Good Friday, Easter Services, Support Ukrainian refugees, Summer camps for K-12th & so much more in this week's issue.
March 11, 2022
Westside exists to lead people to a life-giving relationship with Jesus.
We do this by, Sharing Jesus, Showing Love and Building Believers
Worship Services
Sunday Mornings
9:00 Traditional Service
10:30 Modern Service
Westside Kids Kdg. - 5th Sundays at 10:30am Wednesdays 6:30-8:00pm Westside Kids Jr. 6-week old through PreK children. Sunday Mornings 10:30am
Westside Christian Church's
April 15, 2022
7:00 - 8:00pm
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24
Join us as we celebrate Good Friday together as a church family.
This somber service will include scripture readings, worship songs, hymns, and communion.
Join us at Westside Christian Church for Easter on April 17
As we celebrate the RisenSavior!
9am Traditional Service
10:30am Modern Service - Full children's programs*
12:00pm Modern Service - Full children's programs *
*Westside Kids Kdg - 5th *Westside Kids Jr. 1-week through PreK.
Have you ever found yourself aimlessly perusing the internet or social media? Just the other day I was scrolling through Twitter looking at articles about Ukraine. As I read, I felt my heart beat increase. I could physically feel anxiety from what I was reading.
It just so happened that I was doing this when I was supposed to be reading my devotional. In the morning I like to read a short devotional to get the day started. This particular day, however, I chose to see what was taking place in Ukraine.
As I was hit with my anxious feelings, I drew back to one of my earlier writings titled “Wrong App.” However, this time I was moved differently. It made me reflect on the term spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines can be thought of as the practices we participate in that help us grow in our relationship with God. They include Bible reading, meditation and prayer, serving, worshiping together, and many others.
Some use the term spiritual practices but I prefer spiritual disciplines. It reminds me that I have to be disciplined and intentional in my actions to do my part to build this friendship with my Jesus. Proverbs 29:17 says, "Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire."
Discipline provides guidelines. As a friend stated, it is like guard rails on a road. If we lose focus and swerve off the road, it helps to push us back to the road. When we are disciplined in our focus driving, we don't need the guardrails. We stay on the road because we are focused. Our relationship with Jesus is just the same. The spiritual disciplines push us back on track.
In the case of my experience reading Twitter about Ukraine when I was supposed to be with Jesus, I have to wonder if it was less of a lack of discipline and more of a product of spiritual discipline. Let me tell you what I mean by that. We have a short attention span in the US. News hits the airwaves at a pace like we've never seen before. It seems we have a propensity to shift from one emergency to the next without much delay.
The prominent subject of my prayers in the last couple of weeks has been peace and specifically peace in the Ukraine. Through these prayers, God had revealed to me His peace transcends a battlefield or war. While I pray for a stop of battle and the saving of lives, I am reminded my prayers are too small. His peace transcends the dire times of our lives. His peace is greater than the circumstances which may seem so bleak and may seem like there is no hope.
Just maybe, what I thought was a stray from my spiritual discipline was God reminding me of what true peace is. Maybe it was a reminder that the salvation He seeks through His Son is more than a human life. Maybe it was a reminder to remain in prayer, but pray bigger. Maybe it was a reminder that spiritual disciplines aren’t a routine or item on a “to do” list but have purpose for His kingdom.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt
03/10/2022
Read on for tips on pursuing and modeling peace by Jennifer Schmidt • Mar 9, 2022
Anchor House Ministry to Seafarersis one Westside's "Show Love" Ministries. Through your generous offerings Westside is better able to lend financial support to their mission.
Join us on the Westside App today for complete information on events . Click the button below and then scroll to the bottom of the page to get information on downloading the app.
Thanks for making this event a great success! The $7,700 raised will be used for 6th-12th grade students to defray their costs for summer camps and conferences! You Rock!
Summer Camps, Conferences & Events for K-12th Grade
Unbeatable ways for kids and students to grow deeper in their relationship with God while making memories with friends (new and old)! Below are the dates for the currently scheduled ones. The opportunities vary from K-12th grade.
June 12th-15th------ Vacation Bible School (K-5th Grades) June 27th -July1st--- Junior Camp (6-8th Grades) July 4th -8th----WinShape Camp - Having completed K-5th Grades) See info below andSave $20 if you pre-register between now and MARCH 13TH.
July 18th -22nd- Christ in Youth Conference(CIY) (9th-12th Grades)
Have July summer fun right at Bradenton Christian School! "WinShape Camps for Communities" will bring the ultimate day camp right to Bradenton; combining fun, faith and friendship into an action-packed week. Campers from Westsidecompleting grades K-5th grade will cultivate their God-given skills and talents in a mix of indoor and outdoor moments, physical activity and creative play, with epic adventures at camp all day and sleeping soundly back at home at night. At the end of the week, we serve up a day of fun for the whole family—complete with a yummy lunch from Chick-fil-A.
Tentative schedule. Please check registration information for the most current schedule.
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DROP-OFF DAILY AT 7:45 AM
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PICK-UP DAILY AT 4:55 PM
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YOU BRING LUNCH, WE'LL PROVIDE SNACKS!
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CHICK-FIL-A FAMILY LUNCH ON FRIDAY
You can register for the Bradenton WinShape camp below
There's Always Room for More! Join some of the ladies of Westside. Ladies of all age groups began meeting Feb17th and continue to come together at Westside every Thursday 10 - 11:30 am for fellowship and Bible Study. Remember you are always welcome to bring friends .
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION If you miss a session, no problem. All are welcome to attend whenever available.
Ashley Harmon made cinnamon rolls for our fundraiser and she, probably, had no idea that she would bring in over $1,000 for them! Because of that great success, we are celebrating by having her bring in cinnamon rolls for all of us! The cinnamon rolls are free but donations for the student's summer camp are appreciated.
Chili Cook off and Cornhole Tourney 2022 BenefittingWestsideKidsSunday,March27th immediately after second service at 12:00pm.Hot dogs and chili toppingsprovided. Click on link below for theCorn Hole Tourney Online sign -up.
Upcoming games are Friday 03 /11 and Mon.03/14 🎉Come out and cheer Westside's team on to victory 📣
Join us for our next "Clean Comedy for a Cause" at Westside on Sunday,April 24th. Scan the QRCode below to buy tickets - OR Click belowfor more information and another way to buy tickets.
"LIHEAP" services are provided to assist families, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of their household income for home energy, meet their immediate home energy needs. This program is available to individuals living in Hardee and Manatee counties. For more information click on the button below.
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. " Corinthians 9:7
GENERAL GIVING: $7,006.00 DESIGNATED GIVING: $520.00 MINIMUM WEEKLY GENERAL BUDGET NEEDED: $7,458.37 IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE: 215
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Please send any questions or comments about this newsletter to Margo Ennis, Editor at margo@westsidechristianchurch.com