ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS WORSHIP AT WESTMINSTER During...

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W ESTMINSTER P RESBYTERIAN C HURCH N EWSLETTER VOLUME 50, ISSUE 11 December 2018 Worship Joyfully, Serve Faithfully, Give Generously ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS WORSHIP AT WESTMINSTER During Advent, we’ll let ISAIAH get us ready for Christmas by studying some of the prophecies that speak to the coming of the Messiah. December 2: The First Sunday of Advent Isaiah 7:1-14 The Immanuel Prophecy 8:45 Morning Worship; The Lord’s Supper 11:00 Morning Worship; Children Hang the Chrismons December 9: The Second Sunday of Advent Isaiah 9:1-7 The Kingdom Prophecy 8:45 Morning Worship 11:00 Morning Worship; Children sing December 16: The Third Sunday of Advent Isaiah 12:1-6 The Joy Prophecy 8:45 Morning Worship 11:00 Morning Worship December 23: The Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:45 Morning Worship: A special “Blue Christmas” service designed for those who aren’t feeling so joyful during the holidays. Isaiah 40:1-11, 27-31 The Comfort Prophecy. 11:00 Morning Worship; Lessons and Carols. We’ll hear the Scriptures that point us toward the Savior and sing the carols that proclaim his birth. December 24: Christmas Eve 5:00 A Service for Families with Young Children. We recreate the nativity with help from the congregation and all the children who wish to participate. It’s noisy and wonderful. 7:00 Carols and Candlelight. A more reverent service with traditional carols, a sermon, and candle lighting. December 30: The First Sunday of Christmas 9:45 No Sunday School today, but interested families meet at WPC to go to Heartland to spread Christmas cheer. 11:00 Morning Worship; One service only. January 6: Epiphany We gather to worship the one who is a light to the nations. 8:45 Morning Worship; The Lord’s Supper 11:00 Morning Worship; The Lord’s Supper

Transcript of ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS WORSHIP AT WESTMINSTER During...

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 50, ISSUE 11

December

2018

Worship Joyfully, Serve Faithfully, Give Generously

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS WORSHIP AT WESTMINSTER

During Advent, we’ll let ISAIAH get us ready for Christmas by studying some of the

prophecies that speak to the coming of the Messiah.

December 2: The First Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 7:1-14 The Immanuel Prophecy

8:45 Morning Worship; The Lord’s Supper

11:00 Morning Worship; Children Hang the Chrismons

December 9: The Second Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 9:1-7 The Kingdom Prophecy

8:45 Morning Worship

11:00 Morning Worship; Children sing

December 16: The Third Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 12:1-6 The Joy Prophecy

8:45 Morning Worship

11:00 Morning Worship

December 23: The Fourth Sunday of Advent

8:45 Morning Worship: A special “Blue Christmas” service designed for those who

aren’t feeling so joyful during the holidays. Isaiah 40:1-11, 27-31 The Comfort

Prophecy.

11:00 Morning Worship; Lessons and Carols. We’ll hear the Scriptures that point us

toward the Savior and sing the carols that proclaim his birth.

December 24: Christmas Eve

5:00 A Service for Families with Young Children. We recreate the nativity with help

from the congregation and all the children who wish to participate. It’s noisy

and wonderful.

7:00 Carols and Candlelight. A more reverent service with traditional carols, a

sermon, and candle lighting.

December 30: The First Sunday of Christmas

9:45 No Sunday School today, but interested families meet at WPC to go to

Heartland to spread Christmas cheer.

11:00 Morning Worship; One service only.

January 6: Epiphany

We gather to worship the one who is a light to the nations.

8:45 Morning Worship; The Lord’s Supper

11:00 Morning Worship; The Lord’s Supper

From Your Pastor:

In T.S. Eliot’s Journey of the Magi, he voices

what the magi might have thought years after

the journey to Bethlehem. The poem is one of

my favorites, and it helps us think about how

Jesus changes everything. The last stanza:

All this was a long time ago, I

remember, And I would do it again,

but set down this: were we led all that

way for Birth or Death? There was a

Birth, certainly, we had evidence and

no doubt. I had seen birth and death,

But had thought they were different;

this Birth was hard and bitter agony

for us, like Death, our death. We

returned to our places, these

Kingdoms, But no longer at ease here,

in the old dispensation, With an alien

people clutching their gods, I should

be glad of another death.

The birth of Jesus means death. It means our

death- dying to ourselves- for we are no longer

the king of our own lives. With the magi, we

give him our gold because he is our king. We

are sinners in need of redemption- we give him

our incense and myrrh because he is the Lamb

of God, sacrificed for our sins.

Matthew ends his description of the magi by

telling us after they worshiped Jesus, they

went home by another way. (Matthew 2:12)

That’s my prayer for us this month. We come

to Jesus and are transformed by the

experience. Coming to Jesus means we, too,

must go home a different way.

Pastor Daniel

THANK YOU to those who have already made

your financial commitments for 2019! Our goal is

100% participation, so if you have not yet turned in

your commitment card (they are available in the

fellowship pads), you may do that by placing it in

the offering plate or making your pledge online at

www.westminstercharleston.org Thank you for

your generosity and faithfulness in 2018– even as

we look forward to a fruitful year of loving God and

our neighbors just like Luke 10:27 says!

Blue Christmas Service Sunday, December 23, 8:45 am

October 2005 we had a loss in our family that broke me in more ways that I want to admit. I didn't’ realize how broken my heart was until I started hearing Christmas music playing and seeing Frosty the Snowman dangling over the freezer section of the grocery store. There wasn’t a place, not even church, that was safe from happy holiday goers anticipating a fabulous Christmas season. My heart broke again. It was later the next year I heard about Longest Night Services and Blue Christmas Services held at other churches. These services were specifically designed to honor the sacred parts of Advent and Christmas while also acknowledging the season was difficult. Safe places to worship, cry, and even heal a little. Our hopes is if you have a loss, recent or not, that makes holidays especially difficult, feel welcome to come to Westminster’s Blue Christmas Service. Our hope is if you have a friend or neighbor you think would find some healing in such a service you feel welcome to invite them and maybe even sit with them during the service. If you or friends/family have questions, please feel free to give me a call at the church and I’ll do what I can to answer any questions. In Christ’s Service Pastor Lissa

Worship Attendance

8:45 11:00 November 4 54 253

November 11 66 203

November 18 57 178

November 25 45 180

In memory of Jerry Seay For: Hands of Christ

From: Hal and Brenda Jonsson

Howard and Jenny Fulwiler

Tom and Lynda Higgins

Mike Shetler

Walter and Carole Russell

John and Fran Ligon

In memory of

Roberta Morton For: Hands of Christ

From: Jim and Shirley Seay

Howard and Jenny Fulwiler

Hooks and Needles will meet on

Monday, December 10, at 10:00 am

in Classroom 4. We are one of the

ministries in Westminster Church, and you will find the work rewarding and

rich with fun and fellowship. Please do

come and join us!

Judy Tag 843-852-9271, [email protected]

November 2018 To All the Kind People of Westminster,

Thank you so much for all the cards, visits, and mostly prayers for me concerning my recent surgery. Westminster is the greatest. Love, Joan Frye

News from the Preschool

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us. December is filled with special Christmas gift projects for Mom and Dad, preparing for the Christmas program and don’t forget learning about the birth of Jesus. The teachers try to keep the children on schedule with the monthly plans and units, but it can be a challenge when the children are so excited about Christmas.

In addition to our regular activities we are looking forward to having a new tree and Shade Structure installed on the playground to replace the one that had to be removed last year. This will provide some shade in the spring when the weather warms up. The school has been blessed with generous donations from school families past and present to be able to finance these purchases. Thank you to those special friends.

Merry Christmas from the teachers and staff of the Preschool.

And a Happy New Year!

Family Advent Devotion

For Children The Family Advent Devotion for

Children will be offered again this

year. This activity is an opportunity

for parents to teach and prepare their

children for the birth of Jesus. Share

with your children short devotions

from God’s storybook, the Bible.

These stories will point the way to

the baby Jesus. This year’s activity

will be What Child is This? This

family activity will be available at a

table in the narthex for two Sundays

prior to the beginning of Advent on

December 2nd. Any questions,

please contact Robert Coker at 843-

696-7913.

Beisswenger family visit November 2018

Senior Adult

Ministries Montreat

October 2018

Men’s Bible Study Meets Thursday, December 13 Men of all ages: We meet on the second Thursday of every month

from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. in Covenant Hall. Coffee and doughnuts

provided. We are studying the sexiest book in the whole Bible:

The Song of Solomon. All are welcome!

December Birthdays

3 Dot Dangerfield

Jahrell Jones

4 Elizabeth Crosby

5 Jimmy Gibson

Ella Patrick

Nancy Plowden

6 Dan Butts

Shirley Seay

7 Rita Livingston

Carole Russell

Miles Snider

8 Frankie Earnst

Don Lundy

Bob Shepard

9 Elsie Crosby

10 Meg Powell

Bruce Yarnall

11 Emma Klingshirn

12 Mike Bruce

Jim Gill

13 Diane Doby

JoAnn Lisk

Abbie Mobley

Alex Pennekamp

Elizabeth Wade

14 Karen Dangerfield

Daniel Dounian

David Dounian

17 Judson Bazzle

18 Thomas Baskin

Chad Waldrop

19 Katie Camburn

Molly Kerr

22 Judy Tag

24 Lynn Koger

Henry Maiers

John Griggs

27 Steve Varn

Marshall Ward

28 Elayna Bobo

Kathryn Bobo

Rachel Crews

29 Megan Baker

Bill Stamper

Ellyn Winkles

31 Karen Norman

Jonathan Bazzle

We’ll receive an offering for Thornwell at the

Christmas Eve services.

Presbyterian Women

Moderator, Kendall Ramsay

Treasurer, Mona Gilbert

Dec. 5- PW Council, 6:45 pm (in the parlor)

Dec. 7 -Circle 6, 7:00 pm Dee Bee Wright’s home

Dec. 10- Circle 1, 6:00 pm Taffy Tamblyn’s home

Dec. 11 - Circle 4, 10:00 am Covenant Hall, Room 4.

Circle 5, 10:00 am - Parlor

Get Ready

Advent is Coming Daily devotions will be sent to the

congregation again this year

during Advent. Members of the

Session and congregation will be

contributing these devotions that

will be emailed to you each day.

Let us use these devotions to help

us prepare our hearts and minds

for the greatest gift, the birth of

our Savior.

Highlights from the Session Meeting

I. DEVOTIONAL

II. CLERK’S REPORT Priscilla Holtzclaw

A. No Change in Membership October 18, 2018 – November 14, 2018.

B. Births

i. Whitney Lyle Morgan born November 7, 2018 to Catherine and Marvin Morgan.

C. Baptisms

i. Grey Sterling Maki, Griffin Stuart Maki, and Graeme Sullivan Maki on November 11, 2018,

11:00 am service, parents Meredith and Bob Maki, Dee Bee Wright, assisting Elder. Pastor

Daniel Smoak

D. Communications: Thank you from Water Missions; Invitation from La Patria School for a ESL

teacher to travel to Coban and teach during the school year.

III.CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of minutes from the Session’s stated meeting on October 21, 2018.

B. Approval of the minutes from the meeting of the Diaconate on October 21, 2018.

C. Approval of the October 2018 Financial Statements.

IV. COMMITTEE ACTIONS

A. Christian Education: Enhance security during Sunday School and worship by closing and locking

interior doors. Will contact a professional for a security audit.

B. Finance: Funding from Drainage repair to come from Session Designated Fund.

C. Preschool: A modest tuition increase approved for the 2019-20 school year. “Spirit Night”

fundraisers @ Chick fila and Jason’s Deli approved.

D. Worship: Baptism for Quinn Anderson approved: January 13 at 11:00 am.

V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A. Scout Ad Hoc Committee: enthusiastically approved re-chartering the scouting ministry with new

guidelines for scouting to be an intentional outreach of Westminster Presbyterian.

VI. REPORT FROM THE PASTORS Daniel Smoak and Lissa Long

VII. ADJOURN WITH PRAYER

November 18, 2018

Oct 2018 Jan – Oct 2018 Jan – Oct 2017 Jan – Oct 2016

Contributions Budgeted 60,458.56 578,811.04 508,720.22 491,657.44

Contributions Actual 50,632.89 564,475.54 508,877.52 504,015.38

Expense Budgeted 62,478.19 586,343.56 568,678.34 535,006.27

Expense Actual 48,370.85 553,302.74 504,935.00 483,216.29

If you would like to help beautify our sanctuary for this year’s

Advent and Christmas season through the gift of one or more

poinsettias, please complete the information on this form and

place it and your payment in the offering plate, or return both to

the church office.

The deadline for ordering is Sunday, December 16. Your Name: ______________________________________________________________________

In Memory of: ____________________________________________________________________

In Memory of: ____________________________________________________________________

In Honor of: ______________________________________________________________________

In Honor of: ______________________________________________________________________

Please attach payment for ___________ at $18.00 each. Total: _______________

________Poinsettias will be picked up following the 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service.

________Please give my poinsettias to a shut-in.

Darkness to Light Child

Protection Training

If you work with young children, such as at

Mary Ford Elementary School, our Youth

Groups, or in other youth programs, Mary

Ford Elementary School is offering a no cost

Darkness to Light Training session on

Wednesday, December 12, from 3:30-5:30

PM, in the Family Resource Room. A light

sandwich and chip snack will also be

provided. You are invited to attend.

Under Construction!

The Memorial Garden with

Columbarium and Memorial Wall

Alternative Christmas Giving

Ideas

Wondering what to give someone who has everything? Maybe you want to do a little something for someone, but want it to be personal? Have you thought about Alternative Gift Giving? Here are some ways you can not only give a gift to a friend, family member or colleague, but how you can let your gift give twice! You may write checks to Westminster Presbyterian Church, with memo of where you would like your gift sent or give your gift directly to the organization. WPC will have cards available you may use to "give" your gift to friends, family or colleagues. Gifts may be of an amount listed or of your choice.

Food Pantry at Westminster Presbyterian Church Westminster gives out 36 bags of food a week. $25 per bag.

Hands of Christ Children's Bibles-$7 New Uniform for a Child-$20

Bethelwoods Camp and Conference Center Camp Supplies (first aid kits, crafts, etc.)-$50

Send a Kid to Camp-$475 La Patria School Scholarships Any amount will help build scholarships for children. $600 cost for one student for one year Some Other Missions Supported By WPC Mary Ford Elementary Thornwell Home for Children Back Pack Buddies Water Missions International Tricounty Family Ministries

Westminster Food

Pantry Drive

The Food Pantry at Westminster Presbyterian

Church is a program where those who need

groceries can come once a month for help. A

total of 36 bags are given out each week. Twelve

bags are given out Tuesday, Wednesday and

Thursday. People often line up at 8:30 am to get

a bag before they are all gone. This service to

the community is funded 100% by donations

from members. The Food Pantry is not included

in the annual budget and relies on the marked

donations of Westminster’s members. Marked

donations are additional contributions beyond

your pledged giving. Without your donations the

Food Pantry will not be able to continue in 2019.

Make your checks out to Westminster

Presbyterian Church and put Food Pantry in the

memo line. Please make

a monetary donation

today to keep this

ministry of our church

viable.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid

Charleston, SC Permit No. 48

Westminster Presbyter ian Church 1157 Sam Rit tenberg Bou levard Char leston, South Carol ina 29407 Elect ronic Serv ice Requested

Westminster Presbyterian Church (USA) www.westminstercharleston.org

843.766.8311

Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Smoak, Pastor

[email protected]

(843) 872-1001

Rev. Lissa Long, Associate Pastor

[email protected]

Robin Zemp, Director of Music

[email protected]

Janie Bruce, Director of Youth and Children’s Ministries

[email protected]

Nita Rushton, Office Administrator

[email protected]

Anne Camburn, Business Administrator

[email protected]

Alicia Crosby, Preschool Director

[email protected]

Joan Foster, Childcare Coordinator

[email protected]

Carol Smith, Church Hostess

SUNDAYS AT WESTMINSTER

8:45 a.m. - Worship Service

9:45 a.m. - Sunday School

11:00 a.m. - Worship Service

COMMUNION is celebrated the fir st Sunday of every month.

2ND SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH

12:00 noon Second Sunday Luncheon

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY

CHURCH FAMILY DINNER

6:00 p.m. Dinner

WESTMINSTER SESSION

CLASS OF 2019 CLASS OF 2020 CLASS OF 2021

Ann Froneberger Robert Coker Allyn Bruce

Nancy Parrish Eric David John Dounian

Rita Livingston Brenda Haile Norman Hook

Henry Shepard George McAbee Dale Norman Chuck Towne David Purcell Paul Patrick

John Wright Sally Rogers Betsy Williams

Clerk-Priscilla Holtzclaw Treasurer-Betsy Williams

Assistant Clerk - Rita Livingston Assistant Treasurer-Patty Stokes