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Westmoreland Windows Weekly E-News
Monday, March 21, 2016
Follow Up to Yesterday's Emergency

During the service yesterday, Ralph Atchison had a "health blip." His fellow choir members and then Denis Filips and Krista Brodie offered medical assistance and called 911.
 
We departed the sanctuary to give space to emergency personnel and adjourned to the social hall where we prayed for Ralph, shared communion with each other, and shared our gifts with the world in the form of our offering.
 
My deep thanks to you all for your concern for Ralph, your flexibility in changing locations, and your care for each other and for the world.
 
The good news is that Ralph is home and seems to be fine. Thanks to David Batson for accompanying him to the hospital and keeping an eye on him.
 
What I saw yesterday was love, kindness, and compassion. Our time of prayer, communion and offering downstairs was informal, a bit confusing, tinged with worry. And it was supportive, gracious, and powerful. I said to several people that what we experienced together downstairs was true church; what we do upstairs seems to be a rehearsal for the kind of moments we experienced downstairs.
 
Thank you for being the church together yesterday.
 
If you would like to send Ralph a note of good wishes, his mailing address is:

Ralph Atchison
4826 Butterworth Place NW
Washington, DC 20016-4357

In yesterday's sermon, I invited us to consider how we speak words of peace in a violent world, how we seek reconciliation in a fractured political climate, how we see all people as children of God. Holy Week invites to walk through betrayal, pain, death, grief and doubt as we make our way to new life, to new ways of being. As a nation, we need new life, new ways of being. I hope your Holy Week walks you in that way.
 
Continue to pray for Ralph and for one another. Share your thoughts and hopes with each other. I look forward to sharing Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday with you. 
 
Love, peace and grace to you . . . and to all the world.
 
Timothy B. Tutt
Senior Minister
In this issue . . .
Sign Up for Coffee Hour
Sermon Archives
Sermons on iTunes
Calling All Artists
Marie Reed Tutoring
Westmorelanders Against Gun Violence
Holy Week
Easter Flower Sign-Up
Church School Fun
Children's Collection
Adult Spiritual Formation
Film Series & Potluck
StillReading
Attendance Challenge Update
Sign Up for Coffee Hour!

Coffee Hour is a time to welcome guests and to strengthen relationships within our church community. This ministry is vital to the life, spirit, and growth of our church. Beverages (coffee, tea, water, juice/lemonade) and tableware are provided by Westmoreland. Food is a welcome addition and is provided by Coffee Hour Host(s). Please sign up to host coffee hour (once per year is recommended) with your family or pair-up with another member of the church.  Click here to sign up!


Thanks,  Stacey Fannon

Sermons Online 

 

Be sure to visit our Sermon Archives to read or listen to past sermons.  

 

Westmoreland Sermons on iTunes!   

You can subscribe to the Westmoreland Sermons on iTunes Podcast!  Search for "Westmoreland Sermons" or click the icon below.

 
Calling All Artists!
 
The Arts Committee of Westmoreland is planning an all church art exhibition.   For this exhibit we want to display the artistic expressions of children and adults, across as many genres as possible.  This is an opportunity to share your artistic side with others in the church community.   All are welcome.   Given space restrictions, we need to limit the number of art pieces submitted to three per pe rson.
 
Installation of the exhibit will be April 22 and 23, with the opening on Sunday April 24th. Each piece needs to be brought ready to hang, or otherwise exhibited. Please identify your work with your name on each piece and if you choose, a brief description of your art.
 
Please notify Marge Harvey of your contribution to the exhibit no later than April 14.  
Marie Reed Tutoring
Saturday April 9 and April 23, 9:00am
 
We will tutor at Marie Reed Learning Center on the following Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. til 11:30 a.m.  Be sure to arrive a little before 9am.If you haven't done this before, please contact me for directions.
 
Thanks for you help.
 
Pete Davis, 202-365-7624
Westmorelanders for Gun Violence Prevention
Sunday, April 10, 11:30, Library

Are you interested in preventing gun violence in our community and in our nation? If so, you are invited to this meeting as we revive our church-based gun violence prevention group. Contact Tim Tutt for more information.
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Holy Week
 
March 24   Maundy Thursday
We will be joined by the French-speaking Protestant Church             and the German Lutheran Church.
7:00pm  Potluck Supper - Bring a dish to share. All are welcome!
8:00pm  Worship Service - The service will include hymns, scripture-reading, foot-washing and hand-washing, and communion.
 
March 27   Easter Sunday
7:00am  Sunrise Service
8:00am  Light Breakfast
10:00am  Festive Worship with Brass, Bells & Choir
11:30am   Easter Egg Hunt & Games for Children
11:30am  Coffee Hour with Mimosas - Easter Sunday coffee hour immediately following 10am worship. The Board of Membership & Fellowship will provide finger food, coffee, and the ever-popular mimosas. Email Keller Staley with questions at [email protected].
Easter Flower Sign-Up
Orders must be received by noon on Tuesday, March 22.

Westmoreland's Flower Committee invites everyone to celebrate Easter and honor loved ones by donating $15 toward the special floral arrangements that will fill the sanctuary on Easter Sunday.

To participate, please fill out and submit this form no later than Tuesday, March 22, for inclusion in the Easter Sunday bulletin on March 27. Donors will be invited to take plants after the worship service.
Church School Activity

Yesterday our church school classes decorated lunch boxes and wrote cards of appreciation for Seabury Resources for Aging's 2016 Senior Celebration.  Each year Seabury Resources for Aging partners with the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and the United Church of Christ Potomac Association to honor the older adult members of our congregations who enrich us with their service. This year's Senior Celebration will take place at Washington National Cathedral at 10:00am on Wednesday, April 27. 



Children's Collection in March: 
Games & Books for 11-18 Year Olds   
 
In March we will collect new games and books for 11-18 year olds for Sasha Bruce Youthworks (a Westmoreland Volunteer Corps host agency and Westmoreland Social Justice grant recipient). Sasha Bruce strives to improve the lives of homeless, runaway, abused and neglected youth and their families in the Washington, DC area. They help young people find safe homes, achieve and maintain good health, create and strengthen supportive and stable families, and explore opportunities in education and careers.
Adult Spiritual Formation: "Grounded: Finding God in the World" by Diana Butler Bass
Sundays, 9:00am, Library
 
We will explore Diana Butler Bass' new book, and reflect on the question "Where is God?" For more information contact Rev. Kassim.
Film Series and Potlucks
Last Wednesdays of the month, 6:30pm, Parlor
 
Wednesday, March 30: "Dust" - a short video exploring the questions of what does it mean to believe in God, and what does it mean to believe that God believes in us?
 
Wednesday, April 27: "A Place at the Table" - a documentary about food insecurity and hunger. We will have a very special meal this evening based on what most of the world's population has for dinner!
 
Wednesday, May 25: "Capitalism: A Love Story" - a documentary that explores the social costs of pursuing profits over the common good.
 
Hosted by the Board of Spiritual Formation. Come one, come all!
Read a great book for Spring Break!
Sunday, April 17, 4:30-6:00pm, Parlor
 
"Westmoreland's StillReading" book group will meet to discuss The Gate of Angels by Penelope Fitzgerald, the acclaimed author of The Bookshop, The Blue Flower, and other terrific novels.

At Cambridge University in 1912 the model of a universe governed by the Mind of God is giving way to a wholly rational universe governed by the Laws of Physics. For Fred Fairly this means that the demands of the soul will finally be seen for what they are: a distraction and an illusion. So why does he suddenly wonder whether it was simply a freak bicycle accident that put him literally into bed with the wholly mysterious Daisy?

Please join us for snacks and conversation!
200 People and 9 Pies
 
In his sermon on January 10, Rev. Tutt challenged the congregation to have worship attendance of 200 or more people for nine Sundays before June 12. If we have nine Sundays with attendance of 200 or more, Rev. Tutt will let the middle and high schoolers "pie" him with nine pies at our summer picnic on June 12, and he will bake nine pies for the congregation to enjoy for dessert at the picnic.  Here is an attendance update:
  
January 3        165     
January 10      196     
January 17      185     
January 24      no worship - bad weather
January 31      194
 
February 7    261
February 14     155
February 21     195
February 28  243
 
March 6          204
March 13          180
March 20        252
 
There are 11 Sundays before June 12. For the "pie-ing," we need attendance of 200 or more on six of those Sundays.