together OCTOBE R | NOVE MBE R 201 5 WE S T B URY U NI T E D ME T HODI S T C H UR C H
Are you “All In”? Putting our hands together for the task of repairing and renovating the church building for ministry now and for years to come
Green is the way to go Our renewed commitment to the wise stewardship of resources and caring for God’s earth
Autumn activities
Ministry is in full swing this fall
Westbury United Methodist Church
Westbury United Methodist Church
Lord, what do You want to do through me?
OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2015
p Check your mailing envelope for
your prayer reminder magnet!
To introduce this unique issue of Together magazine, we asked the co-chairs for the ALL IN Campaign why they said yes to this leadership role. BEN: Although Rebecca and I haven’t even been here for two years, it is obvious that Westbury UMC is a place where we want to stay and raise a family. The diversity of ages, races and cultures make it a place where I believe the Lord’s work is just waiting to be done. The welcoming and loving atmosphere of its members lends a strong support network both within the church’s walls and to our neighbors.
ith
Ben Sm Rebecca and
Westbury UMC is the best example of a church serving its local community that I’ve ever experienced, and that is the kind of church that I want to be a part of and raise my children in someday. Sixty years of love and service have happened here, and I want other people over the next 60 years to feel as welcomed and ready to serve when they walk in Westbury’s doors as Rebecca and I did on our first Sunday. This is why I chose to serve on the capital campaign committee, and it is my hope and prayer that this campaign allows Westbury to achieve those next 60 years of welcoming and serving.
REBECCA: Westbury UMC is not only a welcoming
EDITOR & DESIGNER Kelsey Johnson
home to so many in our community, but the ministries of this church tangibly affect lives every day. These walls don’t just support our roof. They support us while we provide flood relief, pray for our nation, grow and learn together, and so much more. I am ALL IN because the people and ministries at Westbury UMC can literally change this community and the world. As southwest Houston continues to grow in the coming years, the needs in this area will also continue to expand. This campaign will ensure the pipes, tiles and spaces of this building will continue to provide support for and maybe even enhance these efforts for many more years.
ASSISTANT EDITOR Cindy Parker
JOHN & ELSA: We are “ALL IN” because Westbury
CONTRIBUTORS Joyce Akins, Steve Ewing, Taylor Fuerst, Elsa Garza, DeAndre Johnson, Josh Lemons, Charles Metu, John Patlan, Hillary Peete, Vincent Sanders, Ben Smith, Rebecca Smith and Hannah Terry
PHOTOGRAPHY Tommy Behrman Kelsey Johnson Merrimon, Holt and Powell www.lightstock.com
UMC has been an essential part of our family’s life. Elsa Garza an d John Patlan We came here when our children were preschoolers. They learned about faith here, and they are now both in college and continue to walk with God. Westbury helped us raise our kids, and for that, we will always be grateful. As a couple, we have grown together in discipleship and by participation in the ministries of the church, and our marriage has been strengthened.
We have seen that Westbury is a special place where God is actively working in the lives of the congregation and in the community around us. We recognize that the church is not the building; it is the people working with the power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, the physical building is an United Methodist Church essential space that allows this work to happen. We are giving “beyond our comfort zone” to support 5200 Willowbend Boulevard this effort, because we hope that by stepping out in faith and trusting in God with our finances and Houston, Texas 77096 our future, that He will provide and will always be with us. Our prayer is that other families will be (713) 723-0175 WestburyUMC.org blessed by this church, as our family has been blessed.
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CONTENTS
4 FEATURE
4 A re you “all in”? Putting our hands together for the task of repairing and renovating the church building for ministry now and for years to come
SPOTLIGHTS
10 G reen is the way to go Our renewed commitment to the wise stewardship of resources and caring for God’s earth
AUTUMN ACTIVITIES
8 F amily ministry events 9 F all small groups 12 Looking ahead to Advent/Christmas
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I said “YES” to serving on the campaign team because being part of a group that helps move God’s mission forward is both fulfilling and humbling. Charles Metu, Advance Commitment Campaign Leadership Team
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The apostle Paul never lacked for conviction and zeal. Before his life was changed by an encounter with Jesus Christ, Paul (then Saul) spent his days in full blown persecution of the Christians he believed were defiling the Jewish faith he claimed. He spent years of study beneath Gamaliel, only the best of the best teachers in town. You might say that Paul’s motto was “Go big or go home.”
BY R E V. TAY L O R F U E R ST
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That motto didn’t change on the road to Damascus. God took Paul’s passion, intensity and commitment and put all of that to work for God’s purposes. Suddenly, Paul became ALL IN on the unconditional love and free grace of God. Paul was committed—deeply committed—to sharing God’s unending love with all, with those who had been religious all along and with those who knew nothing of God. Paul believed that something fundamental changed when the love of God was made known, when it was made manifest in many people, in one people. He believed that it transformed the world. Here’s what we find in Ephesians 3:
Sunday, October 25
Sunday, November 15
Sunday, November 22
Ministry Sunday
More Than Enough Love
Commitment Sunday
Lifting up the impact of the diverse ministries of Westbury UMC
Gathering for worship and being sent out to serve in the community
Celebrating progress so far and committing ourselves to God’s future for the church
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I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. This is what we have seen at Westbury UMC. Again and again, you and I and thousands of others have encountered moments, experiences, and relationships that reveal to us the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love: in an unexpected, wide welcome; in care offered in our time of need; in the opening of scripture; in the joy of a child; in bread broken and shared; in kinship between strangers; in forgiveness received. God’s love transforms people, and transformed people transform the world. God is ALL IN on redeeming our lives and making the world whole again. Now here’s the incredible part: God invites each of us to be ALL IN, too—fully committed with our hearts, minds, souls, and strength to sharing the love of God with all whom we meet. Fully committed to following Jesus, making disciples, and transforming the world. This is why we are here. This is why we have an address, a building, at 5200 Willowbend Blvd. And this is why we are having a capital campaign: because we are fully committed to repair and renovate these bricks and mortar—not for the sake of the building, but for the countless souls who will come here and encounter the God of boundless love, who went ALL IN for us on the cross. The time for this campaign is now. Our neighborhood is flourishing, with the population growing 5% over the last five years. That growth is not expected to slow down in the years ahead of us. The streets, homes, schools, apartments, and businesses of Southwest Houston are teeming with people who worry about being accepted in church, who are wondering how to raise a family, who would give anything to receive the kind embrace of a friend, who yearn to know just how wide and how deep is the love of Christ. Now is the time. God calls for our commitment, our full response. God calls us to be ALL IN on God’s dream for Westbury United Methodist Church: a church for all people with more than enough love to go around. OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2015 together
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Challenges With Current Building & Grounds The architects from Merrimon, Powell and Holt, who assessed the church’s campus in order to make recommendations for a master plan, pointed out several challenges for the congregation to consider:
The Memorial Garden is one of the campus’ greatest assets, but it doesn't get much use. How can we make this a space where people are invited outside to enjoy God's creation and build relationships?
What do we hope to do with the money raised? The ALL IN campaign has three priorities:
1. To provide infrastructure repair to our facility, address safety concerns, and improve accessibility. These repairs address:
Failing flooring Inefficient air conditioning equipment Corroded plumbing Damaged ceiling tile
Anticipated Budget: $300,000
2. T o make improvements to our campus that will generate the most significant impact on current and future ministry, including:
The creation of a gathering space that would serve as the hub of our campus, where connections are made, relationships are strengthened, and visitors are invited into discipleship and transformation Reconfiguring a new main entrance to the church to welcome all into this holy space Anticipated Budget: $1.5 million
3. T o commit to funding the 2016 ministry budget, demonstrating our faithfulness to the
ongoing work of the church even as we boldly endeavor to make building repairs and improvements. Anticipated Budget: $880,000
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Our Sanctuary is a beautiful place to worship and experience God’s presence. However, it has accessibility limitations, and the walls in the chancel area create a barrier between worship leaders and the congregation. There is no flexibility to accommodate larger choirs, an orchestra or creative worship elements. This also limits our ability to host performances by the Houston Ebony Opera Guild and Day School children.
Most visitors struggle to find the main entrance of the church. When they enter the building, they feel confused by a maze of hallways. Most are disoriented and have trouble finding their way to the office or the Sanctuary. How can our building exude the same welcoming spirit our congregation does?
Hallways easily become congested, especially as we use them for display and promotion of church ministries. Most people don't feel comfortable stopping for a conversation, as they will only be in someone else’s way.
While the front of the building is situated on attractive grounds with mature trees, the back parking lot is less inviting with very few natural elements.
Can we really do this? Achieving these ministry priorities will take an ALL IN commitment from everyone. While everyone will give different amounts of money, we are united by our sacrificial commitment to make God’s love known in and through the ministry of Westbury UMC.
Not an equal share, but an equal sacrifice.
What about our annual ministry budget?
I’m excited about the church’s commitment to this campaign. This project, in my opinion, will test our faith and devotion. I want our church to continue to be a strong example of diversity in the community.
Our first priority is the mission we are called to carry out: making followers of Jesus Christ who transform the community and the world through God’s love. In order to carry out that mission in an ongoing capacity, we rely on the operating budget. The budget is made up of the tithes and offerings of the congregation. These are the portion of our finances that we return to God as a sign of obedience and faithfulness. We invite those who are not tithing (giving 10% of their income) to start somewhere and make a plan to systematically grow in generosity each year.
Vincent Sanders, Children and Youth Campaign Leadership Team
The Capital portion of this campaign is a call for gifts over and above our usual tithes and offerings. A capital campaign gift should not affect your regular giving to the church. This campaign is an opportunity for God to stretch us through sacrifice, growing our faith and trust in God to provide for both our families and our church.
What can I do to help? Our church needs your prayers! The best thing you can do right now is join with our leadership team in praying this prayer: “Lord, what do you want to do through me?” Soon, you’ll be receiving a phone call from a member of our prayer team, asking how we can pray for you and your family, and inviting you to join in this campaign prayer, opening ourselves to God’s will for each of us individually and as a congregation.
When do we make these gifts? On November 22, you will be invited to submit two pledge cards–one for the annual ministry budget, and one for the Capital Campaign. Your annual ministry budget giving can be given regularly as you see fit throughout 2016. Capital Campaign gifts may be given over the course of three years (through December 2018). All will be invited to make a “First Fruits” gift to fulfill a portion of your Capital Campaign gift on December 13. n
Meanwhile, praise God for all that God has done, is doing, and promises yet to do. Praise God for lives that are being transformed even now through God’s work at Westbury. Praise God for those whom God is inviting even now to become a part of our church family. In coming weeks, you’ll find opportunities to be involved in the campaign. Mark your calendar and make plans now to participate by attending worship, participating in activities, and volunteering to help when needed.
Stay in the know:
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family mi nistry Children's Choir Fall Kick-Off Sunday, October 11 12:15–12:45 pm Following worship, children (ages 4–2nd grade) are invited to join Pastor DeAndre in the choir room to learn more about music and rhythm. Children will practice music to be sung in worship throughout the fall. The 30-minute class will end with snacks. We’ll discuss the rehearsal schedule moving forward.
Family Cookout Sunday, October 18 | Westbury Park (near Parker Elementary) | 4:30–6:30 pm Bring a blanket and a picnic. We’ll have hamburgers and hotdogs to share!
MidWinter Retreat 2016 February 26–28 | Forest Glen Camp Save the date for MidWinter, a weekend for 6th–12th graders. More details will be coming soon! Check out www.westburyumc.org/youth
8th Annual SW Houston School Expo Saturday, October 17 | Humphrey Hall | 10 am–noon Searching for a school that is a great fit for your child? Browse different options at the School Expo where elementary, middle and high schools in our area will be represented all at one convenient venue. This event is free and open to the public, so invite a friend!
Summer 2016 Mission Trip to Haiti June 10–17, 2016 Join us for an intergenerational mission trip to Haiti. We’ll be supporting our global partner, HAPI (Haitian Artisans for Peace International). There will be a combination of projects for varying skill sets, including medical work, building a basketball court, ESL classes and more! Secure your spot by November 8 with a $350 deposit; the total cost of trip is to be determined (based on number of participants and fundraising efforts; cost is not anticipated to exceed $1,800).
MidWinter 2015
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For more details, contact Josh Lemons, Director of Youth Ministry, at (713) 723-0175 or josh1@ westburyumc.org.
Small groups The Westbury Way Are you a new church member or considering joining Westbury? Come find out about what we believe and our commitment to live together as disciples of Jesus Christ. This class, taught by Pastor Taylor, is strongly encouraged for all new members
■ Duration: Sundays, Nov. 1 & 8 (9:30 am–10:30 am) ■ Location: Parlor ■ Cost: free
Financial Peace University This 9-week class teaches biblical, practical steps to show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money and spend and save wisely.
■ Duration: 9 weeks on Sundays (4–6 pm), starting Oct. 11 ■ Location: Room 102 ■ Cost: $100
Thanksgiving Service
On Sunday, November 22, at 4 pm, Westbury UMC has the pleasure of hosting the annual Community Thanksgiving Service. The member synagogues and churches of Braes Interfaith Ministries (BIM) will lead the worship service with a combined choirs and instrumentalists. Fr. Thomas Smithson from Corpus Christi Catholic Church will preach. With cooperative community programs supported by 12 local congregations, BIM has been serving the needs of people in southwest Houston for over 25 years. As the host church, we need volunteers to provide hospitality to the community. Volunteer areas include door greeters, ushers, pew straighteners and reception coordinators. Contact the church office at (713) 723-0175 if you are able to help in any of these capacities.
A twice-monthly gathering of young adults (ages 18 to 30ish) who meet after Sunday worship for lunch and discussion. WHEN? OCTOBER 11 & 25, NOVEMBER 8 & 22 (12:15–1:30 PM)
Westbury Cares In Memory Of
Elodia Martinez from J. D. and Cheryl Phillips Lorayne Kesterson from Judy Meisner, David Kesterson, Bob and Marilyn Friday, and Glennys and Jean Lunde
Deaths
Ardith Watson (07/28/15) Emmitt Griggs (08/04/15)
Coffee With the Pastors in the Café allows time for anyone new
Elodia “Lola” Martinez (08/09/15)
to Westbury UMC to find out more about the ministries and mission of the church. Coffee, pastries and other refreshments will be served as you have casual conversation with our pastors and church members.
New Members
WHEN? OCTOBER 18 AND NOVEMBER 8 (NOON–12:30 PM)
Kathy Behrman (08/23/15)
Keith and Gay Reeves (08/23/15)
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GREEN
is the way to go BY S T E V E E W I N G
“G
oing green” is a popular phrase these days. As a society, we are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of our lifestyles. Whether as an individual or a business, we are evaluating how we live and work and adapting to more sustainable practices.
Naturally, people of faith and places of worship have a unique role in the “green” movement. If the church believes that God has entrusted creation to our care, it stands to reason that ecofriendly practices are more than just a social expectation but also a spiritual mandate.
All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it... God has granted us stewardship of creation. We should meet these stewardship duties through acts of loving care and respect. United Methodist Social Principles, ¶160 I. The Natural World
As stewards of the resources God has given us, Westbury UMC has made intentional steps to be gentler on the environment. Just as individuals create new habits that eventually are done without having to think about it, we are becoming that way at our church—“green” is becoming part of our pattern and our value system. For several years now, dumpster-sized bins for paper and cardboard on the edge of the church parking lot have encouraged neighbors to recycle their paper waste. The Day School and church office utilize these bins as well. We started with one bin and have grown in capacity to five bins, which even still overflow at times! Even though the price of paper has dropped and we no longer receive a percentage of funds from the recycling bins, the staff voted to keep the bins. It is a visible way to demonstrate our commitment to the environment and serve our neighbors’ needs at the same time.
But the bins may just be the most visible way that we care for the environment. Behind the scenes, there are many other ways that Westbury UMC is becoming greener. In the last four months, a company called Ideal Impact has been working with the church to
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Eco-tips at Home ADAPTED FROM WWW.GREENFAITH.ORG
Energy
dramatically reduce our energy usage. This includes measures like improved sensors and temperature control, strategic room scheduling for events, changing out lightbulbs, and phasing A/C and heating start-up times so that the units are staggered and do not come on all at once (a previously inefficient and electricity-consumptive problem). The target is to cut our electricity usage by nearly 50–60%. It is projected that through all of these improvements, we will reduce our electrical kilowatt hours by over 250,000 annually. That’s 172 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This is huge! We aim to continue taking big steps toward improving our creation care in the years to come. In the meantime, small changes do make a difference. Here are just a few of the other ways we are practicing wise stewardship: Day School | The Day School uses the clean side of paper they would otherwise throw away. Each classroom has a recycling box; students are taught to place their paper items in the box rather than the trash can. In the teacher’s lounge, there is a box for paper, plastic and aluminum cans, which one of the staff members takes home to be recycled. And being a neighborhood church, many of the Day School kids arrive on bikes, wagons or strollers, avoiding the use of cars. Paper & Plastic | You may have seen the blue recycling bins around the church intended for the Weekly Word and orders of worship on Sundays. This not only is a recycling initiative; it also cuts down on unsightly litter around the church. The copier in the church office default to duplex printing (on both sides of the page), reducing the amount of paper and ink used. The Living Water Caring Ministry saves all of the plastic containers used at receptions and a member takes them home to be recycled. When buying plates and cups for various church activities, the staff works to avoid the use of Styrofoam. For certain events, church members have opted to use regular dishes, glasses and silverware rather than rely on the convenience of disposable products. Their commitment reduces waste a great deal, especially when feeding large groups of people. Food, Water & Waste | Coffee grounds in the church office are taken home by a staff member, to be added to her compost pile. The coffee used in the Café is purchased from Equal Exchange, a fair-trade organization that works with South American coffee growers. The coffee beans are grown in a manner which helps to preserve the soil and conserve water. The altar flowers are made into smaller arrangements and shared with shut-ins, instead of just being thrown in the trash. And, you may not have noticed, but the newly remodeled bathrooms have low-flow toilets, using less water per flush. Whew! When one stops to consider all that is being done to help the environment, the list is pretty impressive. And this is being done by the congregation as a whole, with each of us doing our part. Helping preserve and protect our environment is a day-by-day activity. We should be proud of our efforts so far but not content to stop there. If you have any ideas you’d like to take ownership of and implement, please contact Steve Ewing, business and facilities manager, at (713) 723-0175 or steve1@westburyumc.org. Together, we can be a green church! n
The United Nations estimates that by 2050 there will be more refugees from climate change than from war. To fight climate change and reduce your carbon footprint (and your energy bills), complete a home energy audit: http://hes.lbl.gov As much as half of the energy used in your home goes towards heating and cooling. Start saving money and energy immediately by adjusting your thermostat—in winter, be sure to lower the thermostat by at least 10 degrees when you are not at home or are sleeping (vice-versa for summer). Use 7-day programmable thermostats, which adjust the temperature automatically. A compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) uses ¼ of the energy of an incandescent light bulb and will pay for itself within 6 months (Source: Energy Star). Replace your light bulbs with CFLs as old ones burn out.
Food Worldwide meat production releases more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector combined (Source: UN Environment Programme). Start small by eliminating meat one day per week, or challenge yourself by taking a week-long vegetarian pledge. See www. meatlessmonday.org for recipes and more information. A typical carrot travels 1,838 miles to reach your dinner table (Source: Sustainable Table). Support your farmers close to home and reduce your carbon footprint by visiting farmers’ markets or participating in Community Supported Agriculture farm shares. (Note: locally, we have Plant It Forward Farms and others). As much as 40% of the energy used in the food system goes towards the production of chemical fertilizers and pesticides (Source: Sustainable Table). Can’t afford to eat everything organically? Some fruits and vegetables are sprayed with more pesticides than others, and cannot be cleaned of pesticide residues as easily— choose organic for these ‘Dirty Dozen’ fruits and vegetables: peach, apple, bell pepper, celery, nectarine, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce, grapes (imported), carrots, and pears.
Transportation Ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than turning the engine on and off (Source: NJDEP). Turn your engine off, especially near children and in urban areas where pollution levels are already high. $6,251 is the amount the average twoworker household saves annually by taking public transportation instead of driving a car (Source: Environmental Defense). Have you checked out the mass transit routes near your home, and do you use mass transit as often as possible? Where mass transit is infeasible try other sustainable methods of transportation: walking, riding a bike or carpooling.
Waste Reduction The average American creates 4.5 pounds of garbage each day (Source: Story of Stuff), much of which is food waste. Starting an indoor or outdoor compost bin is easy, smell-free, and turns food waste into nutrient-rich soil. Learn how easy it is at: www.howtocompost.org Your waste will outlive you—plastic takes up to 600 years to break down in a landfill, and Styrofoam never does. When planning parties, keep the environment in mind by using reusable dinnerware and recycled-content paper products. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours. Save energy and resources by recycling your glass, aluminum, plastic and paper.
Water Only 1% of the water on Earth is drinkable, with more and more water sources drying up each day (Source: UN Environment Programme). Reduce your water usage and your water bill immediately by installing a low-flow showerhead and aerators on all water faucets. Look for devices that are EPA Water Sense labeled: www.epa.gov/WaterSense Fill a plastic water bottle ¼ of the way full with oil—this is how much oil is required to make the typical bottle of water. The numbers are staggering—adding up the plastic used, the energy required to collect and clean the water, and the fuel it takes to ship the bottles to stores, equates to millions of barrels of oil each year (Source: Sierra Club). Kick the bottled water habit by purchasing a reusable water bottle with a ‘BPA Free’ label, or choose stainless steel.
MUSICAL GUESTS ON 1 ST SUNDAY IN ADVENT The Houston-based group, Jazz Sunday, will lead us in worship on Sunday, November 29, with their own arrangements of traditional carols and hymns. Jazz Sunday began leading jazz worship services in 1990 at Christ Lutheran Church in Lake Jackson, Texas. Since that time they have led jazz worship services and performed concerts in Texas and throughout the country including the Episcopal General Convention in Columbus, Ohio. Their repertoire includes jazz accompaniments of traditional hymns, special vocal and instrumental arrangements of hymns and spirituals, and original compositions for jazz worship. Jazz Sunday has released four CDs with the their most recent being “Rejoice and Sing,” which was recorded live at The Clarion at Brazosport College.
GOOD GIFTS MARKET 2016 The Community and Global Ministries Team will host the annual Good Gifts Market, Saturday, December 5, 9 am–2 pm. This year, the market will be held outside to attract residents from the surrounding Westbury and Meyerland neighborhoods to offer a unique option for holiday shopping. The market features fair-trade vendors whose products: 1) bring a fair price to artisans 2) are made in an environmentally-sound manner 3) help serve the homeless, refugee women and other persons in need Past vendors have included She Has Hope, Free the Captives, The Community Cloth and the Westbury UMC Piecemakers Quilters. This year, we’re also inviting food trucks to offer an eclectic array of culinary delights. So mark Church your calendars United and joinMethodist us at the Good Gifts Market!
Westbury
WestburyUMC.org 5200 Willowbend Blvd. Houston, TX 77096 (713) 723-0175