Weekly E-News
Monday, October 23, 2017
Join NOW in celebrating Día de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead on Sunday, October 29 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, with Mozart’s magnificent Requiem in D Minor, featuring the voices of National Cathedral’s professional choir, Cathedra. Experience the vibrant culture of Mexico with two gorgeous contemporary works by Javier Alvarez and Emmanuel Arias Y Luna, performed by NOW’s new
string quartet, the Aeolus Quartet.

General Admission: $30
Students & Youth (12-18): $15
Kids (Under 12): Free

Use the promo code WESTMORELANDNOW for 2-for-1 tickets! Click here for more.
NOW is Westmoreland's Ensemble-in-Residence.
Worship Next Sunday, October 29:
Sunday is 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Adam Barth will preach "Sola Fide?"

Our music will feature a journey through the Reformation musical traditions, i ncluding works by Martin Luther himself, along with Bach, Schütz, Mendelssohn, and others, performed by special musical guests the Aeolus Quartet.
Property Committee Hosting Men's Group - Tomorrow, October 24 (Women Invited!)

Property Committee will host a "Working Party" on October 24 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (or until all the work is done) at the church to help clean out some spaces and prepare them for the work that will be done by Summit Construction. We are going to be moving various things (both large and small) to new homes, taking down and putting up shelving, and cleaning out and organizing storage spaces.

A catered lunch will be served at noon, so the Property Committee needs to know the number of people who will be attending the Working Party. If you plan to attend, even for only a couple of hours, please let Roy Grossnick ([email protected]) know!
Join the Team for the Walk & 5K to End HIV - Saturday, October 28
LJ Ingram, Chair of the Potomac Association LGBTQ Task Force, is inviting everyone to join our sister UCC churches on the Association team at the 31 st annual Walk & 5K to End HIV. This walk and run will benefit the HIV programs and services of Whitman-Walker Health. HIV remains an epidemic in DC and Whitman-Walker Health focuses on services and education designed to prevent transmission of the virus and provide care to those who are infected. The Walk & 5K to End HIV is a vital part of ensuring we have the resources to continue our support of at-risk and HIV-positive populations.

  • To join our team and participate with us on October 28, please begin here. 
  • To sponsor our team, you may donate directly (with credit to our team) here.
  • To buy a t-shirt to help our cause (a percentage of the proceeds are credited to our team), click here. Order prior to October 3 to have the shirt in time for the event!
  • For further Information on UCC Potomac Association's participation, go to the Fundraising Page.

We’ll see you on October 28!
NOW Concert - Sunday, October 29
from 3:00 to 6:00 pm

Join NOW in celebrating Día de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration, with Mozart’s magnificent Requiem in D Minor, featuring the voices of National Cathedral’s professional choir,
Cathedra. Experience the vibrant culture of Mexico with two gorgeous contemporary works by Javier Alvarez and Emmanuel Arias Y Luna, performed by NOW’s new string-quartet-in-residence, the Aeolus Quartet.

General Admission: $30
Students & Youth (12-18): $15
Kids (Under 12): Free

Use the promo code WESTMORELANDNOW for 2-for-1 tickets!
New Weekday Study - Wednesdays at Noon Beginning November 1

Tim Tutt 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, emulation and envy are related he says. Participants may order the book ahead of time or just show up to join the conversation.

  • Nov 1 - Intro & Worthiness/Pride
  • Nov 8 - Emulation/Envy
  • Nov 15 - Righteous Indignation/Anger
  • Nov 22 - No Study
  • Nov 29 - Holy Eros/Lust
  • Dec 6 - Communion/Gluttony
  • Dec 13 - Wanting Wisely/Greed
  • Dec 20 - Contentment/Sloth & Conclusion
Names to Include for All Saints' Remembrance

All Saints’ Sunday is Sunday, November 5. As part of our worship service, we will name and remember those who have died since November 1, 2016. If you have names of people who have died in the past year to include in our remembrance, please pass along those names to Samantha ( [email protected] ) by noon on Wednesday, November 1.
Learn About the Upcoming Vote to Include Gender Identity in
Our Open & Affirming Statement

The Governance Council has unanimously voted to propose a change to our Open and Affirming
Statement. The Statement, approved in 1999, says, “We are an open church, affirming the dignity and worth of every person as created in the image of God, welcoming into our fellowship people of all ages, races, abilities and sexual orientation who acknowledge Christ as our foundation and who seek to embody the mind and spirit of Jesus.” The proposal is to change that sentence to read, “…welcoming into our fellowship people of all ages, races, abilities, sexual orientation, and gender identity who acknowledge…”  

The Governance Council has set a congregational vote to take place at the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, November 19, on this change. In preparation for this vote, Tim Tutt will lead three informational sessions about the proposal: Sunday, November 5 at 9:00 am; Monday, November 6 at noon; Thursday, November 9 at 7:00 pm. Church members are encouraged to come to whichever session works for their schedule.
Tables of Thanksgiving - Sunday, November 5
 
The Board of Membership & Fellowship invites everyone to celebrate the abundance of our blessings at the annual Tables of Thanksgiving after worship on November 5. BMF will provide the turkey, trimmings, dessert, and utensils.

Please bring a “table-ready” side-dish to serve 8.
Westmoreland's StillReading Book Group Meets Sunday, November 5

Westmoreland’s "StillReading” book group will meet on Sunday, November 5 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm in the Parlor to discuss “The Secret Scripture” by Sebastian Barry. This book combines two narratives, both focused on religious and political upheavals in Ireland during the 1920s-30s: Roseanne McNulty recounts her 100-year life spent mostly as a patient in a mental hospital, while chief psychiatrist Dr. Grene investigates how she came to be confined. The novel was awarded the Costa Award and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, and was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize. Please join us for discussion and snacks!
Rally to Save the Moses Cemetery
Sunday, November 12, 1:30 to 3:30 pm
Macedonia Baptist Church, 5119 River Road, Bethesda

From the late 1800s until the 1950s the area near the intersection of River Road and Westbard Avenue in Bethesda was home to a primarily African American community that was founded by freed slaves. Tax records from 1911 indicate that a parcel of land was used as the Moses Cemetery, a burial place for African American residents. Records of the cemetery disappear about 1959. Members of Macedonia Baptist Church on River Road and other descendants of persons buried there say that the Westwood Tower on Westbard Avenue was built over the cemetery in 1966. That parcel of land is now open for study as plans to redevelop Westbard are being proposed.

A parking garage is proposed on top of the old cemetery. Members of Macedonia Baptist Church, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), River Road Unitarian Church, and others are asking that the location of the cemetery be commemorated with historical markers and a museum. The land owners, the Housing Opportunities Commission, County planners, church members and others are engaged in ongoing conversations about this effort.

Macedonia Church is hosting a rally on November 12 to call attention to this effort. You are invited to take part.
Giving to Westmoreland & A Letter from Geoff Lilja, Stewardship Chair
Westmoreland Friends,

On October 15, we closed our service with the hymn, “We cannot own the Sunlit Sky,” by Ruth Rock. The words are a beautiful call to action – of how we are God’s instruments and how our blessings can touch others and give purpose to our lives:

 God calls humanity to wake, to join in common labor,
 that all may have abundant life in oneness with their neighbor
That new world beckons from afar, invites of shared endeavors,
that all may have abundant life and peace endure forever.

This month, we are on a ‘Journey to Generosity,’ as we prepare to pledge our planned 2018 contributions to Westmoreland – our spiritual home. As of this weekend, we have received 12 pledges in the amount of $70,000. Our goal of $575,000 will reduce our continuing reliance on the use of funds from our Permanent Endowment to fund our programs.

Westmoreland has always had a positive impact, and it can continue to be a transformative force in your life and in the lives of Washingtonians through your gifts. To those who have made and continue to make an annual contribution, we thank you. Would you be able to increase your financial gift this coming year? If you have not made an annual pledge in the past, please consider whether a regular gift would be
possible, so that we may better plan for 2018.

Remember as you fill out your pledge card or pledge online that God works through us to accomplish positive change and, together as a congregation, we can feed each other spiritually and be a difference for good.

Respectfully,
Geoffrey Lilja
  
Gifts to support the ongoing life of our church -- music and worship, spiritual formation programs, fellowship events, staff salaries, and building maintenance. 

Gifts to our four-year campaign to build a new entrance, add a new elevator, add a gender neutral restroom, and an updated kitchen. 

The five UCC offerings (plus our own outreach offering) that go across the country and around the world to meet needs.
 
Children's Collection
Items collect by our children in worship each Sunday to give to local helping groups.
Photo Directory Update

Due to numerous errors found in the roster portion of the new photo directory, it is going to be reprinted. We will not be distributing any additional copies and we are asking that those of you who already picked them up please return them and you will receive a corrected copy. These can be returned on Sundays in the narthex or to the office during the week. Thanks for your cooperation and we apologize for the inconvenience.
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.
The church's Office Hours are:
Mondays & Tuesdays, 10 am - 5 pm
Wednesdays, 12 - 3
Thursdays & Fridays 10 - 5 
Leaders and Helpers Needed to Teach Church School
Every week, we need one leader and one helper to teach Church School for the preschool class, the K - 2nd grade class, and the 3rd - 5th grade class. Click on the link below for more information or to sign up!
Ushers Needed
The Usher Service (US) here at Westmoreland is looking for folks who are willing to usher a few Sundays a year. We’ll train you! If interested, email Greg Perla, the Usher Coordinator, at [email protected]. Please join US!
Donate Flowers for Worship
Flowers add beauty and meaning to our Sunday worship service. Individuals or families may sign up for a date to donate with a dedication in the worship bulletin. Please contact the Flower Chairman, Judy Fogt by phone (301-229-1183) or email ([email protected]) and she will give you the details. And THANK YOU!
Sign Up to Host 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.