Westminster Presbyterian Church
Let the doors of this church be a way to service.
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Documents for Sunday, December 3, 2023
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Sunday, December 3, 2023
First Sunday of Advent Worship at 10:00 a.m. Join us this Sunday for worship. Rev. Dr. Blythe Denham Kieffer will preach the sermon titled "The Art of Waiting" based on Isaiah 64:1-4 and I Corinthians 1:4-9. Service music will be provided by the Children's Choir directed by Katie Moore, the Westminster Choir, and Dale Rogers, organist. Advent at Westminster
First Sunday of Advent: DECEMBER 3 Advent Wreath, Children’s Music during 10:00 a.m. service We begin the Season of Advent, the time of waiting and preparing, on Sunday, December 3 with the lighting of the Advent Wreath. Thank you to the O’Reilly, Capler, and Lafrenz families for leading us in this Westminster tradition. The 10:00 a.m. service will include special music by the Children’s Choir (Grades K-5) under the direction of Katie Moore, Director for Children’s Music. Advent Celebration at 11:15 a.m. in Parish Hall A reception in Parish Hall will follow worship and include a festive brunch, the singing of Christmas Carols, the creating of ornaments, and the decorating of Christmas cookies. Children who were not in Sunday School on November 26 will have the opportunity to create an advent wreath for home. Second Sunday of Advent: DECEMBER 10 Christmas Vespers at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary On Sunday, December 10 at 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon, Westminster’s Christmas Vespers program will include choral music and carols sung by the Westminster Choir and the St. Andrew’s Sisters, with Dale Rogers, Organist. Vespers will include the seasonal music of Adelmann, Friedell, Forrest, Purcell,Halls, Rawsthorne, Bach, Spirituals, and more. Third Sunday of Advent: DECEMBER 17 Sunday School Procession during 10:00 a.m. service The Sunday School children will recreate the Nativity in the Third Floor Chapel and process in their costumes during the closing hymn “Joy to the World” and conclude in the Chancel with the pastors for the Charge and Benediction. Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve at Westminster
Sunday, December 24 10:00 a.m. Children’s Christmas Pageant On Our Way to Bethlehem The Confirmation youth and Bridges children will narrate the Christmas story in a more elaborate pageant with special music by the Children’s Choir and Eleanor VanDeventer. We welcome Millie and John McNutt with newborn son, James, as our Holy Family. All children are invited to participate as shepherds, angels, and lambs. 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Annual Christmas Eve Dinner Hosted by the Board of Deacons Don’t miss this special event which includes a delicious meal of roast turkey, baked ham, vegetable, garden salad, cheesy potatoes, rolls, and fresh fruit pies. Adults are $24.00, children 6-12 are $14.00 and children ages 5 and under are at no charge. Reservations and payment must be made no later than Tuesday, December 19. Please send your payment and number attending to the Church Office. Reservation forms will be in the bulletins on December 3, 10 and 17. Click here to sign up for dinner online. 7:00 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols The Westminster Choir will provide the choral music and our High School seniors will read the Christmas Story in this Annual Service of Lessons and Carols. Dr. Kieffer will give the meditation. In ancient times, the bells of churches were silenced during the season of Advent. Yet, at the singing of the angel’s song, “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” (Glory to God in the Highest) the bells were rung. We follow that tradition by ringing bells during the singing of the closing carol. Bring your silver bells, brass bells, jingle bells, and even cow bells to this service and be prepared to ring out in peals of joy! 10:00 a.m. Sunday, December 31 First Sunday of Christmas We will continue the celebration of Christmas and mark the conclusion of 2023 in a special New Year’s Eve litany. Christmas Joy Offering
The Christmas Joy Offering is an annual special collection of the PC(USA) during Advent. It supports church workers and families in times of need and funds scholarships for racial/ethnic students. Please look among your offering envelopes for those specifically marked to give toward this special fund, and nurture the promise of future leaders and those who serve the church. Members may give by check, noting "Joy offering" in the memo line or by clicking the Give Now button below and then selecting "Joy offering" for your gift.
Contact Ministries and
Refugee Ministry Adopt-a-Family This year, Westminster will again sponsor the nine families living in the Contact Ministries transitional shelter, providing Christmas gifts as they work their way toward independence, and we will add Westminster’s anticipated refugee family as the tenth family whom we will help transition as we prepare a home for them. Each family will have multiple Wishlist items on SignUpGenius from which to select gifts. Gifts can be dropped off under the smaller Christmas tree in the elevator lobby or ordered for direct delivery to Westminster (make sure to notify Jennie Alt to expect a package!). Adopt-a-Family - Family TS1 Wish List *These wishes are fulfilled Adopt-a-Family - Family TS2 Wish List * These wishes are fulfilled Adopt-a-Family - Family TS3 Wish List * These wishes are fulfilled Adopt-a-Family - Family TS4 Wish List *These wishes are fulfilled Adopt-a-Family - Family TS5 Wish List *These wishes are fulfilled Adopt-a-Family - Family TS6 Wish List * 5 Wishes left Adopt-a-Family - Family TS7 Wish List * 1 Wish left Adopt-a-Family - Family TS8 Wish List * 7 Wishes left Adopt-a-Family - Family TS9 Wish List *These wishes are fulfilled Adopt-a-Family - Refugee Family Wish List - This list will be added soon and these items can be purchased through the end of the year as we expect our family to arrive in 2024. Steadfast Neighbor Opportunity
At the November meeting, Session approved a joint recommendation from the Strategic Planning and Property Committees to evaluate the cost of renovating 518 S. Glenwood for the purpose of selling it. Proceeds will reimburse the Support and Endowment loan approved by the congregation in 2018. At the time we purchased the home in 2018, we had not yet formulated the Site and Landscape Plan to expand our parking lot. Both committees concurred we no longer have a need for the property and in keeping with our commitment to the neighborhood, improvements need to be made. Immediate projects include removal and replacing the garage roof and removing carpet and padding throughout the home. Ministry partners worked this week and we are calling for additional ministry partners to collaborate on these projects the week of December 4. Teams will work Tuesday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon and/or 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. If you have questions, reach out to Todd Knox or Gary Warnick. Sign up here to help. Hunger Ministries at Westminster
Click here for information on our Hunger Ministries. Click Here to sign-up on for the Little Pantry, Helping Hands, and for Give-a-Meal-a-Month for Central IL Foodbank. |
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Westminster's Mission Statement
With each new day, we reaffirm our common purpose
to join in the worshipful praise of God,
to teach children, to lead and inspire the young,
and to call everyone to life-long learning in the church,
to be influential participants in society by being accountable to the Gospel,
to show the love and compassion of Jesus Christ toward each other,
and toward those who are hurting,
to be a caring community welcoming both friends and strangers
to own our Presbyterian heritage, reformed and always reforming,
to be prayerfully open to the renewing power of the Holy Spirit.
With each new day, we reaffirm our common purpose
to join in the worshipful praise of God,
to teach children, to lead and inspire the young,
and to call everyone to life-long learning in the church,
to be influential participants in society by being accountable to the Gospel,
to show the love and compassion of Jesus Christ toward each other,
and toward those who are hurting,
to be a caring community welcoming both friends and strangers
to own our Presbyterian heritage, reformed and always reforming,
to be prayerfully open to the renewing power of the Holy Spirit.
Westminster Presbyterian Church is an Earth Care Congregation of the PC (U.S.A.). Click here to read the latest Earth Care tip.
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Mission & Community Service 2022 Booklet
The total Mission Giving for 2022 is $374,027. This giving is divided among the Operating Fund, Special Offerings, Presbyterian Women, and the Support and Endowment Mission Funds. Click here to read the Mission Booklet in PDF format. |