ADVENT IS UPON US

The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.

Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of believers as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power.

The Advent wreath symbolizes the beginning of the church year. It is a circular evergreen wreath (real or artificial) with five candles, four around the wreath and one in the center. Each aspect of the wreath has special meaning, contrib-uting to the compelling story it communicates as a whole. The wreath’s circle reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and His endless mercy, with no begin-ning or end. The green speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of renewal, of eternal life. The four outer candles represent the waiting period dur-ing the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. The center can-dle—the Christ Candle—is traditionally lit on Christmas Eve. The central loca-tion of this candle reminds us that the Incarnation is the heart of the season, giving light to the world. When the Christ Candle is lit, worshippers rejoice that the Light has come into the world—the promise of long ago has been realized.

The weekly candle lighting reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the World who comes into the darkness of our lives to bring HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE.

During the four weeks of advent we will focus on each of these attributes of Christ. Join us as we see how HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE are revealed to us through Jesus Christ!

November 28/29 Hope Revealed December 5/6 Peace Revealed December 12/13 Joy Revealed December 19/20 Love Revealed

Then on Christmas Eve - we will celebrate together the VERY FIRST NOEL!

THE VERY FIRST NOEL CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

www.westminsterchurch.cc

2821 N. Bell School Road Rockford, IL 61107

1-815-282-1500

Sunday Worship 7:30 am Communion 8:45 am Traditional 11:00 am Contemporary

110 N. Blackhawk Blvd Rockton, IL 61072

Shared space with Open Arms Lutheran Church

Saturday Worship 5:00 pm

Return Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID ROCKFORD, IL PERMIT #2371

Westminster Presbyterian Church 2821 N. Bell School Road Rockford, IL 61107

The deadline for the January, February & March Newsletter is December 3rd.

DECEMBERDECEMBERDECEMBER NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER

What Every Church Leader Should Know

Saturday, January 30, 2016 Register at: 9:00 am A conference for teaching elders, CREs, ruling elders, and other church leaders, this event is keynoted by Dr. Gary McIntosh, co-author of What Every Pastor Should Know: 101 Indispensable Rules of Thumb for Leading Your Church. Breakout session options include: effective elders, effective deacons, how churches become missional, effective small church leadership, essential tenets/essential practices, getting connected, and measuring effectiveness. Registration fee: $30 through 12/31/15; $40 beginning 1/1/16. Registration deadline is January 25, 2016. The event is sponsored by these Fellowship Community churches: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rockford IL; First Presbyterian Church, Henry IL; First Presbyterian Church, Janesville WI; and First Presbyterian Church, Rochelle IL.

4:00 pm Family Candlelight Worship led by the Worship Team Nursery care provided

7:00 pm Lessons & Carols Candlelight Worship led by the Chancel Choir and Organ Nursery care provided

11:00 pm Candlelight Communion Worship led by Handbells, Harp and Organ

http://westminsterchurch.cc/event/what-every-church-leader-should-know/

For more information, visit www.westminsterchurch.cc

For more information, visit www.westminsterchurch.cc

November 29 & December 6

An Alternative Gift Fair Returns! We all have people on our Christmas shopping list that are difficult to buy for – they either have everything already, or we don’t know what to give them. Here’s a refreshing suggestion. Westminster is holding the Bethlehem Marketplace on Sundays, November 29 and December 6. Many of the church’s most beloved charities will be represented, and you may make a donation in various amounts. You will receive a lovely card to share with the person you are honoring with a gift. The charities, agencies, and gift ideas include missions like:

* Heifer Project (chicks, ducks, bees, and many more of God’s creatures) * Church World Service (warm blanket for victims of disasters, school kits) * Build a Dream (education support, scholarships) * Meld (note cards, baby supplies) * Carpenter’s Place (wooden and glass bead prayer bracelets) * Stronghold (camp scholarships) * Mobil Food Pantry (bag of groceries) * WPC Youth Program (retreat support, mission trip scholarships)

Be sure to bring your checkbook or cash and shop Westminster’s Bethlehem Market-place Alternative Gift Fair the last Sunday in November and first Sunday in December in the Activity Center before and after services. There will be gift lists on the table in the Narthex. After all, giving is the best gift of all!

2016 Basketball/Cheer League Evaluations: December 5 at 9:00 am First Week of Practice: January 4 First Game: January 16 Final Game/Awards Celebration: March 5 Register online: http://registration.upward.org/UPW60054

Thank you to all who helped make 2015’s Stuff the Solo Food Drive to benefit Rock River Valley Pantry a success!! The total weight for the 2015 drive was 4,001 pounds of food. In 2014, we collected 4,552 pounds of food. Thank you to all who shopped, donated, and helped in the name of Jesus Christ.

One never knows how much a sym-pathy card means to someone until they are on the receiving end. Our family has been so deeply touched by all the cards we have received. We have treasured each and every one. Thank you for your kind words and prayers. We are grateful. The family of John Howard.

Thank you for all who helped with the All-Church Clean-Up!!

More Than A League! Developing Youth Athletes Mentally,

Athletically, Spiritually & Socially

Sunday, December 6 Bethlehem Marketplace &

Books of Love before and after all services

Saturday, December 12 7:30 am Deacons Christmas Food Basket Assembly

3:00 pm Kantorei Concert

5:00 pm Westminster Stateline 110 N. Blackhawk Blvd. Rockton, IL 61072

Sunday, December 13 8:45 am Advent Lessons and Carols Service Come Ye Faithful led by the Chancel Choir & WPC Choristers

9:45 am Fine Arts Tea

Sunday, December 20 11:00 am Children & Youth Christmas Service Children Sing at Christmas

1:00 pm 2nd Annual Service of Remembrance

Thursday, December 24 THE VERY FIRST NOEL CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

4:00 pm Family Candlelight Worship led by the Worship Team Nursery care provided

7:00 pm Lessons & Carols Candlelight Worship led by the Chancel Choir and Organ Nursery care provided

11:00 pm Candlelight Communion Worship led by Handbells and Organ

Sunday, December 27 10:00 am One Worship Service

WESTMINSTER STATELINE HAS MOVED! THIS IS BIG!

Westminster Stateline has been praying for a new venue to host our Saturday evening service @ 5:00. Rather divinely, an opportunity has opened up as our friends at Open Arms Lutheran Church have graciously opened their arms to Westminster.

Since November 7th, Westminster Stateline has been sharing space with Open Arms Lutheran Church, 110 N Blackhawk Blvd. Rockton, IL 61072.

We see this as an incredible opportunity to grow our Stateline campus and raise awareness for Westminster’s presence in the Stateline area.

Please pray for God’s leading of this tremendous opportunity.

UPWARD SPORTS

WOMEN’S CIRCLES

Genesis Circle will meet for our annual Christmas luncheon at Vito’s, 1620 N. Bell School Rd. on December 15th at 11:30 am. January 26, 2016 we will meet in Room A112 at 9:30 am. We will be discussing Lesson 9 in our study book. We always welcome new members and have extra books for you!

Evening Star Circle is a non-traditional, multi-generational women’s circle (group). We meet once a month on the fourth Tuesday in the church library to discuss the book the group chooses in August each year. We are friends of all ages and support one another through prayer and fellowship. We have even been known to have extra “Meetings” off-site too! Please contact Cindy Myroth with any questions— cmyroth@kinnschools.org.

Centennial Circle ladies meet the third Thursday of the month, September through June at 12:30 pm. We welcome those who might be interested in joining us. Please feel free to visit us a couple of times if you wish. If you have questions regarding our circle, contact Mary Jane Alexander or Olyva Liddell. You may request their phone numbers at the church office.

Norton Circle is a small circle that is always glad to welcome new members. The circle is not new, however. The name Norton honors two previous members of Westminster, Mary and Gratia Norton, one a kindergarten teacher and the other a secretary at the YWCA. We meet at church the third Wednesday in the month at 12:30 pm, September thru June, for Bible study, fellowship and dessert. We also contribute, as we are able, to local organizations. Contact Judy Kyle for more information—jndkyle@aol.com

Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study Westminster invites women of all ages and levels of Bible Study experience to the Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study. We gather at 10:00 am for treats and cof-fee/tea, share prayer requests and praise reports, then have a combination of video teaching with a participant’s guide on various subjects. We meet in room A143. The next session is being led by Jenny Lucido called Jeremiah: Daring to Hope in an Unstable World by Melissa Spoelstra. This series runs December 1 to January 19. Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin is the following session, January 26 to March 22, with Karen Weis as study leader.

A big thank you to all the small groups at Westminster for helping with the school kits, which was a Deacon pro-ject again this year. Fifty-seven (57) bags made by our sewing ladies were filled with school supplies. The bags will be distributed as needed world-wide.

YOUTH EVENTS IMPACT - Senior High Wednesday Evenings @ 6:40 p.m. Youth Center

CLUB67/CONFIRMATION – FUN, FOOD, GOD! Middle School Wednesday Evenings from 5:00 – 7:00 pm Youth Center Topics: Lying, Gossip, Popularity, Doubt & Fear

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Wednesday night kids and teens helped spread Christmas love around the world with their donations of toys and personal items. Club 67 packed up the many boxes that will travel worldwide.

SPECIAL SR. HIGH EVENT

IMPACT Christmas Party

Wednesday, December 16 6:40 – 8:30 p.m. Location: TBD

JR. HIGH SPECIAL EVENT

Children/Youth Christmas Service

Sunday, December 20 11:00 am

Children Sing at Christmas

Lessons and Carols by Anne and William McNair Presented by: Kids Kingdom classes, grades preschool-5, Kids Club, Club 67 and Confirmation

BOOKS OF LOVE

This year in lieu of toys and clothes, we are asking everyone that wants to participate in the Love Tree to buy a book. We will have gift tags for a boy or a girl and ask you to get an age-appropriate book. Once again these gifts will be for Rockford Housing Authority children.

Gifts tags will be given out Sunday, Nov. 29th and Sunday, Dec. 6. We ask that the book be gift-wrapped, have the tag attached and returned Sunday, Dec. 13th. We will take them to RHA on Monday, Dec 14th.

CHRISTMAS FOOD BASKETS

The Deacons will be packing Christmas food baskets for the community on Sat., Dec. 12th. If you would like to help, please arrive at 7:30 am for coffee, doughnuts and fellowship. Basket assembly will begin at 8:00 am.

The Deacons will be providing 300 food baskets this year for needy families in the Rockford area. The funding to pay for the food is from the Blue envelope collections. Please consider donating to the Deacons Blue Envelope Offering.

Thank you for your ongoing support of this Westminster Presbyterian Church Mission Project.

2ND ANNUAL SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE

The 2nd Annual Service of Remembrance will be Sunday, December 20th at 1 pm in the Westminster Sanctuary. During a season when happy memories and deep sad-ness collide, this service is offered to provide comfort and peace for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

The worship time includes music, scripture, prayer and a brief message—along with a slide presentation of photographs of those who have died. The losses do not need to have happened recently and the loved ones do not need to have been members of Westminster. Just let Gretchen Hammeke know that you have a photo to share and she will make that happen.

Westminster Preschool is on Facebook! Please like us and share us with your friends!

PRESCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Thursday, December 17th 10:30 am In the Church Sanctuary

The Westminster Preschoolers are sure to put the true spirit of Christ-mas in your heart as they perform several holiday songs. All are wel-come! Cookies will be served in the Activity Center following the pro-gram.

MITTEN TREE This Advent season, help decorate our Mitten Tree with mittens, gloves, hats and scarves for children ages preschool-grade 6! The Mitten Tree is located in the Chil-dren’s Chapel and will be ready to decorate November 29-January 3. Your donation will make a Rockford child’s winter a little warmer. All donations go to the Children’s Clothes Closet here in Rockford.

For more information, visit www.westminsterchurch.cc

FAMILY MINISTRY

The goal of our Family Ministry is to come alongside parents by providing tools to draw them into their children’s spiritual lives and engage them in children & youth ministries.

Family Ministry Schedule

Family Events: Parent Shopping Night: December 4 @ 5:30 pm

Christmas Shopping! Drop off your kids & hit the mall!

Drop off your kids at Westminster for a fun night of activities while you shop (for ages nursery - 5th grade). Kids will do crafts, play games, have a Christmas snack, and watch a video. This event is free!

Contact Pastor Julie to register or with questions (julie.raffety@westminsterchurch.cc). Registration closes Monday, Nov 30th.

Parent Seminar – December 16 6:15 p.m. B106 Advent Ideas Speaker: Barbara D’Souza

Many books have been added to the Adult Library.

Come check them out!

Blog with Rev. William Ward and the WPC Staff at

http://westminsterchurch.cc/blog/

www.westminsterchurch.cc

We send out a weekly We send out a weekly We send out a weekly emailer!emailer!emailer!

If you are not receiving the emailer and would like to,

please call the church office at 815-282-1500.

For more information, visit www.westminsterchurch.cc

CHILDREN/YOUTH CHRISTMAS SERVICE

Sunday, December 20 11:00 am

All children and youth through 8th grade will come together to present Children Sing at Christmas on this last Sunday in Advent. All ages are currently preparing to tell the story through readings and carols, solos and small groups. The Rave Ringers, our middle school handbell choir, will also help us to worship at this service by playing Christmas carols. Begin your Christmas week by hearing our children and youth tell the story in yet a new way.

WESTMINSTER CONCERT SERIES 2016

Save these dates for the 2016 season of the Westminster Concert Series!

All concerts are held in the church sanctu-ary and are presented free of charge. A free will offering is received at each concert.

Sunday, February 28, 3:00 pm Tone on Tone Marsha Foxgrover, organist & Timothy Botts, calligrapher

Sunday, April 3, 5:30 pm North Park University Gospel Choir

Details of each performance will be avail- able on the Wesminster website.

Please join us and invite your friends!

If you are interested in becoming a West-minster Concert Series sponsor, please contact Jean Anderson.

ADVENT MUSIC SUNDAY

Sunday, December 13 8:45 am

Come Ye Faithful, a Lessons and Carols service, will be presented by the Chancel Choir, Westminster Choristers, string quartet, harp, flute, organ, hand-bells and percussion.

Come and hear the Christmas story come alive through readers, singers and instrumentalists! Prepare for the season of Christmas on this third Sunday in Advent.

PRIMETIMERS CHRISTMAS PARTY

Wednesday, December 9th

9:30 am

The Primetimers Christmas Party will be Wednesday, December 9th at 9:30 and will feature special entertainment.

A mid-morning snack will be served and the morning will include holiday festivities.

Call the church office for a reservation.

SUNDAY MORNINGS FOR KIDS AND YOUTH

NURSERY (A106): Loving care for children ages kindergarten to age 5.

Open from 8:30-12:15 pm.

KIDS KINGDOM: Preschool through 5th grade children are all a part of Kids

Kingdom! 3 and 4 year olds (A115) and kindergarten (A116) meet in their own classrooms and grades 1-5 meet in the Children’s Chapel for “together” time before rotating to a variety of activities. Something new each week! Kids Kingdom meets from 10:00-10:55.

S.M.A.S.H. (Students Ministering and Serving Him): Middle School and Senior

High youth meet in the Youth Room (lower level) for snacks, games, fun and Bible study. S.M.A.S.H. meets from 10:00-10:55.

WEDNESDAYS @ WESTMINSTER Wednesday night is a fun and busy place here at Westminster, as we welcome kids and youth, ages Kindergarten-Sr.High. Parents! Please check out our Parent Seminars!

Kids Club! Meets each Wednesday from 5:00-7:00 pm. Kids Club welcomes children grades K-5. New members of our Kids Club family are welcome through-out the year. Register at our website or call Barbara D’Souza (282-1500) with questions.

Bowling Night! Kids Club, Club 67 and Confirmation meet at Cherry Bowl from 4:00-6:00 pm for bowling and pizza (plus great giveaways from the bowling alley!)

PARENT SEMINAR

Please join us each month from 6:15-7:00 pm in B109 for interesting and informa-tive discussion on “hot topics” for parents. Our December 16th seminar is Advent Ideas. Speaker: Barbara D’Souza