Say, “Yes!” to WestPres
By Carrie Hall and Kay Henderson
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ”
I said, “Yes,” to my friend Marcia, when she invited me to sing in the summer choir. I will tell you that my friend Marcia dreams music and then writes it! Several of her hymns have been performed by our choir. With her encouragement, I joined the choir. I loved it so much, I stayed for 21 years. My choir friends have been supportive through thick and thin, tough times and good times. Singing in the choir has been a huge spiritual gift for my soul. So, if you like to sing consider the joy of singing in our choir.
My friend Marcia continued to be a force in my life, nominating me for a term on Session. (You have to watch out for Marcia. She does persist, with a smile.) When I said, “Yes,” to that invitation, I was appointed to serve as the Session’s representative on the Nominating Committee.
LET ME TELL YOU serving on Nominating was a wonderful way to meet so many of our members. The Nominating Committee gave me an excuse to reach out to people I hadn’t met. I loved it! When you join a committee you have the opportunity to work with people who share your interest and commitments. Serving on a committee with people you don’t know is like opening a gift. My life is enriched, my faith is nourished and I can’t imagine my life without all the friends the Church has given me.
I’m so glad I said, “Yes,” to Marcia and to Westminster Presbyterian Church.
The paragraphs you just read were written by Carrie Hall, who I -- Kay Henderson -- would never have met if I hadn’t decided to say, “Yes,” to WestPres. She is one of the coolest women on the planet. I won’t share her entire resume, but I’m going to tell you she’s an artist, a former small business owner and one of her hobbies has been hiking mountains.
The two of us had been in the pews here at Westminster on Sundays for years, but we never met until we both accepted the call to serve on Session. It’s hard now to remember a time when Carrie wasn’t part of my Westminster story.
I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, but there is just something about having a shared experience. Remember how exciting it was as a kid to get to work on a project with a parent or a friend? As an adult, I have found that same joy in accomplishing a shared task.
My rather fearless friend Carrie has a great laugh and a can-do attitude. I’m so glad I said, “Yes,” to serving on a church committee so I could benefit from her support over the years, in all of the twists and turns in life. I’ve had the blessing of spending time with so many church members who, like Carrie, carry the spark of the Holy Spirit and have enriched my life and spiritual journey in countless ways.
Carrie and I have been serving together this past year on the Westminster Nominating Committee. We are praying the words we’ve written will inspire you to say, “Yes!” to WestPres in a new way in the coming days and weeks.