Healthy congregations often are noisy congregations.

People gathered early at Westminster for the first mask-free worship service after COVID-19. They stood in the sanctuary pews and waived at church-made friends whom they had not seen for two years. People got out of their pews and walked enthusiastically to greet longtime friends. Those who found themselves sitting next to their usual pew mates chatted animatedly. The gathering was a reunion empowered by warm memories of past events and present hope for more to come.

We care about one another. A friendship at church is different from a friendship founded on commonalities of work and neighborhood, loyalty to a favorite sports team, or enjoying pickleball. Each of us worshiping at Westminster has recognized a voice coming both from within ourselves and from something larger than ourselves. It is Jesus who lives within us who calls us to meet the Jesus who dwells within all who love him. This recognition of the risen Christ living within all of us is tantamount to the disciples’ eyes suddenly opened in
recognition after eating with the resurrected Jesus.

Our Christian friendships are imbued with this same new creation of recognition. Our eyes are opened in deeper and more meaningful ways toward a new vision of one another. We see one another through the eyes of love that leads to caring for one another.

Congregational care extends not just to the sick, bereaved, and lonely. Caring for members and friends of this congregation is not a task limited to ministers, elders, deacons, and prayer groups. Care comes naturally among friends, so that all are cared for when we extend friendship to one another. Let our eyes be opened to recognize God’s new creation working in one another. Do it in memory of him.

Do you know Ann Morris?

Ann and Bob Morris joined Westminster in 1984, and made lifelong friends there through the Genesis adult education class, social events, and worship. Because WPC’s seminar program was taught by many staff from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Ann felt lead to explore a call to ordained ministry.

Ordained in 2003, she served a small church in Pittsburgh Presbytery and filled many vacant pulpits in Allegheny and Beaver counties and is active in the International Association of Women Ministers.

Ann graduated from Grove City College and received a master’s in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Before entering the ministry, Ann worked in the treasury departments of Joy Technologies and Westinghouse Electric.

Ann and Bob live in Mt. Lebanon and are voracious readers. Having recently become grandparents, they enjoy traveling the PA Turnpike to Philadelphia to visit their daughter Maureen and her family.