Join us for. Worship. Worship. Grow. Serve. LIFETREE CAFÉ MEETS EVERY MONDAY FROM 7-8 PM AT MY NEIGHBOR S PLACE 3150 Harrison Ave.

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1 Periodical Postage Paid at Cincinnati, Ohio WESTWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Lee s Look JUNE 26, 2015 V OLUME 73, I SSUE 6 What s on your desk? Worship Grow Serve Inside: Lifetree Cafe, p. 2 Worship, p. 3 Discipleship, p. 4 Children s Ministry, p. 5 July in View, p Epworth Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio ; office@wumc.cc; Worship ~ Grow ~ Serve West Ohio Conference, p. 8 My Neighbor s Place, p. 9 Opportunities p. 10 Fellowship, p. 11 On my desk today are some of the following projects concerning our church: 1. How will we be financially stable through the coming years for ministry? 2. Come to the Table discussions being developed to talk about some of the hard issues of our society. 3. Work with Grace Children s Hospital in Haiti, to plan a mission trip to do maintenance and help in their work. 4. Being certified as an ACC coach with the International Coach Federation. 5. Sermon series work 6. Visioning with Church Council, staff and others about the direction of the church and day-to-day operations. 7. Prayer focus and how to encourage directed, engaging prayer for and with our church. 8. Wedding plans! 9. And on and on. Sounds like you as well with all the items on your calendar(s). It is my contention that what we allow on our calendars is what we consider priorities in our lives. How do we know what to focus on? Spend our resources towards? What do we want to be known for, getting done, and being as a person? For me Priorities? : Will it furtherer the goal of the Great Commission, the Great Commandment and the Great Call to follow Jesus? Resources? : Will Investing my limited resources produce the desired future I look forward to for the Church, my family and my calling? Get er done? : What are the steps I need to take to get er done today and who do I need to ask to help? Personhood? : Am I at peace with God and others in the BEST relationship I can be? In a recent sermon I mentioned that the thing that can take us away from having a God story and even a story of life that means much to us is our tendency to worry. Worry focusing on the wrong things in life so that they guide us away from God s peace and hope. We get so busy we don t stop to listen to our heartbeat and know what we like to do. Orientation as to keeping my eyes on the Author and Perfector of our faith Jesus, instead of the daily grind, the pressure of performance, the tag of living up to other s expectations and desires. It is a choice that will upset some around me and yet will make me a better person to be around because I m at peace. Reality believing that this is all there is! No, there is a spiritual truth that when followed informs, transforms our lives and the lives of those around us. This reality is the Kingdom of God. Leadership who and what will I follow as the leader in my life: money, security, relaxation, or the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, the Great Call? Decision daily making decisions around what or whose disciple I will be. So take an inventory and ask yourself the above questions so your desk and your calendar(s) can be all that you desire them to be. Rev. Dr. Lee Strawhun is the senior pastor at Westwood United Methodist Church lee@westwoodunitedmethodist.org

2 P A G E 2 P A G E 1 1 Join us for Worship Senior Pastor....Lee Strawhun Associate Pastor...David Lyell Visitation Pastor...David Schneider Director of Student Ministries.Ryan Crabb Director of Worship & Arts..Michael Kelly Director of Children & Family Ministries...Sara Beach Organist..Scott Kimmell Preschool Director Allyson Williams Financial Secretary.Carol Krumpelbeck Office Manager...Julie Fletcher Building Supervisor.....Duncan Cordrey Food Service...Pam Christman Chimes Editor... Christina McMullin Worship Grow Serve Thank you for remembering and honoring friends and loved ones by donating to the following funds: MEMORIAL FUND In memory of Donald Parcell by Mary Noble MISSIONS FUND In memory of Beverly Runkle by Sue LaRue In honor of Carol Wright s Retirement by Sue LaRue ORGAN FUND In honor of Ray & Charlene Hopman s 50th Anniversary by Harvey & Sarah Freeman, Sharon Rudisill In honor of Scott Kimmell by Lou & Kay Koenig In memory of Laura Schuster by Robert & June Brandt, Harvey & Sarah Freeman, Ann Regan, Mary Jane Wagner, Sharon Rudisill, Marilyn Schwieters, Juli Ann Sandman In memory of Libby Richen by Charlie Richen FOOD PANTRY FUND In memory of Jack H. Bayer by Ray & Pat McMullen LIFETREE CAFÉ MEETS EVERY MONDAY FROM 7-8 PM AT MY NEIGHBOR S PLACE 3150 Harrison Ave. Our prayers and condolences go out to the family and friends of : Scott McHenry who died on June 9, 2015 Betty Linde who died on June 17, 2015 Mary Lou Dawson who died on June 18, 2015 JoAnn Burke who died on June 19, 2015 Dorothy Baur who died on June 19, 2015 Here are future Lifetree Café discussion topics: EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND JULY 6 Upsizing Life by Downsizing Stuff: Living large in an 84-sq.-ft. house. JULY 13 Modern Romance: That crazy thing called love. JULY 20 How Does Prayer Work?: Exploring the mystery of connecting with God. JULY 27 When He Becomes She: A transgender s journey. To all our church friends, Dr. Rev. Lee Strawhun, Rev. David Lyell, Dr. Michael Kelly and Ryan Crabb, Our family would like to send all of WUMC a very special thank you. Your thoughts and prayers over the passing of our son, Jeremy Lee, has helped to comfort us during this difficult time. God Bless You, Terry, Dianne and Matthew McMullin Clifford Stephen was born on June 23. Weight: 8 pounds 7 ounces Length: 20 ½ inches Congratulations to proud parents, Scott and Sarah Beach. Congratulations to Jess and Becky Radle on the birth of their daughter, Victoria Rose, on June 18 in Dallas, Texas. Proud grandparents are Dave and Jan Radle. CHIMES (USPS ) is published monthly, January through November, by Westwood United Methodist Church, 3460 Epworth Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio Periodical Postage paid at Cincinnati, Ohio. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CHIMES, 3460 Epworth Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio

3 10 Haiti Mission Trip? Join us for fellowship, fun and food for anyone, any age, who lives alone. Pastor Lee has been in contact with International Child Care which runs Grace Children s Hospital in Port-a-Prince, Haiti. The team would do maintenance work at the hospital like plumbing, painting, cleaning, etc along with providing in-service teaching times for medical personal from the states with staff from the hospital. There is also room for doctors to travel with us to perform surgery. The trip will either be 7 days or 10 days and consist of work, tours and rest. Watch the church calendar for a Q/A time in the near future. Salad Potluck Cabana on the River THURSDAY, JULY 5:00 pm Join us for an Grill Out at Arlene Schwerin s home, 3316 Renfro. Meat will be provided. Bring picnic food and your beverage. RSVP: Sally Dessauer or Arlene Schwerin :30 AM Traditional Service, Sanctuary 11:00 AM The Journey Contemporary Service, Sanctuary at Arlene Schwerin s home, 3316 Renfro. Bring a salad to share and your beverage Forbes Road (Saylor Park) 8:30 AM Communion Service, Chapel 10:00 AM New Covenant, Chapel THURSDAY, JULY 5:00 pm Join us for an THURSDAY, JULY 5:00 pm We will meet for dinner at Messages of Hope at Westwood United Methodist Church INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK IHN is coming back August and then September and November It will be a busy time, but it is such a worthwhile mission or our church helping homeless families. We have been helping homeless families since 1991 so we need a new generation of volunteers. Here is a wonderful opportunity for you to put your faith in action. What we ask is not difficult or a long-time commitment, working either directly with the families or behind the scenes, just once or more often. Most jobs working with the families are usually fun and are just a little more than two hours. If you want to support the families you can help with meals and eat with the families, play with the children for two hours, or stay overnight (that s the easiest job and you are finished by 7 am.). Read more about volunteer job descriptions in the yellow IHN brochure in church racks or in the Welcome Center. For more information call IHN coordinators or Sally Dessauer Come and enjoy the summer schedule with the Wesmates at 11:00 am. Sunday mornings. The guest teachers for July and August are: JULY 5: Ryan Crabb JULY 12: Becky Costello JULY 19: David Lyell JULY 26: Joe Boone AUGUST 2: Marni Warren AUGUST 9: George Brown AUGUST 16: Jill Croswell AUGUST 23: Ralph Winkler AUGUST 30: Sharon Spaulding The study during July is Micah. August study will be Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Malachi. 3 "Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with strings and pipe! Praise Him with clanging cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!" (Psalm 150:3-5) I might add: Praise Him with choirs, bells, organs, pianos, guitars, amplifiers, cameras, projectors, spotlights, ushers, greeters, flowers--the list goes on and on! This is an exciting time of development for worship--and all of its ingredients--at Westwood UMC. The fund-raising campaign to sustain our majestic sanctuary organ is underway, new windows and a new projection system are in the works for the chapel, and Epworth Hall is undergoing major improvements in order to become the new home for The Journey, our modern worship service. As always, we are also grateful for the children who take part in our worship and ministries each summer--make sure the kids in your life are signed up for Kids' Music Camp 2015, which is completely free of charge and will take place from July and in worship on August 2. This year's musical will be Kingdom Quest, a story about the importance of wearing the full armor of God. You can register by going to westwoodunitedmethodist.org or by contacting the church office. Let's all worship the Lord with everything we've got! He handed out gifts. to train all Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ s body, the church, till we are all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13 (Msg) Making a joyful noise, Dr. Michael Kelly Director of Worship and Arts , ext. 113 mike@westwoodunitedmethodist.org If you feel depressed, you are living in the past. If you feel anxious, you are living in the future. If you feel peace, you are living in today. GOD is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! Only Jesus can go back to your past and make it new and whole. Only Jesus can go to the future because he is our future. Only Jesus can give you salvation today. So come to Jesus today. Make Him your personal Lord and Savior! -Melanie Penson

4 4 By Sarah Beach The Class Meeting Beauty Abounds At My Neighbor s Place Back in October of 2014, I wrote an article called Whose Band are you in? that was run in the Chimes. I would like to follow that question up with an invitation to begin praying for this question to be one that we answer during the month of August. What is a Class Meeting? Over the four weeks of August that I am preaching, we ll take John Wesley s A class meeting is a small class meeting off the proverbial storage shelf, blow the dust off and group that is primarily focused reexamine this practice for our church in on transformation and not information, where people The resource that we will use together is simply called The Class Meeting learn how to interpret their by Dr. Kevin Watson. It is a straight forward look at the class meeting as entire lives through the lens of John Wesley organized it and placed into the context of the local church. Dr. Watson approaches this idea from his vantage point of historian and pastor. the gospel, build vocabulary for This is not an abstract idea, but a concrete foundation of how Methodism grew giving voice to their experience of God, and grow in faith in exponentially at its inception. Christ. Dr. Watson says it well, The decline of the class meeting matters because - Dr. Watson disciples of Jesus Christ are called to live different lives, not just think different thoughts. Here is a way of thinking about what is at stake: A year from now, would you rather know more about the kind of life you want to live, or have made progress in living that kind of life? (pg. 59) This a question I am sure that we would all love to give a loud YES! to. Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you -(Luke 12:27-28 NLT) God s creation is a constant reminder of his goodness and creativity. Whenever I am in a beautiful place, I remember with thanksgiving that God made it. This summer flowers and trees are growing everywhere. Just as God takes care of his creation, he takes care of us. I am always so thankful for God s provision at My Neighbor s Place. The Closet is filled each week by gifts of clothing, bedding, books, and household goods. There is always enough for everyone s need in our neighborhood. Just as God s love is freely given, freely received we share his love tangibly by providing for our neighbor s economic, social and spiritual needs. We have been spreading beauty quite literally with landscaping projects last month. At the Ladies Luncheon, we planted flowers in front of My Neighbor s Place. We also had three great volunteers spread mulch all around the building. I am thankful for everyone who serves, gives, and donates to join the work God is doing in our neighborhood. Now I hope you do not hear me saying that we haven t made progress in the small groups at Westwood. Over the last 10+ years that we have been organizing small groups we have made strides, disciples and changed lives. But I hear God calling us into a new season of discipleship that looks a lot like the old-fashioned class meeting. This is a unique opportunity for all of us to take a close look at our groups and vision for a new season. Warmly, Pastor David Lyell David Lyell Associate Pastor ext. 106 david@westwoodunitedmethodist.org The next free WESTWOOD COMMUNITY DINNER will be 6:00 pm, THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2015 at MNP. Contact Sarah Beach, sarah@westwoodunitedmethodist.org or the WUMC office to see how you can help with this fantastic mission. This dinner is open to all, so plan on stopping by for a great meal and wonderful conversation. 9

5 8 West Ohio Annual Conference The West Ohio Annual Conference was held June 7 th- June 10th at Lakeside Chautauqua. This 46th Annual Conference session continued the theme Becoming the Beloved Community: Taken, Blessed, Broken and Given, using the word Broken to shape the direction of this year s session. Westwood UMC was represented by our clergy members Lee Strawhun and David Lyell and lay members Jane Hissett and Lezlie Dearnell. In addition Gail Stewart, Elaine and Dick Powers, and Bob Hyland attended as members at large from Ohio River Valley. Of course Beth Strawhun and Stephanie and Jonah Lyell joined the group from Westwood. During the Conference 8 lay and 8 clergy delegates were elected to both General and Jurisdictional conferences, as well as 8 alternates. In other business the members voted on 11 recommendations. Electronic voting with key pads were used this year. The yearly reports were given. Dr. Thomas Long spoke at two teaching sessions giving humorous and thought-provoking messages on the state of the church. We attended worship services including Communion and Memorial Service, Retirement Service, Global Praise Worship Service, and the Celebration of Ministry Service. At the Global Praise Worship Service $403,735 was given to Imagine No Malaria. West Ohio s overall contributions to Imagine No Malaria reached the $3.5 million goal. David Lyell s ordination as an Elder was on Tuesday during the Celebration of Ministry Service with several of our WUMC members attending: Cindy and Roger Grant, Roger Lindle, Marysue Braun, Ken and Marian Miller, Al Stewart, and Bob Dearnell. Of course also attending the special ceremony were all the above listed members from Westwood attending Annual Conference. David s parents were also in attendance. If you would like more information, photos, or videos from Annual Conference go to the website www. westohioumc.org. 5 By Sarah Beach Director of Children and Family Ministry and My Neighbor s Place sarah@westwoodunitedmethodist.org CLIMBING EVEREST by Joy Thompson Vacation Bible School 2015 was a big hit! The children learned all about how great our God is and that he has the power to provide, comfort, heal, forgive and love us forever. We sang songs about how powerful our God is and sang a few silly songs to get the kids moving. Every day the children had an interactive bible story experience to learn the bible point of the day. They also had a time of learning how the bible story applies to them today during KidVid. In KidVid the children would watch a dvd about kids their age explaining how they have seen God in action. After the video the children discussed how they could apply the bible point in their own everyday life. The children were able to experience astonishing science experiments that they got to take home and so they could share their experience with their family. The children also got active by playing different games to help learn more about the bible point of the day. We even saw what they were learning in action! Not only did we see what they were learning in action during gym but in their giving. Offering brought in during VBS week by the children will be sent to help repair the damage done due to a devastating earthquake in Nepal. Not all kids are athletic but we saw teamwork, comforting, compromise, and friendship during games. Vacation Bible School was a success thanks to our lovely volunteers who loved the kiddos and showed them the love of Jesus. SUMMER EVENTS Music Camp: Music Camp will be July from 1-4 pm., with a free lunch at 12:30. Preschoolers (potty trained) 6th graders will be working on a musical with a performance on Sunday August 2. Register at westwoodunitedmethodist.org Sports Camp: Sports Camp will be August 3-6 from 12:30-4:00 pm, for students in 1st-4th grade. Register at westwoodunitedmethodist.org Summer Fun at Westwood United Methodist: There will be a free lunch for kids every Monday through Thursday from June 22-July 23 (There will be a week break July 13-16). Afterwards there will be fun activities like basketball, art, water games, dodgeball, and more, until 3:30. Kids must walk to the program or MUST be picked up by a parent by 3:30 pm. Kids going into 1st-6th grade are invited to attend. Register at westwoodunitedmethodist.org

6 P A G E 8 P A G E 9 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday THE DATES & TIMES OF CALENDAR EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE ( ) OR CHECK THE WEBSITE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS 1 2:30 pm Westwood Historical Walking Tour, Heritage Room 2 9:30 am Yoga w/childcare, God s Backyard 9:30 am Outsiders Small Group, Faber Room 11:00 am Bible Study, MNP 4:30 pm Yoga, God s Backyard 5:00 pm Together On Our Own, Off-site 7:00 pm Open Hearts, Faber Room 3 BUILDING CLOSED 4 BUILDING CLOSED 5 10:45 am Faith Seekers AM, Faber Room 6 7:00 pm Lay Pastor Meeting, Parlor 7 9:30 pm Yoga, God s Backyard 12:30 pm Heartlifters, Parlor 3:30 pm Yoga for Ladies, God s Backyard 5:00 pm Yoga, God s Backyard 6:30 pm Yoga, God s Backyard 7:00 pm SPRC, Wesley Room 8 1:00 pm Wesgals, Parlor 9 9:30 am Yoga w/childcare, God s Backyard 11:00 pm Bible Study, MNP 4:30 pm Yoga, God s Backyard 6:00 pm Westwood Community Dinner, MNP 10 5:00 pm Wesmates Social, Gym YOUTH MISSION TRIP 10:30 am Prayer Service, Heritage Room 10:45 am Faith Seekers AM, Faber Room 13 YOUTH MISSION TRIP 14 YOUTH MISSION TRIP 9:30 pm Yoga, God s Backyard 3:30 pm Yoga for Ladies, God s Backyard 5:00 pm Yoga, God s Backyard 6:30 pm Yoga, God s Backyard 7:00 pm Finance Committee, Parlor 15 YOUTH MISSION TRIP 16 YOUTH MISSION TRIP 9:30 am Yoga w/childcare, God s Backyard 11:00 pm Bible Study, MNP 4:30 pm Yoga, God s Backyard 5:00 pm Together On Our Own, Off-site 7:00 pm Open Hearts, Faber Room 17 YOUTH MISSION TRIP 18 YOUTH MISSION TRIP 8:30 am City Gospel Mission, Off-site 19 10:30 am Prayer Time, Heritage Room 10:45 am Faith Seekers AM, Faber Rm :00 pm Church Council, Parlor 22 1:00 pm Wesgals, Parlor 23 9:00 am UMW Board Meeting, Wesmates Rm 9:30 am Outsiders Small Group, Faber Room 11:00 am Bible Study, MNP :45 am Faith Seekers AM, Faber Rm. 6:00 pm Sunday Night Small Group, Library 6:00 pm The ZU, Youth Room 27 KIDS MUSIC CAMP 28 KIDS MUSIC CAMP 12:00 pm MNP Ladies Luncheon, MNP 6:00 pm MNP Men s Social, MNP 7:30 pm Trustees Meeting, Parlor 29 KIDS MUSIC CAMP 30 KIDS MUSIC CAMP 9:00 am UMW Board Meeting, Wesmates Rm 9:30 am Outsiders Small Group, Faber Room 11:00 am Bible Study, MNP 5:00 pm Together On Our Own, Off-site 31 KIDS MUSIC CAMP 1:00 pm Kids Music Camp, Epworth Hall