El Semanario, December / Diciembre 24, 2017

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1 El Semanario, December / Diciembre 24, 2017 Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Rev. Dr. Antonio "Tony" Aja, Pastor Preaching on: "Love Is Coming" Based on: Isaiah/Isaias 9: 6-7 & Luke Lucas 2: 1-14 Because Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, we will be having two services on December 24th. Our regular morning worship service will take place ast 11:00 a.m. At 6:30 p.m. we will observe our traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight service with communion in the sanctuary. This service of music, scripture and youth participation in addition to the lighting of the candles is one everyone looks forward to each year. Come celebrate Christmas Eve with us at this special service.

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3 CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING THIS SUNDAY If you have not yet made a contribution to the Christmas Joy Special Offering, please consider doing so this Sunday, December 24. This denominational offering supports two significant ministries that serve particular human need. One-half of the offering is used by the Board of Pensions Assistance Program to help ministers and their families, particularly retired servants of the church, when catastrophic illnesses or other crises strike. The other half supports racial/ethnic leadership development, including educational institutions such as Menaul School in Albuquerque. As the Presbyterian Church USA seeks to become a truly multicultural community of faith, the support of future racial/ethnic leaders is an urgent need. There are special envelopes in the pew racks if you choose to use one for your offering. If your offering is in cash and you want a record for IRC purposes, please do use an envelope and be sure your name is on it. Your check can be put in an envelope or in the offering plate; but please be sure to write Christmas Joy Offering in the memo line. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated. Join Us Tuesday December 26th for Contemplative Silence Please join us for a time of Contemplative Silence, from 10:30 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday morning in the Sanctuary. Our group is open to the community all are most welcome to come, and to observe the silence during our time together in any way they wish. Each of us is different and there are so many doorways into meaningful silence and the listening and deepening it supports. Some will be practicing Centering Prayer, a beautiful and simple Christian contemplative practice. Come share the silence all are welcome!

4 NO TAIZÉ SERVICE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28TH The next Taizé service will be Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. The Taizé service takes place every Thursday from September through May. Join us for this service of prayer and song. To learn more about Taizé worldwide go to their website HERE. The December AGAPE FAST will be held in Koinonia Hall this coming Sunday, December 24th immediately following the morning worship service. From Pastor Tony Aja, Brian Roberge, and the members of the Wetminster Family

5 WHO SAYS WESTMINSTER DOESN'T HAVE KIDS??? The "cast" rehearsing for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.

6 Please pray for these members and friends of our congregation: for the family of Robert Tedrow, Presbytery of Santa Fe member who passed away recently; for Dr. Clyde Tomlin, recovering from the flu; for Dean Lewis, undergoing tests for his heart; for Marsha Morton, recovering from cancer surgery; for Lorraine Bennett, a friend of the Tryk family, who is facing surgery; for Juan Bacigalupi, recovering from a heart ailment; for Brian Garcia, recovering from a kidney transplant; for Bob Miles, who is experiencing difficulties; uplifting prayer for Jennifer Elliott; for Joe Miracle s mother, Betty, receiving health care, and for Joe s brother, who is having surgery for Parkinson s disease; for Karen Kopel, friend of the Tryk family; continued prayers of healing for Maya Chavez wrist; prayers for the Brinegars friend, Erika Roth, young wife and mother, battling cancer; Kim Sewell s brother, experiencing mental and emotional issues; Cindy Piatt s friend, Reverend Pam Normile, fighting a serious recurrence of cancer; continued recovery for Elizabeth Roghair s mother, Margaret Byers; for Loyda Aja s brother-in-law, Pepe Antonio, whose condition has worsened; Jonathan Sayago, a friend of the Ajas, diagnosed with a brain tumor; for David Hinds, friend of the Ajas, with terminal cancer, and for his young family; for Jim Elliott s son Stephan, and his family in Israel; Phyllis, a friend of Rod Sewell, fighting stage 4 cancer and for her husband, Bob; Bill Taylor s brother-in-law, fighting illness; continued prayer for Carmen Chavez family members; James Case, friend of the Tway family, who is undergoing cancer treatments; Margi Coxwell s friend, Doug; Marian Goad; John & Desiree Burnett; Dotti Tryk; Andy Thorne; Margi Coxwell s brother, Loren Jacobson; Juanita Sandoval; Joe Dudziak; Ruth Ortega; Beverly Garrett; Suzanne Dreith; Jan Chesnut's sister and family in Damascus, Syria; for the staff and congregations of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cuba; and for our country s Veterans. It is with much anticipation that we honor the birth of the Infant Jesus. The joy this event evokes is felt throughout the world in the kindness, the gift-giving, and the smiles that strangers offer. Let s cherish this joy all year long.

7 Please note: we will keep names on the prayer list for as long as wanted. If you know of others in our midst who are in need of prayers, 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 This year has been a growing year for Westminster. Last Sunday, we welcomed Kent DeYoung, Joe Miracle, and Juan Bacigalupi as new members. They are among 8 others who have joined Westminster this year. Alleluia! We are truly blessed to have all the new members join our family. Let s say Feliz Cumpleaños to those celebrating birthdays this coming week: Charlene Cebell, 12/27. Thank you to Kent DeYoung and Joe Miracle for their gift of additional greens to beautify our sanctuary during this Christmas season. Thank you to the Plaza Cafe for providing a meal for this week s ELL session. Please extend our gratitude for their continuing generosity when you dine with them. Thank you to Jackie Tway and Lee Walters for providing the delicious scones and muffins for last Sunday s coffee hour.

8 WESTMINSTER NEWS FROM MONEY CARE Net Surplus/Shortage through 11/30/17 Total income: $134,214 Total expenses: $126,043 Net Surplus: $ 8,171 FROM MISSIO DEI

9 We often like to think that as a people we are as strong as those who have the most among us, but a society is like a chain; it is only as strong as its weakest link. It turns out we are only as strong as those among us who have the least. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. said it much more eloquently than I ever could. In his last sermon at the National Cathedral, on the Sunday before he was assassinated, he said, I cannot be what I ought to be unless you are what you ought to be. Maybe it was pure coincidence, but that same night President Lyndon Johnson announced to the nation that he would not run for re-election. For the past three years we have been focused on developing comprehensive and collaborative resources that will best serve the needs of our guests. ICS now has 16 partner providers in the Day Services Program, is open during the summer months for women and children, and serving more people than ever before in our seasonal night shelter. Throughout its history the strength of ICS has been its volunteer corps, without which none of what we do could get done. Volunteers have always been our most valuable resource. It seems the more we succeed the more we need to do. The work we all do, each in our own way, for the people we serve every day of the year is the no frills version of what the holiday season is truly all about; to serve those who have the least among us. Jesse Jackson once said at a Sunday service that no one is getting into heaven without a permission slip from the poor. The other day one of our guests, a woman in her mid-fifties, said to me, I ve been in different shelters for two years, since I was raped, and this is the first shelter to help me heal. Everyone here is so kind. This is a healing place. Our guests arrive at our door in the midst of a long and difficult journey and the issues they struggle with are often the result of trauma gone untreated. Being a human being, for us and our guests, is often messy and unpredictable. Sometimes, in the midst of the daily grind, when we have lost sight of the vision; in that moment when we might question whether the work is worth it, that is the opportune moment, particularly during the holiday season, to take the time to remind ourselves that when we lift someone up, we all rise and that when we help someone heal, we all heal. Peace Joseph Jordan-Berenis OUR OWN STRENGTH DEPENDS UPON THE STRENGTH OF OTHERS JOSEPH JORDAN-BERENIS DECEMBER 2017 ICS has over 1,850 volunteers that contribute an estimated 16,000 hours of service in a fiscal year. We are largely run by the good faith and effort of others, as well as donations. Please donate today! To volunteer, us at interfaithsheltersf@gmail.com. interfaithsheltersf.org

10 MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR A FUN NIGHT!! The Game night in December was a rousing success! A variety of board and card games were enjoyed by all the participants. So, a new Westminster Tradition has been born. will now be held on the first Saturday of every month!! It is open to every age. Mark your calendar for Saturday, January 6, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Bring your game of your choice; or simply come and join in a game. Light snacks are, of course, welcome. let your hair down and let's have fun!!!!

11 POSITION OPENINGS AT PRESBYTERY OF SANTA FE A part-time (20 hour per week) position for an Administrative Assistant is open at the Presbytery of Santa Fe. This position involves assisting the Administrator to meet the needs of the Presbytery s work and program. Skills include an ability to use appropriate computer software and office machines, with a multiline telephone, preparing reports for the churches of the Presbytery, and maintaining data base and directories. The salary will be based on previous experience and skills. Send a letter of inquiry to the Personnel Committee at the Presbytery of Santa Fe (admin@santafepresbytery.org ). Due Date: January 16, AND A part-time (5-12 hour per week) position for a Financial Assistant is open at the Presbytery of Santa Fe. This position involves providing financial administrative services to the Presbytery coordinated by the Administrator. Skills include an ability to use appropriate computer software (especially QuickBooks) and office machines, answering the telephone, maintaining database and directories, and preparing checks, receipts and reports for the churches of the Presbytery. The salary will be based on previous experience and skills. Send a letter of inquiry to the Personnel Committee at the Presbytery of Santa Fe (admin@santafepresbytery.org ). Due date: January 16, 2018.

12 IMPORTANT DATES December 24 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 24-7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 25 - CHRISTMAS DAY - OFFICE CLOSED December 26-10:30 a.m. Contemplative Silence January 1 - NEW YEAR'S DAY - OFFICE CLOSED January 2 - Contemplative Silence January 4-5:30 p.m Taizé Service

13 IN THE ARTS TGIF Concert At First Presbyterian Church. All are invited to TGIF concert at First Pres. tonight at 5:30 p.m., Friday, December 22, 2017, featuring the Chancel Bell Choir. Next Friday, December 29, 2017 the TGIF Concert will feature the Jan Worden-Lackey, Organist. BACK PEW GALLERY "ORNAMENTS, ORNAMENTS, ORNAMENTS" SHOW The Back Pew Gallery at First Presbyterian Church opens a new show: Ornaments, Ornaments, Ornaments with homemade and gently used treasures. Proceeds will go to the Presbyterian Disaster Fund for Puerto Rico and the Santa Fe Dreamers Project. The Gallery is open Friday evenings, following the TIF concer; Saturdays midday; and Sunday mornings through December.