Coffeehouse Christmas: Dec. 16 Program and Pageant Come Like a Child. will be the only nod to Advent those Sundays.

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1 Share Your Faith NOVEMBER 29, Oaks Lane x Omaha, NE x faithwestwood.com x Coffeehouse Christmas: Dec. 16 Program and Pageant Come Like a Child Sunday morning, December 16, is shaping up to be a huge event for us at FaithWestwood. We ll celebrate Christmas by bringing together the best of everything musical under the theme Come Like a Child. This year the traditional children s pageant will be folded into a musical celebration Sunday, featuring chancel choir, and a group of middle school and high school students, plus songs from our Sunday school kids. The foyer and worship center will welcome you with a Coffee House Christmas vibe. I m guessing this is going to be the kind of event where you ll want to invite your friends and family. The 9 and 10:45 a.m. services will be identical that day. The Story to abbreviate our Advent Back in the summer when we were working on the calendar for The Story, it was soon obvious there was no way to make chapter 22, The Birth of the King, line up with Christmas. Plus, it seemed wise to give our Story groups a few weeks break in December. So, we re continuing with The Story through December 9. That means December 2 and 9 aren t going to feel very Advent-ish. You will notice a large, beautiful Advent wreath on the altar with candles lit, but that will be the only nod to Advent those Sundays. The advantage to continuing with The Story during the first two Sundays of Advent is that it allows the chapter on the resurrection to align with Easter! Hallelujah! Coffeehouse continues at three candlelight Christmas Eve services We hope you feel it from the time you first walk in the foyer, that sense of comfort you get from being warmly welcomed. That s what we re aiming for with our Coffeehouse Christmas Eve. This year we will have three candlelight Christmas Eve services, held at 3, 5, and 8. The 3 p.m. service will again be the most kid-friendly, and families with young children might especially enjoy this one. The 5 p.m. will be the most traditional with piano and organ, much like our 9 a.m. service on Sundays. The 8 p.m. service will feature traditional Christmas songs presented in an acoustic style. Christmas Eve s message will be the same at each service, about recognizing the Mystery in the Manger. It recalls the words of scripture that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2b-3). May December find each of us on a path of becoming deep, daring, daily disciples of Jesus. All for Christ, Steve What s Inside? What s Happening... 2 Caring Ministries Our Church... 5 Worship Ministry... 6 Church Info... 7

2 what s happening AMAZING GRAYS AMAZING GRAYS will meet on Tuesday, Dec 18 at 12:00 noon. Reservations should be in by Monday, Dec 17 by either signing the attendance card on Sunday morning or calling Howard and Carolyn Rhoten ( ). Our program will be presented by the Papillion Singing Seniors Holiday Missions & Ministry Opportunities Together Volunteer at Together so we can help families make their Christmas more joyous! Volunteer hours available: The families come to shop for Christmas items the week of December 10th: Help is needed M, W, TH from 9am to 1pm and Tues from 9am to 7pm, and Saturday the 15th (the kids shopping day!) from 9am to 1pm. Please contact Celeste at celeste.ellis@ faithwestwood.com if you/your small groups can help. Adopt a Family If your small group would like to adopt a family in our church for Christmas, contact Vikki at vikki.ohara@ faithwestwood.com or x1014 for details. Traveling Tasters The Traveling Tasters will be going out on December 6th at 5:30 pm. We will be going to Upstream Brewing Company on Wright Plz. located in Legacy shopping area. This group is open to all adults, couples or singles. Come and join us, we have a lot of fun. Call Gaylene Adler for reservations United Methodist Women The United Methodist Women Unit meeting will be on Wed., December 5th at 9:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. We will have a light breakfast and then our program will be music by The Q Street Quartet with Gene Torrens leading. This will be a very wonderful program and will get us all in the spirit of Christmas. So ladies bring your friends with you. We will also have our silent auction with gifts and food brought by our members. We have fun out bidding each other!! Please call Becky Garlock for reservations. The Susanna Circle will be meeting on the second Wed. December 12th at 11:00 at Mimis Cafe 301 North 175th St near Village Point Shopping area. This will be our Christmas party. We will not read our leason, we will just have fun!! So let Gaylene Adler know if you can come or you can her. At our last meeting we talked about helping one of the families from our chuch for Christmas. So if you would like to participate, give your money to Judy Kearns. She is buying gift cards so the family can pick out what they want. Pray for God to send us our next Children s Ministry Director And spread the word! Our search team asks you to pray with them for a leader who will equip our team of volunteers engaged in ministry with children and their families. And help them spread the word to potential candidates. If someone you know has a love for God and a love for kids, strong leadership gifts, a Bachelor s degree, and at least three years fulltime experience in children s ministry, children s education or another leadership-related field, ask them to send their resume to our pastor s assistant, Brenda.Bowers@ FaithWestwood.com. Salary will depend on experience; benefits package included. Search team members are Dennis Runnels, Dawn Stock, Mike Zook, Tara Richards, Kristina Macklin, Jennifer Shatel, and Pastor Steve Todd. 2 faithwestwood.com

3 caring ministries Eagle Scout Alex Ronfeldt Blesses our Gardening Angels With A Special Garden At FaithWestwood On Sunday, October 14th, Alex Ronfeldt received his Eagle Scout Award in a ceremony at Lake Zorinsky. Alex is a member of FaithWestwood and Boy Scout Troop 430 chartered at our church. Alex earned his Eagle Rank on October 27th, 2011, after completing all of the rank requirements including a leadership project that he had to plan and manage. For Alex s project, he designed and planted a section of the gardens in the front of the church, including designing and building a reflection bench that mirrors the bell tower design at the back of the church. With the help of friends, family and his scouting units, Alex completed his project in July Alex and his family have adopted that section of the gardens to continue service to the church and his scouting contribution. FaithWestwood s Gardening Angels Ministry congratulates Alex on achieving his Eagle Rank and gives thanks for his contribution to the beauty of our church gardens! Life Happens. A small group for women In the last month of our readings in The Story, Chapter 9, The Faith of a Foreign Woman, spoke deeply to many in our group as we talked about the struggles and bitterness that often come in the middle of our own stories! But wait! Like Naomi, who wanted to change her name to Mara, which means bitter, we were reminded that the bumps (and sometimes mountains) in the stories of our own lives are not the end of the story! Blanketed With Prayer Ministry Warms Hearts! Our Blanketed with Prayer ministry continues to crochet, knit and tie fleece! And these busy and talented volunteers are praying for each recipient of the beautiful prayer blankets and shawls they lovingly create! We are so thankful for the loving and generous hearts of our wonderful team members who are doing Christ s work with their hands. A big THANK YOU to each and every volunteer who participates in spreading Christ s love and comfort to those who are ill or grieving as well as those who have just welcomed a new child into their families! We are a growing ministry, and always welcome anyone who would like to join us in our journey of service and caring. We meet the second Wednesday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 PM and the fourth Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. We have patterns available for knitted and crocheted shawls, as well as yarn at reduced prices. If you would like a prayer shawl (women) or blanket (children and men) to give to a friend or loved one who is ill or experiencing a difficult time, please contact Vikki O Hara, M.Div., Congregational Care Director, at vikki.ohara@faithwestwood. com or These gifts come in a special gift bag with a card explaining that as each shawl or blanket was made the team prayed for the person who would receive it. Attached to each shawl or blanket is a card explaining that when recipients wrap themselves in one of these special gifts, adorned with a beautiful metal cross, they are wrapping themselves in God s love and the prayers of our Church! If you would like more information about participating in this ministry, please contact Darline Redd at: tinkeredd@cox.net or , or Sandi Smith at smiths4@cox.net or By learning to leave our hearts open, and leaning faithfully on God, as Ruth did, we are able to discover and share a special love that is loyal, faithful and generous. This special love is what Thanksgiving and Christmas are all about! In this holiday season we share together the truth that, Gratitude is the greatest of all heart-openers. When it enters the heart, love pours out. For every kindness we receive, gratitude inspires a hundred acts of giving. --Today s Gift -Daily Meditations for Families Come and join our diverse group of women every Thursday evening from 6:45 to 8:15 PM in Room 231 (upper level) at Faith- Westwood. Childcare is available (with advance notice required the first week) by contacting Vikki O Hara, Congregational Care Director at: (cell) or vikki.ohara@faithwestwood. com ( .) Share Your Faith x November 29,

4 caring ministries Prayer Team Members Lift Up Your Concerns and Joys to God The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 You know the words of the old hymn What a Friend we have in Jesus. I love the line that says, What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer. It has indeed been a privilege for all the members of the FaithWestwood Prayer Team to stand with you on Sunday mornings and share your joys and your concerns with God in prayer. Thank you for coming forward with the burdens of your heart so that we may help you seek the peace of God which exceeds our human understanding through lifting your prayers to the Lord. Keep seeking God! As David wrote in Psalm 9, verse 10: The Lord does not forsake those who seek Him. Feel free to grab anyone on the prayer team any time you see us and feel the need to seek God in prayer whether in the worship service or in the hallways. (Prayer Team Members can be identified by their name badges.) We are privileged to be here to serve and pray with you. We know that the Christmas season can be filled with joy as well as stress and strong emotion. Bringing all of your feelings to God in prayer will help you guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus now, and always! DivorceCare Program Now Starting Sunday, January 6th Separated? Divorced? You don t have to go it alone. DivorceCare is a national Christian ministry which includes special weekly seminars conducted by people who understand what divorce is all about. Together with a supportive group of others who are separated, in the process of divorce, or already divorced, you ll learn how to deal with the pain of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life. The DivorceCare program features 13 dynamic weekly video seminars led by nationally renowned experts on divorce and recovery, followed by a discussion of the information presented. You may begin attending the program at any session. Each unit is self-contained, so you do not have to attend in sequence. A new DivorceCare series will begin on Sunday, January 6th, from 12:30 to 2:00 PM in Room 231, and is open to everyone in the Omaha metro area. Childcare will be provided as well as lunch for those in the class and their children. For more information or to register, contact: Vikki O Hara, M.Div., Congregational Care Director, at vikki.ohara@faithwestwood.com or Advance registration required. News from the Chancel/Seasonal Décor Team Did you know that our Chancel/Seasonal Décor Team is working together with Worship Director, Donna Zito, Pastor Steve and the worship planning team, and have been busily working on Advent and Christmas since July? Jenny Beukenhorst, a floral designer and FaithWestwood member, and Mitzi Willis, an interior designer and member, together with a large group of volunteers who have been sharing their gifts of time, talent and supplies (including an enormous quantity of paper shreds thank you, FaithWestwood!). They have been and are busy implementing the look for our 2012 Coffeehouse Christmas celebration. Volunteers have frosted pinecones, made ornaments, and are working on numerous other projects that will enhance our celebrations from Advent through Christmas. One project Jenny has undertaken this year is updating the decorations on the beautiful green garlands that adorn the worship center each Christmas. We re so excited to see the results which will coordinate with our Coffeehouse Christmas vibe, yet continue to offer an updated look in the worship center for years to come! Making our celebration of the Lord s birth as fresh and unique as possible involves costs for which we do not budget, and we are so grateful to the following donors who have already contributed to the Chancel Décor Fund in honor or memory of loved ones: Judy Turner, in memory of her husband, Jim Turner Nellie Clark, in memory of her husband, Charles William (Bill) Clark Ken and Mary Jane Havick in honor and memory of their parents (Ken and Mary Jane donated the hand-make oak stand crafted by church member Bob Slothower for our vertical Advent wreath!) If you would like to assist in covering the costs associated with our holiday décor, your donations would be welcome! Please make checks payable to FaithWestwood and note: Chancel Décor (Christmas) on the memo line. 4 faithwestwood.com

5 our church A Story of Hope & Faith By Celeste Ellis As I write this, I am approaching the one year anniversary of a few very significant events in my life. On November 1, 2011, my sister Kim passed away from Stage IV breast cancer. Unbelievably, two weeks later, on November 16, 2011, I too was diagnosed with breast cancer, Stage III. Receiving news of either of these things would be difficult for anyone to handle, so trying to comprehend and cope with both was mind boggling, to say the least. I am determining my course of action against this life-threatening disease, while grieving the loss of my sister! Of course, I feared the worst after watching her suffer the side effects for many years. But this is really a story of faith and hope. After growing up in the church, I strayed away from my faith and all that I believed, for many years. While my sisters (and parents) were active volunteers in their respective churches, I was placing more importance on my career and its so-called rewards. After moving to Nebraska, we did begin attending worship. But it wasn t until another string of significant events occurred, beginning with Kim s initial diagnosis in December 2000, that I really began listening to God and understanding what He wanted me to do. Life s too short would be the simple phrase to describe how I felt, but it was much deeper than that. I knew that God was using Kim s suffering to help me realize the changes I needed to make. Not only did I make career and lifestyle changes, I also began volunteering at the church. Years of working with youth and missions led me to what God wanted me to do next, which was to become the part-time Missions Director in January God also knew that I would need my church family more than ever, 10 months later. As soon as I received the news, the outpouring of support was tremendous. So many sisters and brothers in Christ have provided devotionals, meals, rides, gifts and, of course, prayers for recovery. God s handiwork was apparent everywhere, but no less obvious than my newly formed small group. Incredibly, there was a woman who worked to provide wigs and prostheses to survivors, a 13-year breast cancer survivor, and a woman whose relative had received chemotherapy for breast cancer right along with Kim! Every member of this group has been an integral part of my recovery. Again, we were made aware of God s use of suffering for good. We have formed a bond that will never be broken. After surgery and 11 months of chemotherapy and radiation, I have no evidence of disease Praise GOD! While I still have several months of infusions and follow-up surgeries, I know that the worst is behind me. I also know that God has much more planned for me on this earth, and as much as Kim s suffering and passing is a significant part of my story, I know that Jesus life and death is the ultimate reason for everything. It is my hope to continue faithfully listening to God and put this time spent in the valley to good use! Share Your Faith x November 29,

6 worship ministry The Story Begins SAVE THE DATE FOR A Coffeehouse Christmas December 16 Plus Each week the creative worship arts planning team and I ask, How can we give opportunity for the Word of God to be seen alive this week? The Story, has become a wonderful resource for revealing God s upper and lower stories. Since September, The Story has guided us into some unique, creative, and participatory worship moments. As worship planning began for The Story, our prayers were answered when we started collaborating with gifted persons from our congregation, like Emily Wolff. Emily is a busy young mother of two very small children. She has written most of the scripts for our story characters. Recently in worship, Emily agreed to portray Naomi, the widow. Her spirited interpretation of a doting motherin-law gave us some insight into Ruth s lower story along with some great laughs! We got to see our children welcomed into the creation story by Professor Pete, played by Richie Nelson. And for one of our first skits, Max Reisinger, a young college student, who loves singing with the 10:45 worship band agreed to become Moses, the deliverer of the 10 Commandments. We are so very blessed with such talented people! I would also like at this time to say how grateful I am for our children s choir directors, Jill Anderson and Sue Hamilton. They both have been leading these choirs for a very long time. Jill, with the Cherubs, who sing on the 4th Sundays and Sue, with the Little Angels who sing on the 2nd Sundays. Since the choir season started in August, each choir has grown and matured in their performances! Our choir directors have created a fun environment during their Wednesday night rehearsals. They select songs that align with the Sunday morning scripture and story themes of Pastor Steve s messages. Now that s collaboration that shines the light of God s word into our hearts! 6 And we have just begun! Save the date for our Coffeehouse Christmas on December 16th! Yes, Sunday morning at both services you are invited to hear a musical celebration presented by the 10:45 worship band, Chancel Choir and some of our Middle and High School students singing us into Advent. Joining the celebration that morning will be our Sunday School Children s Pageant with Come Like a Child. What a great holiday worship opportunity! As you enter the foyer you will hear the sounds of singing carolers welcoming you into the sights and smells of a Coffeehouse Christmas! Invite your family and friends, you won t want to miss this Christmas worship experience! faithwestwood.com

7 Invite to a Friend Join Us! Worship Services FaithWestwood Saturday: 6 pm - Worship in the Harvey Gabel Chapel Sunday: 9 am - Traditional Sunday School Ages 3 - Grade 5 Adult Classes 10:45 am - Praise and Worship Sunday School Ages 3 - Grade 5 Adult Classes Childcare is available for newborns and children up to 36 months Church Office Hours Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm Phone: Fax: Prayer Chain: prayers@faithwestwood.com Websites: faithwestwood.com Staff Directory Church Office Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday through Friday Phone: Jessica Bernard, Child Development Center Director, jessica.bernard@faithwestwood. com, ext Brenda Bowers, Executive Administrative Assistant to the Senior Pastor, brenda. bowers@faithwestwood.com, ext Alex Ehly, Student Ministry Director, alex.ehly@faithwestwood.com, ext Celeste Ellis, Missions Director, celeste. ellis@faithwestwood.com, ext Edna Fleming, Financial & Information Director, edna.fleming@faithwestwood. com, ext Annette Garza, Child Development Center Assistant Director, annette.falcon@faithwestwood.com, ext Anthony King, Middle School Program Director, anthony.king@faithwestwood. com, Valerie McCormick, Communications Director, valerie.mccormick@faithwestwood.com, ext Vikki O Hara, Congregational Care Director, vikki.ohara@faithwestwood.com, Holly Timberlake, Small Groups & Connections Director, holly.timberlake@ faithwestwood.com, ext Steve Todd, Senior Pastor, steve.todd@ faithwestwood.com, ext Dave Uhrich, Director of Business Administration, dave.uhrich@faithwestwood. com, ext Donna Zito, Worship Director, donna. zito@faithwestwood.com, ext Publication Deadlines church info thankyou Thanks to the congregation, and especially Edna Fleming and Carolyn Rhoten, for all the help with supplying the resources, and preparing 278 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child! Many Thanks to Our Blood Drive Donors and Volunteers! A HUGE thank you to all of you who honored a veteran by being a part of the FaithWestwood Red Cross blood drive on November 11th! Because of your wonderful support we collected 49 units of blood, some of which will be sent east to assist those affected by Hurricane Sandy! Through your gifts, up to 3 lives can be saved! What a wonderful ministry in Christ s name! Red Cross Blood Drive Leadership: Dick and Ruth Boley, Carol Hendrix The Children s Ministry Team would like to thank everyone who attended Trunk or Treat, those who opened and decorated their trunks, who donated candy and who donated their time. This was a first time event at FaithWestwood and we had over 100 hundred kids in attendance. It was awesome! We would also like to thank Bob and Karl for driving up from Lincoln to join in the fun! Bulletin: Please have articles to the church by noon on the Friday prior to the week you wish them published. December 27 Newsletter: Deadline: Saturday, December noon Please forward all articles to Valerie McCormick at valerie.mccormick@faithwestwood.com. Share Your Faith x November 29,

8 4814 Oaks Lane x Omaha, NE Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #3 Omaha, NE Return Service Requested Coming FW It s the End of the World as We Know It (But God s Not Done) DEC 9, JAN 6-20 God s dream of a thriving nation of Israel did not last. The nation called to be a source of blessing to all peoples of the earth was falling apart, because they were unfaithful to the Lord. The result was a kingdom torn in two. The northern kingdom kept the name Israel, while the southern kingdom adopted the name of the tribe Judah. Would they respond to this wakeup call? Or would things have to get even worse before they are ready to turn their hearts to God? It s all in The Story. DECEMBER 9: A NATION DIVIDED The full kingdom of Israel lasts only three generations before it splits apart. David s grandson is left with only two tribes to rule. Why? Because of choices made by David s son, Solomon. What about the choices we make? What effect do they have on the next generation? On our nation? DECEMBER 23: FEAR NOT! We are often afraid, especially about the future. But God has given us reason to put away our most profound fears. We do not need to fear that God has forgotten his promises, or that He doesn t know or care about what we re going through, or that things are too bad for even God to deal with. Christ has come. The angel says, Fear not! Coffeehouse Christmas Come Like a Child A Musical Celebration Including Childrens Pageant Join Us! DECEMBER 16 9 & 10:45 AM Candlelight Christmas Eve Services December 24, PM : Family-friendly with Children s Message 5 PM: Traditional Service 8 PM: Traditional with Acoustic Music