Are you aware that Pastor Brian is writing a weekly blog on the Westside sermon series? Each week he writes about a chapter of the book, “We Make the Road by Walking,” by Brian McLaren.
Read his personal take on each topic at https://www.westsidejourney.com/weekly-blog/. We’re only a few weeks in, so catch up now!
When Jesus was baptized by John showing us a way to change direction, to enter this new life, God spoke over him with an adoration we have since been quoting: “This is my beloved Son; You bring me great joy.” John felt unworthy to baptize Jesus, knowing that he, John, needed to be baptized by Jesus. But Jesus encouraged John to allow this to fulfill all righteousness. That Jesus as a new beginning for humanity would be baptized, illustrated our own need for the same immersion into His Way. For John the Baptist that Way which he had preached to the crowds involved a life change -- indeed, they asked John’s advice on how to live. For us, baptized into the Way of Jesus this baptism marks a continuation in a new life direction. So: how does your life today demonstrate a different kind of living to last year or last 10 years? Where is a turnaround yet needed in some area of your life? This year: take it.
Join us on Thursday, January 10, to take God’s message of unconditional love out to those who need to know.
We’ll gather in the Lighthouse at 10:00 am and proceed from there. Remember to dress for the weather.
If you’re unable to attend, please pray. Thank you!
Question: When has your worst moment been put on display for you to see?
Answers:
Pictures from my days of addiction.
Illness.
My addiction resulted in court.
We’re looking for small group leaders for our workshop to be held the first two weekends of February.
All sessions are planned for you. The leader’s primary function is to facilitate, model, and moderate discussions among the group members.
If this sounds like one of your talents, please contact Pastor Brian for more info.
Every year a crew of dedicated volunteers sign up for shifts to help us get a count of those experiencing homelessness in Washington County. The Point in Time (PIT) count is so vital because the snapshot of information that the PIT provides is used to inform housing policy decisions and funding commitments and to evaluate the effectiveness of current programs aimed at ending homelessness!
As you can imagine, the Point in Time is a big undertaking and requires a TON of volunteer support.
If you would like to help, you need to attend a brief training session and sign up for a slot. There are four training sessions across WA county, to be held between January 8 and 16. The 3-hour volunteer slots are on January 23, 28 and 29.
Sign up here for both your training date and your volunteer slot(s): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0a4ea4ae28a4f49-point . Thank you!
Question: Where do you most need to breathe or be still today?
Answers:
At work!
When I am finishing my grocery shopping for our Christmas meal.
House full of boys… I pray to be able to enjoy them and not get overwhelmed with their energy and multi personalities. Such a blessing to have this time with them.
Try to relax and let God heal my body of this illness.
Finish Christmas projects and wrapping.
Through the pain and tired and worry
Enjoying the little moments!
I need to be still and not try to fix every little detail and rescue or cover for others.
At home.
Tired of the rush, the press, the pressure, the rat race? Tired of the emotional whirlwind? Wish you had a chance to just be still? Well, here’s your opportunity. As we have been looking at the characters of Advent, the characters who had been living this story for months and years before it occurred, as we have been looking at them as real people, with real faith, in real time, we come to a need to just be still. We come to a full stop on this Sunday. In the morning, rather than loud trumpets, there will be peace, an opportunity to sense the presence, to feel the wonder, to just reflect upon one passage of Scripture and simply “Be Still.” We will sing, hear the Word, share in quiet, and be present to Jesus with one another on this last Sunday of Advent. Come. Be Still.
Christ UMC will be hosting an afternoon of rest and recovery from the busyness of the season.
On New Year’s Day (Tuesday, January 1) from noon to 4:00 pm, you are invited to walk an indoor labyrinth as you listen to mellow music. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the candlelit space as you release any tension you have accumulated, and soak in God’s grace. Walking is not required; you may also just sit and be soothed.
Christ UMC is located at 12755 NW Dogwood Street in Portland.
Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to enter into Christmas, to enter the day, to experience the Savior anew, to meet with one another, with candles, with music, with Scripture story, with a surprise story as well. Don’t miss Christmas Eve. This is one of those rare, unique, special, precious times of worship. Come to experience Hope. Experience Home. Experience the Wonder of this season, anew. It is an opportunity. Come for snacks and beverages at 5:00 pm; worship begins at 5:30 pm.
Question: When have you felt like a reject, an outcast? What happened?
Answers:
When I lost my job for doing the correct thing.
When moving to a new school in the middle of my 5th grade year. Somebody made fun of me in some way I can’t remember!
Being rejected by my niece right now. My senior year of high school.
When I was rejected by my husband - I felt alone - My church family surrounded me.
My new sister-in-law had a large party for Mel and I after we were married. I didn’t know any of his many Jewish relatives.
Being a pregnant teen in the church. The judgment was intense and turned my heart against God and myself.
Growing up a naturally obese child and adult exposed me to many difficult situations and statements.
If you have an extra car, there is a family that needs to borrow one until they receive their insurance money. They will then be in the market for an older, reliable, affordable car, if you know of one. Please email Pastor Brian at pastor@westsidejourney.org if you can help. Thank you!
Being a shepherd -- disrespected by society, living without bathing days at a time, separated, earthy, ordinary, yet, the shepherds in the vicinity of Bethlehem raised the sheep for sacrifice in the temple. So, they were raising the most important of sheep. If they recalled history, they may have remembered the long line of history filled with shepherds. Indeed their forefathers all kept flocks all the way back to Abel the son of Adam. Talk about a rich heritage. But in the era of the first century it was as if this was forgotten in preference of remembering that they were dirty, smelly, and undereducated. Their testimony was distrusted. So, what might God be saying that the only ones to hear an angelic choir, and the first ones invited by God to worship were these shepherds guarding their flocks by night? What kind of reverse kingdom, upside down world was God inaugurating through them. That the first testimonies, first worshipers, first experiences of glory surrounding Jesus’ birth was offered to them, might we then learn what it is to redeem humanity, to cherish every life, to remember that God values each person no matter how we might want to devalue them, and that God’s ways are indeed not like our own.
Don’t forget to join us this Sunday, December 16, at 6:30 for an evening of beautiful music, laughter and joy, and, of course, dessert! There will be two bands and our excellent choir performing your favorites of the season.
This is an excellent opportunity to invite others to Westside!
The Revetts, our friends doing God’s work in Paraguay, sent the following note:
“Our blog at www.tmrevett.blogspot.com will tell you about our Christmas present for a Mbya Guarani shaman, in addition to our U.S. travels over the past two weeks. After Christmas we'll head south to New Mexico and Texas, and then, in mid-January, on to the Northeast before returning to Paraguay. “
On Saturday, December 22, at 10:00 am, we’ll be packing up food and gift boxes for our “adopted” families. This Christmas we have seven families to whom we’ll be delivering boxes. We need volunteers to help pack and deliver. If you have any questions, please contact Bonnie Becker.
What a difference an app can make!
Sharethemeal allows you to donate to feed children in Yemen, Syria, Uganda, and many other countries simply by tapping. A mere 50 cents feeds a child for a day. You can also choose to feed a child for a week, a month, or more. Monthly donations may also be set up.
How about donating 50 cents every time you eat out? Or every visit to the grocery store? You can form teams to encourage your friends to contribute as well. Such a small amount to us can make a huge difference to a hungry child.
An initiative of the United Nations World Food Programme, the app has already raised funds for over 29 million meals. Visit sharethemeal.org or your phone’s app store for more information.
Our thanks to Benjamin Roberts, the nephew of Sally and Dave Sullivan, who visited Westside in November and shared this opportunity with us!