Westminster Presbyterian Church
Let the doors of this church be a way to service.
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Worship Service
Sunday, December 5, 2021 Second Sunday of Advent The sermon entitled “Confident in This” based on Malachi 31:1-4 and Philippians 1:3-11 will be presented by the Rev. Dr. Blythe D. Kieffer Music will be provided by Westminster Choir, Lyle VanDeventer, bass, and Dale Rogers, organist. Advent Celebration – 10:00 a.m. in Sanctuary and 11:15 a.m. in Parish Hall The morning includes a special musical presentation of the “Hanging of the Greens” by Westminster Choristers (Grades 3-5) and the Children’s Choir (Grades K-2) during the 10:00 a.m. worship service. Advent at Westminster Second Sunday of Advent: December 5 10:00 a.m. in Sanctuary Advent Celebration – 10:00 a.m. in Sanctuary and 11:15 a.m. in Parish Hall The morning includes a special musical presentation of the “Hanging of the Greens” by Westminster Choristers (Grades 3-5) and the Children’s Choir (Grades K-2) during the 10:00 a.m. worship service. 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 28 will have the opportunity to create an advent wreath for home. Third Sunday of Advent: December 12 10:00 a.m. in Sanctuary The Sacrament of Communion will be celebrated as we continue our Advent journey. Elders and Deacons resume Home Communion. Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 19 10:00 a.m. in Sanctuary Sunday School Nativity Pageant - The Sunday school classes will come together under Sue Cull and Meridith Bryan’s leadership to experience the Christmas Story and Nativity. The children will process through the Sanctuary during the final hymn in costume and conclude in the Chancel with the pastors for the benediction. Christmas Vespers - 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary The program includes choral music and carols sung by the Westminster Choir and the St. Andrew’s Sisters. Featured in the program will be harpist, Ellie Kirk and oboist, Lucy Yockey. Deb Watts Elliot will accompany the Westminster Choir and Dale Rogers will play organ works based on Christmas carols. Christmas Music and Decoration Funds - Members and friends are invited to make a suggested donation of $25 to support Westminster’s decorations funds, which includes the poinsettias. You may go online at www.wpcspi.org to donate. Donations of $25 or more to the Special Music Fund are accepted at this time and through the year for pipers and drummers for St. Andrew’s Sunday and the Millikin Brass for Easter. Please submit your donations with your desired wording and dedications by Monday, December 13. Thank you for your generosity! 
Adopt-A-Family 2021
This year, Westminster will again sponsor the nine families living in the Contact Ministries transitional shelter, helping supply Christmas gifts for people working their way toward independence. In 2020, we created an online SignUpGenius for each family and it was very successful. The lists of requested gifts for Christmas 2021 are in the links posted below. Westminster members may also help purchase supplies for the Contact Ministries Shelter and Playroom below. * Gifts should be unwrapped however, gift wrap may be purchased as part of the gift. * Drop off gifts in the church office, clearly marked or tagged to indicate which gift request the item (or set of items) is meant to fulfill. For instance, "Family TS1 Boy 10 months Gift Wish 2". Unlabeled gifts will be very hard to match with the right recipient. Clear labels for gifts may be found on the family links as well as additional instructions. Gifts can be dropped off or ordered for direct delivery to Westminster (make sure to notify Jennie Alt to expect a package!), and all gifts need to be at the church by December 5. For assistance signing up for a gift(s), please contact Jennie Alt at the church office. Family TS5 www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b49a8ae22a3f85-adoptafamily4 Family TS6 www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b49a8ae22a3f85-adoptafamily5 Family TS7 www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b49a8ae22a3f85-adoptafamily6 Contact Ministries Shelter & Playroom Wish List www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b49a8ae22a3f85-contact Help Needed for Contact Ministries Distribution
Contact Ministries distribution will be held in Parish Hall on Wednesday, December 15. Members are encouraged to sign up for a shift to help with the preparation and Christmas give-away. There are a variety of jobs and 3-4 hour time slots available on Monday, December 13, Tuesday, December 14, and Wednesday, December 15. Click here to sign up to help with Contact Ministries distribution. 
Annual Christmas Eve Dinner
December 24, 2021 in Parish Hall Seating 5:45 - 6:00 p.m. Dinner is served at 6:00 p.m. A traditional meal will be served including roast turkey, baked ham, 2 types of potatoes, gravy, vegetables, a garden salad with choice of dressing, rolls w/butter, and fruit pies for dessert. The number of Click here for details and sign up form. 
Search for Nursery Worker
Westminster is seeking a nursery worker to assist Leigh Milward in caring for the youngest members of our congregation during the Sunday service. If you know someone who loves working with babies and young children, please refer them to the Nursery Worker Description and Application for Employment for more information. Apostles Read Library Book Group
Fourth Tuesday of the Month The Adult Education Committee is introducing a new book group called "Apostles Read" which will gather in our newly renovated Ziegler Library on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. beginning in January. The group will be led by Aaron Berkowitz. Participants may sign up on the church website and are responsible for purchasing their own books. Peaceful neighbor: Discovering the Countercultural Mister Rogers by Michael Long is the book selected for the first discussion on Tuesday, January 24. Sign up here to join this book group. Message from WPC COVID-19 Task Force
October 20, 2021 As coronavirus case numbers wane again after this most recent delta-variant surge, we are hopefully entering a time of calm. We don’t know what the future holds, though, as each previous decrease in numbers has eventually been followed by more cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. So, while we can feel better about our current situation, we must remain vigilant and continue to practice what we know is effective – getting vaccinated, wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and using good hand hygiene. Read the complete October 20 Covid-19 Task Force Report by clicking here. 
Church Mice on Saturdays
11:00 a.m. in Second Floor Classroom Church Mice is for infants through age 4 and begins Saturday, September 18, at 11:00 a.m. in the Second Floor Classroom. Led by Dale Rogers, this experience is for young children and their parents. Follow the cheese once you enter the West Narthex. Click here to sign your child(ren) up weekly for this class. Place Adult names in the comments only. The class size is limited to 10, due to COVID 19 precautions and limited space. Spots will fill up fast. |
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Featured Hunger Missions at Westminster
Westminster's Little Pantry
Our Little Pantry is located on Cook Street on the south side of Graham Elementary (near the main entrance of the school).
To ensure it is visited regularly per week and kept clean and well-stocked, we are maintaining a signup list for checking on the pantry. Sign up below by clicking the link. Reimbursement is available for items purchased, and a supply of items is kept at the church.
Sign up to help stock Westminster's Little Pantry
Our Little Pantry is located on Cook Street on the south side of Graham Elementary (near the main entrance of the school).
To ensure it is visited regularly per week and kept clean and well-stocked, we are maintaining a signup list for checking on the pantry. Sign up below by clicking the link. Reimbursement is available for items purchased, and a supply of items is kept at the church.
Sign up to help stock Westminster's Little Pantry
Helping Hands Meals
Every second Friday of the month, Westminster members prepare meals to feed 50 hungry men at Helping Hands Shelter at 1023 E. Washington St. Currently, meals are covered through the end of 2021.
This is a great project for friends or several families to do together. Volunteers may cook food in their own homes or use the church kitchen. Many thanks to Ann Collins and Sue Sawer for preparing the meal on November 12.
Please consider taking one or more dates (the 2nd Friday of each month) to prepare and deliver a much-needed dinner for the men at the Helping Hands Shelter. Dates in 2022 are available. Reimbursement is available.
Learn more details and sign up to help!
This is a great project for friends or several families to do together. Volunteers may cook food in their own homes or use the church kitchen. Many thanks to Ann Collins and Sue Sawer for preparing the meal on November 12.
Please consider taking one or more dates (the 2nd Friday of each month) to prepare and deliver a much-needed dinner for the men at the Helping Hands Shelter. Dates in 2022 are available. Reimbursement is available.
Learn more details and sign up to help!
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Give-A-Meal-A-Month
November Menu |
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Beef-a-Roni or Canned Pasta Meal, Rice (Instant, Bagged, or Mixes) and 100% juice or water canned fruit. Thank you to
those who place items in the West Narthex baskets for the Central Illinois Foodbank.
Items in High Demand: feminine hygiene products, shampoo, diapers & wipes, granola / nutrigrain / breakfast bars, individual cereal packs, soap.
those who place items in the West Narthex baskets for the Central Illinois Foodbank.
Items in High Demand: feminine hygiene products, shampoo, diapers & wipes, granola / nutrigrain / breakfast bars, individual cereal packs, soap.
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.
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Westminster Presbyterian Church is an Earth Care Congregation of the PC (U.S.A.), committed to caring for God's earth in worship, education, facilities, and outreach, promoting environmental stewardship in property decisions, administrative practices, and teaching. Click here to read the latest Earth Care tip. Westminster Presbyterian Church has been certified as an Hunger Action Congregation of the PC (U.S.A.), committed to (1) acknowledging and celebrating the faithful work of Presbyterians working around the country to alleviate hunger and end its causes, and (2) encouraging these ministries to be even more holistic and justice-oriented. Click here to see how Westminster is helping fight hunger in our community. |
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