This Sunday at 11:00 am

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This Sunday, October 4, at 11:00 am, we will have a parking lot communion!

The church will provide sealed and pre-packaged elements for people to come physically to the church, get out of their car, pick up their own pre-sealed package, take it back to their car (or stand at a distance if it is not raining) and we will attempt to have communion together. The communion elements are gluten free bread and grape juice to accommodate the most people. 

The bread and juice are sealed at the factory with the bread on the bottom. No one will touch them except Pastor Brett, when he sets them out for pick-up. These have been in use at other churches for months so you can trust their safety.

Join us on this special day when Christians of all denominations, all over the world, share their bond as brothers and sisters in Christ.

2021: The Year of Jubilee

We have begun our Stewardship Campaign!

2021 will be The Year of Jubilee - freedom from captivity, freedom from inequality, freedom from financial burdens.

You can pledge your prayers, presence, gifts, and service for 2021 at https://www.westsidejourney.com/stewardship-2020. The website also has the popular Step-by-Step chart and a brief description of various service opportunities, including the new Random Acts of Kindness.

Our annual Extravagant Generosity Sunday will be October 25. More details to follow.

We praise God that we can continue to be His hands and His feet, and are able to financially support the ministries at Westside!

God Sightings 9/27

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Where have you seen God at work this past week?

Jan – Did you see 50,000 people in Washington, DC – did anybody see it on TV? 50,000 people, guys! Shouting and voices lifted high unto God. Franklin Graham had that Prayer March in Washington, DC, yesterday. And Fred – that new song “Earth to God” come in God, you have to get it. Has anybody heard it? It’s awesome - it’s a prayer to God by John Rich. Just Google it - Prayer by John Rich, Earth to God, come in God. It is positively awesome. The Lord is moving! He is alive and well! And we ought to be too! We should rise up & shout to the Lord with our voice of crying.

Wendy F. – I had a God moment yesterday. I went in to the hospital and I’m fine. This is not about me or my illness, I have some underlying heart issues that we’re figuring out. But, my God moment is when I was in the ER, just realizing how much goodness we have. That I or anyone can have a problem. Think that hearts are sensitive things, you’re anxious and worried; you can go in and get immediate feedback. Yes, your heart is amazing and it can do all these things and you are totally fine. And just to think about that. Because, I think for me and for many of us we are surrounded by all the badness and all this stuff we’re worried about...So, that makes me miss these types of things until they smack me in the face. So that was a really grateful God moment, yesterday, that both things can be true. Not to underestimate the difficult stuff that’s going on but, sometimes my limited brain only sees one or the other.  So, it was such a wonderful God moment, let’s look for all the good things and be grateful for those too because they are all around. And sometimes it’s just more about us not seeing them; missing them. It was such an encouragement that I needed, especially right now. So, my prayer is that we all get all of those good ah-ha moments with the stuff that we’re grateful for every day.

Bonnie – This week I had to take Tami Ely to Urgent Care. Things haven’t gone real well, please pray for her – she has a lot of issues that need to be resolved. But, when I got there and I was quite upset about her condition, Debbie Gabel was sitting there in the chair and it was just so comforting to me to have someone else that knows Tami and knows me. We got some testing done and further testing needs to be done. So, please pray for Tami.  

Martha – Jan, I love the faith enthusiasm that you show!   This is Martha again; we have just had 3 strong God moments. We had Jan professing her faith which is so strong. We had Wendy – the doctors may say – oh, you have a good heart but, they don’t know what kind of good heart you really have. Bonnie, if you don’t do God’s work every day, I don’t know who does.

Stewardship 2020

We began our Stewardship campaign this morning!

2021 will be The Year of Jubilee - freedom from captivity, freedom from inequality, freedom from financial burdens.

You can pledge your prayers, presence, gifts, and service for 2021 at https://www.westsidejourney.com/stewardship-2020. The website also has the popular Step-by-Step chart and a brief description of various service opportunities, including the new Random Acts of Kindness.

Our annual Extravagant Generosity Sunday will be October 25. More details to follow.

We praise God that we can continue to be His hands and His feet, and are able to financially support the ministries at Westside!

World Communion Sunday on October 4

communion.png

Next Sunday, October 4, at 11:00 am, we will have a parking lot communion!

The church will provide sealed and pre-packaged elements for people to come physically to the church, get out of their car, pick up their own pre-sealed package, take it back to their car (or stand at a distance if it is not raining) and we will attempt to have communion together. The communion elements are gluten free bread and grape juice to accommodate the most people. 

The bread and juice are sealed at the factory with the bread on the bottom. No one will touch them except Pastor Brett, when he sets them out for pick-up. These have been in use at other churches for months so you can trust their safety.

Join us on this special day when Christians of all denominations, all over the world, share their bond as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Re-Imagine Worship

This Sunday at 10:30 am, we begin our conversations about Re-imagining the future of Westside. First up:

Re-Imagine Worship Together - The pandemic has altered the way we meet together to worship God, and we need to be prepared to have an online presence remain deep into 2021 and maybe beyond. Come brainstorm ways to do worship both in person and online in 2021. What should worship look like visually? What should it sound like? How will we engage the people in person and help the people online feel like they are also in the sanctuary?

Join us!

Re-Imagine Together Zoom Link: 
https://zoom.us/j/91376283930?pwd=a3BNcjFzN082SFhUem12czc4MW9JUT09

Meeting ID: 913 7628 3930
Passcode: reimagine

Last Chance: Christian Identity and the Racial World

This course begins this Thursday at 7:00 pm. Don’t miss your chance to register!

Are you interested in learning more about how the racial world came into being inside of colonizing 'Christian' empires?  About how Christian faith has been distorted and captured inside of racialized desire?

Come join in an online learning atmosphere where Pastor Brett will share a modified course he took in seminary, designed by world renowned scholar on theology and race, Dr. Willie James Jennings. Jennings is the author of several books, including The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race (2010), which won the 2015 Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion and the 2011 American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence, Constructive-Reflective Study.

This eight week course is designed for participation leading to transformation - videos, discussion, a private course site full of resources and a shared blog for deep reflections on one's own racial and Christian formation. Come as you are - no book purchase required

When: Thursday Nights from 7:00 -8:30 PM beginning Thursday, September 24, 2020

Where: Online - Zoom Link to be provided to signed-up participants. 

Sign Up NowSign up Link 

Re-Imagining Convos

This is something new, starting this Sunday at 10:30 AM after church. These will be 8 conversations that everyone is invited to participate in, around 4 themes. This is a chance for the people of Westside to shape the future of the church. Each session will be a 45 minute creative brainstorming session after church every other week (10:30 - 11:15 AM) through the end of the year into 2021.

Mark your calendars!

a. Re-Imagine Worship Together - The pandemic has altered the way we meet together to worship God, and we need to be prepared to have an online presence remain deep into 2021 and maybe beyond. Come brainstorm ways to do worship both in person and online in 2021. What should worship look like visually? What should it sound like? How will we engage the people in person and help the people online feel like they are also in the sanctuary? Sep 27 & Nov 22 

b. Re-Imagine Children and Youth Ministries Together:  With a growing handful of children and youth in the church, come workshop some ideas for how to implement children's time during the online service and ministry once in-person worship resumes. Oct 11 & Dec 6 

c.  Re-Imagine Building, Land & Place Together: How are we utilizing our buildings and land during normal times? During Covid times? How are we using our land to give glory to God and to witness to His creation? Are there budding ministries that need a place to thrive on our land? What is going on in our neighborhood and in the churches around our neighborhood? How are we connected to our place in Beaverton?  Why do we exist here and not in Hillsboro or downtown Portland? Oct 25 & Dec 20 

d. Re-Imagine Outreach Together: Come learn more about the outreach ministries of Westside UMC and how we are adapting during Covid. Who are we becoming through our outreach? What are the themes of our outreach and who God is calling us to be? Nov 8 & Jan 3 

Re-Imagine Together Zoom Link: 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/91376283930?pwd=a3BNcjFzN082SFhUem12czc4MW9JUT09

Meeting ID: 913 7628 3930
Passcode: reimagine

God Sightings 9/20

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Where have you seen God at work this past week?

Kari – I just found out this morning that my niece, Clare who is 15, is being Confirmed today at her Presbyterian Church. This is back in Kentucky. So, very exciting, I didn’t even know she was going through Confirmation until my brother told me I could watch it online this morning. So, I’m very happy that she’s completed this.

Jan – I just wanted to share that this morning is a miracle. Because, I woke up late and looked at my watch and I said no way, there’s no way I can get there in time... Well, I had this Nudge; and I thought is God alive or not? So, I jumped out, got in the shower & did my hair; I’m here early!  I couldn’t believe it – I have never been here this early!

Susan W. – As many of you know, Jerry had a pretty serious surgery this week on Wednesday. I’m a very firm believer in the power of prayer. The power of prayer, once again, came to our assistance. His surgery went unbelievably well. The doctors were absolutely amazed at how well he did. In the surgery, they said this is probably the first time they’ve done this where there was only one little, minor glitch. They put him in the hospital overnight; usually people that have this surgery stay more than one night. He stayed one night and the next day the doctor says – you look great, your healing just fine; you can go home! So, he came home on Thursday and he’s doing extremely well; not liking the fact that he can’t go out and do some painting. But, dog-gone-it sometimes we have to sacrifice. But, he is doing well and thank you everybody for the prayers. It was a true blessing from God.

Marianne – I saw a beautiful rainbow yesterday. Rainbows always make me think of God; I thank God for rainbows – I love rainbows! And I thank God for pumpkin spice. It’s pumpkin spice season & I love pumpkin spice! Fred got me some pumpkin eggnog this week & it is so good! So, look for pumpkin eggnog at the store. Fred even likes it; he doesn’t like eggnog.

Martha – Two things: 1) Jan, there are some mornings that I am just grateful to get up at all.  2) Ada, our granddaughter, is here and even though she wasn’t very talkative this morning, which is unusual, it was a God Blessing to have her spend the night with us last night and be able to snuggle and cuddle. She’s been tested for Covid because of her preschool, and she was negative, so we know that she’s safe. It was a blessing to have her; we hope everybody has a good week – a smokeless week! We’re giving up smoking this week.

Pastor Brett – One of my God Sightings this week was - Levi is going to be 8 weeks tomorrow and he is starting to make sounds to try to engage and to talk. This happened last week during the service and Janelle told me when I got offline. She said – I had a conversation with Levi during the service! I said - what do you mean? She said – well I was looking at him and I was talking to him & he said - Goo. So, I said - Goo back. Then he said – Goo. And they had a little conversation. So, I’ve been testing that out this week and I’m happy to report that he is starting to make those sounds and to make those initial language sounds and smiling. For some reason, in my mind, I thought this happened at about 8 months not 8 weeks. So, I’m just delighted to start to get that engagement with him; this has lifted my spirit which I definitely needed this last 2 weeks. So, Praise God!

Christian Identity and the Racial World

Are you interested in learning more about how the racial world came into being inside of colonizing 'Christian' empires?  About how Christian faith has been distorted and captured inside of racialized desire?

Come join in an online learning atmosphere where Pastor Brett will share a modified course he took in seminary, designed by world renowned scholar on theology and race, Dr. Willie James Jennings. Jennings is the author of several books, including The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race (2010), which won the 2015 Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion and the 2011 American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence, Constructive-Reflective Study.

This eight week course is designed for participation leading to transformation - videos, discussion, a private course site full of resources and a shared blog for deep reflections on one's own racial and Christian formation. Come as you are - no book purchase required

When: Thursday Nights from 7:00 -8:30 PM beginning Thursday, September 24, 2020

Where: Online - Zoom Link to be provided to signed-up participants. 

Sign Up NowSign up Link 

Breathing Smoke...Seeking Hope

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As wildfires rage, we add to our prayers yet another crisis. Our individual prayers are crucial, but our corporate prayers are needed, too.

Join United Methodists from across the Greater Northwest Area in a time of prayer, reflection, and praise in online worship this Sunday, September 20, at 4 p.m.

Voices from across the Area will lead us through music, liturgy, and deep breaths amid the fire, smoke, ash, anxiety, and grief of this time. You will have the opportunity to offer financial support to disaster response efforts in each annual conference as you see images of our earlier commitments to be good stewards of the earth and our current efforts to love our neighbors. 

This worship service will be available on the Greater Northwest Area YouTube Channel and the Oregon-Idaho Conference Facebook page.

Opportunity to Help

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Our regularly scheduled week to host Family Promise is next week, Sep 20-27. In the new normal, we are providing $50 Winco or Fred Meyer cards and $25 fast food gift cards to families housed elsewhere. If you would like to help, the cards must be delivered by noon this Friday, Sep 18, to 5625 SW Erickson, Beaverton, OR.

There is also a continuing need for non-perishable or frozen meals for 10 families in the Washington County Emergency Shelter that Family Promise coordinates. These may be taken to the Lighthouse freezer/kitchen. Contact Bonnie with any questions.

God Sightings 9/13

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Where have you seen God at work this past week?

Martha – I mentioned after church service last Sunday that our dryer vent was old fashioned, and in order to hook up our new dryer we needed a new doohickey. So, Rich gave me his phone number and Ken called him after church. He came over in the afternoon and put the part in. He was such a blessing; Ken and I will always thank him for doing that for us. That was definitely a God Moment and he was our special angel last week.

Dave –  For me it’s just the amount of communication and compassion that everyone is sharing towards each other – whether that’s in a work environment or a family environment. We’re seeing a lot of it in Sally’s family on the East Coast sending their love; asking and wondering and worrying and praying. Even her brother today, on the East Coast, said “Jump in your car and drive East, we’ll take care of you; we have no smoke here!”  

Francie – We decided to pod" with another family. Essentially, this means that we all agree to the same rules of seeing people. That means we have had play dates for Sage with people her age. And her joy about going into somebody else’s house is kind of epic and disturbing. Three other kids and quiet and it was amazing! So, we’ve been having a fun week here. And Sage has been reading to Sloane almost every day; her ability to memorize books since she’s 3 and can’t read is actually epic….

Kat – We also have Podded with another family in the neighborhood that has 2 girls. One is a little older than Aurelia and the other is a little younger and that has been amazing because, Aurelia this past week, before the smoke, has been outside finally playing with kids for the first time since this all happened. She has 3 friends now that she can play with in this little pod. So, that has been amazing and helpful; Aurelia has been ecstatic about having the opportunity to play with other kids again. That’s been nice for us as well; a true blessing.

Sally – On the theme of students and teachers – I received a box that my brother sent me, after my other brother passed away, of some memorabilia. In it is this yearbook or scrapbook from my dad when he was in 7th grade and I want to read you an example of what teachers back then wrote to their students in their scrapbook: “My Dear Lawrence,  It’s been surely a pleasure to have such a brilliant student as you, my dear, in my class; such a beautiful gentleman and a good sport as well. I’m sure you will succeed in all your attempts. Good Luck & Best Wishes for everything good in the future.”  …In cursive that everyone can read because they learned cursive. And every teacher wrote these beautiful things…not like Hey, good to have you, Bye…. I’m hearing from a lot of people that have young children that teachers are really stepping it up now in their online delivery of lessons that could be very boring online, but they make it exciting so we got to say hats off to them.

Pastor Brett – We came back from Pendleton this week on Tuesday and we found that there were at least one mouse that had run rampant through our house and had left droppings everywhere. So, my God Sighting this week was actually I’m very thankful that mice leave droppings. Because, that way you can tell where they’ve been.  Instead of having to clean every single square inch of the house, which we’re almost doing anyway, we can focus on the areas where they were.   

God Provides

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When I normally think about wilderness in the Scripture, what comes to mind first is usually the 40 years of wandering that the Hebrews did after coming out of Egypt, or characters like John the Baptist preaching a baptism of repentance from the wilderness or Jesus facing temptation in the wilderness. 

Hagar definitely doesn’t come to mind first, although she is the first (chronologically) person in the Scriptures to encounter God in the wilderness in Genesis 16 and 21.  This week, we will take a look at her story to learn more about how God provides for those in the wilderness.