Worship
Sunday, December 13, 9:15 a.m.  
Online Streaming Only
www.westpres.org
  • 4th Sunday of Advent – We will light the candle of Love.

  • Scripture Readings are Romans 16:25-27 and Luke 1:26-38.

  • Pastor Scott’s Sermon is “Advent: A Time to Trust.”

  • “Bedtime Bible” Children’s Moment is about Mary. 

Information
Christmas Eve Worship

This year please join us as we host Christmas Eve worship virtually! The service will premiere at 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Watch it at westpres.org/watch-live or on our Facebook page – Facebook.com/westpres

If you are unable to watch online and would like a DVD of the service, please call the church office, 274-1534.
Fine Arts Series Mini-Concert

On Sunday, December 20, following the worship service, a Mini Concert in our Fine Arts Series featuring classical guitarist An Tran will be available on Facebook and YouTube.

An Tran will be performing a mixed program of the classical guitar repertoire, including music from his newest album "Stay, My Beloved," which features all Vietnamese classical guitar music.

Christmas Offering

It feels like society’s wellbeing has been cut down by COVID-19. But God promises that out of this difficult time, a life-giving shoot of new life will come out of our Christmas challenge. We pray that each of us will find some shoot of surprising joy and renewal this Christmas season. Please be that joy and renewal to Westminster, by providing our congregation a Christmas gift this unique holiday season.

Your Christmas gift to Westminster will continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of our church family, our community, and our world.

Donations may be made online at westpres.org/donate or may be mailed to Westminster at 4114 Allison Ave. Des Moines IA, 50310.

“Building a Legacy” Capital Campaign

The “Building A Legacy” Capital Campaign got its start in May of 2019 after the Building & Grounds Committee developed a 10-year Master Plan to restore roofing, heating systems, air conditioning systems and other essential parts of our amazing church building, like painting the Sanctuary. It had been 19 years since major building repairs had been done. With the help of committee members Charles Betts, Carrie Hall, Gary Ordway, Molly Ernst, Scott Blacketer, Brian Aust and Pastors Scott & Bill, the campaign goal of $500,000 was pledged, to be given over a three-year period, from approximately August 2019 to July 2022. 

We are now in the second year of the campaign and $341,000 has been given toward the $500,000 pledged. Additionally, almost $43,000 has been given in non-pledged donations. Thank you for the monetary gifts we have received and those we will receive until the end of the campaign. Those who originally constructed Westminster Presbyterian Church did so in faith and with great generosity. THANK YOU for continuing this tradition in “Building A Legacy” for our future.   


Year-End Giving Reminder

A Reminder about Year-End Donations and their Tax Deductibility. “Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” -Luke 20:25.

How ironic that the separation of church and state was already an issue in Jesus’ day. In our time it crosses boundaries with the IRS regulation stipulating when a donation is recorded, especially at the end of the calendar year.
 
Your tax-deductible 2020 donation needs to be:
  • Brought to the business office by noon, Thursday, December 31, 2020. 
  • Processed online with credit card or ACH at: www.westpres.org/donate by December 31, 2020.
  • If mailed, postmarked with a 2020 date.  

To ensure deductibility of your church contributions, do not file your 2020 income tax return until you receive a written acknowledgement of your contributions from Westminster. Some of your contributions may not be tax-deductible if you file before receiving documentation. Charitable giving statements will be mailed to you in mid-January 2021. Giving to God is a good idea any time. Giving at year’s-end in thanksgiving for abundance in the past is a wonderful way to put away the old and welcome in the new.
Please turn in Adopt-a-Family Presents

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Adopt a Family.

Please bring the wrapped and tagged gifts to the church for distribution ASAP! 

Don’t forget to include a gift receipt. Thank you for participating in this mission! If you have any questions please e-mail Susan at Sdenton@westpres.org or call her at the church office, 274-1534. 


We need your help for Christmas Eve Worship!

Since we cannot physically be together for Christmas Eve, we are asking for everyone’s help! Please take a picture and send it in to us to be used in the service. There are two different times in worship that we will be doing picture slide shows: 

Silent Night - take a picture of you and those around you holding a lighted candle. We will be doing a montage of pictures while we sing “Silent Night.”  

Nativity Story - Dress up like a character from the nativity story with clothing and supplies you have at home. Characters can include Mary, Joseph, Angels, Sheep, Donkeys, Camels and Wise Men. The picture above is Ava, dressed as a little lamb. Traditionally we give kids costumes every year in worship and invite all who are willing to dress up and join in! If you'd like a tip sheet with ideas on how to create these looks please e-mail Laura at LSherlock@westpres.org.


Please take your pictures in a vertical (portrait) format rather than horizontal and e-mail them to Aaron at Aschultz@westpres.org by December 19.
 
If you have any questions please call the office at 274-1534 or e-mail Aaron or Laura. Thank you for your help!
Visit the Sanctuary with Christmas Decorations!

We invite you to visit our beautifully decorated Sanctuary and take a moment to feel the calm and peace of the space.

During this time of COVID-19, while we do not feel comfortable having in-person worship services yet, we understand that many of you miss having quiet time in the Sanctuary. In order to maintain social distancing rules, times will be scheduled throughout the week to manage the number of people visiting the Sanctuary at one time.  

To sign up, please call the office at 274-1534.

  • Masks are required the entire time you are in the building, including halls, the office and the Sanctuary.
  • Check in and out at the Office before and after your visit to the Sanctuary. 
  • Pews will be designated where you can sit, to help with disinfecting the area after your visit.
Westminster Christmas Sing-A-Long

In lieu of caroling at care centers this year, Westminster has created a special “Sing-A-Long!” It is now available on our Facebook page, Facebook.com/westpres, and our Youtube page. 

DVD copies will be distributed to Scottish Rite and Calvin Community, where we traditionally carol each year. 
Office Hours

Please note that the office will be closed December 24 & 25 for the Christmas holiday. We will also close at noon December 31 and will be closed on January 1 for New Year’s. The telephone voice-mail system will be checked for pastoral care messages.
Newsletter Schedule

There will be no print, electronic or kids’ newsletter next week. These will resume the week of December 27.
Fairly Traded Coffee 
on Sale in the Church Office

Fairly Traded Coffee from our friends in El Salvador is available in the church office for purchase. Choose from Medium Roast, Dark Roast, French Roast or Snickeroo, for just $10 per pound bag. We also have 2 oz. packages of Medium Roast, French Roast or Snickeroo for $1, which make great stocking stuffers. Your purchase will make a difference!

Daily Devotion by Pastor Scott
Did you know that Pastor Scott writes a devotion every week day and sends it out by e-mail? E-mail Laura at LSherlock@westpres.org to sign up. The following is one from this week:

A Christmas Memory

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

Remembering is a powerful tool. The very act of faith in Christ is an act of memory. None of us met Jesus because he lived over two thousand years ago. We live with the corporate memory of the biblical people who are our brothers and sisters from previous generations. When we remember the way God acted with people in the past, we begin to see the personality of God and how God just might relate to us now and in the future.
Worship with us Online
We are blessed to be able to broadcast our worship services live every Sunday at 9:15 a.m. While the Coronavirus is preventing us from worshiping together in person, we can still connect with each other as we engage in worship from our screens.

Join us for worship!
  • Go to westpres.org at 9:15 a.m. on Sundays.
  • Sign in on the attendance form.
  • Download a bulletin.
  • Submit a prayer request.

If you miss the service or would like to watch it, or past services, later, they are available here.

If you have any questions, please email Laura at lsherlock@westpres.org.
Personal Notes
Prayer Requests
Prayer Requests for the week of December 6

  • Gloria Hoffmann requests continuing prayers for her brother, Ron, and for Marilee Murray’s recovery from surgery. 

  • Don Neumann requests prayers of thanksgiving to all who make his Sunday worship so meaningful. Bless you all. Amen 

  • Gary and Nancy Hartsock request prayers for Gary’s aunt who was diagnosed with cancer. Also, prayers for family friends who lost their father to COVID this past week. 

  • Prayers for Ferne Olson who has been diagnosed with COVID and is in an isolation room at Fountain West. 

  • Bill Elliott requests prayers for Olivia, a child who has had open heart surgery and is in serious condition at the present time! 

  • Dan & Karen Hanson request prayers for their aunt, Leone Boruff, who recently went into hospice and their uncle William Salmon who passed away last week. Please pray for Karen’s mom’s side of the family. 

  • Jan Bannister request prayers for those grieving the loss of loved ones. 

  • Jan Abendroth requests prayers for her friend, Bonnie, who was diagnosed with Stage IV glioblastoma last Wednesday. 

  • Faith Huitt requests prayers for Norm & Faith’s daughter, Amanda Reedy, who continues to have infection from her September open heart surgery. 

  • Chris & Clark Jensen request prayers for their brother-in-law, Dan, who passed away Monday, December 14 from COVID. His wife, Shirley (Clark’s sister), remains hospitalized, also with COVID. 

  • We pray for our homebound and those in care facilities.

  • We pray for the needs of our members and friends.

  • We pray for those known only to God who are in need of prayers.
How Can I Contribute My Offering or Pay My Pledge?
Thank you for your continued tithing to Westminster, as together we support one another and bring the love of God to the Des Moines area, and the rest of the world.

  • Mail - Westminster Church, 4114 Allison Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310-3398

  • Text - WPCDSM to 73256


  • Call the Church Office - 515-274-1534, for credit card or ACH contribution, ask for Ruth Bloxham, accountant.