Give the Gift of a Guatemalan Stove!

Sundays, December 8 and 15
10:10 a.m. in Community Hall

Many of us will prepare holiday feasts standing at a fancy stove-top, with double ovens and microwaves at the ready. But for many people around the world, their cooking reality is an open fire on a dirt floor. This Christmas, please consider giving the gift of a stove to an indigenous family in Guatemala. These stoves are engineered to be fuel-efficient and cost-effective. They reduce respiratory and eye diseases caused by smoke, and save time, money, and trees. Click here to learn more! Stoves will be for "sale" at the Echo Gifts table in Community Hall during the 10:TEN hour this Advent.

Feel the Joy! Donate These Needed Foods and Gifts

Deadline: Sunday, December 8

Join Westminster's annual tradition to fill Christmas boxes for 120 families in need by December 8. Whether donating requested food items (canned cranberry sauce, fruit; boxed stuffing, healthy cereal) or your wrapped $10-$20 gift for a Wish Star recipient(s) whom you choose from our trees, you can help make this Christmas brighter for these families. Also, plan to join in on 12/8 when kids and adults wrap gifts and on 12/13 for our Friday Wrapping Party & Potluck Supper (contact Party Elf lois.underhill@verizon.net for what to bring). For more details, see the Chimes, this fun video, or contact Louise@EliasonAssoc.com to connect you to an elf who can help.

Help the December Usher Team!

4 Sunday services (9:00 a.m.), 1 Christmas concert, and
4 Christmas Eve services (1 down, only 9 to go!)

The December usher team is hopelessly under-staffed. This is probably because no one wants to commit to the entire month, which involves 10 services (wow!). You do not need to sign up for the whole month - just a service or two will help. We do not discriminate. We are an equal opportunity employer, but, sorry, the minimum age to serve is 8. Contact Jim Carter at jtcarterphoto@comcast.net or (302) 388-1710. Call, leave a voicemail, text, e-mail or just find him hanging at the back of the sanctuary!

Christmas Poinsettias

Deadline: Monday, December 9

You are invited to contribute toward the decoration of the church for the Christmas season in memory of, or in honor of, loved ones. Click here to download and print the form. The form is also available on the main literature table next to the reception desk at church. The deadline is Monday, December 9. For any form received after that date, the names will be listed in the December 29th bulletin.

Chimes Deadline Reminder

Monday, December 9, 11:00 a.m.

The deadline for the JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 issue of our newsletter, The Westminster Chimes, is Monday, December 9, at 11:00 a.m. Please submit your articles online. Go to www.wpc.org/communications and click on "Submit an Article." If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Hughes ( nhughes@wpc.org or 302-654-5214 ext. 130).

Wednesday Evening Taizé: A Service of Prayer and Reflection

Wednesdays, December 11 and 18
6:30 p.m. in Rodney Chapel

I'm dreaming of a white CALM Christmas! Take a break from the hectic pace of the Christmas season and join us on Wednesday evenings during Advent for a brief service inspired by the worship of the Taizé Community in France. Click here for our Taizé flyer. Or for more information, contact the Rev. Sudie Niesen Thompson at sniesenthompson@wpc.org.

Coming Up

Christmas Caroling Begins Immediately after the First Worship Service

Sunday, December 15, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon (meet in Community Hall)

JOY! JOY! JOY! All ages and voices are welcome to share the Spirit of Christmas! On Sunday, December 15, come directly to Community Hall after the first worship service concludes where muffins, coffee and tea will be provided. We will quickly divide into Christmas Caroling teams and leave Community Hall by 10:15 to go to five retirement communities/ healthcare centers: Ingleside, Stonegates, Country House, Cokesbury, and Maris Grove. Living Mosaics attenders may join the Ingleside Team as they return by 11:15 for that service. All other teams finish at noon. Comfortable shoes encouraged; lots of walking. See details in the December Chimes. Questions? Contact Jill Getty.

Christmas Musical Celebration

Sunday, December 15, 4:00 p.m.

Our featured work this year is Holy Light, by American composer Robert Hobby. With the joined forces of choir, brass, percussion, organ, piano, and handbells, the work takes us on a journey from darkness to light, with brilliant carol settings, meaningful readings, and congregational participation. From a profound "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" to a jubilant "Joy to the World," the walk from prophecy to the birth of Christ will be experienced in grand musical style! Click here for the flyer.

Christmas Eve at Westminster

Tuesday, December 24

 

Services of Story and Song - 4:00 and 5:30 p.m.

These informal, lively services trumpet the joy of Jesus' birth! Both services include stories of the birth of Jesus and singing Christmas carols.

• 4:00 p.m. - Spotlights a pageant by our young children
• 5:30 p.m. - Features Westminster Storytellers and our children's choirs

Child care for infants and toddlers is available in the Preschool Suite for the 4:00 and 5:30 services.

 

Candlelight Communion Services - 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.

Traditional candlelight services with communion (open to all), sermon by Dr. Jones, and music of the Westminster Choir. Prelude concert at 7:30 p.m. features music for violin, harp, and organ.

Make Your Christmas Offering Online

Now through December 26

We have added the 2019 Christmas Offering to the online giving options. From December 1 to December 26, at 4:00 p.m., you can set up a one-time transaction to be deducted from a checking or savings account. Visit our website at www.wpc.org and click on "Donate Now" to login or create a new user profile. You will need to select a transaction date of December 15 or December 28. If you have any questions, please contact Colleen Falasco at cfalasco@wpc.org or (302) 654-5214 ext. 131. Alternatively, a letter and offering envelope were mailed this week for those who prefer to give to the Christmas Offering by check.

One Service on Sunday, December 29

Sunday, December 29, 10:00 a.m.

On Sunday, December 29, we will gather for ONE worship service at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary (no Christian education classes). Celebrate with Paul Fleckenstein on his last Sunday as Organist/Director of Music at Westminster, and gather in Community Hall following the service to offer him our farewell blessings. Please note that on the previous Sunday, December 22, we will have our usual two worship services at 9:00 and 11:15 a.m.

Helping Hands Glove Collection - Year 5!

Sundays, January 12 and 19, 2020

Our Helping Hands glove/mitten collection will take place on Sundays, January 12 and 19, 2020 between services in Community Hall. As you do your Christmas shopping, please remember to pick up some extra pairs of gloves/mittens for men, women and children. These will be distributed to those in need through Friendship House's Empowerment Centers. These gloves/mittens need to be new, but they do not need to be expensive. Big box stores, grocery stores, Harbor Freight, drug stores and dollar stores all have inexpensive, practical gloves and mittens. Watch for the colorful mitten reminders around WPC after the first of the year!