Volume One WESTWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH WESTWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH CHRISTMAS 2021Christmas AT WESTWOODOn Sunday, December 26, join us for a special worship encounter online that celebrates what God has done in the past and looks forward to good things in the future. Find more details on page 18. Make Westwood Christmas services special by volunteering. All you need to bring is your smile! We are currently in need of: Ushers Greeters Info Spot Hosts Kids Ministry Welcome Hosts Kids Ministry birth to 2-year-olds Kids Ministry 3 to 5-year-olds Christmas Decorating To sign up, visit: westwoodcc.org/christmas CHAPEL SERVICE MODERN SERVICES MODERN SERVICES FAMILY SERVICE MODERN SERVICES FAMILY SERVICE MODERN SERVICES FAMILY SERVICE MODERN SERVICES DEC 23 DEC 23 DEC 24 DEC 24 DEC 24 6:00 pm * 6:00* & 7:30 pm 6:00 & 7:30 pm 9:00 am 11:00 am * , 1:00* , 3:00* , 5:00* & 8:00 pm 9:00 am 11:00 am * , 1:00* , 3:00* , 5:00* & 8:00 pm 1:00 pm 3:00* & 5:00 pm * Chanhassen Online Bush Lake CHRISTMAS EVE *KIDS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE 34 Join us Saturday, December 4, for a Christmas event featuring live music, cookies, hot cocoa, crafts, live animals, and the opportunity to serve and bless others. All campuses will fill stockings with gifts and then will distribute these to local community and ministry partners including police stations, fire departments, schools and more. Event participants are invited to help distribute the stockings. In doing so, we will wish others a Merry Christmas and offer blessing and joy to those we meet. Stockings will include a few Christmas treats, a gift card to local businesses, an invitation to Westwood Christmas services, and a handwritten note of blessing. The Chanhassen Campus will also feature a food pack, in partnership with Humanity Alliance, to benefit families who experience food gaps during the weekends. Please note, registration is required for the food pack. Make an impact in the community this Christmas! Have Fun Together | Serve Together | Give Together 45 Invite your friends and neighbors and join us for a fun time as we serve and give together! For more information or to register for the food pack, visit westwoodcc.org/givetogether Bush Lake Campus December 4 3:00–5:00pm Chanhassen Campus December 4 4:00–8:00pm Westonka Campus (at Chanhassen) December 4 4:00–8:00pm 5Nancy Roberts and her husband Doug started attending West- wood in the fall of 2019. Nancy shared her experience of the loss of her parents and how she was affected through the holidays. “In 2013, my parents both died just three months apart. I was with my dad when he left this earth to be with Jesus and it is an experience I will never forget. My dad passed away at home, in his own bed with me reading Psalms to him. This experience started me on a new path in my life as a hospice volunteer. I feel blessed to be near people as they enter this stage of their life’s journey. Do I miss my parents? Absolutely! Celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas turns up the volume on how much they are missed. I try to honor them in my tradi- tions, however. Sometime after my parents died, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay During the Holidays I was going through their pa- pers. On this one pad of paper, my dad had written the same Bible passage in the corner of every page. Galatians 6:9–10 which says, “Let us not get tired of doing what is good. For at the right time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. So then, wherever we have the opportu- nity let us practice doing good to everyone, especially to the family of faith.” Westwood is my family of faith now. We share in life’s blessings and disappointments, belonging to many generations, but facing things together with the Lord as the center of our church family. Grief is challenging, especially during the holidays. Please plan now to be kind to yourself in the days ahead. Allow others to help you through. Remember, God made tears for cleansing, and it is ok to step away from It’s Okay to Not Be Okay During the Holidays 6the holiday cheer to cry, gather your feelings, and either return to the group or not. Allow family and friends to help get you home, be a listening ear, or just be present with you. You are loved beyond measure and your tender feelings matter.” Grief is challenging, especially during the holidays. Please plan now to be kind to yourself in the days ahead. Gary Roe is a grief counselor with many resources, both written and online. Please visit his website for free tips on handling holiday grief at garyroe.com 7The Oxford Dictionary defines “wholeness” as: the state of forming a complete and harmonious whole; unity; the state of being unbroken or undamaged. Wouldn’t it be nice to be a little less broken and damaged in our lives? From grief, provision, hurried- ness and everything in between, why look for some Neosporin and a band-aid, when we can look to Jesus for eternal healing and vigor. God gave us the sturdi- est anchor in him, and we can at times let the noise of this world lead us to forget the power we have through his sacrifice for eternity. Let our words be heard as we cry out “Jesus is King” this season and may our hearts be mended and made whole. Yahweh – We praise you for being the Great Architect in our lives, knowing all the answers so we do not have to bear that burden. We come to you now with fractured hearts and hungry souls. I pray that in this season you overflow us with your grace and truth. May we find refuge in you and your promises. May we forgo the possessions, power and striving for others to tap into the well of your heart instead Lord. May you quench our thirst for love and understanding, may our strivings cease, and your light fill up our souls. I pray that through your word and your ways that we are able to find the long sought-after whole- ness we ache for. I pray your hand will be on all that feel weak and remind us that is exactly where your power shines through to make us strong for your glory. I pray each heart will learn to re-harmonize with yours. Let us enter a state of being where your glory reigns and we find wholeness through you once again. In Jesus’ name, amen. A Prayer for Wholeness 8And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” REVELATION 21:3-5 (NIV) Christmas Playlist Prepare your heart for Christmas with this festive selection of Christmas favorites! O Come Let Us Adore Him Maverick City Music Hallelujah (Live) Chris Tomlin & Blessing Offor Glorious We The Kingdom Silent Night (Heavenly Peace) We The Kingdom & Dante Bowe & Maverick City Music Joy To The World Central Live Go Tell It On The Mountain Sarah Reeves Scan here to open this playlist in Spotify!Next >