To Make a Weekly/Monthly Offering | | |
This Week at First Presbyterian Church
of Willmar
| | Preparing for the Second Sunday of Advent | | |
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12
Choose a word or phrase that especially grabs your attention. Pray from that word or phrase and ask God to help you connect to its particular invitation for you this week.
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Good Morning!!
THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR:
Tuesday, December 2nd:
8:00am: Men's Bible Study in the Friendship Room
10:00am: Staff Meeting in the Admin Office and Chair Yoga in JKH,
4:00pm: Zoom Book Study (Zoom ID: 320 235 1263)
5:30pm: Budget and Stewardship in the Admin Office
Wednesday, December 3rd:
8:00am: Women's Bible Study in the Friendship Room
5:30pm: Wednesday Night Live
Thursday, December 4th:
10:00am: Chair Yoga in JKH
5:30pm: Music Team in the Sanctuary
Friday, December 5th:
4:00pm: Social Hour at Intuition Brewing
Sunday, December 7th:
Second Sunday of Advent
9:00am: Adult Ed in the Friendship Room
10:00am: Sunday Worship with Communion
11:00am: Fellowship in JKH
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WINTER WEATHER
During the season of winter weather, it is possible that church related activities may be cancelled. As a reminder, evening children, youth and adult (WNL) activities will be cancelled if school in Willmar is dismissed early or cancelled. If school is cancelled, the church office will be closed. Cancellation of committee meetings and music rehearsals will be the decision of committee chairs and directors.
Listen to Q102/KWLM, KDJS AM 1590 or visit www.Q102.com/operationsnowdesk for any weather related announcements and on our church Facebook page.
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DECEMBER 3RD, 2025
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE MEAL
| | A direct and compelling headline | | A direct and compelling headline | | There is a donation tree set up in the Narthex!! | Please bring your donations to the decorated shopping cart in the Narthex! | |
Christmas Program 2025
We have begun working on the children and youth Christmas program, “Stories of the Savior”. Parts have been assigned and a copy of the program has gone home with all students who have a speaking part. A
power point, with the words, will be on the screen at the back of the sanctuary for the kids to use. No one needs to memorize their lines. Please make every effort to have your child at each of the practices listed below. The program will be held during the 10:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, December 14th. If you know that your child is unable to participate in the program that day, please let me know right away! Jill will need help with costumes beginning on Wednesday, December 10th at 6:30 p.m. Please let Jill know if you could help with this short-term commitment.
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The "While We Wait" Photo-A- Day has begun!!
Make sure to post these on your own Facebook or Instagram Page with the hashtag #FPCwhilewewait
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Sunday's Online Worship Service
First Sunday of Advent
November 30th, 2025
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We’re looking for helping hands to bless our church family by providing treats and serving during Fellowship Hour after worship during December. If you enjoy baking, picking up simple snacks, or offering a warm smile as you serve, we’d love to have you be part of this!
Please sign up at the table in the Narthex, contact Shara in the church office or by clicking the link below.
| | Please have any announcement needed to be put in the bulletin or the weekly voice to Shara in the office the week before it is wanted to be shared with the congregation! Thank you! | | |
OCTOBER OPERATING STATEMENT REPORT:
Receipts through October
$237,268
Expenses through October
$232,821
Revenue in Excess of Expenses
$4,447
Balance Due on the Internal Loan for 2022 Roof Replacement
and 2023 Parking Lot
$58,865
2025 Per Capita is $46 per confirmed member. Please pay as you are able. We appreciate receiving per capita as early in year as possible, but welcome payments throughout the year.
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PLEASE TURN IN YOUR PLEDGE FORMS
BY PLACING THEM IN THE OFFERING PLATE
OR BY RETURNING THEM TO THE CHURCH OFFICE! THANK YOU!
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Prayer Corner
Keeping you in the loop
with the most updated prayer needs
Prayers for Healing & Comfort:
Heather Woroniecki (Pastor Scott & Pastor Leanne’s Niece)
Renee Allen
Vicki Carver
Bea Ourada
Andy Sjerven (Sheila Sjerven’s Stepson)
Bev Skare
George Ruter
Jill Berglund (Mary Berglund’s Daughter)
Prayers For Those Who Grieve:
The Family of Marian Cramer (Pastor Leanne Thompson's Mother)
The Family of Dan Knutson (Earl Knutson's Nephew)
The Family of Will Martin (Connor Gabbert's Grandpa)
The Family of Marie Grunwald
Prayers for the Church Here and Abroad:
The People of Occidente Presbytery, Guatemala;
Mark and Miriam Adams, Frontero de Cristo, Douglas, AZ.
Bdecan Presbyterian Church, Spirit Lake Reservation, ND
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Prayers for those Serving Elsewhere:
Robert Holmquist, Navy Seal, being deployed (Rita Phillip's Great Nephew)
LT. Matthew Sjerven, Colorado National Guard, Colorado Springs, CO
Tristian Woitaszewski (Terry Woitaszewski’s Nephew) Navy, Pensacola, FL
Perry Bishop (Bruce and Pam Quimby’s Grandson-in-law) Army, Fort Benning, GA
Rob Grunwald, Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Station/Saginaw River in Essexville, Michigan
Peter Rampaart, Rosemount, MN
Also be in Prayers for:
California wildfire areas
Israel/Palestine (war)
Ukraine War
Conflict in Syria
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Second Sunday of Advent
Scripture, Reflection, Response, and Prayer
Scripture:
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
(vv. 1-2)
Reflection:
This branch from the tree of Jesse will be a ruler like the one described in Psalm 72, girded with righteousness and faithfulness. The spirit of the Lord will rest on this branch, which makes clear that this leader is an agent of divine goodness, not the source of goodness and mercy. It is human nature, perhaps, to bestow our hopes on and credit our successes to human leaders. Both of these texts make clear that even the most righteous rulers point us to the steadfast love, mercy, and justice of God. Our praise is misdirected if it does not point toward God.
MARCI AULD GLASS
Response:
How have you seen your community set hope or praise on a human leader rather than God? How was this harmful? Who are some leaders in your life who point beyond themselves to the "steadfast love, mercy, and justice of God? How have you seen this be life-giving?
Prayer:
Righteous God, teach me and all your leaders the justice and peace that comes from you, that we may point all people to your love and your kingdom. Amen.
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WEEKEND REFLECTIONS
FURTHER CONNECTION
When that primal fear of the dark--of the end--begins to slide over us, animals unselfconsciously and forthrightly offer unfearful responses. They take in the threat of dark and cold, and they adapt in amazing and ingenious ways. They shape themselves to life as it is given....
The practice of Advent has always been about helping us to grasp the mystery of a new beginning out of what looks like death.
GAYLE BOSS (1957-),
ALL CREATION WAITS:
THE ADVENT MYSTERY OF BEGINNINGS
MAKING THE CONNECTIONS
Choose one or two questions for reflection:
- What connections have you noticed between this week's texts and other passages in Scripture?
- What connections have you made between this week's texts and the world beyond Scripture?
- What is God saying to your congregation in particular through this week's readings and commentaries?
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SABBATH DAY
SCRIPTURE OF ASSURANCE
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
(John 15:7)
WEEKLY EXAMEN
- Take a quiet moment, seek out God's presence, and pray for the guidance of the Spirit.
- Consider the past week; recall specific moments and feelings that stand out to you.
- Choose one moment or feeling for deeper examination, thanksgiving, or repentance.
- Let go, breathe deeply, and invite Christ's love to surround and fill you in preparation for the week ahead.
- End with the Lord's Prayer.
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This week, we name and celebrate folks in our congregation who are celebrating birthdays from December 1st through December 7th.
And we offer them a blessing.
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December Mission:
Christmas Joy Offering
Our December Mission of the Month is the Christmas Joy Offering. One of four annual PCUSA special offerings, the Christmas Joy Offering has been a cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s. The Christmas Joy Offering provides assistance to current and retired church workers and their families in their time of need, and develops our future leaders at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges, equipping communities of color.
God has blessed the Church with incredible leadership in every time and place, but those leaders often need to be supported by their communities as well. Gifts to Christmas Joy are distributed equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. The Assistance Program provides critical financial support to church workers and their families. Presbyterian-related schools and colleges provide education and leadership development while nurturing racial and ethnic heritage.
This year, during the Christmas season, as we turn our eyes to Bethlehem and celebrate the wondrous gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior, please consider giving to the Christmas Joy Offering.
Donations may be made at the church or:
First Presbyterian Church
312 SW 6th Street
Willmar, MN 56201
Write “Christmas Joy” in the memo space
Thank you for your gifts!
| | Other Church Announcements | | To Subscribe to the Frontera de Cristo Newsletter click the link below and check out their homepage! | | To Subscribe to the Family Promise Newsletter click the link below and check out their homepage! | | FROM PRESBYTERY OF MINNESOTA VALLEYS | | |
Did you know that our youth have been selling KWIK Trip car wash cards as a fundraiser for their mission work within our community and beyond?!
These cards make great stocking stuffers for family and friends, and are very simple to use. Each card includes 5 car washes to be used at any KWIK Trip location across the country, and costs $36. If you do the math, that equals out to $7.20 per car wash!
Contact Jill Boeyink, or any of our church youth to ask questions or to buy a card.
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Registration is open for Snow Camp at Clearwater! The church’s one-half off scholarship applies to this camp!
Reach out to Jill Boeyink
if you have a child interested or plans to go.
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Swift County 4-H is expanding its after school program in the county. We are in need of any supplies listed below. Any that can be donated are appreciated. There is a a box in the grocery cart for these items, no donation is too small.
Odds and ends of crayons, colored pencils, pipe cleaners, tissue paper yarn, pompoms, lids such as sour cream or cottage cheese and pony beads.
Thanks.
Swift County 4-H
| | This series invites participants to journey into the rich traditions of Celtic spirituality, exploring themes of creation, prayer, community, and pilgrimage. Drawing on scripture, Celtic saints, and spiritual practices, we will “walk the ancient paths” that continue to shape faith today. Each week we’ll take another step on this pilgrimage, discovering how the Celtic way invites us to encounter God in creation, in daily life, and along life’s journey. During the 9-week course the pastors will share photos, stories, and learnings from their Iona Abbey retreat in Scotland over their summer Sabbatical. | |
ROOTED CLASS MEETS EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING AS PART OF OUR
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE ACTIVITIES
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WE NEED YOUR CROCHETING
AND KNITTING TALENTS!!
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We are looking for individuals that are skilled in crocheting and knitting. If that is you, we would love you to help us make our church pocket prayer shawls. All the details are in the PDF button!
Thank you in advance!!
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We, at First Presbyterian Church, hope you have a wonderful week. If you have any prayer requests, please click on the "Prayer Request" button at the top and let us know!!
Sincerely,
First Presbyterian Church
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First Presbyterian Church
(320) 235-1263
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