<i>The Vine</i> December 23, 2007

"I am the vine,
you are the branches..."

Remember in Prayer Comfort for Kay Larson and family and friends on the death of her husband Everett Larson on December 17^th.

We thank Beth Govaerts for sharing her time and talents in teaching today's dance.

Plan to spend a few minutes in the Garden Room following today's 10:30 service. Enjoy light food and refreshments provided by the Deacons. Join us and share in the holiday cheer!

                Christmas Eve
    Candlelight Worship Schedule
3:00 p.m. Worship with Christmas Bells
                     and Instrumentalists
5:00 p.m. Worship with Nebraska Brass,
                  All Children's Choirs (Cherub,
                  Alleluia! Amen!,Salt & Light), and
                  Youth Bells
9:00 p.m. Worship with Nebraska Brass, Westminster Brass,
                  Westminster Choir, Westminster Carillon
Cookies and refreshments will be served following each service.

End of Year Giving Request The church committees have stayed well within their budgets, but some income sources have been less than anticipated. At this point it looks as if our expenditures will exceed our income by about $15,000 to $20,000. This is close to where we have been a number of years in the past, when end of the year giving made all the difference. How can we meet this need? Along with the grace of God, we rely on two things in particular:

     • First, we need those who have pledged to complete
       their pledge.
    • Secondly, we need the whole congregation to consider
       giving a financial gift to Westminster by the end of this
        year.
With this extra giving, we believe we will be able to end the year with a balanced budget. Every gift makes a difference.

2007 Church Budget Pledge Report

2007 Paid to Date 2007 Total Pledged % of Pledged
Paid to Date

$680,658 $777,608 87.53%

Notice: If there is inclement weather and you have a meeting scheduled at the church, please call ahead to see if the building is open. If the building is opening late or going to be closed, we will leave a message on the phone by 7:30 a.m.

Adult Education
9:00 a.m. Sunday Mornings

Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photographer, nationally acclaimed speaker and expert on the environment
speaks about the stewardship of the earth and how Christians
can care for the earth. Come and listen to Mr. Sartore's
presentation, "I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas" in
Fellowship Hall today at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

Coming in January - in Fellowship Hall A
Islam and the United States: Politics, Society and Culture
January 6 - Dr. Tim Borstelmann, Thompson Professor of
          History at the University of Nebraska will discuss the
          relationship between the United States and the Middle
          East and look at how politics has affected social and
          cultural relationships.
January 13 - Welcome Muslim women Hagar Mohamed and Shaima Shakir, who will share the experience and challenges
          of being Muslim in America.
January 20 - Islam in film. Film TBA
January 27 - Dr. Rita Lester from Nebraska Wesleyan
          University will lead a discussion in understanding Muslim
           faith and traditions.

Coming February 3: Our Heritage in Quilts.
As we celebrate the art of quilts at Westminster during February,
we have invited Mr. Greg Jensen, Senior Director of
Development at University Nebraska Foundation, to speak on
the International Quilt Center. Pat Hackley will also be here to
give us an introduction to our Westminster display.

Westminster Bible Class - 9:00 a.m. - Parlor
          Westminster Bible Class uses the Presbyterian
          publication, The Present Word and is now studying "God's
          Call" from the book of Luke. Rev. Ellen Davis leads the
          study today. New members and guests are always
          welcome.

"CROSSROADS"
Sundays - 9:00 a.m. - Library
          The Crossroads Class (young adults, 18-30's) is using the
           book SIMPLY WAIT, by Pamela Hawkins as a basis for
           our study of scripture during Advent. These lively
           discussions center on four concepts: Anticipation, Hope,
           Patience, and Obedience. During January we will
           concentrate our study on the book of Isaiah Please join us!

After Christmas Sermon Series

Join us after Christmas for worship as Dr. McDonald preaches on "Taking on the Tough Questions:A Case for Assertive Christianity."
January 6: "Are Religions Behind the Wars of the World?
January 13: "Should Christians Be Tolerant of Other Religions?"
January 20: "Is Faith Reasonable and Scientific or a Figment of
Our Imagination?"
January 27: "Why Should Someone Be a Christian?"
February 3: "Can You be Spiritual and Not Religious?"

Financial Peace University A Financial Peace University class will be offered again, beginning February 13, 2008. Watch the Vine for more information.

Men's Tuesday Fellowship Breakfasts
The Westminster Men's Fellowship group are taking two weeks off for Christmas and New Years Day. They will meet again January 8^th at 6:45 a.m. for a Continental breakfast. ($2 and free for first timers.) At 7:00 the program, "Sharing the Samaritan Story" will be presented by August Neuhaus, Executive Director, Samaritan Counseling Center. Come join us. All men are welcome.

Westminster Preschool Thanks You!
Thank you for supporting the Westminster Preschool Book Fair at Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Our preschool received over $1,000 from your purchases.

NO Meetings Scheduled December 26 - January 1
The church office will be open from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. during the business week between Christmas and New Years Day. However, there will be no meetings scheduled at the church so that the custodial staff can clean the meeting rooms.

The building will be closed Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Sign Up to Serve Instead of a New Years Resolution, sign up for a mission project and feel like a new person! A few of the current choices are: serving an already-cooked dinner at The Gathering Place, making and serving dinner at Matt Talbot's Kitchen and Outreach. Sign -up sheets are on the bulletin board in the Garden Room. See Pastor Sara or an Outreach member for more details.

Pledges to the Second Century Campaign can be paid any time now. In just a few months you will begin to see how your gifts and pledges are making a significant difference to the ministry of Westminster.

Serving Today:

USHERS: Austen Adams, Kari Andersen, Henry Cech, Lyle Hamilton, Cindy Hill, Jerry Hudgins, Steve Johnson, Stan Mills, Matt Nyberg, Regi Schirmer, Ted Schirmer, Sindy Thompson
DEACONS: Kevin Pope, Terry Enrich, Nancy Stuckey
GREETERS: Susan Jackson/Dave McBride
HOSTS: Larry and Judy Ehlers/Lee Sonderegger
ACOLYTE: Quinn Van Dyke-Ries

CHURCH SACRAMENTS The next communion will be January 6^th. Baptism will be March 9^th, please call Marge 475-6702, by February 20^th.

Worshipers are Invited to join in a time of hospitality and Christian fellowship before and after 10:30 a.m. worship. Coffee, juice and donut holes are provided by Food and Festivities Ministry in the Garden Room.

Westminster Presbyterian Church 2110 Sheridan Blvd. Lincoln, Nebraska Ph. 402-475-6702; Fax: 475-3148 www.westminsterlincoln.org
Pastor	Reverend Dr. Andrew L. McDonald, x 110
Associate Pastor	Reverend Sara Dingman, x 116
Parish Associate	Reverend Ellen Davis, x117
Business Administrator	Cheryl Rennick, x 105
Director of Fine Arts	Boyd Bacon, x 111
Associate Director of Music and Fine Arts	Dr. Masako Nakamura, x 111
Preschool Director	JoEllen Beil, x 103
Director of Children's Ministries	Betsy Guyer, x 104
Administrative Secretary	Marge Tomlinson, x 102
Receptionist/Secretary	Jean Kutscher, x 101
Custodians/Maintenance	Edina Bilic, Richard Gruenemeyer, Mehmedalija Plicanic

The Vine December 23, 2007