Westminster Presbyterian in Gulfport looks to 'Year of Bible'

Westminster Presbyterian Church pastor Will Shurley has declared 2016 "The Year of the Bible."

To that end, he is kicking off the new year with a series of sermons under the header "The Year of the Bible."

"The series will help you increase your personal knowledge and understanding of the Bible and deepen your faith," Shurley said.

Each week, he said, he will deliver a different message that will take the congregation on a journey through the scriptures to encourage renewal of personal commitment.

Reading together

There will be small group Bible studies formed for the purpose of giving members a better understanding of each week's topics and the passages read from the scriptures.

Those small groups will meet in members' homes and various locations along the Coast and promise to be a time of open discussion and study.

Westminster began in the 1940s when the leadership and members of First Presbyterian Church of Gulfport wanted to establish a mission on the outer limits of the city.

By the mid-1950s, FPCG purchased land on Lawson Avenue and began with building a church school and soon morning worship services were held there by the pastor of FPCG. Westminster was organized in March 1960 with 121 charter members.

Today, Westminster's mission statement reads: "To bear witness to God's love for the world in Jesus Christ."

Many of the members and staff of the church are involved in the Bayou View community, where the church is located.

Putting in the work

Members of Westminster volunteer each month at Feed My Sheep. As part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Westminster collects non-perishable food supplies and monetary donations for Feed My Sheep. People who wish to donate are encouraged to call the office to arrange a drop off.

Shurley, who came to Westminster in April 2014 with his wife, Anna Kate, and their two children, said he is excited about a Gulfport Ecumenical Fellowship that was recently formed to bring church leaders together to best understand how they and their congregants can best help their communities.

"It is a place where pastors and church members ... can get together for prayer and impactful service to the Mississippi Gulf Coast," Shurley said.

The next meeting of the Gulfport Ecumenical Fellowship will be noon Jan. 12 at Westminster Presbyterian. All clergy are invited and lunch will be served.

This story was originally published January 1, 2016 at 6:18 PM with the headline "Westminster Presbyterian in Gulfport looks to 'Year of Bible' ."