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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EASTER OFFERING
We invite you to contribute to our Easter special offering. Your gifts will be shared among three projects that are extending care and compassion into our community: the Echo Park Immigration Center, 580 Cafe at UCLA, and our Good Samaritan Fund. You can make a contribution online or in person by bringing a donation marked as “Easter offering.” Your gifts provide material support to embody the hope we claim in Christ.
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WISDOM AT WESTWOOD – RIDE ON, JESUS: PALM SUNDAY IN THE GOSPELS
Sunday, April 13th (11am) Wesley Room and via Zoom
When Jesus rides into Jerusalem that fateful day, he does so in four quite different ways, depending on which Gospel one reads. We will take a brief look at all four of them, note their uniqueness, and try to discern just why this ride was so important to each of our Gospel writers. Join Rev. Dr. John Holbert for this engaging time of learning and conversation.
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HOLY WEEK AND EASTER AT WESTWOOD
For all service times, please visit www.EasterAtWestwood.com.
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NEW BOOK GROUP: THE BOOK OF LONGINGS
Tuesdays starting April 22nd (12:30-1:30pm) Westwood UMC
Wednesdays starting April 23rd (7:30-8:30pm) Zoom
The plan is to cover about 100 pages per week and aim for a four-week book group. We will be using discussion questions found at the back of the teacher’s edition as a starting point for our conversations. All are welcome to participate. To sign up, contact Dr. Carter at [email protected].
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SPIRITUALITY FOR THE EARTH
Sunday, April 27th (11am) Wesley Room and via Zoom
Pastor Molly Vetter will teach about how our faith gives us tools to better care for the earth, and how our care for the earth can help better practice our faith. This class continues our church celebration of Earth Day, and builds on our ongoing commitment to care for our planet.
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AUTISM INTERACTIONS SOLUTIONS TRAINING
Sunday, April 27th (12noon) Upper Helms Hall
Come learn about working with and alongside neurodivergent people to help make Westwood a more welcoming and accessible place for all of us! Autism Interaction Solutions is an organization dedicated to providing engaging, hands-on training to assist communities in becoming better places for neurodivergent people. Join us and be a part of embracing diversity and inclusion at Westwood! This training is open to anyone interested. To RSVP or receive additional information, contact Everest Harvey at [email protected].
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2025 ORGAN CONCERT SERIES AT WESTWOOD UMC
Join us in person at Westwood UMC or via YouTube livestream for three 60-minute concerts performed on the landmark Shaffer Memorial Organ. For more information and opportunities to provide financial support for the series, please click here.
Peter Fennema – Sunday, June 15th (3pm)
Dr. Emma Whitten – Sunday, June 29th (3pm)
Jason Klein-Mendoza – Sunday, July 13th (3pm).
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PATH BREAKFAST MINISTRY
Saturday, April 26th 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 Everest Harvey at [email protected].
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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 [email protected].
Culver City Group – 1st and 3rd Sundays
Westwood Group – 2nd and 4th Thursdays
Young Adult Group – 1st Wednesdays
Men’s Group – 3rd Wednesdays
Mom’s Group – Sundays
Queer Group – 2nd and 4th Sundays
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PRAYERS FOR PEACE
Amid unending violence in the Holy Land, we are bold to pray for peace. As people of compassion, we grieve with our siblings, holding prayer for those affected, and those presently in danger. We pray also for peace and compassion in our own nation, amid rising voices of destructive Christian nationalism. We invite you to read statements from our UMC Bishops regarding political extremism and a call for a ceasefire in Gaza. You are also invited to contribute to humanitarian relief efforts through UMCOR, who continue to extend practical compassion throughout the world.
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WESTWOOD CHURCH VIDEO UPGRADE
Though our project has been delayed because of staffing needs, we are still committed to moving forward toward installing an upgraded system for livestreaming and recording our worship. We are still grateful to receive additional donations, and invite you 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 [email protected].
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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 [email protected] or Rev. Dr. Carter at [email protected]. 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 [email protected].)
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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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