Congregational Care Ministry at Westminster
Do you have a need?
Or, do you want to help with care ministry?
We are a congregation that shares one another’s burdens and rejoices in each other’s joys.
We have fourteen care ministry teams here to help!
If you have a need or want to serve on a care ministry team, please contact:
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Tuesday-Friday
Westminster Café
8:00 a.m. - Noon
Take a break from the heat and enjoy the air-conditioned Cafe! - Find a quiet space to work - Meet with a small group - Bring children for a cool and easy outing (high chairs available) Park in the North Parking Lot and enter by the blue outdoor umbrella.
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December 5, 2024
The 100th Waffle Shop
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
All proceeds go to benefit the church’s homeless ministries.
This year marks the centennial celebration of The Downtown Presbyterian Church's Waffle Shop. What started in 1924 as a fundraiser for The Downtown Presbyterian Church, quickly evolved into a holiday tradition. In its early days, downtown was the center of Nashville's retail and Waffle Shop marked the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. In recent years, as Nashville’s need for homeless outreach has increased, the church has expanded its mission. Funds raised from Waffle Shop are now used to provide a free breakfast and essential items to anyone in need each Saturday morning.
Waffle Shop tickets can be purchased on the website at dpchurch.com.
The $15 ticket includes:
• A waffle breakfast which includes waffles, grits, a choice of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken or Puckett’s country bacon, or turkey hash made from the original Waffle Shop recipe, and a choice of Frothy Monkey Coffee or spiced tea
• A free guided tour of the church’s beautiful historic Egyptian Revival sanctuary
• An organ recital and an opportunity to participate in singing Christmas carols
• The opportunity to shop at the church’s gift shop which includes homemade baked goods, vintage antiques, and other holiday merchandise
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December 6
Refugee Road to Citizenship
10:00 a.m. to Noon
Westminster Café
What steps would you have to take to become a U.S. citizen if you were a refugee? How much would it cost? Would you pass the test?
Come and learn how the nonprofit Nations Ministry walks alongside refugees on their journey to citizenship. Chris Lovingood will share the knowledge and experience he has gained serving as the organization’s Executive Director.
In addition, we’ll have special treats while we stuff Christmas stockings for high school students!
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Sunday, December 8
Service of Hope and Healing
7:00 pm • Sanctuary
As we enter the Advent/Christmas season, many feelings well up in us. Joyful Christmas carols seek to bring good cheer, yet for many experiences of grief and loss, anxiety and health concerns, depression and painful relationships are on our hearts.
Through scripture and prayers, candlelight and music, this service is for all people seeking hope and healing during this season. We invite you to bring a photo or other symbol of whatever is on your heart to this service, and place it in the candlelit windows, or hold it in the pew.
All are welcome to join us as we claim the promises of God in Emmanuel, God-with-us, and for Christ’s peace to make us whole.
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December 9
Women’s Covenant Group
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Goodpasture Hall
For our meeting on December 9th, the Women’s Covenant Group is celebrating the Christmas season by hosting a luncheon. We will serve a light lunch, including chicken casserole, salad, and bread, along with various desserts. Instead of a program, we hope to enjoy pure celebration of the season, with singing, possibly games, getting to know each other better, and catching up with new and old friends. As it is a difficult time of year for so many people, it will be nice to enjoy time with church friends and sisters in Christ.
Also, if you are willing and able to help us prepare for the luncheon, please let us know.
In addition, we suggest that members bring small gifts to benefit the Oasis Center and homeless youth. The Oasis Center is a nationally recognized organization that helps young people in Middle Tennessee through a broad spectrum of programs and services designed to help them reach their full potential.
Suggested gifts include cold-weather accessories such as weatherproof blankets, hand warmers and toe warmers, all-weather gloves, winter beanies, scarves, and coats. Additional needs include underwear for all genders and sizes (new); thermal underclothes (new), long-sleeved T-shirts, sweatshirts/hoodies, sleeping bags; solar lanterns/light source; and $15 fast food gift cards. All of these items can be purchased via Amazon wishlist. We will deliver them to the Oasis Center on behalf of the Women’s Covenant Group.
We are excited to celebrate and hope you and your guests will join us for this gathering!
Suzanne Allen, sallen2009@gmail.com
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The Westminster Bells will present their annual Christmas Variety Show as a part of the Music Box Series on Thursday, December 12 in Goodpasture Hall. We will gather at 11:00. The program will begin at 11:15. Following the program a Box Lunch will be served. Please contact Sherri Givens to place your lunch reservation.
Returning once again to join the Bell Choir will be Susan and Neal Ramsay, Susan with her Hammered Dulcimer and Neal with several saxophones. They will play two selections, "Riu Riu Chiu" and "Linus and Lucy". Hearing Susan and Neal is always quite a treat. Neal is the arranger for their selections being as there are probably no other arrangements for this particular instrumentation!
The Bell Choir will play three selections. "Advent Carol", arranged by Hal Hopson, former Minister of Music here at Westminster. Back by popular demand, "T'was the Night Before Christmas" with our very own Audrey Campbell narrator. We commissioned John Arnn to write this piece several years ago. We will end the program with "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer".
Members of the Bell Choir are, Barbara Sullivan, Jane Kirchner, Audrey Campbell, Debbie Fritz, Janet Salyer, Meg Zimmerman, Leslie Higgins, Kelly Christie, Jill Sink, Shirlee Davidson, Frank Kirchner and Cecile Settle. The Choir is directed by Sally Mae Arnn.
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December 13
A Light in the Darkness
7:00 p.m. • Sanctuary
An Advent & Christmas Concert with Westminster Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Phillip Keveren, Pianist, and tenor soloist, Jordan Haas
Dale Nickell, Associate Director of Music and Organist
Dr. John Semingson, Conductor
Plan now to join us for this concert featuring the beautiful music of the season and bring a friend! We offer this concert to be a light in the darkness of December filled with hope and promise as we hear in word and music the promise that Christ’s coming brings to all of creation.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Please join us.
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December 15, 2024
Community Caroling & Dinner
5:00 pm • North Parking Lot
Caroling with the Westminster Community is back! Please join us on Sunday, December 15 at 5 p.m. at the North Entrance (facing the big playground) to carol in the Westminster neighborhood!
Members of our choir will keep us in tune and we'll bring Christmas cheer to our church neighbors. This event is for all ages and includes some fun Santa and glow-in-the-dark accessories to keep us in the spirit!
After caroling, join us in Fellowship Hall for dinner. During dinner, kids can participate in making holiday cards that we will bring to Alive Hospice and other groups around Nashville. Please feel free to bring and make cards in advance. We hope to see you there!
There will also be an UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER CONTEST. Children will be the judges.
Costs this year will be:
$10 per individual
$40 family max
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Writing Our Faith Journal with Janet SalyerWednesdays January 8 to February 2611:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Westminster Café Breakout Room
One of the most helpful ways to increase our awareness of God’s presence with us is to write about our spiritual journeys and to share insights gained from that practice with our companions along the way. You are invited to begin the new year in a weekly gathering of a small group of fellow travelers. Each week, writing prompts and examples from spiritual autobiographies will inspire your journal writing for the week ahead.
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WINTER NEW MEMBER & INQUIRER CLASS TO BEGIN JANUARY 12
The winter New Member and Inquirer Class will begin Sunday, January 12, and runs through February 16, with the opportunity to join on March 2 for those who feel called into membership. The class runs during the Sunday School hour, 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
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