WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING

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2 WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING Emma has really enjoyed serving meals, helping with messy worship and the yoga we did together. Those have been great for adult connections and we are delighted. -Cara Coen-Pesch As a teacher in Westwood U last semester I enjoyed the eagerness of the confirmation students and the enthusiastic connection with the older adults who participated. - Dennis Tollefson We ad a fun, busy and rewarding time together. Would you believe we got 8 quilts done in the two hours? I was amazed. It seemed to me there was lots of good conversations going on, I hope the kids enjoyed it as much as we did. Karen Pitkanen I have liked all the Westwood U Courses so far. I like the variety of ages in the classes. I like that we can choose which course we want to take and there is a great content in the courses I have taken. I especially learned a lot in the course "My Neighbor is Muslim". I like going to Wednesday night live if I am not signed up for a course. - Sam Stefanowicz

3 ABOUT WESTWOOD U? We ad a fun, busy and rewarding time together. Would you believe we got 8 quilts done in the two hours? I was amazed. It seemed to me there was lots of good conversations going on, I hope the kids enjoyed it as much as we did. Karen Pitkanen Introducing kids to foods they have never tried, or never even thought they would like was a joy! I hope this expanded their views of food, cooking, and eating together as a way of community. Nolan Ball I love giving back to the community, to be able to work with a different generation; I get to have different conversations and hear a different perspective and have new experiences. To be able to see new faces while you serve on the line, you get to make friends and make relationships with lots of people knowing that the meal makes a difference for them. Isaac Scott

4 WHAT IS WESTWOOD U? Welcome to Westwood U! Westwood U offers people of all ages the opportunity to gather for education, faith development, and mutual growth- Everyone is invited! kids, parents, grandparents, friends The purpose is to move beyond education to formation and transformation. Westwood U is a way to nurture a whole culture an ecosystem of faith formation at Westwood. We believe that heart and hands must accompany head in one s faith journey, so addition to the classroom, Westwood U will create opportunities for faith mentoring, faith socializing, and even faith surfing by tapping into life experience of multiple generations, because we operate under the conviction that the content of faith has no traction outside of faith-based relationships. What courses are offered? There are 3 categories for the courses offered at Westwood U. Several courses from each category are offered throughout the year. They are: Know- hands on learning Live- service to our neighbor and congregation Grow- fellowship and faith nurturing experiences How many of each should I take? While completing the required number of Westwood U courses, students will need to take a minimum number of 3 courses in each category. Of the 17 credits, 4 in each of the 3 categories will be required. The 1 remaining 5 credits are up to you! Example: Year 1: 6 courses and Bible Milestone Year 2: 6 courses and Elder Wisdom Milestone Year 3: 5 courses, mentoring and a faith statement.

5 HOW DOES IT WORK? An will be sent to you during the open registration period and you will also find the registration link in the e-news. March for confirmation students March for congregation Visit the registration page, when you are there you will: Fill in your FULL name Give us an address where the professor can reach you to let you know about any details, supplies, announcements and/or costs that may accompany your elective. Please make sure it is an you will check regularly! Clarify your grade for recording purposes, or choose N/A if you are not looking for confirmation credit. Choose an elective for each month, and if you are opting out of a particular month, please choose none so that we know you have bypassed an elective for that period. If you see is full, please choose another that means that it has filled, and we will repeat those electives in the next course catalog. Please choose an alternate option. When you are finished choosing an elective for each month, click submit and your registration will be cataloged with us. Be sure to check all the dates listed for your elective, some go outside the month they are listed under. To receive confirmation credit you may only have one absence for any given course.

6 APRIL ELECTIVES Small Engine Training with Gas, Oil, Wrenches and Conversation (Know) Saturday, April pm at 2501 Yukon Ave. S. Saint Louis Park (down the road from church) Taught by Keith Bergquist and back by popular demand! Learn to service your lawn mower or snow blower as we chat about the many members but one body/many parts but one machine. Course will include: Internal combustion engine basics, basic seasonal service training. Bring your own lawn mower or snow blower (or use one of mine) and we will spend the afternoon sharing our stories while we get ready for winter. Expect to get a little dirty so wear appropriate clothing. You will need to provide your own safety glasses/goggles, tools, supplies and a warm, dry garage provided for the afternoon. Yoga (Grow) Thursdays April 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th from 7:30-8:30pm. Taught by Emily Ball We often spend much of our day looking forward in fear or looking back in regret. Yoga tells us that all we need for peace and wholeness is already inside of each of us. Come join a supportive community of people practicing being present in the moment through movement, breath, and guided meditation. Whether you are experienced or a beginner all are welcome and encouraged to join. Bring a mat if you have one, otherwise one will be provided. Wednesday Night Live Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm for 7th & 8th grade/senior High Youth 8:00-9:15pm for 9-12th gr. (Grow) Join Westwood youth on Wednesdays in the youth room for a variety of experiences. Fun, food, and fellowship will be a part of each week! A great way to make youth connections! Community Meal (Live) Wednesday, April 5th and then the volunteering would be April 19 and 26 and May 3 Taught by Community Meal Team. Westwood provides a community meal each Wednesday night that is both an internal and external outreach and fellowship opportunity for all who gather! As you can imagine it takes a great team to pull off a meal or 250+ people each week, come learn about this ministry and be a part of the team! Youth homelessness- (Live) Wednesday April 5 from 7:30-8:30pm, Saturday April 8 from 10:00-12:00 noon and Wednesday April 19 from 7:30-8:30pm. Taught by Dennis Tollefson and Kristi Taft. According to 2015 research by the Wilder Foundation there are over 3000 homeless youth in Minnesota on any given night. Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota operates The Rezak House for young adults to provide shelter and to help them transition to productive lives. JESUS said feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, invite the stranger in and provide clothes to those who need them. Our class will meet Wednesday April 5 at Westwood to talk about issues of homeless youth and Jesus' words. On Saturday April 8 we will visit the Rezak House in St Paul to learn of issues firsthand and do some service work. On Wednesday April 19 we will gather at Westwood to review our thoughts and experiences. Food Packing 100,000 Meals- Saturday, April 1 (Live) Join people of all ages as they gather in Good Shepherd Hall for the annual food packing event. With the help of many volunteers, we manage to package more than 100,000 meals and have fun doing so. Your 3 hour commitment will get you a bird s eye view of the packing operation and opportunity to help participants at each table fill the bags and pack the boxes of food that will eventually be delivered to our partner church in Dodoma, Tanzania, the Arusha Road Parish. Shift Times 8:00-11:00, 11:00-2:00, 1:00-4:00

7 MAY ELECTIVES Biblical Oils class (Know)- May (4th & 11th) from 6:30-8:00pm. Taught by Emily Ball. Learn about the 12 essential oils used in the Bible, the basics of modern-day uses and how they can be used for spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. You'll have an opportunity to make-and-take bath salts and walk away with some samples of oils to try out. $10 to cover cost of supplies. Wednesday Night Live Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm for 7th & 8th grade/senior High Youth 8:00-9:15pm for 9-12th gr. (Grow) Join Westwood Youth on Wednesdays in the youth room for a variety of experiences. Fun, food, and fellowship will be a part of each week! A great way to make youth connections! Messy Worship Planning Team (Live) Wednesdays 6-7:15pm Be the leadership behind our new Wednesday Messy Worship. Bring your creativity and vision of how worship can be more interesting and approachable for all ages. Work with pastors and staff to create liturgy in your own words, interactive rituals, and prayers that connect to youth. Take your passions and help our community grow; this includes leadership roles in technology, A/V, music, drama, child development, and communications. Cooking for Health/Vegetarian Cooking (Know) - May 6, 13, 20, 27 Saturdays 11:30am -1:00pm Taught by Nolan Ball Do you like to eat? Do you want to learn to make great food that is also great for your health? Please join the Cooking for Health class where you will learn to make food that is easy to prepare, delicious to eat, and fun to share with family and friends. This is a class for non-chefs, from a non-chef who just happens to enjoy good food and likes to experiment in the kitchen. $5 per class for ingredients. Fish n faith (Know) April 27, May 4,11,18 6;30-7:30pm Taught by Dan Lovas. Fun, Fishing, Fellowship for anyone. The course is focused on the variety of joys we experience through fishing during our different stages of life. Come discover how relationships can grow through fishing, learn to tie lures and discuss the biblical references of fishing! God s Green Thumb (Know) Mondays April 24th, May 8th, and May 22nd 6-7:30pm This would be an adventure into the science, art, and wonder of God's green thumb and our stewardship of the gift of plants. Strolling through or relaxing on a bench amid thoughtfully planted gardens ease the day's stress and tensions. Gardens are done as much or more for our friends and neighbors as they are for ourselves. Join us as we ready our Westwood Gardens for spring and summer! The Enneagram, Prayer and You. (Know) Tuesday, May 30, 2017 from 3:30-7:30 PM (bring a bag lunch/ dinner) Taught by Nancy Carlson. The Enneagram is an ancient tool that describes 9 distinct personality types. While it is common that you will find a bit of yourself in each of the types, it is helpful to understand your primary type and why you do the things you do. That can help you understand others and why they do the things they do. The Enneagram is a great tool to use to learn more about yourself and to better relate to others. The course will also explore prayer for each of the Enneagram types and how you can use prayer in your daily life. Through the use of handouts, props and personal stories, you will learn about the Enneagram, prayer and YOU! Storytelling- (Know) May 3rd, 10th, 24th, 31st John DeSanto Ideas are the currency of the 21st century. In this course you will learn speaking skills that will increase your confidence in presenting your ideas to small or large groups of people. This course will combine the communication secrets of Toastmasters, Ted Talks and Dale Carnegie and most important provide the opportunity to practice what you learn. Great communicators reach your head and touch your heart. This is very similar to what the Gospels are about. Jesus told stories called Parables to invoke the message about God in our lives. Good speakers also tell stories to provide an emotional connection with their audience as a way to persuade and present their ideas. Christian Practices (Know) (2 part course) Part 1: May 7, 14, 21, 28. 9:50-10:40am Taught by Intern Kevin Farrar. With all going on in the world today, what can Christians do? We are saved by God s grace but what practices can we, as Christians, do? Join us as we explore some key practices of the Christian faith, including prayer, worship, money, and more! We will be working through a really great curriculum based around short videos by key Christian leaders across the country, time for reflection, and conversation. This is a two-part course spread over two months. Each month covers different content so consider signing up for both parts to get the full course! (counts for 2 electives if you do both months)

8 JUNE ELECTIVES Biblical Oils class- (Know) Tuesdays June 13 and 20 from 6:30-8:00pm. Taught by Emily Ball. Learn about the 12 essential oils used in the Bible, the basics of modern-day uses and how they can be used for spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. You'll have an opportunity to make-and-take bath salts and walk away with some samples of oils to try out. $10 to cover cost of supplies. The Bible and Social Issues (Know) June 7,14,21,28 6-7pm Taught by Pastoral Intern Kevin Farrar. What does my Christian faith have to say to all that is going on in the world around me? Does what I see in the news match up with what I read in the Bible? Is the Bible concerned with poverty? Immigrants? The environment? Violence? Join us as we think theologically about how our faith interacts with the social issues in the news today. Community Meal (Live) Training Wednesday June 7, 6-7pm; June 14, 21, 28 volunteer shifts Westwood provides a community meal each Wednesday night that is both an internal and external outreach and fellowship opportunity for all who gather! As you can imagine it takes a great team to pull off a meal or 250+ people each week, come learn about this ministry and be a part of the team! Bible Camp (Grow)- we encourage you to send your children to Wapo in Amery, WI because it is a great place for young people to grow in their faith. The days are filled with music, prayer, Bible study, recreation, active learning, worship, water activities, etc. Register via Westwood U but also register yourself with Camp Wapo by using the following link to register! June 23-25: SEEDS Camp 2 & 3 rd Grade $160 June 25-30: Youth Camp 4-5 th Grade $420; Ox Lake Camp- 6 th -8 th Grade $420 TIM Team th Grade $430 Touching Lives One Stitch at a Time (Live) 6:30-8 June 1, July 6, August 3 You are invited to join a fabulous group of folks who meet regularly to knit or crochet Westwood s beautiful Baptismal or Prayer Shawls. They are indicators of Westwood s support and continuing prayer as we welcome children into God s family, and for those experiencing life challenges or milestones. Yarn and instructions are supplied with plenty of laughter and great fellowship the first Thursday of each month, 6:30-8:00PM in the west side of the Westwood Library. People of all ages are invited to join us, and yes, we do have a guy who knits with us, and he s GREAT!! Christian Practices (Know) Part 2: June 4, 11,18, 25. 9:50-10:40am Taught by Intern Kevin Farrar. With all going on in the world today, what can Christians do? We are saved by God s grace but what practices can we, as Christians, do? Join us as we explore some key practices of the Christian faith, including prayer, worship, money, and more! We will be working through a really great curriculum based around short videos by key Christian leaders across the country, time for reflection, and conversation. This is a twopart course spread over two months. Each month covers different content so consider signing up for both parts to get the full course! (counts for 2 electives if you do both months)

9 S more & Sing (Grow) July pm S'more & Sing July 16 10:45 am Sing in Worship A Wednesday night of s'mores, singing, camp songs, and a campfire led by Westwood musician Matthew Olson. Bring your voice, your appetite, and any acoustic instruments such as ukuleles and guitars. Then, we'll share music we learned the following Sunday in 10:45 am worship. Quilting Warmth from Westwood (Live) July pm and pm. Repurpose, Reuse, Recycle while sharing the gift of warmth from Westwood. Be a part of this awesome ministry team as they assemble quit tops to be sent around our community and world as you learn about the justice work that happens with quilting. No experience necessary, if you can tie your shoes, you can tie a quilt! Join the team who warms the kingdom of God, literally and figuratively! The Game is ON! (Live) Tuesday, July 11 AND Thursday, July 13 both from 9:30-11:30. Board games have been making a comeback, and there are some of us who were around when they originally came out! This is a chance to gather with Westwood members in two of our senior communities for some wonderful fellowship and a great time of connection while playing Sorry, Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders, or another game of your choice. Be there to slide ahead, or go back two spaces. You won t be Sorry!!! Houseboat (Grow) 9 th -12 th graders July Rainy Lake Relaxing, getting close to God s creation, beautiful sunsets, crystal clear water, friends, time for reflection, stories of faith, Bible study, singing, laughter, delicious food...all this and more takes place on a houseboat trip. No phones, computers, jobs, curling irons, blow dryers, make-up, television, Ipods, headphones, household chores, or other distractions. This is truly a week to get away and be renewed! JULY ELECTIVES

10 AUGUST ELECTIVES She-Power: Yoga and Art August 9 & 16 from 1:30-3:30pm (Grow) Taught by Jen Mohr If we are made in God s image then why is it so hard to love ourselves and our bodies just as we are? Join this all-girls group as we challenge cultural pressures and strengthen our confidence in ourselves. The 2-hour session includes a 40-minute yoga practice, group discussion, and art reflection. No prior yoga or art experience is necessary! Wear comfortable clothing and bring water- yoga mats are provided. Vocation: How do Westwood folks think about their job and their faith? (Know) Aug. 2, 9, 16, and 23rd from 6:30-7:30pm. The evenings will be led by Pastor Jason. We invite you join in a 4 part conversation with other members of Westwood as they reflect on their professional lives and how their faith influences their work. Each evening will include an interview with a member of Westwood inviting them to reflect on their professional life and faith. Included will be an interview that includes specific descriptions of the jobs done, discussions of the joys and challenges of their work, reflections on how their faith in relationship to their work, and the opportunity to ask them questions. The evening will also include a review of what we as the church mean by the word vocation, engagement with scripture, and the opportunity for participants to wonder about their futures/current work lives as people of faith. S more & Sing (Grow) August pm S'more & Sing, August 13 10:45 am Sing in Worship A Wednesday night of s'mores, singing, camp songs, and a campfire led by Westwood musician Matthew Olson. Bring your voice, your appetite, and any acoustic instruments such as ukuleles and guitars. Then, we'll share music we learned the following Sunday in 10:45 am worship. Bible Journaling (Know, Live, or Grow) Tuesdays August 8 & 15 from 10am-Noon You want me to create art in my Bible? Yes! Bible art journaling has become a phenomenon nation-wide as people engage with God s Word through doodling, paint, markers and more. This 2-week course will include an introduction to Bible art journaling, introduce a new techniques, as well we dive into God s Word together. Taught by Dannica Olsen, you ll discover a beautiful and fun new way to grow in faith. $10 fee for materials, bring your own Bible! Quilting Warmth from Westwood (Live) August pm and pm. Repurpose, Reuse, Recycle while sharing the gift of warmth from Westwood. Be a part of this awesome ministry team as they assemble quit tops to be sent around our community and world as you learn about the justice work that happens with quilting. No experience necessary, if you can tie your shoes, you can tie a quilt! Join the team who warms the kingdom of God, literally and figuratively!

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