BREAKFAST FELLOWSHIP
Sundays (9-11am) Courtyard
Join us for a light continental breakfast on the courtyard before worship. Feel free to bring other ready-to-serve dishes to share, potluck style. Simply bring them to the courtyard when you arrive.
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18TH ANNUAL ORGAN CONCERT SERIES
Sunday, April 21 (3pm) – Lukas Hasler, Concert Organist
As the spring approaches, so does the first half of this year’s organ concerts in their brand new format – two concerts in the spring, and two concerts in the fall. It is our hope that this will avoid the summer heat in our non air-conditioned sanctuary, and allow for more people to attend that may normally be absent during the summer holidays. The spring concerts, performed on the landmark Shaffer Memorial Organ and each lasting about 60 minutes, will be presented on March the 24th by Josh Roebuck, Westwood’s organist in residence, and on April 21st by Lukas Hasler. Lukas is an Austrian concert organist who currently combines his doctoral study at USC with a busy and successful international performing and teaching schedule. We invite you to join us in person at Westwood Church or via YouTube livestream! Free admission (voluntary offering will be available). For more information, visit www.westwoodumc.org/2024organconcerts.
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CELEBRATE EASTER IN OUR SANCTUARY
Sunday, March 31st
9:30am – Sanctuary Style, with Choir, Organ, and Brass Ensemble
11:45am – Loft Style, with Singers of Soul Gospel Choir
We are excited to try something new this Easter: two different worship celebrations in our beautiful Westwood UMC Sanctuary. And, an Easter Tea Party on the Courtyard between worship gatherings. For complete Easter information, visit www.EasterAtWestwood.com.
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SPONSOR EASTER FLOWERS
Deadline: Tuesday, March 26th
This Easter, both worship gatherings will be held in the Sanctuary which, along with the Narthex, will once again be decorated with beautiful flower arrangements and flowering plants. ALL (Sanctuary and Loft alike) are welcome and invited to sponsor flowers in honor, memory, or celebration of loved ones or events. Three large arrangements ($200 each), to be placed in the Chancel, are available to be given by individual donors or groups of donors. At this time, we have one large arrangement that has not been sponsored yet. Donations of $20 and up will make possible the other flowering plants for the day. All dedications will be printed in the worship guide on Easter morning. Click here to make a donation online, and then please email Sabrina Simmons at sabrina@westwoodumc.org with the wording of your dedication.
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BUNNIES AT EASTER
Sunday, March 31st (10:30-11:45am) Children’s Sandyard
Sign up to be included in a tiny petting zoo for Easter morning! Due to the forecasted rain this weekend, we have moved the bunnies upstairs to Helms Hall. We will have five-minute slots for six people from 10:20-11:45am. Because so many want to be able to spend time with the bunnies, we are inviting you to sign up for a five-minute slot, one slot for each person in your family. Six slots for each five minutes. Click here to sign up before all the slots are full! In addition to our little zoo, the Grapplers and Westwood Kids team will offer tables with family crafts for everyone to enjoy, including making gorgeous butterflies to take home. A beautiful way to celebrate Resurrection Day!
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EASTER TEA PARTY – VOLUNTEER & BRING FOOD!
On Easter Sunday, we’re having a tea party between services, and we invite you to sign up to volunteer or bring food such as tea sandwiches, pastries, fruit, deviled eggs, etc. You’re welcome to cook/bake the items yourself or order something from your favorite eatery to share – nothing that needs to be served hot or that needs a fork though. Due to the rain in the forcast, we have moved the tea party up to The Loft. Please plan to bring your dishes on Sunday by 10am. We’re also looking for some floral lovers to meet in the Wesley Room on Saturday, March 30th (10am-12noon) to help create the table decorations. Click here to sign up to volunteer and/or bring food!
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MAUNDY THURSDAY – March 28th
8:15pm – Contemplative Holy Thursday Sound Bath
GOOD FRIDAY – March 29th
6:30pm – Upstairs in The Loft
PRAYER STATIONS
Visit our outdoor prayer stations near the corner of Warner and Wilshire, along the sidewalk. Featuring sacred art from Sanctified Art.
For complete Easter information, visit www.EasterAtWestwood.com.
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SINGERS OF SOUL BENEFIT CONCERT
Sunday, April 14th (4:30-6pm) Westwood UMC Sanctuary
In preparation for this year’s General Conference, join us for a Singers of Soul benefit concert for Reconciling Ministries. Come by to celebrate Queer Joy and transforming the Methodist Church into a more welcoming and loving place. Doors will open at 4pm with tickets available. Click here to make a donation, and we encourage you to be as generous as you can. All donations go to support Reconciling Ministries and their advocacy at our upcoming General Conference.
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SLEEP OUT TO BENEFIT COVENANT HOUSE
Friday, March 22nd
Westwood Church (both The Sanctuary and The Loft communities) is participating in Covenant House California’s Sleep Out on the night of March 22nd, a night where you give up your bed for one night to raise awareness and money for youth facing homelessness. It will be a special event with speakers, testimonies, and community. To join the Westwood team or donate to the cause, click here. If you have questions, contact Everest Harvey at everest@westwoodumc.org.
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SMALL GROUPS
At Westwood UMC, we strive to create a culture of belonging, and our small groups are one of the primary ways we create that culture. Whether you are longtime member or a recent visitor and whether you worship in The Sanctuary or in The Loft, you are invited and encouraged to join a small group as way to deepen your connection to our community. If you are interested in joining a group, contact Westley Garcia at westley@theloftla.org.
Culver City Group – 1st and 3rd Sundays
Westwood Group – 2nd and 4th Thursdays
Young Adult Group – 1st and 3rd Monday
Men’s Group – 3rd Wednesdays
Mom’s Group – Sundays
LGBT+ Group – 2nd and 4th Sundays
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GOOD INSIDE PARENTING READING GROUP
Parents, Grandparents, and folx who are involved with raising children are invited to participate in this parenting reading group hosted by Rev. Dr. Carter. We will be reading Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy. What I especially appreciate about this book is that her assumption of inherent goodness in parents and children theologically aligns with our belief that all people are created in the image of God and beloved. There will be multiple groups, at least one of which will meet online. If you want to participate, please email Rev. Dr. Carter.
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PATH BREAKFAST MINISTRY
Saturday, March 23rd at PATH West LA (4th Saturday of Each Month)
We prepare and serve breakfast at PATH West LA (Cotner & Pico) to 30+ male veterans who live at this location. Arriving at 6am, part of the team shops at Smart & Final (directly across the street), and the other team members get things started in the kitchen. Menus is open to change, but often includes scrambled eggs, bacon, some baked bread (biscuits, cornbread), fruit salad, and donuts. Breakfast is served promptly at 7 am. (Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.) Sign up by contacting Maureen Schultz at maureen@westwoodumc.org.
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PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
Following the brutal escalation of violence and war in Israel and Palestine, we pray in compassion and grief for so much incomprehensible loss. We grieve with our siblings, holding prayer for those affected, and those presently in danger. We dare to pray for peace. You are also invited to contribute to humanitarian relief efforts through UMCOR, who continue to extend practical compassion throughout the region and around the world. Our Bishops in the UMC offer the following statement and invitation.
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WESTWOOD CHURCH VIDEO UPGRADE
Technology has transformed the way we are able to reach a community far beyond our local neighborhood and region, as we see in our services and meetings — and all activities here at Westwood. In order to most effectively share our church life with members and friends in all parts of the world, we are extending this critical request for your support: We invite you to please consider making a special and one-time contribution to Westwood UMC, enabling us to upgrade our tech and AV capabilities throughout the campus. Your gift will absolutely help strengthen our services, programs, and outreach. We hope to raise $65,000, to be matched with funds from our Trustees. We are grateful for all those who have already contributed, and invite others to consider a donation.
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MID-DAY PRAYER SERVICE
Tuesdays and Thursdays (12noon) via Facebook Live
We invite you to stop, take a deep breath, and join us for a few moments of centering scripture, reflection and prayer. Led from our beautiful sanctuary, Mid-Day Prayer is live at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Westwood Church Community Facebook Group. Or, you can pray with us whenever you are able, later in the day. If you’re new to this group, go to www.facebook.com/groups/westwood.umc and click on the “Join Group” button at the top of the page.
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SANCTUARY ALTAR FLOWERS
Ever thought about sponsoring the flowers on the altar? It’s a wonderful way to honor or remember a loved one, celebrate a special event or milestone, or just make the Sanctuary space more beautiful! Cost is $85. You can even partner with a friend, committee, or other church group to help defray the cost. For more info or to sign up for a specific Sunday, please contact Sabrina Simmons at 310.474.451 or sabrina@westwoodumc.org.
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EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: GOOD SAMARITAN FUND
During this unusual time of pandemic, our Covid-19 Relief Fund has been able to provide needed assistance to fill unmet financial needs for congregation members and others in our community. Moving forward, this fund is now able to provide assistance where needed, not only related to the Covid pandemic. So, we are renaming the fund as our Good Samaritan Fund. We will continue to use it to assist with unforeseen circumstances and needs. To that end, we want to encourage you to donate to the fund as you are able. Every recipient has been deeply appreciative of the assistance we have been able to provide. We invite you to make donations to the church marked “Good Samaritan Fund” so that we can continue to meet needs as they surface. If you find yourself needing assistance during this time, please let us know by reaching out to Pastor Molly Vetter at molly@westwoodumc.org or Rev. Dr. Carter at christopher@theloftla.org. This invitation extends to your communities as well—if you know of anyone in need, we want to try and relieve that need as much as possible.
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COMMUNITY UPDATES
We invite you to share updates about yourself with our Westwood UMC community to be included in this weekly church eNews–to keep us connected in this time of physical separation. (Please send updates to sabrina@westwoodumc.org.)
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PRAYER LIST
If you would like to be added to our church prayer list, please let us know via this online form. (You can indicate whether you want your name shared here in the e-news or just with our pastors.)
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