Posts with the category “west-side”

I was 23 years old, sitting in the kitchen with Norwegian cousins from the same generation as my grandparents. These dear, distant family members shared their memories of care packages sent from family in the States during the war. The impact of these gifts was far greater than their modest contents. My cousins described, with tears in their eyes, the encouragement of knowing that they were not al...  Read More

By Stacy Kutz, Families and Youth Director Where were you on Memorial Day Weekend, 1979? For many of our longtime members they were attending West Side’s first MDR at Ramblewood Retreat Center in Sequim.  Take a look at this photo and see if you can pick out... Paul Aronson, Bill Batts, Dan Kutz, Sheree Porter, Scott Porter, Jeff Ernst, Larry Burke, Kim Chamberlain, Jenni Batts, Ken McLaughlin and...  Read More

In 2015, Phyllis Sortir was kidnapped and miraculously survived to continue and expand her work in Nigeria. This June she is the commencement Speaker for Seattle Pacific University. The amazing story of her kidnapping and release has been made into a documentary fil entitle Kidnapped Redemption. Phyllis will preach at West Side on June 11 at both services. We will show the film also during both se...  Read More

Good news – the Session has completed the budget work for this year!  Our budget year ends on June 30, 2023 and the new budget approved begins on July 1, 2023.Elders are responsible for approving the budget and then presenting that budget to the members at our spring Congregational Meeting on June 11 at 10:15am in Howell.Elders are available on two Sundays beforehand to talk through the budget in ...  Read More

By Chris KochSenior Director of MinistryThere are three events coming up that you can keep me in prayer for and celebrate with me about! Prayer Retreat from May 9-12. Like Pastor Laurie did a couple weeks ago, I am heading to a monastery for a few days to devote to prayer, reflection, and study. I have done this kind of individual retreat every year for the past 16 years at monasteries and retreat...  Read More

By Stacy KutzFamilies and Youth Director I was thrilled when Pastor Laurie asked me to lead a discussion last Sunday during the middle hour about West Side’s desire to be an intergenerational church. As I was preparing, I realized that from the start we needed to define the difference between multigenerational and intergenerational church.Many of us grew up in multigenerational churches. Churches ...  Read More

The Monastery of Christ in the Desert is a Benedictine monastery 20 miles up a dirt track from Abiquiu, New Mexico. Pastor Laurie and her husband, David, will spend 8 days of her study leave participating in the scheduled prayers and meals alongside the monks at the abbey. Laurie will follow a self-guided spiritual retreat during the work hours of the day. You can learn more here about the pattern...  Read More

Hi, I’m Erika and you will normally see me somewhere with the kids on Sunday mornings!I grew up attending West Side, participating in Sunday school and VBS. And I went to school in the Arbor Heights/ White center area. I went to college at the University of Idaho which was a bit of a culture shock after attending Evergreen High School, though I enjoyed the small-town atmosphere. I’ve always loved ...  Read More

In March our elders and deacons met together for a joint Session meeting, discussing the mission that we share to make disciples. The loving attention that our Deacons dedicate to our members, particularly those who are isolated or in need, encourages everyone in our West Side family to follow Jesus in faith, hope and love. We are grateful for the Deacons!At the end of the shared meeting Karol Aro...  Read More

“Would you like to go to church with us on Easter?”I was surprised that one small question caused me so much anxiety. I had gotten to know Brad at a weekly ultimate frisbee game and thought he and his family might enjoy attending our Easter Sunday service, but I hesitated to ask him.  I wondered if I would offend him, if it would strain our relationship, if he would be turned off that I was a Chri...  Read More

Raise your hand if you’ve ever skipped to the end of a book to decide if it is worth reading all the way through … or jumped to the last chapter on the DVD menu … used the ‘lightening speed’ feature on your DVR … asked someone to just get to the point.You see where this is going. We can be impatient with the slow unfolding of a narrative. It is important to notice, however, that the Gospels take t...  Read More

By Stacy KutzFamilies and Youth Director Wednesdays, 4:00-5:30pm, March 1 through April 12Confirmation Sunday, May 21 After a COVID hiatus, we are excited to offer a Confirmation Class for youth once again this year! The GOAL of confirmation is for youth to be rooted and grounded in their faith in Jesus Christ. Our desire is for them to have a language of faith and be able to articulate and claim...  Read More

By Chris KochSenior Director of MinistryI am currently involved in a Connect Group, primarily with families, and have led two Rooted groups and two Lenten groups since I have been at West Side. Part of my role at West Side is to shepherd Connect Groups and leaders, but even if I was a congregation member, I would still be a part of Connect Groups. The reason why is that I need to be with other peo...  Read More

Thanks to everyone who participated in our festive gathering last Sunday, February 5th! We loved the great soups – learned who serves behind the scenes – and completed the business of electing a new Congregational Nominating Committee (along with our Stewardship elders as the Trustees of the congregation). Here are the names and (mostly) happy faces of our new nominating team as you pray for their...  Read More

It was only two weeks ago that we began Lent with the reminder – “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.”It was one week ago that Jesus received my brother Jay to his presence as Jay’s mortal body died – “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”Yesterday, we closed the church building to all activities and joined county and state officials in strongly urging anyone with s...  Read More

Being the church doesn’t happen exclusively at church. To facilitate connection and communication within our church family, West Side will roll out an innovative ministry tool in January of 2020. Realm is an online tool that we will launch in the new year to help the church connect with you, allow you to see what is happening in the church body, and broaden your contact within West Side’s faith co...  Read More