| | | 12.11.20 It’s Friday… but Sunday’s Coming |
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| | Westminster, This Sunday is the third Sunday in Advent. Advent literally means coming or arrival in Latin, and it’s the season believers all over the world take to remember with wonder and gratitude those events that transpired several thousand years ago as Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It’s a time that we look back on Jesus’ first coming and anticipate his second coming. As we continue to look at the narrative in Luke 1:39-56 this weekend, we will talk about the thrill of hope. How is hope shaping you right now? You heard about it last week and will learn more over the coming weeks, but I would highly encourage you to pray about how God might lead you to give to our Christmas offering. We’re really pumped to see how our above and beyond giving will make a huge kingdom impact and bring the hope of Jesus to a hurting world. One of the ways we are doing that is by helping Young Life Bellevue to start Alpha in local schools. We long for the students in our community to meet Jesus and are really honored to walk with Young Life in this endeavor. Please join me in praying for the leaders and students who are involved in Young Life. If you’d like to find our more or give to the offering, you can do so here. Thanks for being such a generous church family! Finally, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the other members of our teaching team(Matt, Mark, and Holly). Matt did an excellent job wrapping up our study of Ephesians, and Mark kicked off the advent season so well. Our staff is full of gifted individuals who love our church deeply, and it’s great fun to share leadership and ministry with them. On Wednesday the teaching team met to discuss our plans for 2021, and have most of next year charted out! It will be super helpful to start the new year in a study of Ecclesiastes, as God provides us with wisdom to help put life in perspective. Whether online or in person, can’t wait to see you Sunday!
Ryan |
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| | ~ SYMPATHY ~
Carl Herman passed away on December 4.
Please keep Renetta, their children, and extended family in your prayers.
Memorial service plans are still being finalized. |
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| | CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES Christmas is coming! On Christmas Eve we’ll have special
Christmas Eve services with opportunities to participate online or in person. Online services will be available at 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, and 11:00 PM via
Church Online on the Westminster webpage. The 3:00 and 5:00 PM
services will also be open to in-person attendance. You can pre-register for 3:00 PM or 5:00 PM by clicking this link.
(link: www.westminster.org/welcomehome/#register) |
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| | CHRISTMAS EVE CARE PACKAGE Add some extra merry to your Christmas Eve this year! On Christmas Eve we’ll have identical Online services at 3:00, 5:00, 7:00,
and 11:00 PM. If you’re planning to participate online, we invite you to
sign up for a complimentary care package. The contents are a surprise,
but they’ve been specially chosen to complement your at-home church experience! Order one for your household and up to two additional packages to share with friends. It’s just one small way we can all share this special time together. CLICK HERE to reserve your care package.
PLEASE RESERVE YOU CARE PACKAGE BY DECEMBER 16. |
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| | CHRISTMAS OFFERING 2020 This Christmas season, help bring the thrill of hope to people who don’t yet know God’s great love for them. Through the following global and local opportunities, we can all be part of helping God’s Kingdom grow in some very special ways: Global Opportunities in partnership with ACTION International
• Funding new and existing schools in Nigeria
• Assisting the “Jesus Is The Truth” School in Uganda Local Opportunities to support transformation in our community
• Helping Young Life Bellevue launch Youth Alpha in Bellevue High Schools
• Connecting through our podcast “Asking for a Friend – With Westminster Chapel”
• Refresh the Westminster campus to be even more welcoming
• Blessing another local church in need of support at this time To give at any time, visit www.westminster.org/giving |
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| THE PRAYER COURSE
Begins Online – Thursday, January 7, 2021
Noon to 1:00 PMThe Prayer Course is an eight-week journey that will help you grow and deepen
your prayer life. It is based on the themes in the Lord’s Prayer and each session includes a video, small group discussion, and application of prayer methods. The Sessions: Why Pray?, Adoration, Petition, Intercession,
Unanswered Prayer, Contemplation, Listening, and Spiritual Warfare.
Questions? Contact Sherry at gro.r1701275984etsni1701275984mtsew1701275984@ayrr1701275984ehs1701275984 To register CLICK HERE |
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| WINTER GROUPS 2021
Middle School and High SchoolWinter Groups for Middle School and High School students will begin on Sunday, January 10th, and run each Sunday through March 14th. Join us in the Middle School Room or High School Room from 6:30-7:30 pm.
Sign up online at https://westminster.churchcenter.com/people/forms/194236. Students will meet in groups – Middle School will be able to choose from the Gospel of John, the Book of Genesis, or, for the girls, the Book of Ruth. High Schoolers will choose topics with their small group leaders determined by grade and gender. |
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| | | CONNECTIONS CALLING ALL MEN – The GAP Men’s Bible Study meets Thursdays at
7:30 AM by Zoom: The GAP Men’s group will wind up 2020 with our meeting on Thursday, Dec 17th. To join on Thursday at 7:30 AM, click on this link CLICK HERE or (Meeting ID: 955 9887 1305 Passcode: 020961) and you will join the Zoom meeting of the men of the GAP. The GAP will restart in 2021 on Thursday, January 7th. FAITH AND LIFE SERIES FROM JOHN’S GOSPEL – Sunday’s at 11:00 AM on Zoom: Join us as we study selected passages from John’s Gospel highlighting the two main themes in the book, “Faith” and “Life.” The faith is both “saving faith” as well as “increasing our faith.” The life is not just biological life (Bios) but the supernatural gift of God’s (Zoe) LIFE. The course is designed for those who have a true hunger for God and want “something more.” Key text: “In HIM was LIFE, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4 Class teacher: Dr. Howard Brant assisted by Brian Dillon. Here is the link to the class: https://zoom.us/j/357782563?pwd=RGdwczd6NmlUQno3VndmcjFlbHQzdz09 GROW GROUPS – Meaningful connections are always important, but take on added significance in trying times. Many of our Grow Groups are continuing to meet online during the current season. These groups aim to be places where we can GROW with others. No matter where you are, there is a Grow Group that can help you take your next step in community. If you want more information or help finding an available group contact Pastor Matt at gro.r1701275984etsni1701275984mtsew1701275984@ctta1701275984m1701275984 or https://www.westminster.org/groups/ |
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| | YEAR-END GIVING: As we approach the end of the calendar year, many of you choose to give donations of stock. The following may be of help:
• Transfer stock to Westminster Chapel’s account at Charles Schwab: account BV93376060, DTC0164.
• Notify Tim Huffman (425) 460-4015 or gro.1701275984retsn1701275984imtse1701275984w@hmi1701275984t1701275984of the company and number of shares given. A letter acknowledging the receipt of the stock will be sent to you. Wait until you get this letter before you do your taxes, or your deduction may be disallowed. Visit http://www.westminster.org and click on GIVE, then Detailed Giving Opportunities for additional methods of giving. Locked Safe Available For Year-End Gifts
• December 31st – for your convenience, a safe will be outside the front entrance to the church to drop off year-end donations. Donations must be received by Westminster Chapel or postmarked no later than December 31, 2020, to make them eligible for tax deductions for 2020. Giving statements will be both mailed and e-mailed the second week of January 2021. |
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| WEEKLY GIVING:
As of 12/8/20
Expectation for the Week $55,000
General Giving for the Week* $389,178
Expectation to Date $1,422,000
General Giving to Date* $1,647,340
Annual Expectation $3,200,000
*General giving includes weekly and non-designated special gifts.NEXT CHAPTER GIVING:
Original Project Cost $22,000,000
Payments to Date $19,557,000
Current Mortgage Balance $2,443,000 |
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