Weekly E-News
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Join the choir on the Chancel at 9:00 am on Sunday, October 15 for easy-to-learn works that we'll sing in worship that morning. Singers of all skill levels are welcome!
Worship Next Sunday, October 15:
Tim will conclude his Sermon Series on "Pigs, People, and Possibilities" with "Shopping with Jesus"

This Sermon Series focuses each week on a different aspect of the same Scripture passage - the story of Jesus restoring a possessed man in Mark 5:1-20.
“500: A Study of the Reformation”
 
Join Tim for a Pastor’s Class on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation every Wednesday from noon to 1:00 pm through October 25 here at Westmoreland. Everyone is welcome to take part!   
Potluck Dinner for Families with Younger Kids
Hosted by JoJo, Yonce, & Cole Shelton
Saturday, October 14 at 5:00 pm

Join Yonce, JoJo, and Cole at their home (5017 Brookdale Road in Bethesda) for a potluck dinner - all are welcome! There will be a mix of people from Westmoreland UCC and other friends and neighbors with younger kids. We'll have some drinks (for both kids and adults), plates, utensils, cups, kitchen supplies, and an oven and stove fired up to reheat your dish. 

Please invite friends and neighbors to join you!
Sunday’s Middle East Committee Features Westmoreland’s Jim Burridge

Recognizing that past US positions continue to drive events in the larger Middle East today, Jim Burridge will describe the role of American policy toward Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. Jim brings special expertise to the topic, having studied and written about it for many years. Everyone is invited to the meeting at 11:45 am in the church parlor.

All-Church Retreat
Friday, October 20 to Sunday, October 22

Join us for a weekend of making new friendships and renewing old ones, spiritual renewal, and stunning physical beauty on the Chesapeake Bay. Friday evening, enjoy songs and s’mores around the campfire. Saturday we will reflect on how we can better respond to racial injustice, including a conversation about “Just Mercy” (a powerful book about race and the criminal justice system) and an interactive activity to explore cultural barriers to communication. On Saturday afternoon, relax or try the giant swing, and join in evening intergenerational games. Sunday, we worship together in the midst of God’s beautiful creation. Even if you cannot join for the whole weekend, please come for Saturday. 

To register, fill out this form and email it to Samantha ([email protected]).
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!
Reformation Sunday Music featuring the Aeolus Quartet - Sunday, October 29
 
On Sunday, October 29, Westmoreland will celebrate the 500 th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation during worship with special musical guests the Aeolus Quartet. This is a featured group of musicians from the New Orchestra of Washington. They are joining us as part of NOW’s collaboration with Westmoreland as our Ensemble in Residence. The musical offering will feature a journey through the Lutheran Musical Heritage, including works by Luther himself, along with Bach, Schütz, Mendelssohn, and others.
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!
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. We request that Westmorelanders bring a “table-ready” side-dish to serve 8.
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.
Westmoreland Volunteer Corps Seeks Interim Community Counselor

The Westmoreland Volunteer Corps (WVC) is seeking an Interim Community Counselor to serve the current young adult volunteers through the rest of their year with WVC. Yonce Shelton is taking a full-time position with an area non-profit after five years as WVC community counselor. The Volunteer Corps is a one-year domestic volunteer service program sponsored by Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ. Five  young adults spend a year living in intentional community, grounded in shared values of faith, service, and justice that provide focus for their year. They are assisted by a community counselor, who offers support for community living, spiritual growth, as well as help adapting to a new and sometimes-stressful work environments. Click on the link to review the job description. If you are interested, please send a cover letter and resume to WVC board chair Nancy Van Meter at [email protected].  
Giving to Westmoreland
Look for information in the mail and via email about ways that you can support Westmoreland and our work in the world.
  
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.