WPC Reflections
Reflection by Shelley Peterson
I entered the College of Wooster in the fall of 1972; J. Garber Drushal was president. During Freshman Week, I tried out for Westminster’s choir. Apparently I read music well enough to be accepted. A memory that sticks with me still was that the choir was needed to be a part of a valued faculty member’s memorial service in McGaw early that fall. It was a very somber selection of music, of course, and the organist was the revered Richard T. Gore, who retired in 1974. We were all on our best behaviors :-) That was the beginning of my WPC experience.
J. Barrie Shepherd officially started at COW in January of 1973 ( I don’t remember his first Convocation address of the ’72-’73 academic year, entitled "Revolution or Revelation?” though I’m sure I was there). I do remember walking home with some of my fellow students after one particular service in the spring of ‘73, and we all started singing “Day by Day” from Godspell. The song must have played some part in what was presented that day at Westminster.
Back then, I felt Westminster provided exactly what a college church should have - a welcoming atmosphere for students from all manner of denominational backgrounds. I personally came to school as an active UCC member. I didn’t get to know Barrie Shepherd personally, but I did get to know Cindy Jarvis, ordained here at Westminster in the fall of 1974. She became a good friend, and In the summer of 1976, she officiated at my wedding to Mike Peterson, also an alum.
Gordon Stewart arrived in August of 1977. Mike and I joined the church during his years - I’m thinking in ‘78. I’m pretty sure we arrived late that Sunday for some reason. Sandy Beery was out in the narthex, comforting baby Bryan. She asked if we were the Petersons, and said they’d been waiting for us! Way to make an impression! Gordon came to visit me in the hospital when we had our first child (Greg) in June,1982. I believe he brought me some french fries! He asked Mike to make the first banners used on the stage of McGaw during our services - a peace dove was one of them. I believe Gordon also started the “Young Adults’ Group,” which continued to some extent into the early 90’s.
By the time our second child was born in May,1985, Barbara Dua was our pastor. She baptized Josh. Edna Comin was the wonderful elder we chose to stand up with us! Barbara started the Women’s Study and Support Group which proved to be most meaningful to many of us, and continued to be so in the coming years.
Tim Anderson was with us from 1987-1991; he and the student interns became very special and important to many of us. Dream Group was a major involvement for us in that era. I was on the PNC for the next minister after Barbara Dua left in 1988. It took us the better part of 2 years! We called David Hoffelt in 1990, and those days were tumultuous.
I went through my divorce in 1993-1994, and my Westminster family and Barbara Battin supported me through that experience. Carroll Meyer joined us is ’94 and helped me through the deaths of my parents in 1999 and 2000. Dries Coetzee was called in 2010, and he baptized my first two grandchildren. The rest is current history! Our ministers, and many of the interims and interns we’ve had contributed greatly to my faith journey over the years, as did so many special members of the congregation that have passed.
We happily raised our children in this beloved church! We have wonderful memories of Christmas pageants with Peter Havholm as the voice of the Lord, Sunday school programs, and family events and retreats. One of my personal favorite memories was the Palm Sunday that Rich and Josie Drushal brought their pony to church so we could all process from the Church House up onto the McGaw stage, palms a-waving! My sons went through confirmation class and attended youth group, both participating in the Intercambio Maya trips. They are still warmly greeted today by all those who remember them, and my grandchildren are embraced!
Over the years, I’ve served on many committees, but the ones that stand out have been Adult Ed., Congregational Concerns, and Mission. I’ve been an elder on Session several times, and have helped create many a report and mission statement. The thing I value most about Westminster is that I was accepted as both a believer and a seeker. Some of my closest friendships were formed here and continue here. I’ve been able to express my concern for the world and find meaningful ways to help others. I consider myself blessed to have been a part of the Westminster family over much of the past 50 years!
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