El Semanario, December / Diciembre 31, 2017

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1 Clerk s Report El Semanario, December / Diciembre 31, 2017 Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Rev. Lee Walters, Guest Pastor Preaching on: "A Good Life" Based on: Luke /Lucas 2: Westminster Presbyterian Church Stated Session Meeting Highlights December 17, 2017 Motions approved for the November 2017 session minutes and the Called Session Meeting on Dec. 3, Motion approved to receive the Called Congregational Meeting on Dec. 10 for the purpose to elect officers for The new officers are: Elders: Margi Coxwell and Cindy Piatt, Class of Both previously ordained. Deacons: Donna Ormerod, Sheila Tryk, Lois Morton for 1-year terms, Class of 2018; Kim Sewell and Michael Brinegar, Class of MOTION made and approved to create an inactive list of members who have not been involved in the life of the church for many years, but who still wish to be connected to the church. WPC s roles at the end of December 2017 stands at 87 members. Money CARE/Finances Motion approved to receive the treasurer s report for November; Motion to adopt the 2018 Ministry Budget approved

2 Missio Dei Motion made and approved to develop guidelines and a plan of action to offer sanctuary to undocumented persons facing deportation with the help of other congregations in the Santa Fe area. Once these guidelines are created they will be shared with the congregation for their input and buy in. Motion made and approved for WPC to join other faith groups and the Presbytery of Santa Fe congregations in signing on an Amicus Brief supporting a lawsuit against the current Federal administration s suspension of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) by the Attorneys General of several states, including New Mexico, as requested by the New Mexico Conference of Churches. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has joined other national churches and organizations in a similar Amicus Brief. Pastor s Report Pastor Tony will be on vacation from Dec. 25 Jan. 1, 2018; at a meeting of the Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns (ACREC) at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville Jan (but will be in the pulpit on the 21 st), and on study leave to teach at McCormick Seminary Jan New officers will be installed on Sunday, Jan. 14, Next meeting: Sunday, Jan. 14, 2017 at 1 pm. Respectfully submitted by Cindy Piatt, Clerk of Session

3 CHRISTMAS EVE AT WESTMINSTER Those attending Westminster's annual Christmas Eve Candlelight service were greeted by farlitos courtesy of Milee Griego-Rotunno and her family. The sanctuary was filled with friendly faces gathered to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. In the Singing of Carols and...

4 The lighting of the Advent wreath and Christ Candle by the Roghair family Thanks to Isabel Chavez, Liam Rider, Maya Chavez, Timmy Rider, Ray Heil, Carment Gallegos, Martin Rider and Willa Heil for their bringing Las Posadas to life as a part of this special service.

5 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!!!!

6 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! TAIZÉ SERVICE THURSDAY, JANUARY 4TH 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.

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8 Please pray for these members and friends of our congregation: for Marsha Morton, who is beginning chemotherapy; for Dean Lewis, undergoing tests for his heart; for Lorraine Bennett, a friend of the Tryk family, who is facing surgery; for Juan Bacigalupi, recovering from a heart ailment; for continuing recovery for Brian Garcia; 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, being treated 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 IV 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 people of Puerto Rico:for the staff and congregations of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cuba; and for our country s Veterans. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2: 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

9 During our Christmas Eve morning service, we enjoyed a solo by Lee Walter s friend, Renita Sheesley Banks, and music solos by Michael and Keri Brinegar, and Loyda Aja. And for another treat, we benefitted from Sheila s son, Sandy Tryk, playing the delightful sound of a bagpipe in Koinonia Hall. Sandy Tryk lives and teaches in Japan. At our evening Candlelight Service. we enjoyed Las Posadas, a play performed wonderfully by Westminster s young members, and the candlelight singing of Silent Night. It was a truly magical evening honoring the birth of the Christ child. Congratulations to Jake and Ricky Adams-Bejarano on their 22nd Anniversary which they celebrated on December 28 th! And Congratulations to Michael Brinegar on his (early) retirement!! We would like to thank Isabel Chavez, Liam Rider, Maya Chavez, Timmy Rider, Ray Heil, Carmen Gallegos, Martin Rider and Willa Heil for making the Christmas story come alive in Las Posadas for the Candlelight Service! Thank you also, to Cindy Piatt for directing. We were treated to the tradition of faralitos lining the walk of the church grounds for the candlelight service. Thank you to Milee Griego-Rotunno and her family for their thoughtful gift. The Christmas Eve Agape Fast varied from its customary healing soups to an array of delicious cookies and tasty sweets provided by Kim Sewell and Jackie Tway. Thank you!!

10 WESTMINSTER NEWS FROM MONEY CARE Net Surplus/Shortage through 11/30/17 Total income: $134,214 Total expenses: $126,043 Net Surplus: $ 8,171 TO JOIN THE SENIOR Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 11:30 a.m Bring your lunch and join in the discussion and fellowship!

11 FROM MISSIO DEI Missio Dei sends a special THANK YOU to your kind Christmas Angel donation to SFPC Adelante Program. Westminster members generously gave a total of 29 gift cards for the Christmas Angel project. The Director, Gaile Herling, is very grateful for your generosity. She says without your help many families would have had nothing for this Christmas season. Below is a brief summary of some of the ways Adelante helps clients: "Our greatest passion is supporting our clients as they express themselves creatively and working with them to build a successful, empowered life beyond their homeless situation." The SFPS Adelante Program is not associated with and not to be confused with the Adelante Development Center in Albuquerque, NM. With the support of our generous donors, volunteers, staff and community leaders, we have increased student graduation rates by 30% through the mentorship of our high school liaisons. Distribute more than 50,000 pounds of food to our families annually, including a weekly bag of fresh groceries. Provide school uniforms, winter clothes and backpacks full of school supplies to 1,000 students annually. Have a Blessed New Year, Missio Dei

12 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

13 IMPORTANT DATES January 1 - NEW YEAR'S DAY - OFFICE CLOSED January 2-10:30 a.m. Contemplative Silence January 4-5:30 p.m Taizé Service January 6-5:00 p.m. GAME NIGHT January 9-10:30 a.m. Contemplative Silence January 11-11:30 a.m. Senior Lunch Bunch January 11-5:30 p.m Taizé Service January 14-1:00 p.m. Missio Dei Meeting

14 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 29, 2017, featuring Jan Worden-Lackey, Organist. Next Friday, January 5, 2018 the TGIF Concert will feature Tim Wilson, baritone and Franz Vote, piano, performing "Winterreise by Schubert. 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.