We have decided to cancel Sunday worship due to the snowy conditions. We hope that you have a very safe and happy Sunday!

Merry Christmas Westminster! What a beautiful Advent season we have had together at Westminster! I look forward to our Christmas Eve services tonight. The bulletins for both the 5 pm and the 11 pm services have been posted on the website under the “Worship” tab. Just a reminder that both our December 26 as well as our January 2 worship services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Sunday School will resume on January 9. I hope that your Christmas is full of joy, peace, hope, and love! God is Good! All the Time!

Christmas miracles really do happen!  If you attended last evening’s performance of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, you witnessed one.  For most miracles, a lot of prayer, preparation, and persistence precede the actual event.  Last evening was no exception.  Our youthful actors and actresses and their parents spent hours memorizing lines, attending rehearsals, and balancing already busy schedules.  They braved falling temperatures in the stage wings, makeup brushes and lipstick applicators, and costume challenges.  Our young directors Eric Adamcik and Ryan Rotella learned how much organization, flexibility, and enthusiasm are needed to manage twenty some younger participants.  The stage management by Becca Millett and Joseph Hutzenbiler changed the fellowship hall stage into the real world of the Herdman children.  Transformations were complete as the black eyes, pink cheeks and reddened lips were applied by our make up artists, Maggie Bendy, Anna Milam and even the Yates’ babysitter (who was Imogene in her church’s production several years)  with the extra help of the stage mothers.

A village of elders facilitated the production in ways that the kids may never really fully appreciate until they are parents and adults themselves.  Jeff Pless provided the invisible actor on the stage with his light and sound magic.  Barbara Adamcik provided the artwork for the posters and programs so beautifully printed by the Bendy’s United Printers in addition to mentoring the student directors. Tricia Bell sent out many e-mails providing a communication link.   Stage Moms Extraordinaire (SMEs) Angela Partelow , Kathryn Oakes, Laura Stockdale, and Ruth Yates spent hours coordinating costumes, props, set pieces, and providing final assistance the evening of the performance to get all the little ones on and off the stage in fine form and on cue.  Linda Judge-McRae and her army of parents made sure the little tummies were satisfied the afternoon of the Christmas choir concert and play.    Parents and Grandparents encouraged, cajoled and possibly even gave a bribe or two to encourage their children to participate.  The effect was miraculous, as miraculous as the Herdmans’ transformation.

As for me, and I imagine for many of you, to experience Christmas through the eyes and actions of children is the most wonderful gift; we laugh, we are tearfully touched, and we are reminded of the innocence brought into the world on that first Christmas with the Christ Child.  Blessings to all of you during this Advent season and thank you for sharing your children with all of us at Westminster. 

Lisa Trofatter

Happy Monday Westminster! Only 19 more days until we get to celebrate the birthday of our sweet Savior!  The Advent music shared last Tuesday set the tone for my advent season. I appreciate our choir members who give of their time and talent so freely! I had the joy of sitting behind Julia yesterday at worship. What a gift she gave me when she heard the congregation sing the refrain of  Angels We Have Heard on High. Wouldn’t  it be awesome if we would respond to God’s calling with her kind of response??? Amazing stuff could be done! She was smiling from ear to ear and enjoying singing. The love that she gives us so freely is a lesson to be learned.

Speaking of wonderful music – the Children’s Christmas Service will be held on Sunday afternoon, December 12, at 5:00, followed by the Youth Christmas Drama “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Participating in the service will be the Boys’, Chancel, and Girls’ Choirs and the Westminster Choristers singing traditional carols arranged by David Willcocks and Peter Van Eenam as well as music by Guillaume Costeley and Eric Whitacre. I hope you are making plans to attend both programs.

Other items of interest:

• Foyer groups shuffle in January. What an awesome thing Sue Murrian started here years ago! They are a great way to make new friends or renew old friendships at WPC. Please call Sue (524-5638) or email her (suebobintn@aol.com) to join a group, drop out for a while, or with questions.  
• Bell Ringers are needed for our Salvation Army station: the shifts that still need to be filled are: Friday (10) from 10 to noon, and 2 to 4 and then on Monday (13th) noon to 2 and 2 to 4. Please email me back if you can take a shift(s) and I’ll sign you up.
• FISH deliveries are this Thursday: I can’t even begin to tell you how many phone calls we get daily here for food and utility payments. FISH is a great ministry here in Knoxville. To volunteer to make deliveries – call Barbara Wilkinson (300-8845). She will pair you up with someone to deliver some bags of groceries.

If there are any of you who have some extra time on your hands this coming Friday – I will most likely need some extra hands to prepare the bulletin, the program for the Children’s Christmas Service, as well as the Christmas drama program.  I will know better as to what time that volunteers are needed as I get closer to Friday.

Hugs,

Renee Wiesehuegel