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December 2012

The Arch

What’s in a word? Well… it depends on the word.

Let’s say the word is the Word of God.

It was by the Word of God creation was sparked into existence. “God said…” and it was.

It was by the Word of God speaking from a flaming fichus that Moses was empowered to change history.

It was by the Word of God speaking in a still small voice that Elijah experienced a deeper understanding of the nature of the Almighty.

It was the Word of God that came to Abram, Samuel, Nathan, Jonah, Jeremiah, to nameless old prophets, to little known Shemaiah, to Hosea and Ezekiel and countless others.

It was the Word of God that said, Go! Stay! Fear not! Bow down! Stand up! Fight! Love!

When it was clear words would not be enough, the Word of God was Born. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

What’s in a Word? I mean THE Word. Well, words like:

Salvation. Compassion. Understanding. Grace. Peace. Forgiveness. Live. Abundance. Healing. Wholeness. Joy. Cleansing. Shepherd. Cornerstone. Emmanuel. Wonderful. Counselor. Love.

What’s in a Word? Well… everything depends on the Word!

Christmas Blessings, Pastor Jim

Cleveland Christian Home Christmas Wishes 2012

The deadline for donations to the church will be Sunday, December 9th. The list of items is

available in your Sunday bulletins or in

the church office. Please call Jane Ryan

Kuroiwa at 216.476.0333 or visit the website for more

information. www.cchome.org

Poinsettia Time It is time to order your

Poinsettias to decorate our Sanctuary for Christmas. The deadline for your order is

Sunday, Dec. 9th. Look for order forms in the bulletins, call the church

office, (440-871-2400)

or e-mail Laurie at [email protected].

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 NIV

Advent is upon us. We are preparing the way for our Lord. What does that mean to each of us? What

does that mean to our church? I know that this year, circumstances are a bit different in our home than they

have been in past years. Things have changed, evolved, our children have grown. Our girls have chosen

careers of service which make me immensely proud yet requires them to work on holidays. We are sharing our

son this year with his girlfriend's family. Jobs come, jobs are gone. We are having to rearrange some family

traditions. The way we have always done the holidays are changing. The way that is comfortable to me is

being rattled a bit. That's a hard one for me. I know I am no exception. That's a hard one for everyone of us, to

move out of that place of comfort.

A few weeks ago our church service Sunday morning was a bit different. We came together to celebrate!

I know that we do that every Sunday morning, but this time we went beyond our normal celebration. We got

really excited about it. We took time to celebrate all the great happenings in our church. We celebrated

opportunities of service the church is involved in, celebrated music, and those who make it, pastors, new

members, teachers and Sunday school, youth, gatherings, finances, prayers offered, and projects yet to be

fulfilled. The music at times got a bit loud and some of us danced in the aisle. We talked about ourselves a lot.

But not in a boastful way. We were talking about the many ways that God is working in our church today. We

moved a bit out of our comfort zone, we have started a few new traditions, and you know what? I loved it!!!

As we journey this year though our Advent season, in the midst of all our shopping, baking, celebrating

our own traditions, I ask that each of us take some time to sit with God and ask him "how can I serve, can I

start a new tradition, what do I have to add to the celebration?” We are never too young and never too old. We

may have to change some things. Rearrange our time. Start from scratch. Assemble a team. It may take us out

of our comfort zone, but God will show each of us what he has in mind for us, we just need to ask him. It is

guaranteed to make our next "Celebration Sunday" even bigger. Come celebrate. Join the party that God has

in store for us.

Blessed Christmas to All,

Holly Adkins, Moderator

A Note from the Moderator

“Thank you for your generous gift of $300. Thanks to your contribution we have been able to raise enough funds to pay off our existing bill with the Cleveland Food Bank and start serving the community again. We, the leaders and congregation of Dunham Ave. Christian Church, truly appreciate your donation, as it has allowed us to do what is commanded of all saints, and that is to be our brother’s keeper. Your generous assistance to this outreach ministry means so much to us but even more to those in need here in the Hough area of Cleveland, Ohio. Thank you from all of us.” Elder Barbara Dortch Dunham Ave. Christian Church, Disciples of Christ

December 2012

The Elders of Westlake Christian Church strive to provide all of our members with opportunities to serve God through outreach and fulfill our purpose to change lives and bring people peace. For the month of January, we selected the Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center, specifically their women's shelter, for an outreach project.

The mission of the Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center for over thirty years is to empower individuals, educate the community and advocate for justice to end domestic violence and child abuse.

Their women's shelter serves over 400 individuals every year. It provides safe, confidential emergency shelter and comprehensive programming for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Their service includes support and follow up for families after they have left the shelter.

December 16 & 23 will be the Sundays for our special Christmas outreach offering. Most of what we receive will

go to the work done by the Cleveland Christian home. 75% of what we receive will go to the work of the home and 25% will go to support the ministry of the Christian Church in Ohio. The Cleveland Christian home gives a place to stay and training to young persons who have had to leave their homes of origin because of problems with parents or the problems connected with broken homes. There are many wonderful examples of children and young people whose lives have been made valuable because of their association with the Cleveland Christian Home.

One of the many things our Regional Pastor and his associates do is counsel with congregations in times of crisis & celebrate with congregations in good times. They are also very helpful at times when a congregation is searching for a new pastor.

Please add your support to the ministries mentioned above as we give to our Christmas offering, December 16 & 23. Jerry Murphy , Outreach Team Leader

A Note from the Elders

Christmas Special Offering

"If you love me, serve me."

GOD

They have given us a list of their most critical needs. In addition to this, there is a need for children's jackets, sizes infants to older teens. Cash donations will also be accepted. Checks can be made out to WCC and denote "DV Shelter" in the memo line.

This will begin the first Sunday in January and continue throughout the month. So as we move through the Christmas season, let's keep in mind that throughout our community are people who struggle with fear and violence as a part of their everyday lives. If we come together, we can play a part in assisting this organization in their efforts to provide a safe place for people experiencing violence in their lives.

In God's Love,

The Elders of Westlake Christian Church

December 2012 Page 5

Advent 2012 at Westlake Christian ChurchAdvent 2012 at Westlake Christian ChurchAdvent 2012 at Westlake Christian Church

Sunday,

December 2nd ~

10:00 a.m.

Hanging of the Greens

Jr. Sermon Pantry Collection

11:45 a.m. Adult Sunday School

Saturday, Dec. 8th ~

9:00 a.m. Women’s Breakfast

Sunday,

December 9th~

10:00 a.m. Worship


Youth Group Meeting

*Deadline for CCH Wish List

gifts & Poinsettias

Saturday, December 22nd ~

Youth Group Christmas

Overnight at WCC

Sunday,

December 16th~

10:00 a.m. Worship



Elders’ Ministry Potluck

Sunday,

December 23rd~

10:00 a.m. Worship

11:45 a.m. Adult Sunday

School


Christian Education Christ-

mas Party

Congregational Meeting

Monday,

December 24th~

7:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve

Candlelight

Service

Saturday, December 1st ~

9:30 a.m. Decorating the Sanctuary

12:00 p.m. Christmas Luncheon

Tuesday, December 25th~

Merry Christmas!

December 2012

Bookworms Review By Betty Pagel

The youth have been busy learning and are very excited about some

projects that they began in November and will continue through

December! They cannot wait to share what they have done and how it has

impacted themselves as well as others! For the month of December, there will

be a regular meeting on Sunday, December 9th after worship until 2:00 p.m. as

well as an overnight to do our Adopt-a-Family project from Saturday, December

22nd to Sunday, December 23rd. See you there!

If you have any questions or want to know more, please contact Jessi Linden

([email protected]) or Holly Sajna ([email protected]).

WCC Youth Group is open to any and all youth from 6th -12th grades. We meet two Sundays

a month throughout the year, and have various service projects and "Destinations Unknown" on

non-meeting days. Friends are encouraged to come along and join the fun. See you soon!

Calling All Youth!

PROMISE ME by Harlan Coben is one in the series of Myron Bolitar books by Harlan Coben. Myron is an entertainment agent as the result of an injury that forced him to give up professional basketball.

He overhears two teenage girls at a party in his home discussing underage drinking. When they realized that Myron heard their conversation, they made him promise never to tell their parents and to come to their rescue, if necessary. He makes this promise, based on his affection for the girls and their parents and because, fresh in his mind, is the disappearance of another young girl from their suburban New Jersey area.

When one of the girls calls Myron at two o’clock in the morning, he drives to New York to pick her up. Presumably to take her home, but she tells him that she is staying with a friend in New Jersey and he takes her there. He returns home and the next day contacts her parents just to make sure she is safe, only to find out she is missing.

Now, two girls from the same high school are missing. Myron makes it his personal mission to get to the bottom of the mystery. As he tries to unravel the mystery, more people come into play and the mystery becomes more involved.

The book held my interest throughout. Not only is the mystery solved, but both girls do come home. The family life of both girls becomes a part of the focal point of the story. I enjoyed reading the book and will read more of the Myron Bolitar series.

Betty Pagel

Phone: 440-871-2400 Office Hours:

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday -- Thursday Email Addresses:

Rev. Yost— [email protected]

Laurie Daniels— [email protected]

Bill Shaffer—[email protected]

Westlake Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 25800 Hilliard Blvd. Westlake, OH 44145-3397

Visit us on the web at Http://www.westlakecc.org

First

Class

Postage

Place mailing label here

2012

Gloria Smith Avon Oaks Porter Pavilion Apt. 11 37800 French Creek Rd. Avon, OH 44011

Wellington Place attn. Grace Krejci Pathways Room 19 4800 Clague Rd. North Olmsted, OH 44070

Betty Roehm Towne Center 400 Community Dr. Assisted Living Room 213 Avon Lake, OH 44012

A publication of Westlake

Christian Church

Vicki Heinemann 28450 Westlake Village Dr. Room 124 Westlake, OH 44145

From the staff of Westlake Christian Church:

Wishing you and your family a joyous holiday season!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Pastor Jim

Bill Jim B.

Laurie

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