Westwood World. A Message from Our Senior Pastor. Jim Abernathy

Transcription

1 Westwood World Jim Abernathy WESTWOOD WORLD December A Publication of Westwood Baptist Church December Edition 12 A Message from Our Senior Pastor The way forward it s a phrase that marks our human story at varying times and seasons of life. It speaks to next steps in a journey that is ever unfolding. Sometimes the way forward is clear and easy to navigate. Sometimes it is uncertain, with surprising twists and turns that seem to obscure those next steps. The journey to Bethlehem must have been such an experience for Joseph and Mary. Most likely, their betrothal had been arranged in advance by their families and the way forward would have been thought to follow a predictable pattern that all had agreed to a seemingly clear and easy to navigate path. Then, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, and that predictable way forward became a true test of faith. Confronted by this unexpected guest, the New Living Translation says of Mary s response, Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could have meant. Even after the angel had told her what God desired to do within her and Mary had consented, May everything you have said about me come true, the way forward must certainly have seemed uncertain at best. Mary and Joseph would each have to face and overcome their questions and doubts, finding eventually that the only way forward was by faith. Scripture tells us that with every step, Mary and Joseph found the One who had called them to this unusual task to be faithful. In Joseph s uncertainty, God sent the angel in a dream. In the packed city of Bethlehem, when no room could be found, their newborn son, the Savior of the world, was provided for with a manger bed. Again and again, in uncertainty and challenge, God was faithful and the way forward was gained, one step at a time. Advent calls us to remember the faithfulness of God. The prophets of old offered encouragement to a people waiting for deliverance. Isaiah 7:14 proclaims, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means God is with us ). With each step on our journey to Bethlehem, may this promise that sustained a weary people the same promise that empowered Mary and Joseph to trust in the midst of uncertainty guide our steps as individuals and as a church. By embracing this promise, we can trust that God is present with us for the way forward. This edition of Westwood World has vital information for our Advent and Christmas celebrations and beyond. Read, then check your calendar to make sure you join your Westwood family in mission, worship, and fellowship now and in the days to come. Trusting God and you for the way forward,

2 Westwood Member News In Our Prayers... Al & Carolyn Sanders; Aminata Jalloh and her father; Anne Daly; Andy Willetts; Berkley McKenzie; Carolyn Dickens friend Teri Furman; Cathy Hallmark s brothers Pete and Tommy Burrell; Charlene Cozart; Charles Beam; Chris Skalski; Chuck Young s father; Claire Hix; Dale Yingling and family; Dave Schmitz; Del Purkey s father; Dennis Hunt s father; Ed & Karen Armstrong; Ed & Joan Tarlosky; Eddie Maguire s friends June & Joe Aguello and Angie Brayboy; Eileen Griffith; Elise Clark; Eric Williams; Ethel Mitchell; Faye Riley; Ginger Schiffner s brother Scott; Greisy Acosta s mother; Helen Hill; Jackie Weaver; Jessie Conte; Jim Crupper; John Frazier; Josh Towner*; Joy Earner s neighbor David Gordon; Kathy Boothe; Kathy Freeman s father and mother; Landon Taylor (El Salvador); LaVonne Boyer s daughter; Lee Christensen; Lynda Maguire, and her friend Annette Davis; Martha Newman s sister Mary Ellen, and her friend Susan Barr; Nancy Graham; Olga Teutler s father-in-law; Pam & Thomas Daly s friend and neighbor Maryann Ridge; Robert Poggio* (spouse of MDO teacher, Afghanistan); Wakie Paganelli; Wallace Brinkley, and Brinkley friend Skip Gallager; and Yvonne Bryant. *Active Duty Military With Sympathy We mourn the loss of long-time Westwood member Pat Nelson, and we express our deepest sympathies to Bob and his family. We extend our sympathies also to Shondelyn Towner in the loss of her mother, and to Ellen Young in the loss of her step-father. We welcome Martha Newman who joined Westwood on Oct. 30, and Phil Alexander who joined on Nov. 27, both by statement of faith. Thank You Ralph and I would like to thank our Westwood Family for the many blessings we have received and continue to receive during my back surgery and convalescence time. We have been humbly touched by the visits, meals, flowers, cards, and of course your prayers. We felt your prayers. Jessie Conte TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Westwood Member News 2 Advent and Christmas at Westwood 3 Community Involvement 4 Women on a Mission 5 Adult Education 5 Church Family Night 6 Church Life 7 Page Finance Committee 7 Stewardship 8 Preschool & Children s Ministry 9 Music Ministry 10 Older Adult Ministry 10 Youth Ministry 11 WESTWOOD WORLD December

3 Advent and Christmas First Sunday of Advent ~ November 27 Organ and Piano Duets by Olga Teutler and Cindy Abernathy at the 11 a.m. Worship Service Second Sunday of Advent ~ December 4 Family Service with Children s Choir Performance of I See Christmas! by Pam Anderson and Preschool Choir at the 11 a.m. Worship Service Service of Remembrance at 5 p.m. Third Sunday of Advent ~ December 11 Youth Singers and Sanctuary Choir Performance of What Sweeter Music: A Festival of Carols by Mark Hayes with Orchestra at the 11 a.m. Worship Service Fourth Sunday of Advent ~ December 18 Handbell Choir Music Selections at the 11 a.m. Worship Service and Global Missions Offering Ingathering Christmas Eve ~ Saturday, December 24 at 5 p.m. Christmas ~ Sunday, December a.m. Worship Only Advent Devotionals Dr. Abernathy is sending Advent Devotionals by each day through Dec. 25. If you would like to receive a hard copy of these online devotionals, please contact the church office. Service of Remembrance A Service of Remembrance will be held Sunday, Dec. 4, at 5 p.m. in the sanctuary. This annual observance offers an opportunity in the busyness of the holiday season to pause and remember family members and friends no longer with us. Through music, scripture, prayer, and other remembrances, we honor their memories and find comfort in the eternal promises of God. Invite a friend or family member to share in this special service. WESTWOOD WORLD December

4 Community Involvement Caring Tree The Caring Tree is in place in the narthex, with cards bearing names of children living in the Springfield Gardens apartments. Just a few cards remain, mostly for larger families which would be most appropriate for a class or a group of people to provide gifts. The cards contain the names and ages of children in one family for whom you may shop. It will include needs and some requests from each child. Even though you will probably never see these children face-to-face, shopping for them will create a bond as you share the love of Christ through Christmas giving. Please return your gifts NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 18 so we can get them to the families in time for Christmas. If you have questions, please see Pam Seay or Martha Lee Fugate. Springfield Gardens Party Volunteers First Baptist Church of Springfield Help is needed setting up and wrapping gifts Friday, Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. At the party Saturday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m.-1 p.m., volunteers are also needed. Sign up at the Welcome Center; see Janet Curtin for more information. Hypothermia Prevention and Response Signups Begin December 4 Winter will soon be upon us. Beginning Nov. 27, Fairfax County s Hypothermia Prevention and Response Program began and will continue through the end of March. Many faith communities, the County and the non-profit FACETS join together to provide the homeless in our community a warm and safe place to sleep and nutritious hot dinners and breakfasts. Westwood s week of participation begins Sunday, Jan.22. The program will run in a similar manner as the past few years, with guests arriving at 5 p.m., dinner served between 6-6:15 p.m., guests sleeping in the narthex, Whitten Hall open for games and movies, breakfast at about 6 a.m., and a bag lunch offered as our guests leave by 7 a.m. Signups begin Sunday, Dec. 4. Among the many tasks needed are cooks for breakfast and dinner, nighttime security, hospitality, and morning cleanup. Training will occur Saturday, Jan. 8 at 4 p.m. You will learn specifics of your position and will meet other people on your team. Much more information will be available in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, pray how you will serve in this ministry as we help those in our community who are at risk this winter. Sandy Milam and Lucinda Marvin can answer any questions you have. ECHO News Thank You for your continuing support of ECHO and the families that it serves. Our community, including Westwood, continues to support ECHO in its mission of helping our neighbors who need some assistance. In recent days, ECHO received 23,401 pounds of food in the Boy Scout food drive and also cleared over $24,000 from the semi-annual yard sale in late October. Also, many thanks to Westwood s Sunday School classes and individuals who provided Thanksgiving baskets to 16 families. If you are considering End-of-Year Financial Contributions, please remember that ECHO operates entirely on donations, grants, and proceeds from its yard sales. You can take part in ECHO s mission to assist local families who have short-term financial emergencies, or those who struggle continually with low income, by mailing a check to ECHO at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA Receipts are promptly and gratefully sent to you. Dick Marvin WESTWOOD WORLD December

5 Women on a Mission A huge thank you to everyone for their help with our annual November layette project. We successfully assembled 200 layettes that are given to area hospitals and other organizations that work with needy new moms. Join us Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. as we begin work on decorative table runners which CBF missionary Paula Settle has requested for the women she ministers to in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. This will probably be a two-month project. Join us for mission information, mission work, fellowship, and snacks. What a great way to start off a month of giving! Judi Kern and Joy Earner Women on a Mission For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called called Wonderful Counselor, THE MIGHTY GOD, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Day/Night Advent Study Adult Education We continue with our Day/Night Advent Study in December on Mondays at 10 a.m., and Tuesdays at 7 p.m., ending Dec. 19 and 20. We are discussing Under Wraps: The Gift We Never Expected by Jessica LaGrone, Andy Nixon, Rob Renfroe, and Ed Robb as our study guide. The class sessions center on four key words that describe characteristics of God faithful, dangerous, expectant, and jealous that are evidenced in the Old Testament and then seen more clearly through Jesus. Signup is not necessary just come to class. Day/Night Study Starting in January Our next Day/Night Bible Study will be a four-session study on the Psalms, beginning on Monday, Jan. 30, and Tuesday, Jan. 31. We ll be using N.T. Wright s The Case for the Psalms as our study guide. Wright explores why the Psalms are essential, arguing for a rediscovery of the Psalms as the hymnbook of the Bible and the daily lifeblood of Christian life. The Monday morning sessions will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. in Whitten Hall and will be led by Dr. Abernathy. The Tuesday evening sessions will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. in Room 17/19 and will be led by Rev. Gray. Sign up at the Welcome Center; in January books will be available for $5. Shoe Box Thanks Thanks to your participation in Operation Christmas Child, 116 boxes filled with treats are being sent to children around the world for Christmas. The real gift is in the giving and in the prayers we share for these children. WESTWOOD WORLD December

6 Church Family Night The Wednesday Weekly Schedule 5:30 pm Dinner 6:15 pm Preschool, Children & Youth Activities 6:30 pm Adult Seminar 7:15 pm Sanctuary Choir Making Reservations Deadline is Monday at noon! Online at Communication Card in Sunday bulletin Call Church Office at No reservations for potlucks! Dinner Prices Adults/5th grade and older: $5 Children: $2.25 Age 2 and under: Free Family Maximum: $17 Potluck Fellowship Meals (no reservations) December 14 January 18 March 1 April 5 Christmas Potluck Dinner We will have the final potluck of the fall CFN season Wednesday, Dec. 14, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Whitten Hall. Bring a dish or two to share, and drinks and table service will be provided. We will assemble weekend food packs, sing carols, and enjoy a visit from a jolly old guy that children of all ages will enjoy. Join us as we close out the fall Church Family Night season with great food and fellowship, continuing our Advent celebrations as we await the coming Christ! After this evening, Church Family Night will take a break and resume on Jan. 11. The Weekly Schedule Our regular Wednesday schedule begins with dinner at 5:30 p.m. (reservations required), followed by children s choir at 6 p.m. (on Nov. 30 only), by preschool, children s and youth activities at 6:15, and an adult seminar at 6:30. Sanctuary Choir rehearsal begins at 7:15. Preschoolers enjoy puppet fun with Dina and Theo, choir with Mr. Ariel and Mrs. Wanda, and a story, craft, and playtime with volunteer leaders. Elementary children split their time between music and missions education. The church office will be closed Monday, Dec. 26 through Monday, Jan. 2. In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the church office will be closed Monday, Jan. 16. WESTWOOD WORLD December

7 Church Life Finance Committee Global Missions Offering December 18 Each year during the Christmas season we receive the Global Missions Offering. This offering enables us to share in the work of ministry partners around the world. Global Missions Banks for children will be available Dec. 4. Offering envelopes are available in your packet of envelopes and in the pews. On Dec. 18 we will have our Global Missions Offering Ingathering in morning worship. Your gifts to this offering are distributed in the following way: Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 75%, Baptist World Alliance 5%, Serve Trust 4%, BGAV (Virginia Baptists) 4%, Dan and Laura Earner (Japan) 4%, ECHO-4%, and NorthStar (Local Association of Churches) 4%. Consider a generous gift to Global Missions as we honor the Savior, Jesus Christ, this Christmas. Supper Club Signups New Supper Club groups will be starting soon! Signups begin January 8. Look for details in the January Westwood World. For details, speak to Elizabeth Colley. Youth Dessert Auction Help fund Youth missions in the coming year by supporting their silent dessert auction on Sunday, Dec. 11. Auction begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 10:55. Desserts may be picked up after the worship service. This is a great opportunity to share your baking expertise (or expertise in the bakery shop) by donating baked goods to the auction. Sign up at the Welcome Center. For more information, contact Susan Frazier. Church Work Day Mother Nature has been generous with falling leaves this year. Bring your rakes and blowers and work gloves on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. to noon. Nursery will be provided. Yuletide Giving The year 2016 is drawing to a close. Turning the calendar page from one year to the next offers opportunity to pause, remember, and give thanks. Our Westwood family continues faithful in financial giving. Your tithes and offerings make possible not only the ministry efforts that communicate the love of Christ within our church body, but also with individuals, families, and ministry partners around the corner and around the world. We are grateful to God for all that is done through all the gifts shared through this family of faith. December is perennially a strong month of giving at Westwood. The Christmas season, our Global Mission emphasis, and the conclusion of another calendar year offer opportunities to faithfully honor the Lord through our financial gifts. Prayerfully consider what God would have you do during this month. Perhaps, amidst all the presents you contemplate for friends and family, you might consider a special gift to your church in addition to your regular giving. To honor the Lord in this way is a blessing to your church and to those who will be touched with the love of Christ because of your generosity. Please take note of the article on page 8 of this edition of Westwood World from Donna Hill, referencing the different ways you can give as this year comes to a close. Remember also that all financial gifts must be postmarked no later than Dec. 31 if sent by mail. Gifts brought to the church office or sent electronically must be received no later than Dec. 31. Together, our generous giving will make a difference for Christ and be a wonderful testimony of love in this special season of the year. Thanks be to God! The Finance Committee WESTWOOD WORLD December

8 Stewardship End-of-Year Giving How to Contribute to Westwood: Consider setting up a Recurring Payment to the church through your bank s online bill pay. Your check comes when you are not in town or when snow is on the ground. Give through E-giving.org. To set up an account, you will give your WBC envelope number, complete the basic information, confirm you are not a robot, select your amount of giving and what fund it is to go to, and then make it a recurring contribution. Costs to the church are much lower for ACH deposits sent directly from your checking account, but we also accept Credit Cards, which have higher fees. Consider Giving Stock to the church. Special tax benefits exist. For appreciated stock that you have owned for more than one year: Do not sell the stock! Give it to the church! You can deduct the fair market value of the stock AND you do not have to report the gain. Sounds too good to be true, but it is true! Westwood has an account with E-trade.com. For more information about donating stock to a church, visit: ock-to-charity/ Your broker will need the following information: Westwood Baptist Church DTC number: 0385 Receiving Firm: E-Trade Account Number: Account Registration: Westwood Baptist Church was made permanent in December NOTE: You do not get the tax deduction on this type of transaction. The church has set up an Endowment Fund, so please consider naming the church in your will or naming the church as the beneficiary of your IRA. This can be a wonderful legacy. Earnings from the endowment will be used for: Missions projects that are not included within the Church s annual budget. Education assistance for Christian students seeking a divinity degree from a Baptist-supported educational institution. Purchase of or enhancements to the Church property, facilities, or equipment to enhance or supplement the ministries. (These specifically do not include routine repairs and maintenance included in the Church s budget.) Other charitable acts of the Church in accordance with the ministries of Jesus Christ. If you have questions or need details on how to do any of the above, feel free to contact Donna Hill at (church). IMPORTANT NOTICE: To ensure the deductibility of your church contributions, please do not file your 2016 income tax return until you have received a written acknowledgment of your contributions from the church. You may lose a deduction for some contributions if you file your tax return before receiving a written acknowledgment of your contributions from the church. Contact Information: Donna L Hill, Westwood Baptist Church, (cell) For those who are over age 70½ and who are required to take a minimum distribution from your IRA, there is legislation that would allow you to make the distribution directly from your IRA to the church. You do not have to claim the income AND the church gets your contribution. This legislation WESTWOOD WORLD December

9 Preschool & Children s Ministry Thank You We met our goal and then some. Due to your generous giving, our kids will be able to purchase MORE than one goat for Heifer International. More than $170 was raised. Thank you!! Advent Calendars If you have not received an Advent Calendar, please pick one up for your family at the Welcome Center in the narthex if you would like one. Christmas Music Performance On Sunday, Dec. 4 during worship, our elementaryage Children s Choir will present their Christmas musical, I See Christmas! Thank you to Pat Close and Lisa Hunt for all their hard work. Bethlehem Walk Attend the Bethlehem Walk with friends from Westwood on Sunday, Dec. 11 at Parkwood Baptist Church on Braddock Road. The walk begins at 3 p.m., and we will meet at 2:45 to avoid a long wait. Caroling!! Feel free to join our annual caroling trip with Westwood s kids on Wednesday, Dec. 21. We will meet at the Saratoga Chipotle at 5:30 p.m. for dinner before the bus leaves for caroling at 6:15. Becca Larson Director of Preschool & Children s Ministry I See Christmas! by Pam Andrews Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 11 a.m. Performed by The Westwood Baptist Church Children s Choir Invite a Friend ~ Share the Music For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord Luke 2:11 WESTWOOD WORLD December

10 Save the Dates for Christmas Music! Once again Westwood s singers and ringers have prepared spectacular music to celebrate the wondrous birth of our Lord. Invite your friends and neighbors to join us for these special music Sundays: Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Music Ministry Children s Choir: I See Christmas by Pam Andrews; and Preschool Choir Youth Singers and Sanctuary Choir, accompanied by 14-piece orchestra: What Sweeter Music by Mark Hayes Canasta ~ Older Adult Ministry 2 nd & 4 th Tuesdays at 1-3 p.m. in Greenspring Village Towne Center Join us Dec. 13 for fun and fellowship. Canasta is a great game that s fun and easy to learn. Dec. 18 Handbell Choir: Christmas Music What Sweeter Music A Festival of Carols by Mark Hayes Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 11 a.m. Worship Music performed by The Sanctuary Choir, Youth Singers, and Orchestra with Congregation Participation Invite a Friend! Christmas Luncheon Thursday, Dec. 15 Cost $5 Sign up at the Welcome Center by Sunday, Dec. 11. WESTWOOD WORLD December

11 Youth Ministry Weekly Youth Schedule in December Sundays Cafe 9:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Worship 11:00 am Youth Dinner 6 pm Sunday Night Live! 6:30-7:45 pm SNL Meals Dec. 4 Beecher Dec. 11 Beavers Dec. 18 Rodgers Calendar Dec. 3 Thrive Dec. 10 Progressive Dinner Dec. 11 Dessert Auction Dec. 25 & Jan. 1 No SNL! Stay In Touch wood-baptist-church-youthministry book.com/ Westwood Youth WestwoodYouth NEW! westwoodbaptist. org/#/youth Will.Clapp@west woodbaptist.org From Will We are entering one of my favorite times of the Christian year. Advent is a time where we not only tell the stories of God s people waiting for the birth of Jesus, but we immerse ourselves into the world as we prepare for the return of God in our lives. This has been a yearly call to dig my hands into the dirt and start the work of the Kingdom anew, seeking to find the places the Spirit would have me go. Without fail, my heart is moved as I am called once more into a world that needs the love of God. This year, after what has been a contentious political time, the hurting of God s people would seem to divide us more than ever before. Thankfully, I get to serve the youth of Westwood, and every time I am with them, they remind me that there is so much light in the world. They are creative and intelligent youth who have the ability to see past the obvious and engage the reality of the world with little effort. I am very thankful to have such a saving grace. As we begin the journey of Advent and the march to another New Year, I would like to invite you to come on this journey with us. On Dec. 3, we will be attending Thrive, an event with the NorthStar Church Network that will introduce us to the struggle of refugees. Meeting at FBC Springfield, we will take the opportunity to try and understand the experience of those who risk their lives everyday to find safety somewhere other than the land of their birth. This promises to be a deeply moving experience that I hope will open up the eyes of those who attend to see a world bigger than the one we have always known. The next week, on Dec. 10 from 6-9 p.m. will be our Progressive Dinner, which is a great time of fellowship and food that ends with a gift exchange. Even though we have chosen the locations where we will stop, if you want to get involved there is still a great opportunity to spend all or part of the evening with us. During this time of year where we celebrate and share with one another, I want to invite everyone to share and celebrate with us. Let this Advent be one that inspires all of us to reach out and dig into the world that is groaning for the coming of God. Come worship with us on a Sunday night or just spend time with us at an event. Maybe you would want to cook dinner for an SNL! or even share your story of how your faith has inspired you. Whatever it is, this Advent is the time for all of us to come together and share in the incredible adventure that is life. As a family, and as we anticipate the coming of God, come and join the youth as they are making a place for their faith in this world. Rev. Will Clapp, Interim Minister with Youth WESTWOOD WORLD December Items for the January Westwood World are due by THURSDAY, DEC. 8 and should be sent to martha.newman@westwood-baptist.org Westwood Baptist Church, 8200 Old Keene Mill Road Springfield, VA