West Wind
Westwood Baptist Church Newsletter
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The Same Old Thing Again? by Mike Eddinger When I was younger, and could stay awake a lot longer than I can now, I never missed Monday Night Football with Frank Gifford and “Dandy” Don Meredith. I remember when the game reached a point where “Dandy” Don was of the opinion the outcome had been decided, he would burst forth with a melancholy rendition of Willie Nelson’s Turn Out The Lights, The Party’s Over. Don’t ask me why, but a couple of weeks ago, late in the evening of October 5, that song came to my mind. It was a wonderful day of worship and celebration at Westwood. Marilyn and I, along with my Mom and all of our family, were absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and joy. The installation service was one of the most emotional and inspiring events of my life as representatives of our affiliated organizations along with our children, youth, deacons, and congregation came to welcome us to the Westwood Pastorate. And then, God so powerfully used the wonderful message brought by Charles Allard to challenge all of us for the work ahead, as we entered into a covenant of unity to continue our journey of joining God in his work. We were awed by the beauty and elegance of the reception and humbled by the amount of effort so many people willingly and joyously gave to make it happen. What a magnificent time of fellowship and celebration! But then that song came to my mind, Turn Out The Lights, The Party’s Over. I suppose part of it was the necessary decompression that must always follow such times of high excitement in our lives. Our bodies can’t maintain that kind of adrenaline rush without eventual relief. But as that song played in my mind, I came to the last line of the chorus – Let’s call it a night, the party’s over, and tomorrow starts the same old thing again. The pessimism of that line bothered me tremendously. The same old thing again shouldn’t be true, especially not for Christians! In 2 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that in Christ, each of us is a “new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Furthermore, I believe God’s creative energy is always more process than event. As his children, God wants to continually keep “creating” us, moving us ever forward to be the people he’s called us to be in Christ. Max Lucado puts it well when he says, “God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way.” As believers saved by God’s grace, we’re all somewhere on that continuum of where we started and where God wants us to be, but NEVER should our lives be the same old thing again. “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b-14, NIV). With God’s guidance and enabling power, let’s keep that as our focus as we grow and serve together. |
| Weekly Activities
Monday Tuesday Wednesday |
| Minister on Call
If you have a ministerial need over the weekend please contact the minister on call: 1st
& 2nd Mike Eddinger
*Look
every month in the West Wind for the |
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| November Sermon Topics Theme: Profiles in Faith 2nd - A
Tale of Two Offerings 9th - Keeping Your Head
Above Water 16th - A Hard Walk 23rd - Finding Blessing
in the Struggle 30th - Bloom Where You're
Planted
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| Mission Statement A
community of believers
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Nov. 2 ~ 11:30am, Spaghetti Lunch Fundraiser Nov.
8 ~ 6:15pm, Free Pizza for all Youth Nov.
9 ~ 2:45pm, HeartFields Nov. 14 ~ 6:00-9:00pm, Help with ‘Kids Night Out’ Nov. 16 ~ YAC Nov. 23 ~ 6:00pm, Thanksgiving Service Nov. 26 ~ No Wednesday Night Activities Nov.
30 ~ 6:00pm, Candlelight Advent Service Wednesday Schedule
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A thank you note has been received from Spurgeon & Sara Cooke, Cindy Bolden and HeartFields Assisted Living. Please stop by the bulletin board in Hall A to read their words of appreciation. |
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Thanksgiving Service Sunday, November 23, 6pm Please note that this year we are having the Thanksgiving Service on Sunday instead of on Wednesday. We hope this will be more convenient for you and that you will make plans to join us on Nov. 23 at 6:00 p.m. for this service
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Christmas At Westwood “Wonders
of His Love”
Missions Brunch
Global Missions Offering Ingathering
“Messiah” performed by
Christmas Program presented by the
Westwood Covered Dish Christmas Party
“Behold the Christ Child”
Christmas Eve Service
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Operation Christmas Child Christmas will
soon be here and Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful way to get
excited about the holiday season. Our collection week will be Nov.
17-23. Please bring your decorated and filled box to the church
by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23. The GA’s are wrapping a limited
number of shoe boxes for Westwood members to take and fill with gifts.
The boxes will be in front of the Media Center, please help yourself
as they are available or feel free to use your own boxes. Thank you
for your commitment to this unique missions project. |
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International Christmas Carol Service Date: Saturday, November
15
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Men's Prayer Breakfast November 22, 8am Richard Brunson, Executive
Director of NC Baptist Men, will be our guest speaker. We will be
discussing mission projects for the coming year. Frank Prince and
his crew will prepare breakfast. Your spouse and children are invited
to attend. Breakfast is free but you need to sign up in Hall A. |
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Global
Missions Offering |
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Kids Night Out! November 14 |
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Wednesday Evening Bible Study As Christians, we are called to grow in our spiritual lives just as we grow physically. Are you moving forward in your relationship with God, or are you experiencing a time of spiritual stagnation? During November and December on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 until 7:30, Pastor Mike will lead a five part study on selected passages from Acts. Come be a part of this study and learn how to regain momentum in your Christian walk. Forward Movement: Five Ways to Grow in Your Personal Relationship with God Selected Studies from The Acts of the Apostles November 5: Embrace God’s
Mission; |
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Worship 24/7 The youth will host a youth led contemporary worship service on Saturday, November 8, at 7:00 p.m. Drama and music will be led by the youth and the message from Mark 10:17-21 will be presented by Pastor Mike Eddinger. |
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Collection for Serviceman The single adults are collecting items to send to Will Baumgartner in Iraq. Will is a member of the Singles Class. His latest email indicates that he may be in Iraq until March 2009. A box has been placed in Rm. 209 if you would like to put candy, cookies, mints, calling cards, books, crossword puzzles or other similar books, etc. in it. It will be shipped to him at the end of each month through Jan. 31. In November, please wrap your donation like a Christmas gift.
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