Dear Westwood Family, Walking from the church parking structure to our front doors today, I was struck by how beautiful the sunlight seemed as it lit the blossoms of the crape myrtle trees. I stepped back, to enjoy the view of our church spire through the...
Dear Westwood Family, This morning, my read through the LA Times online affirmed something I've been thinking about lately: what a gift intergenerational friendships are. (You can read the Times' take here.) I continue to believe that the relationships we are able to make across diversities are...
Dear Westwood Family, I hope this email finds you all doing well, and a special shout-out to the parents who are (quietly) celebrating the return of the school year! Given the number of graduate degrees I have, it may come as a surprise that I didn't...
Over the summer, I am inviting clergy members connected to our Westwood UMC congregation to serve as guest writers of our Pastoral Notes. This week, we are pleased to share words from Rev. Dr. John Holbert. I am grateful that he is a part of...
Dear Westwood Community, I hope this note finds you all doing well and having enjoyed the past few months of summer. I am excited to be returning to Westwood after my two-month writing leave. And while I was able to finish one essay and make significant...
Over the summer, I am inviting clergy members connected to our Westwood UMC congregation to serve as guest writers of our Pastoral Notes. This week, we are pleased to share words from Rev. Dr. Sharon Rhodes-Wickett. I am grateful that she is a part of...
After much prayer, voting, and discernment, I'm pleased to say that I will be remaining your Senior Pastor here at Westwood, and that I was not elected to be a bishop in the UMC. I believe that I am where God is calling me to...
Dear Westwood Family, I wanted to let you know, as our Western Jurisdictional Conference for the UMC begins today in Spokane, Washington, that I have decided to let my name go forward as a nominee in our election of new Bishops. This is a very new...
Over the summer, I am inviting clergy members connected to our Westwood UMC congregation to serve as guest writers of our Pastoral Notes. We are so glad that Rev. Dr. James Edwards is a part of our Westwood UMC congregation. Before retiring to Los Angeles with...
Over the summer, I am inviting clergy members connected to our Westwood UMC congregation to serve as guest writers of our Pastoral Notes. This week, we are pleased to share words from Rev. Karen Clark Ristine. I am grateful that they are a part of...