El Semanario, January /Enero 6, 2019

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1 El Semanario, January /Enero 6, 2019 Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Rev. Dr. Antonio Aja, Pastor Epiphany Sunday Preaching on: ''Did The Shepherds Bring Any Gifts? " Based on: Luke / Lucas 2: 8-20 CALL TO ANNUAL MEETING The Annual meeting of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe, PCUSA will take place on Sunday, January 27, 2019 immediately following morning worship. All members are urged to attend to review this past year's accomplishments and look forward to our mission and ministry in COMMITTEE CHAIRS ARE REMINDED REPORTS ARE DUE BY JANUARYY 11TH.

2 FROM MISSIO DEI BRRRRRRRR! Winter has come to Santa Fe with snow and cold weather. The homeless have a difficult time keeping warm on the cold nights if they cannot find shelter. Santa Fe Need and Deed is seeking winter items such as coats, gloves and hats. They may be left in the barrel in Koinonia Hall. Thank you. Latest Prayer Letter from Karla Ann Koll, Presbyterian Mission Worker in Costa Rica. Dear companions in mission, Grace and peace to you at the beginning of this new year. I am grateful for these cool and breezy quiet days of vacation that allow me an opportunity to share with you. My husband, Javier, and I escaped for one night to the Caribbean coast to celebrate his birthday, but otherwise we have been enjoying our home here in San Jose. My computer also decided to take a vacation and is refusing to boot up, which has reduced my temptation to do work at home as well as my ability to communicate while I am supposed to be taking a break. I am very thankful to those who have supported us with your prayers during recent months as we have shared our home with people who have had to flee Nicaragua. The two young people who were staying with us were moved by RET International, the organization that administers the programs of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) here, to a safe location in another city in Costa Rica. I worry about them being alone and far from any support networks, but they are now out of our hands, though not out of our thoughts and prayers. Our home has not been empty. Twenty people, most of them refugees from Nicaragua, gathered here for a turkey dinner on Christmas Eve. The day after Christmas, my PCUSA colleague Tracey

3 King-Ortega and her family stopped in for a couple of nights before heading to a beach. They will be back for one more night at the end of their vacation. PCUSA mission co-workers Mark Hare and Jenny Bent, along with their two daughters, will also be here for a night before they return to the Dominican Republic where they serve. The Latin American Biblical University (UBL) has been officially closed since December 14 th, but there are three students from Peru who have stayed on campus to begin work on their bachelor s theses. I ve been stopping in to check on them. I am sure Elena, Miriam and Samuel would appreciate your prayers The offices reopen on January 7 th, but I will be back at work from the 2 nd. I have a lot to do to get ready for the new academic year. During the first term, which begins on January 14 th, I will be teaching two courses. In the bachelor s program, I will be teaching students in the classroom and on-line about God s mission and the multiple ways all followers of Christ are called to participate in mission. At the licentiate level, a couple students and I will be reconsidering eschatology in times of climate change. We are also preparing to receive two visiting groups who are coming to Costa Rica to learn about the context and the content of our work in theological education at the UBL. On January 8 th, a group of five people from the Presbytery of New Brunswick arrive to spend a week with us. During our years in Princeton I was active in this presbytery and four churches in this presbytery help provide for my support year after year. This is the first time a group has come from the presbytery to see for themselves the work their gifts help to make possible. A group of students from Eden Theological Seminary will arrive on January 19 th to explore how theology is being done in Latin America today. At the UBL, we are excited to be part of the spiritual formation of our visitors as we all strive to be faithful to God s reign of peace and justice. Of course, the situation in Nicaragua is never far from our minds and hearts. On December 20 th, the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (gieinicaragua.org) sent to Nicaragua by the Organization of American States to investigate the violent incidents which took place between April 18 th and May 30 th presented their report. Of the 109 deaths studied by the group, 95 were caused by gun shots to the head or chest. The GIEI found evidence of widespread violations of human rights by the National Police, armed groups aligned with the government, and the judicial system that amount to crimes against humanity by the regime of Daniel Ortega y Rosario Murillo. The GIEI found no evidence in the spontaneous protests to support the government s claim that the police were responding to an organized coup attempt. In recent months laws passed by the government of Nicaragua have effectively criminalized any form of protest against the regime. In

4 recent weeks the government has canceled the legal standing of several well-established nongovernmental organizations, including the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH), and shut down several independent media outlets. As detentions and disappearances continue in Nicaragua, more refugees are finding their way here to Costa Rica. Even in the midst of mounting repression by the government, I take hope in the vision for a more democratic future being developed by groups inside and outside of Nicaragua. In the meantime, Javier and I will continue to do what we can to support the refugees who have become part of our lives here. As the new year begins, I am profoundly thankful for the network of sisters and brothers around the world who support me with their prayers and make it possible for me to be part of encouraging women and men throughout Latin America to deepen their faith as they gain skills for leading their communities. I look forward to hearing from you and I hope to communicate more regularly in the months ahead. Emmanuel has come; God is with us. May we walk with courage into the future. Blessings, Karla Koll Contemplative Silence ~ Tuesday Mornings at 10:30 ~ Thursday Taizé Service Taizé will meets every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. through May of All are invited this Thursday to this service of prayer and song. To learn more about Taizé worldwide go to their website HERE.

5 PlePlease pray for these members and friends of our congregation: prayers of comfort for Margi Coxwell, whose brother, Loren Jacobson, passed on after a long struggle with health issues and for his wife, Linda Goodman; healing prayer for John Singleton, who fractured 5 ribs; continued healing for Keri Brinegar s brother, Charles, in rehab for PTSD and addiction, and for his wife, Trisha; healing prayer for Sheila Tryk; prayers for Dick Avery; for Joe Dudziak; for Elizabeth Roghair s mother, Margaret Byers; continued healing prayer for Kim Sewell; healing prayer for Doug Loving; for Cindy Piatt s friend, Reverend Pam Normile, continuing her fight with cancer; healing for Charlie Pye, Rod Sewell s friend in Louisville, recovering from surgery; uplifting prayer for Jennifer Elliott; for Joe Miracle s mother, Betty, with Hospice care; for continued recovery for Brian Garcia; for Sheila Tryk s friend, Andy Thorne; for Carmen Chavez family members; Jan Gough; Marian Goad; Juan Bacigalupi; John & Desiree Burnett; Dotti Tryk; Juanita Sandoval; Beverly Garrett; Suzanne Dreith; Jan Chesnut's sister, Esther, and her husband in Damascus, Syria; for the people of Puerto Rico: for the staff and congregations of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cuba; for Santa Fe s Homeless, for our country, and for our country s Veterans. Let us pray for the homeless, whether sheltered or outside in this freezing cold weather. When it is in our power to help them, let us do so willingly, so that they may they be as grateful as ourselves to enjoy the gift of another New Year. Please note: we will keep names on the prayer list for as long as wanted. If you know of others in our midst in need of prayer, please contact Rev. Tony Aja or the church office. We also want to hear your good news and joys: marriages, children, graduations, retirements, or new jobs. If you have any prayer requests or notices, please fill out a prayer card and put it in the offertory plate or them to Margaret at: mw@margaretw.com

6 Thank you to Rev. Lee Walters whose leadership and passionate sermon truly inspired us last Sunday. Congratulations to Brad Tway who was installed as a Deacon this past Sunday. We are grateful to Brad for his willingness to serve our members in this capacity. Let s say Feliz Cumpleaños to those celebrating birthdays this coming week: Elizabeth Roghair 1/7. GRACIAS Last Sunday a potluck fellowship hour was coordinated by the Fellowship Committee. Thank you to all who graciously brought a variety of delicious goodies and desserts! Don t miss the opportunity to sign up to provide for future fellowship hour treats. FROM MONEY CARE Net Surplus/Shortage through 11/30/2018 Total income: $144,117 Total expenses: $131,330 Net Surplus: $ 12,786

7 IMPORTANT DATES January 6 1:00 pm Missio Dei Meeting January 7 5:30 pm ELL classes resume January 8 11:00 am Interfaith Leadership Alliance January 9 2:30 pm Back Pew Gallery Board Meeting January 11 9:00 am Northern NM Quilting Guild January 12 2:30 pm Fellowship Committee Meeting January 13 NOISY COIN TOSS SUNDAY January 13 1:00 pm Alabad/ Worship Meeting January 15 NO CHOIR REHARSAL January 17 9:00 am Santa Fe Network for Immigration Justice January 18 9:00 am Northern NM Quilting Guild January 20 1:00 pm Session Meeting January 21 MLK HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSED January 26 1:00 pm Al Anon District Workshop January 27 12:00 pm ANNUAL MEETING January 27 1;00 pm Financial Training for Officers January 30 6:00 pm Officer Training Session

8 IN THE ARTS All are invited to TGIF concert at First Presbyterian Church tonight, January 4th, at 5:30 pm. The featured artist will be Michael Ging, organist. Next Friday, January 11, 2019, will feature the Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian performing "Duruflé Requiem ". The Back Pew Gallery at First Presbyterian Church opens a new mixed media show titled Black and White on Friday, January 11, 6:00 to 7:30 after the TGIF concert. If you have a art work to submit, please take it to the gallery on Sunday, January 6 from 8:30-11:00.