Dear Westminster Family:
This Sunday we will continue the series in I Peter that began last week. I gave a title to this series that reflects the challenge that Peter addressed in his day and that we face in ours. Regardless of the struggles we are forced to confront, God wants us to “Live Whole in this Broken World.”
Peter wrote to Jewish Christians who were experiencing persecution for their faith. He wrote to comfort them with the hope of eternal life and to challenge them to continue living holy lives. Those who suffer for being followers of Christ become partners with Christ in His suffering. As we suffer, we must remember that Christ is both our hope in the midst of suffering and our example of how to endure suffering faithfully. Our identification with Christ then becomes the demonstration of our faith to a broken world.
There was a television ad for an insurance company a number of years ago that used the following by-line…..”Tough times do not build character…they reveal character.” I believe that this is the point that Peter addresses in our text for this week. The struggles that we experience in our world today should surface the reality of Christ’s character in us. Let me encourage you to “look into the mirror” of God’s word (I Peter 1:13-26) as you prepare for our time together. I trust that you will see Jesus.
See you in church.
Pastor Gary
P.S.
SUMMER SUNDAYS, serve in Birth through 5th Grade: July 8-September 2 Join the Journey and step into the lives of children and youth this summer! Get to know other the kids in our church family, and to say “thank you” to our regular teachers who take this time off. We’ll train you and give you all the supplies you need…just be willing and loving. Sign Up Here! You’ll be blessed – AND will have a blast! Questions, contact gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@dnet1679521063srijk1679521063 or gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@caht1679521063ram1679521063.
VOLUNTEER FOR VBS – August 6-9, 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Sign up to volunteer and your children can come for free! VBS registration for kids is now CLOSED except for children of volunteers. Make a long term impact on children and families! Be a small group leader, help with registration, make lunch or snacks for volunteers or students, assist with crafts, or welcome families to VBS. These are all ways to help. We have more than 60 opportunities for adults of all ages and students (6th -12th grades in the fall) both during VBS and outside VBS hours. Childcare provided for all volunteer’s children too young for VBS. Register as a volunteer here: https://westminster.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/122208. More information about the many ways that you can volunteer are available online.
VBS DONATIONS – June 5-July 29
We have a few items that can be donated to help us keep the cost of VBS down. More information can be found at www.westminster.org/VBS2018 or in the Children’s Lobby. Donations need to be returned to the Children’s Lobby by July 29.
Questions? Contact Martha at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@caht1679521063ram1679521063 or go to www.westminster.org/VBS2018.
KCIS 630 AM – A CLOSER LOOK
Hear Gary on the radio with co-host Pete Talbott
Thursdays at 1:00-1:30 PM
Sundays at 9:00-9:30 AM
THIS WEEKEND’S EVENTS: July 6 & 7
THE LANDING – 7:30-9:30 PM, Room 311: Celebrate Recovery’s The Landing program for 6th – 12th grade students. Come discover God’s coping skills for life. Questions: moc.l1679521063iamg@1679521063RCret1679521063snimt1679521063seW1679521063
CELEBRATE RECOVERY – Fridays, 7:00-9:00 PM, Fireside Room: Childcare provided. Contact Neal at 425-747-1461, ext. 147 or moc.l1679521063iamg@1679521063RCret1679521063snimt1679521063seW1679521063.
THIS SUNDAY: July 8
WORSHIP SERVICES – 9:00 & 10:45 AM, Sanctuary
WELCOME CENTER – Visit our Welcome Center in the foyer for visitor information and warm hospitality. Limited sermon CDs and Our Daily Bread devotionals are available in the Library. BREW – Sundays, 9:00 – 11:00 AM, Foyer: Is this your first time here? Stop by our café to enjoy a complimentary coffee. We look forward to meeting you.
THIS WEEK:
KIDS CAMP – July 9-13, For students entering grades 4 & 5 in the fall of 2018: Times: Day camp: 8:30-4:30 July 9-11 & Overnighter: 8:30 AM on July 12-4:30 PM on July 13 Cost: Day camp is $175/$225 after camp sign up day; Full week is $300/$375 after camp sign up day. What: Day camp will be excursions around Seattle area. Overnighter will be at Great Wolf Lodge. Vision: Help incoming 4th & 5th graders grow closer to each other and learn that a relationship with Jesus is a Great Adventure. Questions? Contact Ceri at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@fire1679521063c1679521063.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MANG SO PULLAR – Saturday, July 14, 2:00 PM, Sanctuary: Please keep Dennis and their family in your prayers.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
BAPTISM CLASS – Sunday, July 15, 10:45 AM, Upper Level Conference Room: A short class that explains the theology of baptism and it’s value in Christian life, and provides an overview of how we do baptisms at Westminster. Contact Matt at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@ctta1679521063m1679521063
KINGDOM COME – Tuesday, July 17, 7:00-8:30 PM, Fireside Room – Experience God’s presence and power through worship, listening prayer, and intercession for the Holy Spirit’s movement in the PNW. Contact gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@keib1679521063ba1679521063
ALL CHURCH PARK DAY – Wednesday, July 18, 5:00-8:00 PM, Grasslawn Park, Redmond: Gather as a church family for a night at the park! We’ll bring games and hot dogs! bring friends, family and snacks. Contact Ceri at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@fire1679521063c1679521063
MOMENTUM | Camp for students entering grades 6-12 in the fall of 2018 – July 23-27, Cascades Camp and Conference Center: Join us for a great week of fun, friends, and growth at camp. Our theme this year is Family. Cost: $425 (Early Bird $395 before April 30) Sign up at Westminster.org/events Questions? Contact Ceri at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@fire1679521063c1679521063
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MARY RUTH MELROSE – Wednesday, July 25, 11:00 AM: Please keep Mary Ruth’s family in your prayers.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – August 6-9, 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM: REGISTER – Registration is open and filling quickly! www.westminster.org/VBS2018 VBS is August 6-9 and will be for students going into 1st to 5th grade this fall. Registration will be limited to 350 students and the cost will be $15/student or $30/family which includes a T-shirt. Students will provide their own lunch.
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2018 – August 9 & 10, Bellevue Presbyterian Church: The Global Leadership Summit is a two-day event telecast LIVE in HD from Willow Creek’s campus near Chicago every August to hundreds of locations in North America. You are invited to join an expected 450,000 people committed to getting better as leaders in 2018. To find out about the speakers or to register, go to willowcreek.com/summit. To get our reduced rate of $109, contact LuAnne at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@zenn1679521063aul1679521063 or 425.747.1461 ext. 110
FRANKLIN GRAHAM “DECISION AMERICA” PACIFIC NORTHWEST TOUR – August 13, 7:30 PM, Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Monroe: Bring your family and friends to an exciting evening featuring prayer, music by Jeremy Camp, and a message of hope from Franklin Graham. Free admission. For more information go to DecisionPacificNW.com.
SNACKCHAT: JAPAN – Sunday, August 19, 10:15 AM, CLC: Come greet our Outreach Partners, Tim & Wakako Clark, Makoto and Hero, and be encouraged with their ministry. Contact gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@keib1679521063ba1679521063
JUBILEE SERVICE DAY – Saturday, August 25, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM: Join Eastside churches, businesses & community members to serve the community as one body. Choose Cherry Crest or Sherwood Forest, the two schools that Westminster is helping. Register at www.jubileereach.org. Contact gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@pkra1679521063m1679521063
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
SUMMER SUNDAYS, serve in Birth through 5th Grade: July 8-September 2 Join the Journey and step into the lives of children and youth this summer! Get to know other the kids in our church family, and to say “thank you” to our regular teachers who take this time off. We’ll train you and give you all the supplies you need…just be willing and loving. Sign Up Here! You’ll be blessed – AND will have a blast! Questions, contact gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@dnet1679521063srijk1679521063 or gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@caht1679521063ram1679521063.
VOLUNTEER FOR VBS – August 6-9, 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM: Sign up to volunteer and your children can come for free! Make a long-term impact on children and families! Opportunities for adults of all ages and students (6th -12th grades in the fall) both during VBS and outside VBS hours. Childcare provided for all volunteer’s children too young for VBS. Here is the link to register as a volunteer: https://westminster.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/122208. More information about the many ways that you can volunteer are available online. Questions? Contact Martha at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@caht1679521063ram1679521063.
RECYCLE AND REPURPOSE!! Your old sheets could become part of a beautiful handmade quilt by the Helping Hands ministry. You may drop off your donated sheets at the Welcome Center. Be sure to label them for Helping Hands. Questions? Contact Marilyn at moc.l1679521063iamg@16795210631nyli1679521063ramre1679521063txab1679521063
TALKTIME: AN EASY WAY TO REACH BEYOND – Thursday, 6:30 PM, Atrium: Serve as an ambassador to our intercultural community. Help guests from around the world practice speaking English over dinner and guided conversation. Questions? Contact Mark Pedrin at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@pkra1679521063m1679521063
REACH BEYOND! WORK WITH YOUTH – Be a middle or high school leader and impact lives for God. Contact Ceri at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@fire1679521063c1679521063
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AT WESTMINSTER CHAPEL:
IMMEDIATE OPENING FOR A FULL-TIME CUSTODIAN – We are looking for a strong, detail-oriented, service-minded person:Find the Job Description and downloadable application on our website, www.westminster.org (select CONNECT, click on EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES). Submit applications Sondra Beck, Executive Minister of Operations, or contact her at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@bard1679521063nos1679521063">gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@bard1679521063nos1679521063
RESOURCES/OPPORTUNITIES:
GROW GROUPS – Various times & locations throughout the week: These groups meet in many sites and aim to be places where you can GROW with others. No matter where you are, there is a Grow Group that can help you take your next step in community. Visit www.westminster.org/belong for more information.
BAPTISM – If you would like more information on what it means to be baptized, or about the course itself, you can email Pastor Matt at gro.r1679521063etsni1679521063mtsew1679521063@ctta1679521063m1679521063
WEEKLY GIVING:
As of 7/3/18
Expectation for the Week $58,600
General Giving for the Week* $51,774
Expectation to Date $257,000
General Giving to Date* $264,507
Annual Expectation $3,600,000
*General giving includes weekly and non-designated special gifts.
NEXT CHAPTER GIVING:
Original Project Cost $22,000,000
Payments to Date $18,697,500
Current Mortgage Balance $3,302,500