Sunday School Classes
Toddler Class- age 18 months to 3 year olds
Taught by Karrie Harmer
A Lesson, craft and snack are provided
Lower Elementary Class – age 4 years old to 1st grade
Taught by Jessica Karius
Upper Elementary Class – 2nd grade to 5th grade
Taught by Steve and Teresa Palmer
Middle and High School Class
Taught by Kris Finlay
We offer opportunities for youth to grow closer to Jesus Christ as well as closer to one another. We offer Sunday School classes, social events and service opportunities.
Goals for our children:
* To know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
* To learn to love and grow in relationship with Jesus as well as with each other.
* To learn their God-given gifts and talents so they may serve and glorify the Lord Jesus.
We offer:
Infant and Toddler Nurseries on Sunday morning,
Sunday School classes,
Sunday Evening Children’s Bible Class,
Summer Fun Days,
a Reformation Day Celebration and
Service Projects .
The motto of the Presbyterian Church in America is, “True to the Scriptures, the reformed faith, and obedient to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.” We seek to bring the good news to the world starting right where God has placed us. The Purpose Statement for Westminster is, “To please God as we worship Him, make disciples of Jesus Christ locally and worldwide, equip believers for ministry in the church and the world, and practice biblical relationships as a congregation.” We desire the world to know their creator, redeemer, and friend, Jesus Christ. Jesus lived the perfect life and died the perfect death so that we might return to God’s favor and thrive in his presence. The gospel is good news to all people.
We seek to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ who know, love, worship, and serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And we seek to send out mature disciples to make other mature disciples throughout the world. We participate in several local outreaches and support missionaries around the world.
*Meal Ministry to new moms, the elderly, or those who are sick.
*WPC facilities host 2 different weekly Classical Homeschooling Co-ops .
Worshipping God is our highest calling, our greatest responsibility, and our supreme joy. We were created to know God, to fellowship with and enjoy him. Worship is a duty, but it also ought to be our delight. We have found the one thing worthy of all our worship and all of our praise! We seek to honor God by allowing Him to speak and for us to respond in wonder, love, and praise.
At Westminster, Fellowship is a priority for all ages!! Find a spot to be blessed and to be a blessing to others.
For more information on these and other opportunities, email Kathy at kathyscholten1@yahoo.com or look up the Pastor or an Elder on any Sunday, and we’ll be happy to get you plugged in!
Please join us at 9:00 am before the worship service for Sunday School. Each class has a specific topic led by men of the church. All ages are welcome to attend any class. The coffee and fellowship begin to flow at 8:30 am and continue after Sunday School until 10:20 am. Come early and stir things up with us!
The Life and Theology of Paul
Taught by Bryan McReynolds
The Clarence Clark Men’s Sunday School class is open to men of all ages. Class time begins with prayer requests and a short season of prayer.
The class is interactive and informal in nature with an open and lively discussion of God’s Word. Discussions address current-day applications in the lives of Christian men of what is learned from the study of God’s Word.
CURRENT STUDY:
Sep 10, 2024 – Nov 19, 2024
When you hear that we are going to study the book of James, you probably immediately think of the famous passage about faith and works that made Martin Luther not want to include this epistle in the canon of Scripture, because it seems to be at odds with the doctrine of salvation by grace alone taught by the Apostle Paul. Are James and Paul contradicting each other in what they teach about salvation? (Spoiler alert: No, but we will certainly talk about this!)
But there is a lot more to James than parsing theology. This letter provides a mirror for us to evaluate ourselves in light of the faith we profess. It is probably the most practical, no-nonsense guide to Christian living in the New Testament. James addresses topics like the value of trials and temptations, the danger of hypocrisy and self-deception, the kind of good works that God accepts, the problem of favoritism in the church, rich people who oppress poor people, the evil of an uncontrolled tongue, why we have conflict, what real wisdom looks like, the importance of patience in suffering, the need for confession and the miraculous power of prayer.
Please join us weekly for study and fellowship. Bring your Bible. Materials are provided. Friends are always welcome.
Tuesday Morning
WHEN: Tuesday mornings 9:30-11:30
WHERE: In the Fellowship Hall
CHILD CARE: We provide free childcare for infants through 2nd grade. A snack is provided for the children.
WHAT WE DO: We meet together as a large group for Bible teaching, singing, and prayer; then divide into small groups for discussion and more specific prayer. There is usually a minimal amount of homework to do in preparation for each week’s lesson and discussion.
WHAT TO BRING: Your Bible, whatever translation you normally use. If you don’t have a Bible yet, we will be happy to provide one for you.
WHO CAN COME: Women of all ages. Friends are always welcome.
Tuesday Evening
WHEN: Tuesday evenings 7:00-8:30
WHERE: At the home of Kris Finlay (see her contact info below)
CHILD CARE: NOT provided for the evening study
WHAT WE DO: We watch the video of the Tuesday morning teaching, discuss the study questions and lesson, and pray for one another.
WHAT TO BRING: Your Bible, whatever translation you normally use. If you don’t have a Bible yet, we will be happy to provide one for you.
WHO CAN COME: Women of all ages. Friends are always welcome.
CONTACTS
WATCH LIVESTREAM
Watch Livestream at the bottom of this page or on the church’s home page, or watch later by going to the YouTube archive by clicking below.
We believe that women need Jesus. Our lives are not about our social or financial status, our clothes, our appearance, our jobs, our homes, our righteousness or our perfection. Only Jesus saves. Only Jesus satisfies. Our purpose is to nurture women in their relationship with Jesus.
We believe that women need the Word of God. We need truth, encouragement, hope and support as we face the many challenges of life as singles, wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, neighbors, employers, employees, and friends. The Word of God is relevant in every stage and circumstance of our lives. It equips us to live our lives well and to minister the grace of God in a broken world. Our purpose is to study the Scripture and apply its truth and power to our lives.
We believe that women need other women. We need sisters and friends to walk with us in life. We need to share our struggles, our sorrows and our joys. We need the wisdom and counsel of older women who have been there. We need the support of Christian friends whose faith is real, who will listen, encourage, and pray for us. We need to belong, and we believe that each woman has something to contribute to our group. Our purpose is to nurture friendships among Christian women.
We believe that women need the church and the church needs women. As we minister to women and build them up in faith and friendship, we are strengthening not only individuals but also their families and the church. Our purpose is to equip and inspire women to live and minister well in their homes, in the church, and in the world.
This is a safe, welcoming group of women. You will experience serious, in-depth teaching, intimate small group fellowship, and personal prayer.
Many women from outside the church are faithful members of our Bible Study. Come and make new friends who will support and encourage you in the faith. Women of all ages are welcome. Come as you are.
I was born in Detroit, Michigan, and baptized in a Christian Reformed Church. I spent most of my childhood living just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan and I attended the Reformed Church of America. I did not know Christ. At 16 years old I was converted while watching “Jesus of Nazareth” on television during the Easter season. I saw the huge divide between my life and Christ’s perfect life.
Hope College in Holland, Michigan was my choice for further schooling simply because they had a religion department. This course of study left me with more questions than answers. I spent a semester in the mountains at the Oregon Extension and here I saw myself, my sin, and Christ more deeply. I graduated with a BA in Religion in 1986. I met my wife, Kathy, while at college. She was raised in an ultra-conservative reformed church and she knew the doctrine well, but she did not have a relationship with Christ. I had Christ and she had doctrine, so God used each of us to strengthen each other’s weaknesses! We attended L’abri Study Center in Switzerland for 6 weeks after we graduated from college. Kathy studied education, worldview, and family living. I studied the authority, canonicity, and inspiration of the Bible. We got engaged in Switzerland and were married in October of 1986.
At this time I was wrestling with a call to the ministry and thinking about seminary but I needed to mature. During these three years, I was under great preaching, studied several hours each day, and I began to grow spiritually. By now I had a wife, a daughter, and a baby on the way, so I tried to put thoughts of the seminary out of my mind. I was told not to enter the ministry unless God drags you kicking and screaming against your will. Others told me that seminaries do not make ministers; God makes ministers. So, I spent three years working in the “real” world. I worked with juvenile delinquent girls in a group home with Bethany Christian Services. I worked with developmentally disabled adults for Kent Client Services. I traveled throughout Michigan as a spokesman for Right to Life’s Committee to End Tax-Funded Abortions. I was also a cash register salesman for Great Lakes Retail Systems.
God finally impressed on my heart that I must follow His call to the ministry in 1989. My wife and I and our two daughters moved to Jackson, Mississippi and I enrolled in the Reformed Theological Seminary. My first son was born the week I graduated from seminary in 1992. I served in a small, independent reformed church in Grand Rapids Michigan for 5 years. We added two children. Next, we accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church in Manchester Connecticut for 10 years. The church grew, we moved onto new facilities and planted another church. We also helped to start and run a Classical Christian School called Covenant Academy. I served Faith Presbyterian Church in Akron Ohio for 8 years. I have preached for 23 years and I love it. My one desire is to pastor a growing, thriving church by building a godly community of grace-based relationships.
In my nearly 6 years serving the congregation here at Westminster, I have been struck by 3 things. First, we enjoy a deep and sincere fellowship. We say that the church is a family and here at Westminster you can experience it! Second, we have a great variety of gifts that God has given to this church family. If everyone is using their gifts, then together we can form a formidable whole. We are striving for an every member, gifted ministry here at Westminster. And we have many gifted people! Finally, we strive for growth. We have many mature Christians who are willing to serve and disciple others. We need people to fill our pews and grow in grace with us. I pray that God would fill the pews with growing disciples of Jesus Christ.
Our elders are spiritually mature men who love, lead and shepherd the congregation.
Our elders are called to lead and shepherd the congregation. They direct the affairs of the church. The elders pray for members of the congregation, provide spiritual guidance for them, oversee the preaching and teaching of the Word and worship services, establish and oversee all Christian Education. Elders also teach the Word in various capacities (including small groups). Elders exercise church discipline, examine ruling elders and deacons, examine the records and budget of the church, approve actions of special importance affecting church property, call congregational meetings and perform other duties to direct the affairs of the church.
New elders are nominated and voted on by the congregation each year. They serve 3 year terms.
Eric Eagle – Active
Eric is an Army civilian stationed at Fort Gordon. He is husband to Natalka and dad to Lilya. He has served as an elder at an inter-denominational church in Darmstadt, Germany as part of Converge International, a church-planting organization with a vision to reach and disciple international English speakers. He is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. His favorite things include hanging out with his family, geography, 3D design and Linux.
Dr. Ed Payne – Active
Ed Payne served on active duty in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and Ft. Gordon. He graduated from the Medical College of Georgia and taught there for 25 years in the Department of Family Medicine. He has written several books, including, “Biblical Medical Ethics”, “Making Biblical Decisions, What Every Christian Should Know about the AIDS Epidemic”, “Biblical Healing for Modern Medicine: Choosing Life and Health or Disease and Death,” and “God Confronts Culture.” He maintains three websites: biblicalphilosophy.org, biblicalworldview21.org and bmei.org. He has served as an elder in the former PCUS at Lakemont Presbyterian, in the PCA at First Presbyterian and at Christ Church Presbyterian while it was independent. He has practiced Biblical counseling in his medical practice and at First Presbyterian Church in the 1980’s. He has been married to Jeanne for 51 years with four children and 13 grandchildren.
Bryan is a native Texan, with a Bachelor’s degree in communications from Stephen F. Austin State University. He married his beloved wife, Debbie in the spring of 1982 and spent the first four years of married life serving on active duty as an officer in the United States Marine Corp. They have three children.
Bryan has worked in the industrial chemical distribution business since 1986, moving to the Augusta area with his family in 1988. Shortly after their arrival here, the family joined Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Debbie
has served in various WIC positions, along with roles in childcare; while Bryan has served as Deacon and as an Elder.
Gary Mullen was born and raised in Queens, N.Y. As a child, he attended a Presbyterian Church in Astoria. Queens. Gary attended elementary school in Brooklyn. He went to Pace University located in lower Manhattan, close to the World Trade Center, and graduated with a BBS in 1977. In 1978 he was hired by S. Lichtenberg & Co. Inc., a manufacturer, and distributor of household window curtains. S. Lichtenberg’s headquarters is located in New York City on Fifth Avenue. In 1979, he was asked to try some southern living by working in the Augusta area at the curtain sewing plant in Waynesboro, Ga. Gary liked Georgia so much that he decided to stay in the area and has been with the company for over 36 years. Gary was invited to attend Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1980. The warmth and the truth that was taught at Westminster made him want to be a part of this church family. In 1982, a Yankee All-Star 2nd baseman came to Westminster for a conference. Gary was invited to have lunch with one of these Yankee heroes at a church member’s home, who later introduced him to his wife-to-be, Darlene. Darlene graduated from Shorter College in 1981, and when they met in 1982 Darlene was the music teacher at Glenn Hills High School.
It was love at first sight (at least for Gary). Darlene had to get used to his Yankee accent! Gary and Darlene were married in 1983, and the Lord has blessed them with four wonderful girls. Gary has been a member at WPC since 1981. He served multiple terms as a Deacon and then as an Elder. Darlene has been the Choir Director since 1994. Gary has the characteristic of sticking with the things he loves: his wife, Westminster Presbyterian Church, favorite sports teams such as the NY Yankees, NY Giants, and Alabama football. Yes, Gary routed for Alabama even while he was a boy in Queens, N.Y.!
Dan was fortunate to grow up on the prairies of South Dakota in a Christian home as the oldest of five siblings. He came to trust Christ as his personal savior during a summer camp meeting when he was 10, and he was baptized in a lake a few months later. Although it was 35 miles to his church, his family was dedicated to attending and serving the church, and Dan continued this practice by becoming the youth pastor after he graduated from high school and while he went to the local state university to earn his degree in agricultural engineering.
With a career in product development and factory operations while working 30 years for Husqvarna, and having married in 1979, Dan and Anne moved to the south in 1985, living first in Savannah GA, then Orangeburg SC, and finally Augusta in 1996 where they joined Westminster. While living in SC they found the PCA, and joined the church there in 1990, and he was first elected a ruling elder in 1992. He was then elected as an elder at WPC in 2000. Anne has primarily been a homemaker and artisan, and is now heavily involved in fine art painting. They are the proud parents of two daughters; Sarah who is a business manager for a large restaurant in Charleston, SC, and Meredith who is a physician assistant and is married to Brad Thompson who is an assistant district attorney. They live in New York City.
Dan is currently working as a forensic engineer for the lawn and garden industry and travels around the country investigating accidents and working with various manufacturers to defend their products in court. At WPC along with serving in many capacities on the Session, he has taught Sunday School, is active in working with the diaconate, sings in the choir, loves to host and entertain guests at his lake home, and when in town is the friendly face you often see greeting at the front door or leading worship. He has also served on the Ridge Haven Board of Directors since 2009, and for the last three years has served as President.
Dr. Ted Kuhn – Active
Dr. W. “Ted” Kuhn is a professor of emergency medicine and professor of pediatrics. He also specializes in tropical infectious diseases and is the fellowship director for the international medicine fellowship at MCG and associate director of the clinical ultrasound fellowship at MCG. He is a fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene..
Dr. Kuhn spends half of his clinical time in the Pediatric Emergency Department at Georgia Regents University (Medical College of Georgia) and the other half of his time working in the developing world under MTW (Mission to the World- the mission sending arm of the Presbyterian Church in America).
He and his wife, Dr. Sharon Kuhn, are the co-Medical Directors of the medical ministry of MTW. Special projects include malaria control in SE Asia and tuberculosis. His passion is to pair medical ministry with the church planting ministry of MTW and the mentoring and preparing of young medical professionals for medical missions in the developing world.
He is the author of three recent books that focus on medicine in the developing world especially directed to those who are involved in faith-based medical missions. One is a textbook, Global Medical Missions: Preparation, Procedure, Practice, which is co-authored by Dr. Sharon Kuhn. The second is a collection of short stories about people he has interacted with during his travels, My Eyes, His Heart. The last is a book for health care workers interested in missions, Heal, In Imitation of Christ.
Scott Duffin, Rich Nelligan, Rick Harmer, Larry Wooten
Larry Wooten
Rick Harmer has been happily married for many years to his wife Karrie. They were blessed with two children, Jessica and Richard and they now enjoy their grandchildren. Rick has served as the CFO of Westminster and as a deacon for many years. Rick enjoys hunting, and he often bags his prey. He has recently retired from the business world and is not sure where retirement will take him but he is ready for the trip.
Joshua Ling (Deacon Intern)
Joshua David Ling is a professional media manager and storyteller originally from Alpharetta, Georgia. He and his wife Kay Cee are both Covenant Children who were raised up to believe in Christ from a very young age. They have two children of their own and have their hands in many ministries all over Westminster.
Jim Finlay – Inactive
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and am a lifelong Steelers fan. I attended a small Presbyterian church with all of my family – over half the congregation was a Finlay relation. I accepted Christ at an early age and do not remember a time without the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ. I attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington after graduating from high school and received a degree in Marine Biology. After graduation I spent some time in the Caribbean then worked on a fish farm in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where I met my wife Kris at the First Presbyterian Church. We were married there in August of 1993. The fish farm closed, but I was able to get a job at a local chemical plant in Orangeburg (Albemarle Corp.). Our first son, Robert, was born in Orangeburg in 1995. In 1999 I accepted a position with Pfizer in Augusta, Georgia, and we were blessed with our second son, Logan, in 2000. I am currently working as the Quality Control Laboratory Supervisor for Prayon in Augusta where I have been for 15 years. We have been attending Westminster Presbyterian since we moved to Augusta in 1999. I love being outdoors, camping, hiking, gardening, and hanging out with friends and family. I like to say that since my University did not have a football team, that I can root for any college football team. However, I pull for the West Virginia Mountaineers (Sisters and Brother In-laws Alma mater) and of course the Georgia Bulldogs (I think that is a Georgia state law or something).
