"I remember feeling so tired of doing it all, so tired of
worrying about it all, so tired of being all to everyone that I laid my life
and my concerns before Jesus and made Him my personal Savior. I finally
realized how completely God could be trusted to love me, to give me
strength, to hold me close, and to forgive me. I have never walked alone
since that day."
Marsha B. (mother of three)
Baptism
At Westwood, we believe that baptism is for everyone who believes in Christ
and has chosen to follow Him. Baptism is a time of celebration. In baptism,
people express faith in Jesus Christ and publicly acknowledge their commitment
to Him.
Symbolism of Baptism
Scripture teaches that baptism is a symbol of Christ’s death, burial, and
resurrection - that as believers we were buried with Christ and then raised with
Him. Thus, baptism symbolizes the passing of our old life and the beginning of
our new life as a Christian. Though baptism does not save us in and of itself,
it does allow us to demonstrate publicly that we have chosen to follow Christ.
As Jesus Commanded
Baptism is an important expression of faith. Jesus commanded that his
followers be baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism
demonstrates one’s belief in Christ and a willingness to obey His teachings.
Method of Baptism
The Greek New Testament word for baptism literally means “to dip or immerse.”
At Westwood, we follow this example. We believe immersion in water preserves and
fulfills this meaning of baptism. It best symbolizes our union with Christ, our
spiritual cleansing and forgiveness, and our promised resurrection.
When We Baptise
Westwood holds outdoor baptism services at the beginning and end of summer at
area lakes. We also have indoor baptism opportunities during the school year.
Westwood seeks to honor God in all that is done. Two words
describe our vision well receiving and giving. We enjoy a life of faith when
we openly receive what God wants to give us and when we generously give His
love to others.
Communion
How often do we celebrate the Lord's Supper?
The Bible does not say how often it should be celebrated but the book of Acts
indicates that the early church partook of the elements frequently and that the
experience typically included a time of teaching, fellowship together and prayer
(Acts 2:42). At Westwood we observe communion the first Sunday of the month with
the exception of the month of Easter when communion is observed during the
Maundy Thursday service.
What does the Bible tell us about the Lord's Supper?
It was instituted by Jesus Christ before His death. “And he took bread, gave
thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for
you; do this in remembrance of me.’” -Luke 22:19 (NIV) You can capture the
essence of what communion is in one word, “remember.” Jesus is asking us to take
the bread and drink from the cup so we won’t forget who He is and what He did
for us on the cross. He knew that the pace of life and the challenges we face,
as well as life’s heartbreaks, could converge and cause our memory to fade
concerning the importance of what Christ has done for us. Our memory fades, so
does our worship, and so does our wonder.
It is for believers who are prepared to remember the Lord.
“Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an
unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the
Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of
the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord
eats and drinks judgment on himself. “ -1 Corinthians 11:27-29 (NIV) You do not
have to be a member of Westwood to participate in communion. You do need to be a
follower of Christ walking in right relationship with Him. Each time communion
is offered at Westwood an invitation is given for each person to make their
relationship right with God before they partake of the bread and the cup. For
those who have been away from the Lord for a long time the communion experience
can be a welcomed and powerful invitation to come home to God.
It is a time to remember Christ and our new relationship
with God through faith in Him. “In the same way, after supper he took the
cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever
you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”
1 Corinthians 11:25 (NIV)
The Bread and the Cup
Communion includes bread, which represents His body, God coming in the flesh,
and the cup, which represents Christ’s blood, shed on the cross for our
forgiveness of sin. “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a
participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a
participation in the body of Christ?” -1Corinthians 10:16 (NIV)
The
bread and the cup are symbols or reminders that picture our salvation. The
Lord’s Supper is a picture of His sacrificial death to secure salvation for us.
Some church traditions believe the elements literally become the body and blood
of Christ. We do not believe the Bible teaches this, but rather that the bread
and cup are symbols to help us remember Him.
A covenant means an
“arrangement made by one party which the other party involved can accept or
reject but cannot alter.” God, the “Arranger” of the new covenant, was offering
through His Son a new and better way. We can accept or reject His offer. But we
can’t alter it.
It anticipates Christ’s return and we will practice
communion until He comes again. “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this
cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” -1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV)
Can children participate in the communion service?
Children are welcome to participate in communion. Westwood believes that
participation in communion is an individual decision. The church doesn’t decide
for you or for your children. You determine the readiness of a child to
participate. We encourage each parent to spend time with their children and
explain the wonder and significance of this service. We suggest the following
questions, based on God’s directives, as a guideline for discerning a child’s
readiness. 1. Has your child made a personal decision to follow Jesus Christ as
his or her Savior and Lord? 2. Have you explained to your child the meaning
behind the elements of the communion service? Does your child demonstrate an age
appropriate understanding of the symbolism involved in the Communion Service? 3.
Has your child requested to participate? If so, do the reasons behind the
request reflect a biblical understanding of the Communion Service? Answering
“yes” to these questions, indicates a clear understanding of His death and
resurrection and a readiness to participate in the Communion Service. If you
would like a pastor to assist you in clarifying the meaning of the Lord’s
Supper, please call the church office (952-224-7300).