Men of Westminster (MOW) is not a club...men who attend services or contribute to the life of Westminster are members and men who attend know MOW functions are members in good standing. We are part of each function of the church, with the possible exception of the Women of the Church, whom we support.
Our special activities include a monthly breakfast (2nd Friday Breakfast); dinner events, where speakers give us a new perspective on our faith and our world; the annual Men’s Retreat; and other special functions involving families:
MOW’s 2nd Friday Breakfasts have taken on a vital function for those who attend. We discuss issues of concern to many in the church, with attendees planning and leading the discussions. We have discussed the faith of our founding fathers; making the “right” decision; the role of government in welfare policy; civility in government; and ethics of the law.
MOW sponsors dinners that provide a window on the world through insights of experts whom we can question about the issues of the day.
MOW supports various activities of the church, including the Stewardship campaign, the Easter breakfast, and meals served to the congregation.
Men of Westminster pull rakes, spread paint, wield screwdrivers and hammers, and flip flapjacks in support of most church activities.
MOW provides a platform for men to work with men, a forum for men to discuss issues of interest to men, and a bonding environment where men can meet with each other and grow in our faith. MOW seeks to challenge each of us to live in our faith.
We know that men without faith, and without a foundation for their faith, are not whole. Old men and young men, together, can be a solid foundation for each other while allowing each to grow in his own way. We foster this divergence and hope to help the men who participate in the life of Westminster to become more a part of our faith and our church.
MOW’s Creed:
Men of Westminster are men of integrity committed to rich, life-giving relationships… with one another… with new people… and with God. We are totally committed to one another… to engaging others in our vision… to sharing our lives with our community and with our Lord, Jesus Christ. I am, and am becoming, a strong man of God. Through the grace I have received, I commit my life to my Lord, my family, and my church. This is my stand, so help me God.
The Men of Westminster Winter Retreat will be the weekend of February 15-17, 2013, at the popular Hallowood Retreat Center, located at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain near Comus, MD.
Our retreat leader, Rev. David Rich, is a retired PCUSA minister, educator, and seminar leader, who has over 35 years of experience leading a wide variety of workshops, seminars, and retreats, as well as leading training and planning sessions for congregational committees and Sessions. At the retreat, we will be discussing the relationship that our vocation has to our lives, and whether we choose the vocation, or whether the vocation chooses us.
Those men who have attended previous retreats know how enjoyable and rewarding the program, food, and fellowship have been. Mark your calendar to make sure that you keep this weekend open. Sign up will begin in November.
MOW 2nd Friday Breakfast
The Men of Westminster(MOW) holds a breakfast meeting the 2nd Friday of each month from 7:00 to 8:15 AM in Fellowship Hall with almost gourmet food prepared by our Bill Monson with a skilled speaker and discussion facilitator to stimulate thought on how God is working in our lives.
Next meeting: Friday, February 8.
Some of our Recent Speakers:
Art Sauer, Finance Officer for American Legion Post 1775 (Ft. Belvoir) and Treasurer of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 917, will speak about the historic Alexandria National Cemetary.
Detective Gary Gleason, of the Arlington County Police Department Financial Crimes Unit, discussed contractor frauds and door to door scams.
Dr. Raja T. Nasr, a WPC member who gave a personal account of what it was like living in Lebanon during the civil war.
Tom Young, author of The Mullah’s Storm and Silent Enemy, two novels set in the Afghanistan War.
Rick Liblong, author of Answering The Call to Duty, about Michigan's town soldiers during the Civil War.
Phillip Hayes, owner of North Bridge Communications, a public relations and media relation firm in Washington, D.C.
Kirk Kaneer, an economist with the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.
The Honorable Robert L. Calhoun, a semi-retired lawyer with the Alexandria firm of Redmon, Peyton & Brasell. Most of his work has been with the Virginia General Assembly for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Tyler Brummond, Captain in the United States Marine Corps spoke on the topic Bringing Afghanistan from the Stone Age to the Modern Age. Tyler has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and returned from Afghanistan in March 2010, having been deployed in KWabul since September 2009 as part of the NATO forces training mission.
Rev. Dr. Walter D. (Jack) Turner, retired Baptist minister turned Presbyterian. Jack served three distinctly different major churches over a 42 year ministerial career, including the largest church in the largest city in the largest state in the nation. He regularly found key Senators, Congressman and a Vice President sitting in his pews.
Elder Dr. Bob Campbell, retired internal medicine/geriatrics physician and cancer survivor. Bob shared some of his 50 years of experiences along with his view of how the practice of medicine has changed, how politics and medicine have become intertwined, and his outlook for healthcare in the future.
Tom Geiger, the coordinator of Westminster mission trips to Mexico and Peru has been a member of Westminster since 1985. He spoke upon returning from 2 months in Panama, where he and his wife Eleanor celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Tom spoke about his experiences in Central and South America, with both the Peace Corps and USAID.
Rep. Fred S. Upton, MI-06, one of the most appreciated leaders in Congress for his forthright way of bringing all sides together. Last year he briefed us upon his return from a trip to Afghanistan and Iraq. This year he gave us an insight into what is happening on the Hill now and what it may mean for us all.
Men, don’t miss the fellowship and stimulating discussions!
