| |
"A community of believers..." Recently, as part of my preparation for a sermon from the book of Esther, I spent a bit of time reading and thinking about the idea of community, specifically the faith community. You’ll remember that Esther, at a very intense, critical time in her struggle with God’s call in her life, turned to her faith community and asked that they join her in the struggle as she said to Mordecai, “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me.” I began to think about how we view community today. We live in a world where it seems that much of our sense of community has become electronic rather than personal; a culture in which we practice community more in social networking websites than we do with personal contact. Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t an indictment against web based networking. I’ll probably have a Facebook site myself and there’ll probably even be a site for Westwood in the not too distant future. Like so many things in life, social networking websites in and of themselves are morally and ethically neutral – they’re neither good nor bad. The issue is how we use them and how we allow them to affect our lives. In my reading, a quote from sociologist Barry Wellman, PhD disturbed me. “The local community is no longer a meaningful category for many Americans.... the best way to describe contemporary sociability is in terms of ‘networked individualism.’ People understand ‘community’ in terms of multiple systems of friends, contacts, and acquaintances that span time and place--but are oriented around each independent self.” I’m concerned that this “networked individualism” carries over into the faith community. Many Christians appear to view the community of God's people as merely one of their many "systems of friends, contacts, and acquaintances" from which they can reap the benefits common to networking. As a community of believers in Jesus Christ, we’re called to be so much more than that; for each other and for the non-believing world. Acts 2 describes what I believe God intends his community of faith to be. We’re told that early church was “devoted” to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and to each other. They shared everything to make sure all needs were met. And their love-based actions were contagious. Non-believers were attracted to how they practiced community, and they were open to receiving all those God brought to them as “the Lord added daily to their number those who were being saved.” In our mission statement, we at Westwood call ourselves a “community of believers.” If we’re going to live up to our self-proclaimed label, then we must be more than simply a “system of friends, contacts, and acquaintances" for each other. We must go deeper than Facebook. We must allow the miraculous work of Holy Spirit to loosen our grip on our stubbornly held traditions and prejudices. Our independence must yield to community dependence as we are devoted to each other’s best interest. We must humble ourselves and allow God to help us live grace by embracing the diversity of others – whether that diversity is worship style, skin color, ethnic background, political leanings, language or any of the myriad differences that would divide us – and come together under the love and Lordship of Jesus Christ. The same Christ in whom “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” May God grant us the wisdom, courage, and grace to live out that kind of faith community in front of a world starving for it. Blessings, Mike
|
Weekly Activities
Tuesday Wednesday
Minister on Call
If you have a ministerial need over the weekend please contact the minister on call: 1st
& 2nd Caroline Allen
8th & 9th Keith Vaughn
15th & 16th Michelle Anderson
22nd & 23rd Mike Eddinger
29th & 30th Michelle Anderson
*Look
every month in the West Wind for the |
|
by Associate Pastor Keith Vaughn |
A thank you note has been received from Betsy Clement, and David & Paula Duke and family. Please stop by the bulletin board in Hall A to read their words of appreciation. |
Wednesday Evenings In August During the month of August, we’ll enjoy several special services on Wednesday evenings. On August 5, we’ll meet in the fellowship hall and hear from one of the partner organizations in our CBFNC Mission Resource Plan. Jacque Burgess from the Baptist Children’s Homes of NC will join us to share the latest information about that vital ministry to children. As many of you know, Cindy Bolden recently returned from a trip to the Holy Land with a group of Campbell University Divinity School students and faculty. On August 12, Cindy will share some of her photos and experiences from this wonderful trip. We will meet in the Sanctuary for this special presentation. On August 19, all other activities will be canceled as we gather in the Sanctuary for our annual Deacon Ordination Service. Please note this service will begin at 7:00 pm. Child care will be available during the Deacon Ordination Service for children up to five years old. We’ll close out our summer schedule on August 26 as we meet in the Sanctuary for “Reports from Summer Camps.” First, we’ll catch the excitement as our children share their experiences from the GA and RA camps at Mundo Vista and Caraway. Then, our hearts will be lifted as our youth describe how God impacted their spiritual journeys through Student Life in Georgia and their mission trip to the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Make plans to
join us for these special events each Wednesday in August! August 5: 6:30 pm in
the Fellowship Hall |
Calling
Post At Westwood, we constantly look for ways to improve our communication and provide information for our members. We are excited about a new automated calling service we are just beginning to use – CallingPost.com. This is an internet-based “phone tree” system that allows us to digitally record a message and then have that message sent to groups of telephone numbers. Best of all, there is no equipment to purchase and there are no subscription fees. CallingPost.com is a “pay per use” service and the cost is based on the number of phone numbers to which the message is sent. There are three levels of service. We have chosen to use the mid level (Silver) because there are no advertisements attached. This level allows for each message to be up to 50 seconds at a cost of $.09 per call. As an example, if we decided to cancel a Sunday morning service due to inclement weather, we could record a message and have it sent to all of our church families (approximately 250) for a cost of $22.50. We only anticipate using church wide calls when there are major schedule changes or added events that occur in a short time frame. We have already used CallPost.com on a trial basis with our youth families (Michelle calls to let parents know the group arrived safely at a mission project) and with our deacons (as a reminder for meetings). We have been extremely pleased with the results. On Monday, July 20, we will conduct a test for all of our membership. We encourage you to learn more abut CallingPost.com at the website: http://www.callingpost.com/. We hope this low cost service will be of great help in disseminating important information to all our members in a timely manner. Please let us know if you have other suggestions or ideas for keeping our Westwood family informed. |
Join A Saltshaker Group Saltshakers are small groups of families, couples or singles that meet once a month for 4 months. You meet in each others homes or in local restaurants. It’s a time of fun, fellowship and getting to know your Westwood family better. The fall group will meet September through December. The sign up sheets will be posted on bulletin boards throughout the building. The deadline to sign up is Sunday, August 23rd. Any questions, call Pam White at 467-9058 or pwhite62@mindspring.com. See ya at Saltshakers! |
Girls In Action
All 1st through 6th grade girls are invited to join us for ‘Girls in Action’ each Wednesday night after choir. Come and learn about missions both here and in other countries. Please contact Paige Hutto with any questions. We will have a GA Summer Bash to kick off our year on Sunday, Aug. 30th at the home of Rob and Rebecca Myron. Keep watching for the specific afternoon time. |
Don't Waste Your Musical Talent! If you can count to 4—You can play handbells! Come use your musical talent in one of Westwood’s Handbell Choirs. One of these choirs is perfect for you….. Children Grades 3-6 ~ Tuesdays, 4:00-4:30pm starting September 1st
Youth Grades 7-12 ~ Mondays,
College & Graduate School ~
Adults-All Ages ~ Mondays, You can do this~ Come use your musical
talent. Call the church office or Dubba Lucas (467-2025) to join up
today |
Grifton NC Mission Trip August 8 A group
from our church will be going to Grifton, NC on Saturday, August 8.
We will be working on a project called “Hope Builders”.
This pilot project is being done through an agreement with NC Baptists
and state government to eliminate some of the sub-standard housing in
our state. |
| Westwood Orchestra
The orchestra will begin rehearsals on Sunday, Aug. 30th at 8:30am in the Choir Room. Please dust off your instruments and join us! |
Westwood Choir
The choir rehearses every Wednesday from 7:40-8:45pm in the Choir Room. Come join us and assist in the worship music from week to week. |
Attention Singles! August 9 The Intergenerational Singles Sunday School class will start a new study on Aug. 9th entitled “When God’s People Pray” by Jim Cymbala. Come and join us at 9:15am for coffee and Bible study in Room 209. |
Monday Night Missions August 10 The Monday Night Missions will meet Monday, August 10, 2009, 7:00pm at the home of Fran Tetlak. Gloria Allard will give the program. The Monday Night Missions has adopted the Western Wake Crises Ministry and is donating money and food items each month to help feed those in need in the Western Wake County area. In August we are donating jars of peanut butter and jelly to help restock their pantry shelves. Members of the Monday Night Missions group have undergone training and have worked with the WWCM to restock shelves and fill baskets of food to be given away. The group is open to anyone at Westwood who would like to attend. Contact Linda McDaniel or Judy Auman for further information |
RBA Training Extravaganza August 15 THERE IS SOMETHING FOR
EVERYONE! |
Sunday Night Missions Group August 16 Our next meeting will be held Sunday, August 16th at 6:30pm. We have just completed a food drive for the Backpack Buddies program and we are excited about planning more activities. This is a new group and we would love to have YOU come and join us. Contact Joy Minster for further details. |
Family Choir August 30
Bring your family and sit in the choir loft on Sunday, Aug. 30th. We will sing our Vacation Bible School songs: I Am a Friend of God, Oh, Happy Day and You Are Good. We will also sing Jesus Loves Me and Lord You Are More Precious Than Silver. We will meet in the Sanctuary at 8:45am to practice with our families and instrumentalists. We will gather in the Choir Room (behind the Sanctuary) at 10:20am to go into the Sanctuary together as a group. Bring grandparents, parents, Bible School friends, brothers, sisters, cousins, etc….. Let’s fill the choir loft and make a JOYFUL NOISE!!! |
GriefShare September 1 |
Wednesday Night Women's Bible Study September 9
|
Men's Wednesday Evening Bible Study September 9
|
Missions Brunch September 19 We will hold our annual Mission Brunch on Saturday, September 19th in the Fellowship Hall. The meal is provided and will begin at 10:00 AM. Our mission speaker this year is Norman Willacy from Belize. Norman is a Pastor in Belmopan and is also the Principal at the Baptist High School of Belmopan. Three young ladies whose education is sponsored by Westwood attend that high school. Pastor Willacy will share about his work in Belize and his plans for the future. This will be a family friendly mission event with special activities planned for the children following our meal. Please mark your calendars now and plan to learn more about our Belize partnership from one who is on the front lines. Look for sign up sheet in Hall A. |
August Sermon Topics Theme: Jesus Changes His People August 2 August 9 August 16 August 23 August 30
|
Mission Statement A
community of believers Mike Eddinger,
Pastor |
Sunday, Aug. 2 ~ Sunday School Promotions
Sunday, Aug. 9 ~ 11:30am, Lunch meeting
for 7th graders & families (FH) Friday & Saturday, Aug. 14 & 15 ~ Lock-In, Pool Party & Cookout Wednesday, Aug. 19 ~ Deacon Ordination Service (No other activities) Wednesday, Aug. 26 ~ 6:30pm, Youth share Georgia & Cherokee experiences in prayer meeting Saturday, Aug. 29 ~ In-Home Small Group Bible Studies Begin (thru Sept. 26)
Sunday, Aug. 30 ~ 11:30am, Youth Family
Fellowship Covered Dish @ Apex Park Wednesday Schedule
|
