Pastor Brett has made a video about our new check-in policy.
Even for brief visits, you are expected to log your name, temperature, and other info. There is a station in each building, which has hand sanitizer to use afterwards.
As we open both buildings for groups of 10 or less, it will be important to be able to track who has been there and when. Thank you for your cooperation!
Blue Christmas helps us to acknowledge the longest night of the year with a worshipful space for those experiencing grief, loss, or the absence of joy. This Advent and Christmas are like no other in recent memory. Many of us are having difficulty getting into the spirit of the season.
Because of this, members of the Greater Northwest Area Cabinet will offer a Blue Christmas Service, available online beginning on Sunday, Dec 20, at 4:00 pm. The service will remain available after it’s original posting. Visit the website for complete information.
If you didn’t receive this letter in the mail, please read it here: Christmas 2020 Letter
And here’s the flier mentioned in the letter: 2020 Tax Benefits
Please contact the church office if we don’t have your current address. Thanks!
There’s one easy place to link to all the recent sign-ups: westsidejourney.com. Simply look for Sign Up! in the menu. There you can sign up for:
The Christmas Eve Service. We are quickly reaching capacity - do we need to add a second service?
The Acts bible study being held at Vermont Hills UMC, Westside UMC, and on Zoom, beginning January 13 (more info here)
Immersed: An Advent Journey, running through Jan 6. You and your household get a private 2-hour slot all to yourselves in the Lighthouse, to fully experience the Christ’s birth. Uncomfortable going out in public? Here’s a link to watch videos for each station.
Sign up today!
Sharing – Where have you seen God at work this week?
Stephanie – This week we got to do at HomePlate; typically, Westside helps out with the Holiday Store where they get to come and pick out these gifts for themselves and for others. Of course, this year with Covid, we couldn’t do that. So, instead we asked the community for $100 gift cards and we were able to hand those out to the youth this week as they came in. We had a cookie decorating kit and a $100 Visa gift card and lots of happy youth. So, that really filled my cup on Thursday in Hillsboro and then Friday in Beaverton. That was really fun to see the joy in the youth faces as they got to experience a little bit of the Holidays. So, very fun for me this week.
Gayellyn – My God Moment this week was Wednesday evening when we got to have our Advent Bible Study here and remotely as well. We had a few hiccups with the technology, but we got it all figured out thanks to Stephanie and her great idea. And we just had a really, really great time communing together.
Wendy F. 1)The boys and I got the pleasure of walking through the Lighthouse Advent. And words cannot do the experience justice. All I can say is please sign up and go. We’re planning to go multiple times; it was just tremendous. The 2 hour block is wonderful, because it gives plenty of time to not feel like you have to rush through it. So, thank you for those nice long blocks.
2) We don’t go out much at all, just like everyone else, so it was a significant moment to go out in the car – Barrett had a gift card from Starbucks and he decided that he wanted to use it at this time. We got in line and we had a really exciting moment that we wanted to pay for the person behind us. You know, you can do that all year long, but the holiday spirit makes you think of it more now. We got to the window and the person ahead of us had paid for us! So, we got to keep that going; the woman in the window was all excited to see how long the chain would go on, because once you get your own, often times people will then pay for the person behind them. So, I just thought that was a fun one to share. And again, in the few trips that you go out have a fun moment where you can start the chain or keep the chain going.
Kari – I got multiple Christmas Cards in the mail this week. But I got one from a friend who has really been more of an acquaintance; we haven’t seen each other very much due to the Covid. But, her family gave Joe & I a $50 gift card to Fred Meyers. This was completely unexpected and one of those Random Acts of Kindness that was so touching and just really made me feel special. So, that was really nice of her to do that.
Kat – Fun fact - Earlier this week there was a drive through pay for the person behind me chain that went over 300 cars long. I don’t remember what fast food restaurant it was. It made headlines that 300 cars in a row paid it forward by paying for the car behind them.
Pastor Brett – One of my God Moments was I got to see two people in person this week. The first person I got to see in person was Paige Flanagan; Paige it was so wonderful to see you masked up last Sunday at communion. We had this moment where – oh my gosh, we have never seen each other in person! The second person was Krista who visited the church building on Monday. I was painting my church office and she swung by and said hello. And it was so good to see you in person, as well! So, here we are 9 months into the pandemic and worship and I’m just finally meeting people in person, it’s amazing. I think I have met most of you, but Paige & Krista were still on the list to check off. So, yeah God!
Michele – I tried to create a God Sighting for a friend. I have a friend who used to live here and she moved to Arizona; her last family member, since she moved down there, finally passed. So, she eventually ended up in Iowa where she bought herself a home and this is where she is going to retire. She has no family left at all, so I know she will be totally surprised and that’s why I say it will be like a God Sighting. I sent her a fruit and cookie basket - which I know she will be totally surprised, because she doesn’t expect anything. She doesn’t know anybody in this town she moved to. It was just that economically she could have a home and a comfortable little retirement. So, this is a suggestion to other people that if you know somebody like her, who has nobody, you can send them a nice surprise to let them know they are remembered.
Paige – I’ve been able to be part of a fun one too. I’m a member of a Moms Board online. Somebody had come on a few weeks ago and said – they work at one of the assisted living facilities in King City and we are looking to have people adopt seniors for the time. So, there’s been all these moms in Tigard and Tualatin that have been able to adopt these seniors. So, Liam and I were able to a little thing for the lady we were given the name for. When we dropped it off, we weren’t exactly sure where we should take it; the facility was pretty much locked down. And one of the staff was in the entry way and said she’d be happy to take it; you guys have just been such a blessing to all of our residents. So, it’s just been fun to see the larger community come together to support these seniors who are on their own in Tigard and King City.
Neil – I have been enjoying work lately because we have been able to do a lot of stuff that adheres to the company values as opposed to just making money deals. We just worked with a group that does a lot of assisted living communities across the country providing them with small iPod Touches, which our company has basically discontinued. But, they still have use with the cameras and microphones to be doing things like we’re doing for church. We are providing these little iPods across the country for seniors to connect with their families, since there’s all the questions about whether families can go and visit with the seniors or not. And with the higher risk in assisted living communities, it felt really kind of cool to be part of the program. Several of us are volunteering to teach small classes via Webex on how to use the cameras and the microphones and everything else so that they are all set up to go by the time we hit the holidays at the end of the month.
We have been invited by Vermont Hills UMC and Pastor Bo Sanders to participate in an online bible study of the book of Acts.
The study will be on Wednesday evenings, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm, beginning January 13. You are encouraged to pick up Willie Jennings's commentary on Acts. Jennings shows that Acts teaches how people of faith can yield to the Spirit to overcome the divisions of our present world.
We have been approved to use our building spaces for up to 10 people, if you prefer or need to meet in person. Indicate your choice when you sign up.
This group likes to really dig deep into scripture, so expect the study to last into the summer. However, you are not expected to be able to attend every week. Give it a try and see if it’s right for you. Both Pastor Brett and Westside’s admin, Virginia, have been in this group before and highly recommend it.
We have been given permission by the District Superintendent, on the Bishop’s behalf, to allow small groups (10 or fewer) to use the main building. After the holidays, we will move forwards with opening up the sanctuary and family room to those who would like to use them.
With this freedom comes responsibility:
Masks and 6 feet social distancing are required at all times
There will be a check in station at each entry into buildings. No matter how brief your stay, you are expected to sign in. There will be a thermometer, hand santizer, wipes, and masks available.
Bathroom use is discouraged, unless an urgent need arises while onsite
High touch surface areas must be wiped down — front door keypad, door knobs, candle lighting station, light switches, chairs — anything you touch.
Thank you for adhering to these requirements, so that we may all stay safe and healthy.
If you were unable to attend our online worship yesterday, view it here::
We will be having a Christmas Eve service at 4:00 on Dec 24, in the parking lot, with music, candlelighting, and communion.
We’re asking everyone to sign up, so that we have adequate spacing and audio.
You have the option of staying in your car or sitting outside (bring your own popup, if desired). Please indicate in the comments which option you will choose.
Merry Christmas!
This week we will light the third advent candle of Joy when we gather together.
Joy seems complex at the moment; we often experience joy when it seems inappropriate to do so. When Paul writes to the Thessalonians “Rejoice always,” we might respond, “How can we rejoice when so many are losing their lives? When we can’t gather safely with our friends and on Sunday mornings?”
We will explore the tension between joy and sorrow, and how the Scriptures, especially the Psalms give us a home in experiencing joy and sadness at the same time. Come join us!
Thank you for your tremendous response to our food sign-up! A few spots remain.
For those who have been waiting to purchase gifts, there are now sign-up slots to purchase items for 8 persons - six children and two women in the Family Promise program. Look for them at the bottom of the list.
Gfit card sign-up slots are also available.
You may still choose to donate cash to purchase perishables, such as ham, milk, and eggs, by clicking here for our secure site (remember to designate RAoK.)
The food and gifts will be collected on Saturday, Dec 19, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Thank you!
Share where the Holy Spirit has been at work this week. Or, in the spirit of the Advent wreath, share where you saw Hope (1st candle) or Peace (2nd candle)
Bonnie – God put it on someone’s heart this week to give a gift for Amy Cooney and I had the pleasure of delivering it to her this week. It was a blessing to her. It gave her hope that she could have a good Christmas with her family. So, whoever that person was, Amy would like to thank them. She said, “This is like God sent an angel to me!” So, she was blessed this week; I think the person who gave the donation was blessed and I would just like to thank them. And I thank God for putting that on their heart.
Michele – This may be a little thing, but God was with me this week, for sure, when I didn’t fall off the ladder when I put up the lights around my garage. I can be a little unsteady; he definitely had his hand on me. Thank you Jesus!
Jan – You know, Bonnie was saying that Amy said it was an angel that came to her. Well, this morning I read the first chapter of Luke when the angel came to Mary; she responded so beautifully and said – I am your handmaiden, let it be unto me…and according to your word, in another translation. According to his word, we are free – who the Son sets free is free indeed. Also, he said – Greater things than these you are going to do. And he said – You can speak to a mountain…whether it be closed doors, we can speak to closed doors and they’re going to open! I have been speaking to those doors when I come into this Lighthouse or the doors to the Sanctuary, the Lord is hungry for our worship. Hungry for it and we will satisfy Him, just wait and see what the Lord does!
Martha – The one person in our community who contracted Covid in March; she was on the ventilator for 30 days. She got out of the hospital and we saw her walking around the neighborhood. Well, she passed away unexpectedly last week. The whole community was pretty sad about it. But the one thing that I do have to say is that God has brought us to such a nice community. Not everybody knows everyone, but there is such a caring idea that when the angels came to get her, she knew in her heart that she was not going without people thinking about her. And I thought that really gives you peace; that really gives you God’s love. God has spread his love around us, so we’re pretty lucky where we live; it was a nice thought to know that she wasn’t going alone.
Pastor Brett – What was her name, Martha? Jan. Lord, we remember Jan and lift her up to you this morning.
Debbie – It’s the little things you know. Yesterday, before I went into work, I looked at the schedule and I said – Oh, my gosh, we only have 2 RNs when we need to have 4. So, the prayer into work was Lord, let me be able to go through this; things would go smoothly. And a nice surprise when I got to work was our new Team Lead was boarded on, so she was there; we had 3 instead of 2 RNs I thought we were going to work with. It did go smoothly; He even cares about your job. When it looks like it’s going to be awful and then it changes quite dramatically!
Pastor Brett – Amen! God is in those details looking out for us steadying us on ladders, helping us to cover our shifts. That’s who God is so, we give God glory and praise Him.
Gwen – That none of our family actually has Covid yet.
Pastor Brett – Well, that is something to be really thankful for, isn’t it Gwen?
Neil – For the first time in a really long retail career, I actually have the day before, the day after; the day of Christmas off! If you work in retail that never ever happens. But, as a silver lining to the whole pandemic thing, we don’t need as many people there to run the store. So, they’re giving a lot more people, almost 70% of them that time off to be with their families, because we can afford to do it. I thought that was pretty cool this year.
Paige – God Sighting: This week we were recording audio of scriptures for the Lighthouse Advent experience. Either I would make a mistake or Gwen would make a mistake. I walked away to take a break and when I returned Gwen said – They are all done, I finished them! I listened to the recordings and Gwen had done them perfectly!
If you were unable to attend our online worship yesterday, view it here::
You're invited to immerse yourself in a very special Advent experience. Five stations have been set up in the Lighthouse, each with art, music and scripture to reflect upon.
You and your household will have the building to yourself, but you are still required to wear masks to protect those in subsequent timeslots. Hand sanitizer and wipes will be provided. Sign up for your timeslot here
Immersive Advent will begin this Sunday, December 6, and run through Epiphany, January 6.
Our December Random Acts of Kindness (RAoK) is providing Christmas dinner and lots more to our neighbors.
We’re still gathering information for children’s gifts but you can sign up to donate food here. If you prefer to donate cash to purchase perishables, such as ham, milk, and eggs, click here for our secure site (remember to designate RAoK.)
The food will be collected on Saturday, Dec 19, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Thank you!
A letter from the Western Farm Workers Association, with ways you can help this holiday season:
We have over 100 families enrolled in a program that includes food boxes for Thanksgiving and Christmas, work boots and jackets, toys and a lot more. One area we still need help is in our toy drive as we have lost many of our normal toy donors due to conditions created by the pandemic.
We have nearly 300 specific toy requests from the more than 100 enrolled farm worker families. The toys are a benefit for the parents (our members) and are therefore given directly to the parents, in secret, so that the parents can give the gifts to their own children.
We need groups, churches, businesses and individuals to "adopt" a certain number of children's gifts requests. We provide the specific requests for each child. Collecting gifts for any number of children is helpful, anywhere from "adopting" one child's gift requests to 100 children.
We need the gifts by December 16, 2020 at 12pm. We can arrange for pick-up or the toys can be delivered directly to the office.
In addition to collecting toys, we need volunteers to help sort the toys on December 17th and 18th.
We greatly appreciate your interest in supporting the all-volunteer efforts of farm workers and low-paid workers to organize and change their poverty conditions.
If you are interested in purchasing gifts or volunteering, please contact Merry Goldthorpe.
You have until Friday to sign up for a small group Advent study.
The day and time will be determined by the group. We have permission to have up to 10 people meet in person (following all safety guidelines) but you can join virtually if you prefer.
Either email the church office or click on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YL62FJW. Give us your name and we’ll be sure you get all the info.
Share where the Holy Spirit has been at work this week.
Jan – I had such a revelation to me on the portion of scripture, Matthew 13: 44, where it talks about the pearl of great price that is found in the field. Well, looking at it in commentary, I was overcome with a realization that the commentator said that the field could mean the Old Testament; the pearl of great price, Jesus, as he is. I have been going through the Old Testament and then Pastor Brett asked me to read a portion from the Old Testament today, and low and behold it all reflects Him. We plead for Him to come; we have a nativity & our Advent Candles and everything, anticipating His coming. And He has come! It is so awesome to contemplate that. And He’s coming again! I was so excited about that! One more fast thing about what He did for me this week – I have a new cell phone, well any of you that have had a new cell phone with all its bells & whistles know how complicated it can be. They apparently put me up to a new level…you can’t even get on the phone, unless you have this special password, it won’t do anything…it’s just dead. My son & his daughter had given me umpteen different passwords….we had to change everything because of this hacking of my email…I had no idea what the password I was supposed to use was… I tried everything under the sun and nothing worked. So, I just put it down and I said – Well, Lord, if you want me to be able to use this thing, you are going to have to tell me what the password is. Low & behold when I tried to do it one more time using the password I used with my old cell phone carrier (I haven’t had this carrier forever…) and it worked! It was the password for my old carrier! So, I put that password in and the thing came to life again! It’s amazing!
Pastor Brett – One of mine: Yesterday, a couple of us assembled in the Lighthouse to put together some of the Advent Stations we’re working on. The art that I had ordered, was supposed to come on Friday so that we could put it up on Saturday. Well, who knows what happened but, UPS did not deliver the art on Friday. So, I was very worried as we got together yesterday that the art was going to be delayed. We worked from 10 – 12 on the set up there. Sandy & I were lingering around a little bit after the work party. I came out of the main building and the UPS truck pulled up into the church parking lot! And what did they bring out? The box of art we were waiting for! So, I was very happy that we got the art for the Lighthouse Building; I was able to put some of it up last night and have a couple more pieces to put up this week. That was definitely a moment where Sandy & I looked at each other and said – Whoa, look at the timing of that! No one would have been here on Saturday if we hadn’t done this. So, that was my God Sighting yesterday.
Sally – (This is not a God Sighting, just a great thing we did on Thanksgiving) We have always done this Turkey Trot with people in the neighborhood, but there wasn’t going to be one put on this year. So, we put on our own Turkey Trot at our house and none other than Pastor Brian Shimer, Gabri, Grace, Julie & Jaime and 3 other people came. So, we had 9 people and we ran our own Turkey Trot. We had bibs and colored them in; I had prizes. It was all outside – we registered people in our garage and never came in the house. Everyone thought it was the best way to start Thanksgiving in these times. So, it was really fun.
Merry – Many hands made light the work at our Thanksgiving distribution, bigger than ever, 116 families.
Michele – My God Sighting would be that on Thanksgiving because everything being so different, for Thanksgiving dinner, my sister in Michigan & her husband and I Facetimed through dinner. And it was so cool…I was sitting there watching my sister eat her salad and food; we were talking. It was just…it made it good. So, that was a big blessing to feel so close to the family in such difficult times.
If you were unable to attend our online worship yesterday, view it here::
Our week for “hosting” Family Promise begins this Sunday.
As with everything else in 2020, it’s different now. Various people have volunteered to provide meals and gift cards to the families being housed elsewhere. But there will be no interaction.
Please be in prayer for these families and this vital ministry over the next week. And pray that the winter months don’t see an increase in the number of homeless.