyscout Troop 60 on Aug 13 as they host a blood drive in our Fellowship room!
• Beginning in August, the Resource Center in the storefront will be open on Wednesdays & Thursdays (instead of Tues/Thurs)
• Westport Showers has hired Tru-Kechia Smith as our new Program Coordinator.  Welcome, Kechia!
• Our next-door neighbors, the 1855 Harris-Kearney Historical House and Museum, has had it’s grand reopening featuring the Steptoe Lives museum exhibit.  This exhibit contains photos and text celebrating the historic African American neighborhood of Steptoe.
• You’re invited to A Night of Celebration celebrating the completion of the storefront project and work of Cherith Brook founders Jodi and Eric Garbison on Thursday, Aug 8.  Dinner 5-6:30pm, Celebrations and Storytelling 6:30-8PM.  3308 E 12th St, KCMO 64127.  Please RSVP at cherithbrookkcmo@gmail.com.
• We are still accepting donations for anyone wishing to contribute a Special Offering for Rev. Eric Garbison & his wife Jodi, who will be going on a sabatical during the months of September & October after serving 24 years in ministry. If you would like to help, you can make a check out to Westport Presbyterian Church or place money in a giving envelope and include “Sabbatical Fund” in the memo line, or give online (select special gift from the dropdown menu and enter “Sabbatical Fund” on the note/memo line.

Volunteer Opportunities

• PRAYER CHAIN: Reminder that the Deacons are reassembling a very out-of-date Prayer Chain. Please contact Nancy or the church if you wish to be on it. This involves receiving a call when there is a prayer concern and then calling the next person on the list.
• LUNCH BAGS: Bread, Buns, Fruit, Water, Meat, Peanut Butter, Cheese are always needed for our INTERRUPT HUNGER work.
• WEEKDAY LUNCH BAG VOLUNTEERS. We could use a few more people to help with making weekday lunches and/or to pass out lunches for a half hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Fridays.
• WESTPORT SHOWERS happen on Sunday mornings (for all) & Thursday nights (for women , trans, and gender non-conforming). Men’s boxer brief underwear, Men’s and Women’s sneakers, pants, and backpacks are ALWAYS needed
• WESTPORT SHOWERS is looking for additional volunteers to help with Sunday mornings with our increase in guests. You would be working with experienced volunteers who can train you in what is needed. If you would like to help, and are willing to volunteer 1 Sunday morning a month, reach out to Drew Irwin, Allison Rozga, or Kechia for more information

Upcoming Calendar Items of Note

See our calendar for activities in and around the church!  Events Calendar – Westport Presbyterian Church

• Mondays at 4:30 – FREDitation – a centering prayer experience
• Wednesday night Zoom Bible Study meets every other week at 7pm.  All are welcome; please contact the church for the link.  The next one will be on Wednesday, July 31.
• Aug 3– 7PM Martine and Deanna will host the monthly Historical English dance lesson in the church basement. All are welcome. Come 15 min early for a beginner intro lesson.
• Aug 6 – Election day!  Westport Presbyterian is a polling place.
• Aug 13 – Boyscout Blood drive.  Support our Boyscout Troop!

Keep the faith!  WPC