Due to the high wind forecast for tomorrow, October 24, our Extravagant Generosity Sunday worship will be held indoors.
Meet in the Lighthouse for a special procession into the sanctuary as a church family. The processional will be at 10:03 am sharp, so don’t be late!
Worship will still be online as well, using the new link:
Meeting number (access code): 2568 529 1771
Meeting password: 5D7Ut6ZPMRn
We hope to see everyone tomorrow on this very special day!
If you’re joining us via Webex, please note the following:
To join us online, click here You will be prompted to install the Webex application if you haven’t done so already. The link should go directly to the worship service at 10:00 am on Sunday. If the link doesn’t work for you, go to webex.com, click ‘Join’ and enter these details:
Meeting number (access code): 2568 529 1771
Meeting password: 5D7Ut6ZPMRn
You may also join using a smartphone by calling 408-418-9388.
Remember to “mute” your audio when you’re not speaking, to cut down on background noise.
See you online!
You won’t want to miss this year’s Extravagant Generosity Sunday, October 24! Our special guest speaker will be Westside’s founding pastor, Rev Dan Pitney. Rev. Brian Shimer will also be here to celebrate with us. Some marvelous, surprising activities have been planned. Attend in person if at all possible!
This is the Sunday that you may offer yourself to the ministries of Westside for 2022. Service opportunities and pledge cards are available at church. Or if you prefer to worship from home, you may pledge online at westsidejourney.com/2022-pledge.
A luncheon will follow the worship service. You are most welcome; we have food for everyone!
Lunch and the service will be outside so dress appropriately!
Thank you for your faithful support of Westside UMC!
Bonnie is hosting a baby shower for Julie, one of the moms in the Family Promise program. Julie is expecting a girl, Brooklyn, in November.
The shower will be on Saturday, Oct 23, at 2:00 pm in the Lighthouse. If you would like to come to the shower to support Julie, help with the shower, provide a baby gift, or a monetary donation, please let Bonnie know.
Share from your week; where have you seen God at work?:
Kat – I’ve been struggling for the past couple of months and about 3 weeks ago I had to undergo a formal evaluation by a psychologist dealing with what I’m dealing with related to workers comp. And that can be very scary. I was very nervous about it going into it. About 2 nights before I went in, I had a dream. In the dream, I was sitting in the psychologist’s office and Jesus was sitting next to me holding my hand and sitting there with me because I wasn’t allowed to have anybody with me during the examination. It was amazing and when I had the exam I felt like He was there with me the whole time. It was just such a vivid and beautiful dream. Even through all of this I have been struggling with and dealing with, Jesus has been there sitting next to me and holding me. I know sometimes we all feel lost and broken, but that’s when He’s really there.
Pastor Brett – Thank you, Kat and we will continue to lift you up in prayer.
Kari – Good morning. I didn’t get to be here last Sunday because I had a family thing. So I watched the service on Thursday morning during my workout time. I was watching and listening and I thought - Oh, I should have been there because I am a long distance runner and swimmer… Then I did my Upper Room Devotional and it just fit right in, called Through The Waves; message from Luke 8:4-15. This lady wrote this beautiful devotional I’m going to read to you. “I was at the beach admiring God’s beautiful creation. Wading into the water, I was being tossed around by the rough ocean waves. I kept falling down and going under. It was quite funny, actually. I decided to go deeper in the water where the waves were easier to take and I wouldn’t get knocked down. I compared this experience to my relationship with God. When I grow deeper and closer to God, I can take on life’s waves more easily. I don’t get knocked down by every challenge that comes my way. Deeper into the water, I could stand up and face the waves with boldness. When I dive deeper into scripture, God makes my burdens easier to carry. I’m learning every day to find the joy in the waves and allow God to carry the weight. God waits for us to take the first step deeper into the waters. Sometimes our challenges may be too hard to take on by ourselves, but God is by our side wherever we go. We don’t have to carry the weight alone.” Prayer: “Dear Lord, help us to grow closer to You and trust that You will help us carry any burden life brings us. Amen.” Her thought for the day: “As I draw nearer to God, my burdens become lighter.” So, I just thought that was definitely a God thing watching the service, and then our Stewardship theme and the waves and everything. I just wanted to share that. Thanks.
Pastor Brett – Amen. Thank you, Kari.
Michele – Hello. I was away for 7 weeks because my brother-in-law was on home hospice. What I wanted to share with you was on September 20th; I don’t know what exactly brought me to that point but, I know my sister was struggling so hard with trying to get ready to lose my brother-in-law. I was just so worried about her. I knew Peter would be taken care of. So, on that afternoon of the 20th I went out on the front porch and had a sit down talk with God. I sat there and I asked God to handle this. I was so worried about Jan and to watch Peter - he couldn’t walk, he couldn’t talk, he couldn’t eat, he couldn’t move, he didn’t know his wife, he didn’t know who was taking care of him. I think in his own way he just knew that he was home. The hospice nurses were saying they didn’t know how long he was going to linger because, in all honesty, he was getting such good care; they didn’t know how long it was going to take. I sat there on the porch and had a talk with God, worrying about all these things and asking Him to take Peter… to have mercy on my sister and the rest of the family. The next morning we got up and everything had changed. He was under more stress in his breathing and about 5 pm that afternoon I had sat down on the rocking chair at the foot of the bed and I could see Peter’s chest. All of a sudden it came to me that I didn’t hear him breathing. I walked up and looked at him and laid my hand on his chest and he wasn’t breathing. At that moment, I knew he was taken care of. I think I was most worried about how I was going to tell my sister. But the most important thing is that was pure God. He helped me and He helped my sister and He helped the family. And He really helped Peter because Peter is in far better places now. Thank you.
Pastor Brett – Thank you, Michele. And you were in Michigan, right? 7 weeks taking care of her sister and brother in law who passed away.
We worship online every Sunday morning at 10:00 am.
Join us in person! We take extra precautions around children and those who can’t be vaccinated. Otherwise, we have returned to Christian fellowship with music and sharing.
To join us online, click here You will be prompted to install the Webex application if you haven’t done so already. The link should go directly to the worship service at 10:00 am on Sunday. If the link doesn’t work for you, go to webex.com, click ‘Join’ and enter these details:
Meeting number (access code): 2568 529 1771
Meeting password: 5D7Ut6ZPMRn
You may also join using a smartphone by calling 408-418-9388.
Remember to “mute” your audio when you’re not speaking, to cut down on background noise.
Catch up on previous worship services on our YouTube Channel. Music from the Westside Odd Band is available on this channel
If you were unable to attend worship in-person or online on Sunday, watch it here:
Our Extravagant Generosity Sunday is October 24. Our special guest speaker will be Westside’s founding pastor, Rev Dan Pitney. A luncheon will follow; please RSVP to office@westsidejourney.org by this Sunday.
Service opportunities and pledge cards are available at church. If you prefer, you may pledge online at westsidejourney.com/2022-pledge.
Take a look at this step-by-step chart to get an idea of how you could increase your giving by just a little… and benefit your church by a lot.
Pledge cards may be offered during our EGS service. Thank you for your faithful support of Westside UMC!
Bonnie is hosting a baby shower for Julie, one of the moms in the Family Promise program. Julie is expecting a girl, Brooklyn, in November.
The shower will be on Saturday, Oct 23, at 2:00 pm in the Lighthouse. If you would like to come to the shower to support Julie, help with the shower, provide a baby gift, or a monetary donation, please let Bonnie know.
Pastor Brett will do a blessing over animals on Sunday, Oct 17, during worship (towards the end.)
God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. —Genesis 1:25
For many of us, our pets have helped us through the last 18 months. Thank God for all animals!
Share from your week; where have you seen God at work?:
Pastor Brett – My God sighting this week was a person who is in higher education reached out to me last weekend through reading something on our website about my Bio. And just the fact that I had been in Santa Barbara and the fact that I had done some different things, he was curious, so he reached out to me. He reached out to me as someone who had experienced some trauma at work. So, he asked for a meeting on Tuesday morning. Through the meeting it was apparent that I was able to share from my own story in a way that was able to help him…. There was a moment when I came walking away, and I went home and told Janelle about it, there’s no way that this was not a Spirit led thing. We’re going to meet again in about a month to do some follow up. For me, how could it possibly be from me being in school in Santa Barbara and he feeling called to reach out to a pastor, how could this possibly be, unless it was from God. For me that was a big moment this week. God is good… moving in my life!
Wendy F. – I have a fun God Sighting from Sawyer, actually. He has been at college for about three weeks. He has come home every other week; I told him he can’t come home every week. He loves seeing the dogs. He called me during the week and said – I’m going to come home on Friday, and I’m going to take the bus. I said – Awesome, I’m going to do nothing and you’re going to figure it all out, it will be great. So, he did in fact arrive, which is very exciting, and he arrived with this story. He went to the bus stop at the end of class, he’s at Oregon State, he gets there 15 minutes early with cash to pay the bus driver. The bus driver said – Oh no, you have to buy your ticket early and we are full. So, his heart breaks, and as he is walking away trying to figure out what he’s going to do, the bus driver yells – Hey wait, come back! A few people did not show up. Thank You, God, for showing Sawyer grace. And the kind bus driver said – You can come on in, but the only way you can pay is to buy a different ticket for similar distance for the same cost and then I’ll scan that and you’ll be good. So, this sweet bus driver, who took care of my son, right, big community, and we all know it was God through the bus driver to Sawyer. He got home and we had a wonderful time, and he just went back last night. Yeah God!
Pastor Brett – That’s awesome, thank you, Wendy.
Debbie – Today is Pastor Appreciation Day! I saw it online. I want to say how much I appreciate you Brett and all the effort in this time; you have been gifted to us for this time and if you don’t feel appreciated, we want to let you know that we appreciate you!
Pastor Brett – Thank you, Deb! Thank you, Bonnie! Thank you everyone. It’s a joy to be your pastor. I’m just getting started!
Martha – First of all, and I’m not going to embarrass them, we have 2 guests here today. We’re very happy to have them. Second of all, because I’m a young, old person, in my day you used to be able to buy a coffee for a dollar, right? Then, it was $2.75; now it’s $3.50. So, here you go I’ve got Pastor Appreciation Day money for you and Janelle to have a cup of coffee on us.
Pastor Brett – Wow, I promise I didn’t ask for money to be given to me, either. Thank you, Martha.
If you were unable to attend worship in-person or online on Sunday, watch it here:
How about that jingle last Sunday!?!
Our annual stewardship campaign has officially kicked off. Be sure to attend each Sunday in October, online or on lawn, to experience all that your stewardship team has planned.
This Sunday, service opportunities and pledge cards will be available. If you prefer, you may pledge online at westsidejourney.com/2022-pledge.
Take a look at this step-by-step chart to get an idea of how you could increase your giving by just a little… and benefit your church by a lot.
Please continue to prayerfully consider your pledge for 2022.
Bonnie is hosting a baby shower for Julie, one of the moms in the Family Promise program. Julie is expecting a girl, Brooklyn, in November.
The shower will be on Saturday, Oct 23, at 2:00 pm in the Lighthouse. If you would like to come to the shower to support Julie, help with the shower, provide a baby gift, or a monetary donation, please let Bonnie know.
Pastor Brett will do a blessing over animals on Sunday, Oct 17, during worship.
God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. —Genesis 1:25
For many of us, our pets have helped us through the last 18 months. Thank God for all animals!
If you were unable to attend worship in-person or online on Sunday, watch it here: https://holtrich.my.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/holtrich.my/recording/b9f6efff0699103a8ddd5e5b734d2275/playback
Reflections for October 3rd: God’s inability to let go of a life of service to others. Scripture reading & sermon on Acts 9:36-43
Lisa (relayed through Pastor Brett) – My dad’s illness. The doctor kept giving a terminal diagnosis for my dad, Mark Williams. I was angry at God about losing my dad prematurely. He was able to be a grandfather and we had years left with him. The theme of timing in the scripture with Peter reminds me that my family was able to have more time with my dad, despite having this terminal diagnosis. I identify with the maker of the quilts, Tabitha, who is making tunics and cloaks for the disciples. I have done this a couple of times and I have thought carefully and prayerfully about each stitch and each seam; how this tradition of handing things on like this is just a wonderful embodiment of love through the generations.
Debbie – The Women’s Group is going through Jamie Winship’s Knowing Rediscovered Series. One of the stories he told about was when He and another fellow were praying with a Muslim guy asking God to talk to this Muslim person. And when they were praying, the Muslim guy just started sobbing and sobbing. Finally, he stood up and asked – What happened? The Muslim responded – Well, The Christ came and took me as a baby and was washing me clean and said my name and told me – Come home son. The thing that was interesting about this story is that Peter said - Tabitha, Jesus said – Lazarus. If you don’t think that God knows your name, He knows each and every one of your names and He calls you by name. And that song – He knows my name, is just apropos. The Muslim guy said – When I pray to Allah, all he says is – What do you want, slave? He never called me by name, so I know this is the Christ!
Pastor Brett – He knows each one of us by name. Amen. Love that…. Tabitha, get up!
Our annual Charge Conference is scheduled for Monday, Nov 8, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. All are invited to attend; however, only members may vote.
At Charge Conference, we get the opportunity to review the past year and anticipate the next. We do some church business as well, such as voting on the pastor’s compensation package.
More details to come.
Our annual Stewardship campaign kicks off this Sunday! Be sure to attend in-person or online to hear this year’s jingle written by our own Sally S!
Take a look at this step-by-step chart to get an idea of how you could increase your giving by just a little… and benefit your church by a lot.
There’s lots more to come but begin now to prayerfully consider your pledge for 2022.
Share from your week; where have you seen God at work?:
Bonnie – God gave me an opportunity this week to help Family Promise. They were having a little get together of the people who are in the hotel program, at the hotel in Beaverton. The folks that were going to provide dinner couldn’t because of a family emergency. So, I was able to step in and help them with that. I met five really cool people that are in that program. I don’t know their exact circumstances or anything but, I think God put them in a place where Family Promise can help them. One of the ladies is 42 years old, her name is Julie; I would ask for prayers for her, she is pregnant. She is at a higher risk pregnancy because of her age; she’s going to have a little girl named Brooklyn. I would like to have Westsiders help with a little baby shower for her. I think that God is putting that on my heart to help with that. I wonder if she’s ever had a baby shower before. The people at Family Promise are encouraging all of these folks. So, let’s just pray for Julie and I’ll let you know more in the future about a baby shower.
Pastor Brett – Thank you, Bonnie. For Julie and for Brooklyn we will pray, for sure.
I will step towards you all in vulnerability and say that one of my worst fears is to be left with the kids by myself…. My wife was out of town this week from Wednesday until Saturday… So, I had the boys by myself. I tell you, the single parents out there are the real heroes in this world. The kids made it and I made it. But, I think God shows up in really mundane things like making it through a day; the meals that we have together with friends and family. And even though there was no big conversion moment this week, just reflecting here this morning, I feel very grateful for the week I had. I am very grateful that my partner is back…
Martha – I think Janelle deserves breakfast in bed and a massage; a day at the spa, actually. I think she deserves that in appreciation of all things that she does for you.
Two weeks ago I went for a Sleep Test and got through it… Then, on Thursday I met with the Sleep Specialist and he gave me the results. So, I had my choice between the machine or the mouth guard. The night before I went to the specialist I was talking to God and saying – Please, make this test be okay, so all I have to have is a mouth guard, if I have to have anything. So, all I have to have is a mouth guard. God took care of me, He really did. He knew that I did not want that machine sticking out of my head.
Pastor Brett – Thank you, Martha.