December 24, 2023

Nativity by Lalo Garcia



Worship With Us On Sunday!


Christmas Eve

10:00 a.m. Paper Bag Pageant

9:00 p.m. Traditional Service


10:00 a.m. Bulletin


9:00 p.m. Bulletin





Please note the Sunday Hybrid Worship Link

will access both services on Sunday.



Christmas Eve Services Hybrid Worship Link

Zoom Meeting ID: 822 3301 6989


Any questions, contact Becky Kimberly in the office

at office@westpresby.org.




Christmas Eve at Westminster!

On Christmas Eve this Sunday there will be two joyful opportunities to worship with us. At 10:00 a.m. we will hold our Paper Bag Pageant (see details below). Traditionally this service is held in the early evening on Christmas Eve. We hope this year provides a unique opportunity for those who have never experienced this lively telling of the Christmas story to join us. All ages are welcome and encouraged to participate. At 9:00 p.m. that evening we will have our traditional Christmas Eve service featuring candlelighting, communion, handbell choir and brass quintet. Join the service early for the musical prelude that starts at 8:30 p.m.

On Christmas Eve morning at 10:00 a.m. we will feature our Paper Bag Christmas Pageant. The way the pageant works is simple and fun. A paper bag will be given at the door to each person (adults and children alike!) Inside each paper bag is a prop that reveals one's part (angel's halo or a king's crown, for example). There are no lines to speak. As a narrator reads the story of Jesus' birth, the pageant director will cue the participants when it is time to come forward. 

 

The beauty of the Paper Bag Christmas Pageant is that there are no rehearsals, costume fittings or lines to memorize. And everyone who wants to be a part of this can participate! The joy of being a part of a Christmas pageant is not just for children - adult sheep, shepherds and stars have just as much fun. This one hour service welcomes all, so invite your family and friends. In addition to the pageant the service will include the lighting of the Advent Candles, special music and many Christmas carols. Please note, both this service and our 9:00 p.m. service will be in-person and online using our Sunday morning worship link.

Join the Christmas Choir on Sunday!

Please join the WPC Chancel Choir on Christmas Eve for our Christmas Eve Choir. We will be singing familiar hymns in worship and want you to be a part of lifting our voices in song. Arrive at 8pm for a brief rehearsal and then sing with us during worship.


If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Callie Boone, Minister of Music, at music@westpresby.org.

Magi Gifts for South Park Inn

Homeless Shelter Needed

From left to right: Maggie and Nora, daughters of Abbey Downing

and Alyssa Mansolf, delivering donations to South Park Inn.

Westminster extends heartfelt gratitude for your support during our recent Essential Garments Drive for South Park Inn. Through your benevolence, we were able to provide warm and essential clothing to the clients at South Park Inn during a time of particular need.


As we navigate the Christmas season, we embark on a new mission—collecting gift cards for the guests at South Park Inn who often arrive with just the clothes on their back, hungry, cold and tired. In a manner akin to the Wise Men's offerings, these gift cards provide a modern-day treasure, offering flexibility for those in need to obtain essentials such as food, personal care items, clothing, and other necessities.


As we do each Christmas, Westminster will be collecting these Magi gifts, also known as white gifts, to be distributed on behalf of our Ministry at the South Park Inn. Just as the Magi's gifts were a beacon of hope and support for the Holy Family, your contributions of gift cards will illuminate the lives of those facing hardships this Christmas. Your kindness resonates with the timeless tradition of giving, reflecting the true spirit of this sacred season.


The South Park Inn shelter suggests gift cards to any of the following locations: Stop & Shop, Big Y, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Subway, McDonalds, gas stations, Uber and Lyft. Gift cards will be collected through Christmas Day and can be either put in the collection plate this Sunday, left in our secured locked mailbox outside our church entrance or dropped off with Becky Kimberly, church administrator, in the church office.


May our collective efforts continue to emulate the love and compassion exemplified by the Magi, bringing light and joy to those we serve.


Contact Abbey Downing for any questions or concerns at 860-601-6178 or downingac@gmail.com.

Thank You for the Angel Tree Gifts for Children in Care of DCF!

You're Invited!

Westminster recently welcomed Eric Ouellette as our new bookkeeper. Eric is also a highly skilled pianist and organist. As a way to get to know our community at Westminster, he will be hosting a free concert on January 7, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. The recital will feature selections of classical piano music including Scarlatti, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy and Villa Lobos. Please come meet Eric and enjoy time in fellowship with one another. 

Church Closed December 25 - December 29

Westminster will be closed from Christmas Day (Monday, December 25) through Friday, December 29, in order to give church staff some holiday time off. We look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday, December 31 at 10:00 a.m.

Prayers of the People

We continue to pray for:

Susie Scoville's friend Ron who is recovering from heart surgery; Art Riihimaki's friend Tom Taylor who is in hospice care; Ross and Ginger Ludeman as they face challenges with aging and declining health; the people of Palestine and Israel; healing relationships; Cori Mackey; Karen Wagner; Art Riihimaki; Jolee West and family; El Harp; David MacMeekin's wife Colleen; Liz Grabber's nephew Drew Newsom; Rhys Logan; Howard Sprout; Dorothy Elsner; Laura Berman and family; Elle Dewey; Karen Wagner's friends Rich and Ramon; Jon Scoville; Paige Logan's friend Mia; Muriel Sherman; David MacMeekin's brother-in-law, Dan Reinhard; Rachel Lloyd’s Aunt Katie; Stella Madjitey and Betty Stokes. 

We grieve with:

  • Friends and families of those in recent months who mourn the death of loved ones. May they be comforted.
Session Members (Teams)

Peter Benner (Flourish) pbenner16@gmail.com 

Cyndi Buckley (Serve) cindykozak59@gmail.com

Ma'Lynn Feingold (Worship) mlnewportmd@aol.com

Greg Hammond (Engage) rgregoryh@yahoo.com

Will Hoelzel (Clerk) bill.hoelzel@gmail.com

Ann Osoba (Care) osoba32007@gmail.com

Art Riihimaki (Sustain: Finance) ariihimaki@me.com

Craig Schramm (Sustain: Buildings & Grounds) ccschramm@comcast.net 

Janet Wade-Utay (Sustain: MR&P) mainSt.chef10@gmail.com