 Be sure to visit our Sermon Archives to read or listen to past sermons. |
2017 Church Directory
The 2017 church directory is available on the member area of the church website. It is also available in the church office and in the narthex on Sunday.
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| Lift Your Spirits with the Volunteer Corps! Many of us on the Volunteer Corps board have been inspired by our spirited, lively, warm and wonderful Volunteer Corps members. We know you will be too! Invite Alex, Kayla, Libby, Mary and Sarah over to share a meal with you and your family. They are all doing incredible work with social service and social justice groups in our region. The Volunteer Corps is an intentional community of five young adults living a simple lifestyle in our former parsonage on Western Avenue, just a block from church. Sarah Levine is the contact person for Westmorelanders who want to invite the volunteers over for meals or other social events. Contact Sarah at: sarah.levine@rocketmail.com or 802-275-8487. |
Sunday Flowers
 The flowers on the chancel add much beauty to our worship. Individuals or families may sign up for any given week to provide flowers with a dedication included in the Sunday bulletin.
Please contact Judy Fogt and let her know that you are interested. The cost is $55.
You can mail your check the church office or drop it in the collection plate with a notation that it is for chancel flowers.
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You are Needed in Church School
Our children need kind, caring grown ups to lead in our Preschool, K-2nd, or 3rd-5th grade class for a few Sundays over the course of the year. It's fun and important, To volunteer, contact Alexis at alexis@westmorelanducc.org or sign up at SignUpWestmoreland.org.
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| Westmoreland Sermons on iTunes! You can subscribe to the Westmoreland Sermons on iTunes Podcast! Search for "Westmoreland Sermons" or click the icon below.
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Sign Up for 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.
Click here to sign up!
Thanks,
Stacey Fannon
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February Children's Collection
Razors and Shaving Cream for Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington
 Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington is a community partnership bringing together homeless people and others in need in Greater Washington, with support and volunteers from churches in a joint effort to improve the lives of all.
We will collect and donate the following for their clients: disposable razors (men and women) and shaving cream.
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Sandwich Making for Martha's Table
Tuesday, February 28, 10:00am, Kitchen
 All hands on deck on Tuesday morning, in the Westmoreland Church kitchen for Martha's Table sandwich making. First-timers, children and grandchildren welcome. With enough help, it does not take much more than an hour. Questions? 301-229-7766. Sponsored by the Briggs Center for Faith and Action.
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Ash Wednesday Service
W ednesday, March 1, 7:00pm
We will begin the season of Lent with a joint service with our friends from the German Evangelical Church of Washington and the French Protestant Church of Washington.
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Standing Rock March on DC
Friday, March 10, 10:00am - 2:00pm
 Rev. Brooks Berndt, the UCC Minister for Environmental Justice, intives you to support and participate in the Standing Rock March on DC that will take place on March 10. There will be an organized UCC presence at the march, with more than 100 people signed up to participate.
For more information or to sign up, click here.
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Adult Study - The Pastor's Class
Sundays, 9:00am, Library
You are invited to join me in the Library at 9:00 on Sunday mornings. As you may know I am in a doctoral program at Wesley Seminary, focusing on how the church engages (or not) in public life. I will lead this class based on material I am reading in my program. Each week I will bring paragraph, an idea, or an article for discussion. Your job is to show up with you best ideas.
On Sunday, March 5, the topic will be a recent statement made by Princeton seminary professors that articulates a view of Christianity and democracy that the professors say offers a different outlook than the views and ideas expressed by the current presidential administration. You may read the statement here.
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Emma Green
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Faith in the News: A Conversation about Religion and Journalism
Sunday, March 5, 11:30am, Parlor
You're invited to a Forum Faith in the News: A Conversation about Religion and Journalism with Emma Green, writer and editor, TheAtlantic.com at The Atlantic.
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Film Series - Voices from the Holy Land 2017
Occupation of the American Mind: Israel's Public Relations War in the United States
Sunday, March 5,
2:30pm,
Washington National Cathedral Perry Auditorium
 You are invited to attend the screening of "Occupation of the American Mind" next Sunday at the Washington National Cathedral and to participate in a discussion about justice and human rights in the Holy Land. We are an official Sponsor of this timely film series. Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territory and repeated invasions of the Gaza strip have triggered backlash against Israeli policies virtually everywhere in the world except the United Sates. The film takes an eye-opening look at the pro-Israeli public relations efforts within the U.S and explores how the Israeli government, U.S. government and the pro-Israeli lobby have joined forces to shape American media coverage of the conflict. The film provides analysis is Israel's battle for the hearts, minds and tax dollars of the American people in the face of international condemnation of the right wing policies. Rabbi Joseph Berman, Jewish Voice for Peace DC Metro will open the session with an interfaith Welcome Prayer. Bud Hengsen, Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East, will moderate the audience Q&A discussion after the screening.
Free Admission and parking.
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Free Movie and Panel Discussion -
"Before the Flood"
Monday, March 6, 6:30pm, Bethesda Library, Arlington Road
 Bethesda Friends Meeting (Quakers) is sponsoring a free movie and panel discussion on Monday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m., in the Bethesda Library meeting room (7400 Arlington Road). The award-winning documentary, "Before the Flood," features Leonard DiCaprio, former President Obama and many notables, followed by a panel discussion on global climate change: what we can do collectively and individually? The film begins at 6:35 p.m. sharp. Speakers include Joelle Novey, Director, Interfaith Power and Light, and Emily Wirzba, Policy Associate, Friends Committee on National Legislation. There also will be information on personal energy efficiency. Snacks and beverages provided. All welcome. For more details, contact Alex Bell (240-314-0378) or Peter Jenkins (301-500-4383).
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Exhibition of Quilt Artistry by Ann Harwell
March 12 - April 23
 The Westmoreland Arts Committee is announcing an exhibition featuring Fabric Artist, Ann Harwell. Her work is displayed in the Lee Hansley Gallery in Raleigh, NC, in Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery in Winston Salem, NC and in many homes. You might recall Westmoreland Arts Committee's winter 2015 exhibition of Ann Harwell's beautiful astronomy - themed quilts. This spring's exhibition will open on March 12, 2017 and run until April 23, 2017, and will feature Ann's floral - themed quilts.
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Craft & Beauty Market Fundraiser
Briggs Center for Faith & Action ESL Program
Saturday, March 25, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm,
Westmoreland Social Hall
Please join us for this unique Craft & Beauty Market. 30% of all sales will be donated to the Briggs Center ESL Program. Students and teachers will offer the following services and handmade items for sale:
- Hair Cutting & Braiding
- Makeovers & Manicures
- Pottery, Paintings, & Patchwork
- Kids Crafts & Face Painting
- Alpaca Gloves
- Beaded Jewelry
- Vintage Clothing
- Homemade Cupcakes
- Snacks & Refreshments
- Café Justo Coffee for sale
All Westmorelanders are invited to attend and/or participate. If you would like to provide a service, sell your homemade items, or if you have any questions, please contact Stacey Fannon at csfannon@gmail.com or 301-564-4330.
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 Want to be kept in the loop about UCC's refugee ministries? Sign up for their monthly newsletter here.
Want to take action on the justice issues you care about, including immigration and refugees? Join UCC's Justice and Peace Action Network (JPAN) here.
Want to help plan how Westmoreland will carry out our motion in Support of Extravagant Welcome to Immigrants and Refugees of All Faiths? Email Lori Mosher to get involved.
Syrian Refugee Update
Over the past months Westmorelanders have responded generously in donating household and other items to help Syrian refugees resettling in our area. With the blessing of Tim Tutt and the Social Justice and Action Board, we are now in the process of establishing a Syrian Refugee Support Group to explore how Westmoreland can be of further assistance, including the possibility of supporting an individual family. If you are interested in participating in the support group or have thoughts to share about this effort, please contact Nancy Pielemeier for more information.
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Library Update! Your Input is Needed!
 Westmoreland's Board of Spiritual Formation (BSF) has a fact-finding report and proposed recommendations from board member Jane Williams on the church library's status and potential futures. (Westmoreland's 2020 initiative, which includes re-purposing the present library space, served as the impetus for this study.) The BSF has endorsed this report. The Governance Council has reviewed the report and has asked for a period of open congregational input.
The library report acknowledges that the library has been inactive for several years, that church members and staff use the collection sparsely and that many other sources of information are readily available elsewhere, notably electronically. The report's recommendations include the following:
- Weed the present collection to a core selection of reference/research materials (commentaries, dictionaries, etc.), Bible translations, standard works of philosophy, spirituality, religion and theology, works on other faiths, items about the UCC, the hymnal collection, and children's books. (A small group of Westmorelanders with special interest and expertise could be asked to help weed the present collection.)
- Keep the core collection in the present space and move it to shelves out of reach of children, and/or staff offices.
If the library report's recommendations were followed, the collection would be static and there would be no library manager, few or no new purchases, and no catalog kept up to date. In other words, the status of the past three years for the library would continue. Here is the full report.
We want your feedback, especially about your actual use of the library and how the above actions would affect you. Please send your comments to Jane Williams by March 19, 2017.
Feedback will be reported to the Board of Spiritual Formation, plans modified as needed and then submitted to ministerial staff and Governance Council.
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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.
2017 Annual Giving
Gifts to support the ongoing life of our church -- music and worship, spiritual formation programs, fellowship events, staff salaries, and building maintenance. Click here to pledge on-line to the Annual Fund.
Capital Campaign
Gifts to our four-year campaign to build a new entrance, add a new elevator, add a gender neutral restroom, and make our kitchen functionable. Click here to pledge on-line to the Capital Campaign.
Children's Collection
Items collect by our children in worship each Sunday to give to local helping groups.
Special Offerings
The five UCC offerings (plus our own outreach offering) that go across the country and around the world to meet needs.
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