Weekly E-News

Monday, November 13, 2017

All Westmorelanders are invited to the Congregational Meeting this Sunday, November 19 after worship. We will go vote on the 2017 Nominations, the 2017 Budget, and the proposed change to include the phrase "gender identity" in our Open and Affirming Statement.

Our children will have snacks to sell as a fundraiser for Thrive DC.

Worship Last Sunday, November 12:

Tim continued his Sermon Series on "Spending the Holidays with the First Family" with "The Bible Versus the Bible: How to Disagree."



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Pastor's Class on the Seven Sins - Weekdays at Noon

Tim will lead a conversation every Wednesday in the parlor about the book, “The Virtue in the Vice: Finding Seven Lively Virtues in the Seven Deadly Sins,” by Robin Myers. Myers is the pastor of Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. In the book, Myers explores the connection between virtues and vices. For example, he says that emulation and envy are related. Participants may order the book ahead of time or just show up to join the conversation.

Alternative Worship Experience -

Saturday, November 18 at 5:00 pm

Please join us for an informal, contemplative, alternative worship experience that will include meditation, group prayer, pass-the-cup Communion, Taize singing, and plenty of time for sharing joys and concerns. We hope to see you there!

 

So Others Might Eat - 16th Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger

Please join us in supporting the hungry and homeless in Washington, DC by participating in SOME’s Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger starting at Freedom Plaza in DC at 9:00 am on Thursday, November 23, or by donating to support a participant! Go to www.some.org for more information.

 

Help Westmoreland’s Children with Fundraising

In conjunction with the Board of Social Justice and Action, the children of Westmoreland are asking you to contribute to a fundraiser for Thrive, Inc, a DC non-profit providing food, shelter, and clothing to those in need. Thrive has recently lost a great deal of its government funding, so we are trying to help as we are able. 

This Sunday, November 19, during Fellowship Hour, our children will be offering a simple snack and asking for your contributions. Please bring a check made out to Westmoreland, with Thrive on the memo line. Checks may also be sent to the church any time up until the end of November.

December Benefit Concert - Saturday, December 9 at 7:00 pm

Join us on Saturday, December 9 at 7:00 pm for a Benefit Concert featuring the Festival Chorus, along with guest orchestra and soloists. The musicians will perform Vivaldi’s Gloria, along with works of winter, wilderness, and wonder. Free to all!

All proceeds will be donated to Thrive in conjunction with the fundraiser run by the children of Westmoreland. For more information about Thrive, see the above announcement or go to www.thrivedc.org.

 

Sabbatical Plans for 2018

 

Rev. Tim Tutt, our Senior Minister, will be on sabbatical from January 1 through April 1, 2018. Tim had planned to take his sabbatical this fall but deferred that due to staff changes.

 

Rev. Tom Lenhart has agreed to serve as our Sabbatical Minister. Tom and his wife Lynn were active members here starting in 1978 up until Tom left his work as a lawyer to attend Harvard Divinity School from 2002 to 2005. Tom was ordained in 2005, then served as the minister at First Congregational Church of Chappaqua, NY. After retiring from that role, Tom served as the interim pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church in Brooklyn. Tom will be our Sabbatical Minister from January 3 through Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018. We look forward to welcoming Tom and Lynn back “home” to Westmoreland.

 

During his sabbatical, Tim will take two classes in his Doctorate of Ministry program and will work on his D. Min. Project. His project is tentatively entitled “Preaching Peace.” He will examine and compare sermons preached at Westmoreland during times of war in the 20th Century. He will also use the sabbatical time to worship with other congregations, especially Macedonia Baptist Church, the historically African American church in River Road in Bethesda.

 

We look forward to having Rev. Lenhart with us and are fortunate to have our talented staff in place during the sabbatical time. Thanks to Adam, Alec, Farid, Janet, Pat, Martell, and Samantha.

Shaw Community Center Urgently Needs Our Help  

In these turbulent times, the political reality for funding out-of-school time programs has changed. SCC can no longer rely on DC and federal pass-through funding as it has for a decade. In addition to its current site at Lincoln Temple UCC, Shaw is opening a new site and expanding its programming. It hopes to raise $50,000 by the end of the year to tide it over while finding new sources of funds. You can donate (including a recurring amount) by going to www.shawcommunity.org or by sending a check to Shaw Community Center, 1701 11 ^th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.

Volunteers Needed to Assist Refugees

The Westmoreland Refugee Support Group is working with the network of Montgomery County faith groups to assist refugees who now qualify to apply for Green Cards. We are seeking lawyers who are willing to assist applicants, ideally pro bono. Please contact Nancy Pielemeier at [email protected] or 202-577-6389 if you can help in this way.

Shaw Community Center Urgently Needs Your Help

In these turbulent times, the political reality for funding out-of-school time programs has changed. SCC can no longer rely on DC and federal pass-through funding as it has for a decade. In addition to its current site at Lincoln Temple UCC, Shaw is opening a new site, and expanding its programming. It hopes to raise $50,000 by the end of the year to tide it over while finding new sources of funds.

How to donate: You can donate (including a recurring amount) here or send a check to Shaw Community Center, 1701 11 ^th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.