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West Morris Church's mission is to Awaken Hope with the Transforming Light of Jesus.

Our vision is to partner with God to cultivate flourishing and unleash revival in West Indy.

Join us in this life-transforming, hope-filled Kingdom work!

He established a law for Jacob
    and set up Instruction for Israel,
        ordering our ancestors
        to teach them to their children.
This is so that the next generation
    and children not yet born will know these things,
        and so they can rise up and tell their children
    to put their hope in God—
        never forgetting God’s deeds,
        but keeping God’s commandments —        
Psalm 78.5-7 CEB

Crying Out Together - Saturday, Feb 4 @ 1 PM (door #1)

Join each of the five churches that meet at West Morris as we cry out together to the Lord in a prayer service on Saturday, February 4 at 1 pM. We will be seeking the Lord's guidance and direction for our futures as we wrestle with questions surrounding the budget, building and the direction of God's Church. We will begin our worship time in the Chapel at 1 PM, so enter at door #1. God invites us to turn to him in humble prayer, and when we do so, he promises to hear from heaven. Join in with us as we lift our voices to him!


Dealing with Grief & Loss
On Sunday we continued our "Healthy Disciples" sermon series, focusing on the often-ignored and regularly-denied emotions of anger, sadness, and anxiety. Did you know Jesus experienced these emotions? Did you know these emotions aren't bad? Did you know that denying, minimizing, stuffing and masking them can keep you from experiencing the fullness that God wants to bring in your life? Did you know God can bring goodness out of the grief - if you let him?

I'd encourage you - whether you were present on Sunday or not, to spend some time regularly reflecting quietly (perhaps with a pen and paper) on "What are you angry about?" and "What are you sad about?" and "What are you anxious about?" and finally, "What are you glad about?" Unpack your answers with a trusted friend or counselor. Spend time with God. Invite him into the pain. And as we learned on Sunday, we can acknowledge the pain, wait in the confusion (while working through the pain), and allow God to birth something new from the old.

This Sunday we continue our series, focusing on themes, challenges, and blessings of our family's history. Come learn about Abraham - and see if his story applies to you!


Lenten Devotional
If you've been enjoying the "Healthy Disciples" series (many of you have said you are!), we're excited to offer you a special "Next Step" to use throughout the 40-days of Lent. Starting Sunday, you can pick up a free journal and "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day" 40-day devotional. It will continue and expand many of the topics we've been exploring during our "Healthy Disciples" series. This is one of the best devotionals I've ever had the opportunity to use and I can't wait to get it in your hands!! Be sure to pick yours up at church!

Society Meeting
The West Morris annual Society Meeting is Sunday, February 12* in conjunction with our Second Sunday Supper. Make plans to bring something to contribute to our pitch-in lunch, and join in on the conversations. Society Meetings are like "family meetings" - a great chance to get together, share, ask questions, and make sure we're on the same page. Everyone is welcome at our Society Meeting, and voting is for members in good standing. Pastor Penny will be planning some art activities for little ones during the meeting - so they'll also have something special to do after we eat. 
*And yes - February 12 is also Super Bowl Sunday! So we'll get our discussion and business done in time to get home for the big game.


Ash Wednesday Service
Our Ash Wednesday service is Wednesday, February 22 at 6 PM. We will enjoy a simple supper together of homemade soup and bread from 6-6:30 PM, and the worship service will be 6:30-7:30 PM.  Ash Wednesday is the beginning of a 40-day season of Lent - a season of preparation to celebrate Jesus' resurrection on Easter. Lent is observed by prayer and fasting. 


Women's Spring Retreat
The Wabash Women's Spring Retreat is coming up on April 21-22 in Columbus IN. This is a great time of fellowship, fun, learning and worship. Bishop Keith's wife Pam will be the featured speaker. Workshops are also offered (including one by Pastor Kristen on personal Bible study). Find some roommates and register today! Scholarships are available. Want more information? Download the retreat info packet here.



As I close, I'd love to remind you that if you ever have any questions about following Jesus, what you read in the newsletter, see on our website, or experience at West Morris Church, I'd love to meet over coffee or lunch - my treat! Give me a call, text or email and we'll get a time set. 

Pastor Kristen
317-464-7360

westmorrispastor@gmail.com

 
P.S. Tax giving letters for 2022 have been sent to your email address if we had one on file. If you did not receive your letter, or want a printed copy, please call Dave Kirk at 317-443-9498.
Host an International Exchange Student!

Have you met Rui Suzuki from Japan yet? He's been attending our church since after Thanksgiving. Rui is the international exchange student being hosted by Pastor Kristen and John. He is in the US for a school year with the FLAG program.

FLAG is now recruiting host families, that are willing to open their hearts and homes to an International student in the fall.  This is an amazing way to share one's faith with an International student by showing them the way you live.  About 70 percent of our students are unchurched in their home country so exposing them to the American church is such a cool way to share the gospel. On top of if the student is coming to youth group-instance friendships as well!  

Meet Jessica and Clem---she was here last year, and her life is forever changed, and she is changing others because of her testimony and exposure to church:  https://youtu.be/Bzui5KnSlsU
Serving Others & Meeting Needs
Come meet and serve our neighbors at the New Day Pantry & Thrift Shop on February 24 from 9am-12pm. Come to door #5 at 8:45am at Daniel Webster to help serve and experience the joy of serving others. To sign up to help serve, contact Pastor Rachel (rmohlman@gmail.com, 317-677-2828).
Boundaries Quiz
Instructions: Read each question and answer quickly. Keep track of the number of "YES" answers.
  1. Do you regularly sacrifice your own plans, dreams and goals to please others?
  2. Does your level of happiness or sadness depend on your partner’s mood?
  3. Do you struggle identifying and separating your own feelings/emotions from another person’s?
  4. Do you often find yourself blaming others for your problems?
  5. Are you an over-sharer (someone who tells the world or someone you just met about all your problems and issues) - or a never-sharer (no one can get in)?
  6. Do you struggle with a poor sense of identity so that your self-perception is what others say about you?
  7. Do you feel responsible for other’s happiness?
  8. Do you struggle saying no, fearing rejection or conflict?
  9. Do you often feel powerless over your own life and allow others to make decisions for you?
  10. Do you often step in to rescue someone who may be struggling due to their poor choices? 
  11. Do you feel guilty caring for yourself and your needs?
  12. Do you avoid saying or doing things that you know should be said and done, simply because you fear someone’s anger or rejection?
  13. Do you struggle with envying others, spending energy focusing on them rather than taking responsibility for yourself?
  14. Do you take responsibility for others’ mistakes, poor choices or feelings?
  15. Have you avoided setting boundaries in a relationship because it might hurt or anger someone?
Add up your "YES" answers. How many "YES" answers do you have?
  • 0-5 - Congratulations - you have fairly well-established boundaries. Continue to hold those boundaries, modeling healthy boundaries for others to see, and make sure you're respecting others' boundaries as well. 
  • 6-10 - Boundaries are something that are still developing in your life. By learning some tools for setting boundaries, you can take responsibility for yourself and your self-care. These tools will contribute to healthy interpersonal relationships.
  • 11-15 - God is inviting you into a new space of creating and maintaining healthy boundaries for yourself. Everyone can create healthy boundaries. Today can be a new day of caring for yourself and your needs, without taking responsibility for others' feelings and emotions. 
Want to learn more? Check out Boundaries by Cloud & Townsend. You can also purchase a workbook to work through as you read the book and apply the material to your life.
Learn - Connect - Grow
There are some great opportunities to learn, connect and grow. Check out these community offerings!

February 25 - Housing our People Resource Fair at Christ Church Cathedral



March 8 - Faith & Action Conference at Christian Theological Seminary



9:30-10:15 AM - throughout the Church

  • Free breakfast & coffee in New Day Cafe (starting about 9:15 so grab it on your way to these other gatherings:)
  • New Day Students on 2nd floor - youth in grades 7-12 are invited to an in-depth discipleship gathering in the new youth room on the 2nd floor.
  • Prayer & Anointing in Sanctuary - join Geri and Sharon to receive prayer at the back of the sanctuary before the service. 
  • Prayer Wall & Prayer Stations in Sanctuary - have you spent time at our prayer walls or prayer stations? Engage the many prayer opportunities located around the sanctuary, share your own prayer requests, and pray for others.
10:30 AM - Worship in the sanctuary
  • Communion - join us as we celebrate communion together on the first Sunday of each month. We welcome everyone who desires to follow Jesus at the table.
  • Testimonies - where have you seen God at work in the last few weeks? Come ready to share your God-sightings every second Sunday of the month during our service.

12 PM - after Worship

  • Second Sunday Supper - pitch-in lunch in the lower level immediately following Sunday worship on the second Sunday of every month. This is a great way to connect with others around a table - just like Jesus did!
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