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

Have you and/or your Connect group been thinking about or looking for a to serve our West Seattle community? Each weekend in April, the West Seattle Nursery hosts "Doing Good in the Neighborhood." Local West Seattle organizations are at the nursery to share what they do and how people can volunteer. Find out more: https://www.westseattlenursery.com/classes-and-events/doing-good-in-the-neighborhood...  Read More

Opportunities to serve our community are available for individuals, families, or groups through the One Seattle Day of Service. Opportunities are available throughout the city. Registration is required using the Register for Event button on the website. If you prefer a West Seattle related opportunity, click on the Register for Event button and then use the Search Events box in the upper right of ...  Read More

Dr. Jemar Tisby, author of The Color of Compromise, will be speaking at Seattle Pacific University on Monday, April 24 at 7:00PM.  Admission is free.  https://spu.edu/administration/john-perkins-center/news-archive/2023/perkins-annual-lecture-2023 Additionally, Dr. Tisby will take part in a panel discussion titled Holiness Abolitionism: Christians Modeling Racial Justice at the same location on Tu...  Read More

Spring is a time of renewal and a time for of stepping out and trying new things.  On Friday, April 28 at 7:30pm, WSPC Choir will have such an experience by singing for the first time in Benaroya Hall.  The choir will join in with ChoralSounds Northwest, Seattle Pacific University Choirs, and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise) by Felix Mendelssohn. This...  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

Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddle Back church in California, wrote, “Small groups are not a ministry of the church, small groups are not a program of the church, small groups are not an outreach of the church, small groups are not an event of the church, small groups are the church.”  This quote is a great reminder of the importance of small groups (we call them Connect Groups). The church is not a bu...  Read More