The Rewards of Inconvenience

I love to bake homemade bread. I don’t do it much anymore, but at one point in my life, I baked all the bread our family consumed. I’ve baked a lot of bread, but I’ve never owned or used an automatic bread maker. I have nothing against these machines. I’ve eaten bread baked in them and it’s excellent; probably better than mine. I also understand that making bread in a machine is far more convenient than making it by hand, and I’m certainly not opposed to convenience. I have plenty, maybe too many, devices and processes in my life that offer convenience (laptop computer, frozen food, blackberry, online banking, etc….). But I’ve never had the desire to embrace the convenience offered by an automatic bread machine; and here’s the reason. There’s just something satisfying about getting your hands into a batch of fresh dough. The personal touch of kneading, squeezing, and shaping those loaves somehow made me feel connected to the final product in a way a machine couldn’t.

It occurs to me that sometimes God might lead us to travel a less convenient path when it comes to ministry, and maybe for similar reasons. Certainly, we participate in ministries at home and all around the world through prayer and charitable giving, and those are important. But every now and then, I believe God says to us, “You need to put your hands in the dough.” He calls us to personal involvement in ministry; projects where we engage people, do practical hard work, give of ourselves, putting forth a personal effort to make the details of meeting the needs of others actually happen.

As you read through this newsletter, you’ll see many and varied opportunities at Westwood for you to “put your hands in the dough.” Some require physical labor like the Carying Place moving project. Some are geared toward the entire family like the CBFNC Missions Initiative weekend. Some require emotional involvement such as GriefShare. Some require relational involvement such as English as a Second Language. And there are many others. None are necessarily convenient to fit into our busy lives. All will cost you something on a personal level. But the satisfaction of connecting with people by touching their lives in a tangible way will lift your spirit and warm your heart. The rewards of inconveniencing yourself in service to the Lord by sharing his love are priceless.

How about you? Is God calling you to “put your hands in the dough” and become personally involved in hands-on ministry? Pray about it and ask him where he wants to use your gifts, talents, and passion; then DIG IN!

 

In His Love,

Mike

Weekly Activities

Minister on Call

 

If you have a ministerial need over the weekend please contact the minister on call:

7th & 8th Caroline Allen
Home: 467-8692
Cell: 522-3046

14th & 15th Mike Eddinger
Home: 469-4174
Cell: 805-1022

21st & 22nd Michelle Anderson
Home: 481-6673
Cell: 368-6508

28th & Mar.1st Caroline Allen
Home: 467-8692
Cell: 522-3046

*Look every month in the West Wind for the
schedule.

 

February Sermon Topics

Theme: The Words of Jesus: Building A Christian Life

1st - Jesus on Worry: Building Peace of Mind
Matthew 6:19-34

8th - The Missions Message in Acts
Acts 16:5-10

15th - Jesus on Relationsships: Building a Servant Heart
Matthew 7:1-12

22nd - Our God Is An Awesome God
Children's Sunday

 

Mission Statement

A community of believers
worshiping God, making
disciples and sharing
Christ’s love

Mike Eddinger, Pastor
Caroline Allen, Minister of Music
& Worship
Michelle Anderson, Minister of Youth
Becky Bullock, Administrative Assistant
Sandy Dennis, Secretary
Rob McLain, Deacon Chair
Diane Owens, Pianist
Kim Taylor, Organist

Feb. 1 ~ 6:30pm YAC

Feb. 8 ~ 4:00-7:00pm Super YAC & Pizza Dinner

Feb. 15 ~ 6:30pm Fun YAC-We’ll be making paper mache
volcanoes for Senior Adult Banquet

Feb. 22 ~ 6:30pm YAC

Feb. 28 ~ 4:30-7:45pm Senior Adult Banquet—EAT BEFORE
YOU COME - The theme is a “luau” so you can wear beach
clothes if you would like. (Hawaiian shirts, Bermuda shorts, leis, sunglasses, etc…)

Wednesday Schedule

On Wednesdays we have a missions study
from 6:00-7:00pm and Praise Band practice
from 7:00-7:30pm. Those youth not involved
with Praise Band may fellowship quietly or
work on homework in a side room.

 

Health and Wellness

March 28

The Health and Wellness Ministry will be sponsoring a Westwood Healthcare Clinic Saturday morning, March 28th. Watch for more details of this new ministry at Westwood.

 

Youth Camping Trip!

May 15

The Westwood Youth will be having their first overnight camping trip on Friday, May 15th at Camp Crabtree in Umstead Park. For those that have not been to Camp Crabtree before, it consists of a large indoor kitchen/dining area called the mess hall. The mess hall is surrounded by dozens of small cabins which each sleep 4 people. The camp has a new bathhouse with hot water so it’s the perfect spot for any youth that might be on their first camping trip. Three meals (Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch) will be provided as well as Friday night smores.

Pinewood Derby

March 6

The RAs and GAs will have a Pinewood Derby race and Mission Fair on Friday evening, March 6, in the Fellowship Hall. There will also be a Hot Dog Supper available for a reasonable price. All profit will be donated to the DROP Fund. This is a very exciting event for the participants and spectators as well. If you have seen or participated in this event, you know just how much excitement is generated. If you haven’t seen this event before you will be in for a treat. We invite you to come support these wonderful young people. For more information on the Hot Dog Supper, see the information sheet on the bulletin boards or ask a RA or GA leader.
6:00pm ~ Hot Dog Supper (profit to DROP Fund)
6:00pm ~ Enjoy viewing Mission projects & race cars
7:00pm ~ Races begin

North Carolina Missions Initiative

Poverty In Our Own Backyard

March 27

In Partnership with the Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship of North Carolina
A Family-Friendly Missions Weekend
March 27-29, 2009
Vance, Halifax, and Warren Counties
DEADLINE: SIGN UP BY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22

The cost for the weekend is $25 per person not to exceed $65 per family. We will be working in the Roanoke Rapids area. (about 1.5 hours from Westwood) Last year we stayed at the Hampton Inn. The cost was $71 plus tax per night and included breakfast. Please sign up in Hall A, B, or in the Children’s area. If you have questions, see Mike, Michelle, or Caroline or call the church office 469-9393.

Women's Bible Study

April 1st, 6:30 p.m

“Finding Balance: Loving God with Heart
and Soul, Mind and Strength”

Starts Wednesday, April 1st, 6:30 p.m.
6 Week Study ~ Room 109
Bettie Rabb will be the facilitator.

Attention Westwood Singles

February 22nd
Westwood Intergenerational Singles Sunday School Class will begin a study on “The Prayer of Jabez” by Bruce Wilkinson on Sunday, February 22. All Westwood singles who are widowed, divorced or never married are invited to join us in Room 209 at 9:15am. Come early for coffee and fellowship

Master's Men in Concert

Sunday March, 1 @ 6pm in Sanctuary

A thank you note has been received from Sally Anne Thomas and Paul & Marguerite Wilms. Please stop by the bulletin board in Hall A to read their words of appreciation.

 

Easter Food Basket Drive

March 31 Deadline

Fraternal Order of Police, this project enables officers to deliver groceries to families in Wake County with immediate needs. Donations will be accepted through the end of March, 2009. Please make checks payable to: Wake County F.O.P. #41. You can bring your donations to the church office and we’ll get them to the F.O.P.

 

Baptist Men's Breakfast

Saturday, February 7, @8am

This will be a Baptist Men’s breakfast followed by a mission project at the Carying Place.
Carying Place in Cary provides temporary housing for families in a 16-week transition program. Our job will be assisting in moving furniture either to a house or apartment or moving furniture to storage. Mike Casella is the team leader for this project. If you can help, please call Mike (388-0861). A sign up sheet is located in Hallway A.
Frank Prince and his crew will prepare breakfast. Breakfast is for EVERYONE, not just men. Breakfast is free but you need to sign up in Hallway A.
Jim Canterberry, Baptist Men Coordinator

GriefShare

March 3

The next GriefShare session starts on Tuesday, March 3 through May 26, 7-9 p.m. in Room 209. GriefShare is a Bible based program to help those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. For more information, contact Jackie Woodcock or check out their website: www.griefshare.org.

Barbeque Fundraiser For Belize Trip

Friday, March 13, 11am - 7pm

We need YOUR help for this churchwide fundraiser. Please look in your Sunday School classes and on the Welcome Centers for volunteer sheets. If you can assist, please check one or more of the areas with which you can assist, include your contact information, and place your completed form in the box labeled “Belize” in either Hall A or B. You can also help by taking a BBQ order form to your work place and collecting lunch pre-orders and returning the form and money to Michelle by Sunday,
March 8th. A portion of the proceeds will go towards helping offset the cost of the trip for those needing assistance, and another portion will be used to buy construction supplies for our projects.

Menu ~ $7 per plate
Pork BBQ
Boiled Potatoes
Slaw
Bread

"The Shack"

February 22nd
If you have read or desire to read “The Shack” by William Young and would like to enter into a study and discussion of the best selling book, you can sign up by February 22nd to participate in The Women’s Monday Morning Bible Study led by Gloria Allard. Having read the book is a prerequisite for participation. The study will begin March 2nd at 10:00am.

Senior Adult Banquet

February 28, 6-730pm

Dinner and Entertainment
provided by the
Youth Ministry.
Sign up on the Senior Adult Bulletin Board by
Sunday, February 22nd.
The theme is a “luau” so you can wear beach clothes if you would like. (Hawaiian shirts, Bermuda shorts, leis, sunglasses, etc…)

Winter Bible Study

Sunday, February 8th
Dr. Roger Nix, Guest Speaker

The Book of Acts
10:30am ~ Worship
4:00-5:15pm ~ Session 1
5:15-6:00pm ~ Dinner
6:00-7:00pm ~ Session 2

"Our God Is An Awesome God"

February 22, 1030am

Children's Sunday

Join us as the children lead us in the morning worship service.