Faithwestwood Umc

August 12, 2018 Does worship ever feel flat to you? Like you’re not sure if you really get it? Or you don’t know how to bring your whole self to the moment? Today we’ll come before the Holy Presence with the help of a first-century disciple named John. Describing his vision he said, “And there before me was a throne in heaven.” You may even find yourself worshiping beside the living creatures before the throne, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

August 5, 2018 A new day begins, and as your body awakens to its fresh start, many things begin to infiltrate your blissful state-of-mind. Like the radio blasting the latest shocking news, your current family drama in the next room and the messy stack of bills right next to your coffee pot. With a deep breath you say, “What to do next?” It could feel like life’s demands are exhausting your practical, emotional and spiritual reservoirs. And then your new neighbor knocks at your door… We will revisit the BLESS series and consider Paul’s encouragement to the Ephesians in Chapter 3 verses 16 and 17… I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

July 29, 2018 It’s easy for modern Americans to believe nothing’s more important than our happiness, that we’re entitled to do whatever pleases us. Maybe it’s human nature. Before they could enter the Promised Land, the ancient Israelites had to learn that being God’s people means putting holiness over happiness.

July 22, 2018 It feels safe to go with what’s worked for us before. We do what we know. Give us a formula and we’ll follow it. But when we’re transitioning to the new, we can’t rely on old ways. The thirsty Israelites cried out for water, and God heard them. He told Moses what to do, but instead of obeying, Moses did what had worked for him in the past. It turned out to be a costly lesson.

Student Mission Sunday - July 15, 2018 by FaithWestwood UMC

July 8, 2018 Few experiences are as frightening as letting go of our limitations and moving into freedom. After centuries of slavery, the ancient Israelites faced the transition of entering the Promised Land. Will it be a land of milk and honey? Or a place of fortresses and giants? And where is God when we’re about to enter new territory?

July 1, 2018 U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a United Methodist, recently referenced Romans 13, about our Christian responsibility to obey governing authorities. Without playing politics, let’s take a closer look at that passage and how it fits within the entire scripture story. What do we owe our government?

June 24, 2018 Summer’s an ideal time to connect with neighbors. Everybody gets outside, and you bump into each other more often. Summer’s perfect for backyard barbecues and evenings around the fire pit. Jesus said how important it is to let our neighbors know we love them. Don’t let summer slip away without bringing some BLESS to your neighborhood. God works in amazing ways when we show a little love.

June 10, 2018 // Guest Speaker Jim Koontz Partnering with God by Giving and expanding His Kingdom.

June 3, 2018 - Guest Speaker: Susan Sapp We love Jesus because He calls us into freedom. He doesn’t call us to be conformed to man-made rules. He loves us with an unceasing love that gives us the freedom to be our authentic selves, to let go of the past, to tell the truth about who we are, to surrender control, and to live the life He calls us to live.

May 27, 2018 - Special Guest Reverend Jarell Roach God's LOVE REALITY dominates everything around us, just as His invisible kingdom dominates the kingdoms that we can see. Our mission is to bring His love reality into everyday living & learning.

May 20, 2018 Families fight! Right? Everybody’s pointing the figure at the other. “These people are so hard to live with!” What if your family could begin communicating in a way that lowered the tension level? We’re going to learn what flawed but following families do with conflict.

May 13, 2018 In many homes, there’s a pile bigger than the dirty laundry. It’s the load of unresolved issues, unrepaired grievances, and unhealed hurts. Flawed families that follow Jesus find that doing that their relational laundry often and quickly makes for a happier home.

May 6, 2018 There’s more than a little selfishness in all of us. It’s one of our deepest flaws. And it affects our families. But flawed families that follow Jesus learn mutual submission and service. What a radical concept! You might want to give it a try.

April 29, 2018 Fear stops us dead in our tracks. It paralyzes us. So before we can carry out Jesus’s command, we must first put away our fear. When our reaction is to fall down and become immobilized, he says, “Don’t be afraid! Go and tell!”

April 22, 2018 Many today consider it silly to fear God, but people of ancient times knew better. Those encountering the majestic, divine presence were leveled by it. Sometimes God gets too close for comfort. His brilliant holiness illuminates our sin, leaving us no place to hide. That’s when Jesus touches us. He says, “Get up. Don’t be afraid.”

April 15, 2018 We fear what we don’t understand. We prefer our circumstances to be safe and predictable. But how seldom they are! Whether we’re afraid of the eerie or our own inadequacy, Jesus reaches out his hand and says, “It is I. Don’t be afraid!”

April 8, 2018 Once you speak up for someone, you may be left out and lied about. Once you stand up for something, you may be pushed around and pushed aside. People with power may hurt you, but Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid of them. They can only kill you.”

April 1, 2018 You’ve been wounded. You’ve known betrayal, grief, loss, hopelessness. Then God sends you someone who’s walked their own path of pain, and through their comfort you receive your own healing – still wounded but healing. The Bible says of Jesus, “By his wounds we are healed.” By his wounds, he heals our broken relationship with God. By his death, he heals our broken way of life. And amazingly, he allows us to represent him as fellow wounded healers. That’s the miracle of belonging to the community of Christ.

Good Friday 2018 - March 30, 2018 by FaithWestwood UMC