West Wind
Westwood Baptist Church Newsletter
| Vacation Time!
It’s time for summer vacation! The weather is warm (or downright HOT), the daylight hours are longer, and our thoughts turn to getting away from the routine of our daily schedules. Even in tough economic times we look for ways, maybe closer to home, to find some time for fun, rest, and relaxation. Vacation means different things for different people. Some find relaxation at the beach, while others find the peace and tranquility of the mountains more appealing. We are so blessed to live in a state with such diverse recreational opportunities within easy driving distance. Jesus understood and taught his disciples the need for times of rest and renewal. Their lives were a whirlwind of activity; traveling from town to town every day, preaching, teaching, and healing the sick. Jesus and his disciples worked so hard and long that many times they didn’t even stop long enough to eat or sleep properly. They became physically and spiritually spent. Mark recorded one such occasion in the sixth chapter of his gospel when he wrote: The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. (Mark 6:30-32, NLT) Granted, if you read the rest of this story, their vacation was a short one. But I think it’s important to note that Jesus recognized the need to get away, to break the routine of work for a time, to rest and renew ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I also think it’s important to notice a couple of things in these short verses about vacations. First, we need to take our vacations with Jesus, not from Jesus. He included himself as part of the retreat when he said to the disciples, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” I encourage you to make your time of physical rest and relaxation this year a time of spiritual renewal as well. Maybe you’ll take the time to read a devotional book that you’ve been meaning to get too. Or perhaps you’ll worship with another congregation, even try a different style of worship. Or possibly you’ll find time by the pool to close your eyes behind your sunglasses and simply spend some quiet time alone with Jesus in meditation and prayer. Don’t make it another chore on your “to-do” list, but make it a special blessing to go off by yourself with Jesus. Also, note that Jesus and the disciples went away to a quiet place. Their main purpose was to rest and renew their strength. I’m guilty of planning vacations so full of activities that when we come home, we’re more tired than when we left! My family tells me I shouldn’t do that, so I’m going to try and listen to them this year. I plan to turn off the blackberry and laptop at least for most of every day, let the activities happen more naturally rather than planning every second, and try to relax. I hope you’re
able to break away from your routine for at least a few days during
the next couple of months and have a great summer vacation! Don't
forget to take Jesus with you, and don't forget to set aside some
time for rest and relaxation. Then come back home refreshed and renewed! Your fellow traveler, Mike |
| Weekly Activities
Tuesday Wednesday |
| Minister on Call
If you have a ministerial need over the weekend please contact the minister on call: 4th
& 5th Keith Vaughn
11th & 12th Michelle Anderson
18th & 19th Mike Eddinger
25th & 26th Caroline Allen
*Look
every month in the West Wind for the |
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July Sermon Topics Theme: God Calls His People 5th
- Our Excuses 12th - Our Obedience 19th - Our Risk 26th - Jesus versus The
Terminator
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| Mission Statement A
community of believers Mike Eddinger, Pastor |
| July 3-6 ~ Student Life, Georgia July 5 ~ No YAC July 12-16 ~ Vacation Bible School ~ No YAC July 19-25 ~ Mission Serve, Cherokee July 19 ~ 6:30pm, YAC
July 26 ~ 12:00pm, Fundraiser Lunch Wednesday Schedule
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| Test Call July 20 On Monday, July 20th, we will do a ‘test call’ to the primary phone number of each Westwood Family. We will be using an automated calling system. You will hear a recording from Pastor Mike Eddinger letting you know that this is a ‘test call.’ We will use this system in the future to notify the Westwood family of any change or cancellation of any worship service or churchwide event. |
| Church
Office Information As a reminder, regular church office hours at Westwood are from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. There will always be someone present in the office during these hours. The church office telephone number is 469-9393 and the general email address is wwbc1@bellsouth.net. The Westwood website is www.westwoodbc.org.
As of June 15, 2009, the Westwood staff schedule is:
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Christian Library International The
Westwood Media Center will be collecting Christian books and Bibles
during the summer for this important mission project. Christian Library
International, based at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Raleigh, will
distribute these books and Bibles to prisons and youth detention centers
here in the US and through international missions. CLI brings the
message of hope to those in our prisons and youth detention centers
and helps them know that God is reaching out to them. |
West Wind
Westwood Baptist Church Newsletter
|
A thank you note has been received from Baxter Walker, Gail & Jim O’Dekirk, Jessica Duke, Emmett & Becky Waller , Bobby & Betty Branson, Savannah Revelle and Charlie & Betty Johnson. Please stop by the bulletin board in Hall A to read their words of appreciation. |
| |
| Music Reading Classes
Class A-Session 1, Sunday,
Class B-Session 1, Monday,
Class A-Session 2, Sunday,
Aug. 23rd, 11:45am-1:30pm. Class B-Session 2, Monday,
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| Wednesday Evening Pastor's Bible Study The Book of Psalms is the longest book of the Bible and it is a compilation of material written by different people. While most of Scripture is God’s revelation to humanity, the Psalms are the words of fellow human beings directed to God. God’s covenant people use these inspired lyrics to express their hearts, their feelings to Creator God. God created us to experience the full spectrum of emotions in our lives. During the months of May through July, we’ll explore the emotions expressed in several of the Psalms, focusing on the godly and ungodly ways to handle these experiences. The topics for July are listed below. Come join us on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall. July 1 July 8 July 15 July 22 July 29
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Vacation Bible School July 12th - 16th 5:30pm ~ Dinner
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| Durham Bulls Game July 26 Bulls versus The Norfolk Tides Tickets are available from Keith Vaughn for
$8.00. Please pay your funds for your tickets when you register. Registration
deadline is July 16. Make checks payable to Westwood Baptist Church.
Please contact Keith for information or further details. Thank you. |
| Road Trip For Single Adults August 14 Meet at 7:00am in church parking
lot to carpool on Friday, August 14. We will spend the day at Carowinds,
discount tickets may be purchased in advance. Friday night we will
stay at La Quinta Inn on S. Tryon Street. On Saturday morning, meet
for breakfast and then head out to the Billy Graham Library. We will
return home that afternoon. Please contact Jessica Sidgreaves for
more information. A sign up sheet will be on the bulletin board outside
Room 209. For those unable to go on Friday, a group will leave on
Saturday at 7:30am. Indicate “Saturday Only” on the sign-up
sheet. |
| Vacation Bible School For Sixth Graders July 18th If you have just completed
the 6th grade, Meet at the church at 9:30
a.m. Don’t miss out on golf, go-carts, crafts, swimming, pizza, Bible study, cookout and more! Plan now to be a part of
YOUR special |
|
Ladies Tea July 25th 3:00pm - 4:00pm, Fellowship Hall The days are hot and the sun is blazing. It’s hard to “shine” for God when we feel withered and parched. Take a break from the hot summer sun and enjoy refreshments as Laura shares from her life and book, Seasoned with Salt: Simple Truths from Scripture. The words will challenge and refresh your heart. We will begin with fellowship and refreshments. Laura will then speak on “Extravagant Love”. This is a wonderful opportunity to reach out to our community so please invite your friends and neighbors. Sign up on the bulletin board in Hall A if you and or a guest(s) will be attending. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Bolden. |
| Save The Date! October 30-31 The women of
Westwood are invited to participate in an overnight Prayer Retreat,
October 30-31 at Camp Caraway. Gloria Allard will be our devotional
speaker. You do not have to be a member of a mission group to attend.
More info later |
