Snow Information: If activities at Westminster are cancelled, we’ll send out an e-mail to our distribution list and also update the message on the church phone (983-8939). If you are wondering, call the church and listen for a special update.
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El Semanario de Westminster – 6 diciembre 2013 – Westminster Weekend Update
Second Sunday of Advent, December 8th, 2013 at 11 am:
“The One of Fire”
Reverend Dr. Barbara Boyd, preaching
I Corinthians 3:11-17 & Matthew 3:1-12
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Pastor’s Notes—“We Need a Christmas Miracle”
I saw a movie about a week ago that focused on the idea of a Christmas miracle. The movie wasn’t particularly fetching, but the idea contained within it was intriguing. We tell a story each year through the days of Advent that concerns a “miracle” of sorts. God comes into the world in human form through an innocent, naïve, uneducated peasant girl—the least likely vessel for such a happening. We re-enact this story in Christmas pageants in churches all over the world. Children delight in the story; adults grow misty-eyed at the chorus of angels and the wonder of the shepherds in the fields. Carols are sung in praise and worship of the couple seeking a place for a mystical birth to take place. All the while, we must suspend rational belief in order to accept the story—yet we do.
In my few weeks as your interim pastor I have come to recognize two things about Westminster Presbyterian Church: 1) you are a miracle church; and 2) you need miracles in your midst.
You are a miracle church because I cannot recall in my ministry ever seeing so much effective compassionate effort and funds come out of such a small group of people. You are definitely a miracle that happens to the Santa Fe community. I do hope the people of this town recognize the role you play in helping to bring relief to such suffering. As I continue to learn about the ministry this small church does, I never fail to be astonished and excited. Who would know that this group of people is such a mighty force in this community? You are a miracle church and I am grateful to have this experience to get to know you. When I leave you in the coming year, I will find myself sad that our relationship is over.
WPC also needs its own set of miracles within. In our midst are people who are struggling with health issues, family issues, employment issues, identity issues, spiritual issues, change of life issues—on and on the list could go. There is pain and suffering within our own family of faith. This church tends to focus so much on helping others, that sometimes we forget to look within at our own suffering. So, I am going to ask each of you who feels you belong to this particular family of faith to make a ritual during this month of Advent: pray for a miracle to come about in the life of every person in this faith community who needs or wishes for a miracle.
Now, I do not mean magic—things that cross our boundaries for what is possible. Rather, pray for each other and ask for a miracle to be made manifest, be it relief from pain, a change in attitude, a renewed sense of hope, a kindness to be done, a sense of peace, a necessary transition, restored love—whatever you can express. Pray for each other that each of us may experience the miraculous of this Holy Season of the year. Pray for Mary’s joy and healing to flood the hearts, minds and bodies of our own people. Simply pray for each other and let’s watch the miracle unfold among us—it will, you know!
Barbara
OF NOTE AND UPCOMING, the Advent and Christmas Calendar:
Sunday, December 8 – Hanging of the Greens following worship on Sunday – snacks provided. Please plan to stay and help decorate our sanctuary for the Holy Days ahead.
AND Advent Bible Study on the Birth Narratives and Genealogies begins this Sunday! Bring your bibles!
December 15th – Agapé Fast Meal (note different date) AND Youth Gathering at Rev. Harry Eberts Home. Please let Cindy Piatt know if you will be attending since lunch is provided.
Sunday, December 22 is MUSIC SUNDAY!! Following worship; SWEET BREAD SPREAD – please bring a holiday bread to share with our congregation (Everyone on board for this!) so we can thank our musicians for their work during Advent and Christmas. Our gift to THEM for wall they do for US!
Tuesday, December 24 — Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 29 – Rev. Dr. Georgia Ortiz, preacher
EVERY Thursday @ 5:30-6:15 – Taizé, Worship in Meditation and Song
EVERY Wednesday Noon – 1:00 – BYOL Bible Study (joint with First) @ WPC. Currently working with the book, Misquoting Jesus by Dr. Bart Ehrman. Books are available.
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With Black Friday and Cyber Monday mercifully behind us it is time once again to turn our attention to “Silver Sunday”! Yes this Sunday is the Noisy Coin collection day for December to benefit the Boys and Girls Club. Thanks for bringing your loose change and making a “din”.
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CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING: We will receive the churchwide Christmas Joy Offering on Sunday December 22. The proceeds of this offering are divided equally between two important denominational mission programs. Half goes to support the racial/ethnic schools related to the Presbyterian Church (USA), including our own Menaul School in Albuquerque; half goes to the Board of Pensions for supplemental assistance to pensioners in need, usually because of catastrophic medical events or the living needs of those whose retirement pension is small. The interpretation of these needs begins with a bulletin insert this Sunday and continues through December 22. Plan ahead to be as generous as possible.
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Greetings from the Chesnuts with sad/glad news: We’re just back from an extended visit with our son and family in Richmond, VA. We’d like you all to know at once that we put a deposit down on a new townhouse there to be constructed only about ten minutes away from our son’s place. Our experience with Jan’s sister’s prolonged illness and death in VT convinced us that we need, as we continue to age, to be closer to family. Her kids and grandkids had to travel long and often to be at her side…and we just don’t want to impose that on our own family if and when the time comes. At the same time, it is going to be hard to leave our beloved Santa Fe, our dear friends and dear Westminster Church. We expect to have another six months here or so before moving, so we look forward to more blessed time together with you all. Warm greetings and best wishes for the holy days ahead,
Jan and Bob
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ADVANCED DIRECTIVE PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP — Do you have all your affairs in order for your end days? Does your family know where to find all your important information to fulfill your wishes when you are no longer here? An important opportunity for all ages of adults, especially caregivers, to address these issues is approaching. You will be able to prepare your own personal portfolio covering nine areas of concern. The workshop will take place at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Dec. 7th from 10 – 12:30pm. It’s called “Advanced Directive Portfolio Workshop” and will be a hand-on offering by Dr. Glen Davidson of First Presbyterian Church (see bio below), who has led this discussion in many states across our country. Register with Cindy Piatt (983-6554 or [email protected]) if you plan on attending in order for there to be enough packets for everyone.
Dr. Glen W Davidson is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Medical Humanities at Southern Illinois University and a member of First Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe. For twenty years, he was Chief of Thanatology providing palliative and counseling services for the terminally ill and their families. One of the nation’s founders of the hospice movement, he published the first scholarly book on palliative care which is still in print. The Advanced Directives Portfolio workshop is hands on and there will be opportunities for addressing participants’ questions and suggestions for improving the portfolio.
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TEEN NEWS
Our teens and young adults had an interesting discussion time this past Sunday at the home of Revs. Barbara and Tom Boyd about using 21st Century technology to explore our faith. We will continue the discussion on Dec. 1st in the area of YouTube videos and movies. Please choose a YouTube video to share and discuss, with Cindy Piatt as the leader. We will meet at Westminster PC at 12:30pm after worship and proceed from there to the home of the Chavez family in Eldorado. Invite friends. Pizza and salad will be provided. The final meeting for 2013 will be Sunday, Dec. 15th at the home of Rev. Harry and Jennie Eberts. Details to follow.
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From our Friends at First Presbyterian
Download the 2013 Advent Calendar: http://fpcsantafe.org/advent/
Due to the snow last Sunday, the Alternative Christmas Market will return on Sunday, December 8, from 9:00am to 1:00pm (groups can set up Saturday, December 7, from 9:00-11:00am or early on Sunday). Presbyterian Women bake sale, handmade quilts, pens, greeting cards, and other craft items, Fair Trade products like coffee and chocolate, soup made with love and care by the Deacons and so much more! Everyone invited and all proceeds go to local, national and international missions and nonprofits such as Food for Santa Fe, Interfaith Community Shelter, Waterlines, Church World Service and many others.
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The current prayer list can be found at: http://www.wpcsf.org/worship/prayer-list
The list has been updated, please contact the office if we inadvertently dropped a continuing prayer request.
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Donate automatically to Westminster’s Refugee Support Fund. For the past 30 months, and assisted by other Presbyterian churches in northern New Mexico, numerous individual donors, Amnesty International, and by significant contributions from the local Lannan Foundation (www.lannan.org), Westminster has contributed financially to the living expenses of the Jurado family and to Cipriana’s continued and important work for justice and human rights. Donations to this important cause can now be made on line by entering the website listed at the end of this article. Donors can be assured that all of the proceeds from this fund-raiser will go directly toward the direct assistance of this deeply committed worker and to help move her and her children toward financial independence as she continues to do the challenging work to which she is committed.
Please check out this website, consider making a donation, and share this information with your friends by email or Facebook. All help is greatly appreciated!
http://www.razoo.com/story/Support-Human-Rights-Refugee
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Hunger is a growing reality right here in New Mexico — 20% of our children are victims of this reality. Westminster’s ”Imagine No Hunger” program has been very effective. In addition, we are collecting canned tuna, canned chicken, diapers & wipes for the Campus Cupboard; as well as paper sacks and 18oz jars of peanut butter for Food for Santa Fe. Collection boxes are at the back of the sanctuary.
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WPC CONTACTS:
Rev. Dr. Barbara Boyd, 405-642-2085 (mobile) 505-780-8443 (home), [email protected]
Helen Newton, Office Administrator, 505-983-8939, [email protected]
Office Hours: TUESDAY through FRIDAY 9AM — 1PM
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ABOUT EL SEMANARIO … This email news update is distributed every Friday by the WPC office. It often includes announcements that will also be published in the Sunday Bulletin.
If you have an announcement to be included in either the Sunday bulletin or El Semanario, please send them to the office ([email protected]) by Thursday, if possible. Announcements that arrive on Friday will be included on a “space available” basis.
Thanks so much for your cooperation … Helen Newton, WPC Office Administrator
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