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we live and work together.
On a personal level, every
once in a while it’s good to
remind ourselves to choose
words that give grace in
those difficult conversa-
tions we have with others.
When we do, it has the
power to shape our
relationships in new and
powerful ways.
-Pastor Michael
Your grandma probably told
you the same thing mine told
me: “If you can’t say some-
thing nice, don’t say anything
at all.” Apparently not many
people are listening to grand-
ma anymore. Everyday we
witness people saying the
most uncharitable things to
those with whom they disa-
gree. Sadly, some of these
hurtful comments are coming
from Christians.
Last month, I was with a
Muslim leader who shared
with me that she receives
threatening letters that are
sent “in the name of Jesus.”
My heart sank as I heard her
describe this. She didn’t share
this as a judgment against me
or all Christians. These were
the words of a friend sharing
the hurt and disappointment
she was experiencing.
It’s not that we need to agree
with other religious view-
points. There are genuine
differences among religions
and problems within the
world’s religions. These are
things we need to be talking
about. However, our faith
should inform how we go
about this. In Ephesians it
says, “Let no evil talk come
out of your mouths, but only
what is useful for building up,
as there is need, so that your
words may give grace to
those who hear” (4:29).
Words that “give grace”
aren’t always easy to hear,
especially when spoken
around sensitive topics. But
when we speak words in love
with the goal of building an-
other up, they bear the hope
that they will move us to-
wards God’s dream for how
Newsletter Title
1— Happy New Year!
Building and Office Closed
2 — Supper Center, 12:30 p.m.
3 — Adult Christian Ed, 10 a.m.
Worship, 11 a.m.
EPIPHANY SERVICE
Theater Outing, 3 p.m.
5 — Worship, 4 p.m.
Soup Kitchen, 4:30 p.m.
AA, 7:30 p.m.
6 — Men’s Group, 7:30 a.m.
Yoga, 6:30 p.m.
AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.
Taizé, 7 p.m.
7 — MADD, 6:30 p.m.
8 — Kids Club, 6 p.m.
9 — Supper Center, 12:30 p.m.
10 — Worship, 11 a.m.
12 — Worship, 4 p.m.
Soup Kitchen, 4:30 p.m.
AA, 7:30 p.m.
13 — Yoga, 6:30 p.m.
Taizé, 7 p.m.
AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.
15 — Kids Club, 6 p.m.
Youth Group Event, 7 p.m.
16 — Supper Center, 12:30 p.m.
17 — Adult Christian Ed, 10 a.m.
Worship, 11 a.m.
18 — Martin Luther King Day
Church Office CLOSED
19 — Worship, 4 p.m.
Soup Kitchen, 4:30 p.m.
AA, 7:30 p.m.
20 — Yoga, 6:30 p.m.
Taizé, 7 p.m.
AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.
Pub Theology, 8 p.m.
22 — Kids Club, 6 p.m.
Book Club, 7 p.m.
23 — Supper Center, 12:30 p.m.
24 — Adult Christian Ed, 10 a.m.
Worship, 11 a.m.
Faith Forum, 12:30 p.m.
26 — Worship, 4 p.m.
Soup Kitchen, 4:30 p.m.
AA, 7:30 p.m.
27 — Yoga, 6:30 p.m.
Taizé, 7 p.m.
AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.
29 — Kids Club, 6 p.m.
30 — Saturday Center , 12:30 p.m.
31 — Adult Christian Ed, 10 a.m.
Worship, 11 a.m.
Gorsuch Dedication, 12:30 p.m.
January 2016
New Year, New Words by Pastor Michael
Happy New Year! There are many new oppor tunities to get connected to your faith in
meaningful ways. Last fall we launched online faith education. We had such a positive response
that we are happy to announce we will be offering four new online classes this year between Janu-
ary and May. These classes are an accessible way for busy New Yorkers to interact with our faith
more deeply.
It’s easy to sign up. Just email me ([email protected]) with the title of the class(es) you
are interested in and you’ll receive more information.
January/February - Lessons in Belonging (6 sessions)
February/March - Introducing Lent (4 sessions)
March/April - Living a Spirit-filled Life (4 sessions)
April/May - A Simple Path to a Deeper Spiritual Life (4 sessions)
In addition to our online classes, we also offer in-person classes each Sunday at 10:00 a.m.. It’s a
place to connect and dig into topics of our faith more deeply.
In the new year, commit to growing more deeply in your faith by joining us in one of our classes!
Grace and Peace – Pastor Jes
Cesar Carrillo, the Alleluia
from The Place of the Blest by
Randall Thompson, and selec-
tions from Misa Pequeña by
Francsico Nuñez.
Sunday, January 17 will feature
hymns and anthems to honor
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Taizé services resume on
Wednesday, January 6 at 7:00 -
7:45 p.m. It's a wonderful way
to immerse yourself in sound
and silence for a midweek,
midwinter pick-me-up!
Happy New Year!
see you in church
Cynthia Powell
January is a month of great mu-
sic at West End, beginning on
January 3 with the West End
Choir in our annual Epiphany
celebration with Melodia Wom-
en’s Choir, an ensemble of
twenty highly talented women
singers, in a liturgy of readings,
candle lighting and music. This
moving liturgy culminates with
the congregation encircling the
sanctuary with candles. Melodia
sings a setting of Ave Maria by
Music Notes from Cynthia Powell
Page 2
Pub Theology
will meet at
The Dublin House
on January 20
at 8 PM
Follow us
on
Want to keep up with
what’s happening with
your WECC family?
Go to Facebook :
WestEndChurchNYC
and Twitter:
@WestEndChurchNY
It’s a great way to stay
connected to our
community.
We will meet on Wednesday, January 6 at 7:30 a.m. Our
Men’s Group is a casual meeting that allows us to build
friendships and share life together. We’d love to have
you be a part of this.
Knitting Circle ...
...will meet on Tuesday January 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 4.
All levels of knitting skills are welcomed—see Katherine Charapko
([email protected]), Margaret Tobin and/or
Wendy Realmuto for more information.
Page 3
ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
On Sundays, January 3, 10, 17 and 24
we’ll study Scripture from the Lectionary.
Join us in Room 6 at 10 a.m.
As I reflect on the changes that
last year brought my way, I have
to express my gratitude yet again
for the warm welcome extended
to me by this church community.
It is such a blessing that I am able
to rant and rave about how much I
love my job—and mean it! You
and your families have made this
New York journey an incredible
one thus far, and I am thrilled to
ring in the New Year with you all!
I am delighted to note that since I
have joined the West End team
our numbers for Sunday School
during the service have increased!
Consequently, we are planning to
divide our children by age group
into two classes at the start of the
New Year. ………....
I am also so proud of our Middle
and High School youth, many of
whom recently volunteered with
our Soup Kitchen. I have enjoyed
getting to know them more over
many engaging lunch conversa-
tions. I want to invite our children
to join me for the return of Kid’s
Club on Friday, January 8, and
invite your friends! I would also
like to extend an invitation for the
Middle and High Schoolers to
join me at the church on Friday,
January 15, to watch a movie fol-
lowing Kid’s Club (which ends at
8 p.m.). They are even welcome
to come and eat pizza, shoot
hoops in the gym, or craft with
our younger children starting at 6
p.m.!
I am very much looking forward
to what 2016 will bring for West
End’s Children and Youth Minis-
tries.
Hello West End Family! from Ian Carr McPherson
THEATER PARTY
Join us after church on Sunday, January 3 at 3 p.m., for a theater trip to “The Great Divorce” featuring church
member Christa Scott-Reed. A discussion with Christa will follow.
Based on C.S. Lewis’ classic theological fantasy about Heaven and Hell, C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce takes you
to the outskirts of Heaven where the decision to stay or return to the familiar “Grey Town” below proves to be
harder than imagined. Now making its New York debut, three brilliant actors bring this mesmerizing adaptation to
life in an exciting theatrical experience.
Some discounted tickets are available through the church. If you are joining us, please contact Pastor Howard at
Meditation Circle
The Mediation Circle is taking
a break and is on hiatus until
further notice.
Thank you to Holly Reichert for
leading us to pray with and for
one another.
A Neighborhood Church for all People
“Islam: It’s Origins and Evolution” with Pastor Michael
January 10, 17, and 24th after the worship service
Islam remains at the center of the daily news, yet many of us know little about it. Join Pastor Michael as he helps us better
understand the faith of 1.6 billion people. For the final session (24th), Pastor Michael will be joined by Bob Chase,
Director of Intersections International, and Farid Johnson. In addition to living in the Middle East for eight years,
Pastor Michael did doctoral work on Islam at the University of Exeter (U.K.), teaches Islam at the Collegiate School,
and will be lecturing at Oxford University on Islam in May.
Sermons
January 3
Epiphany, Festival of Lights
January 10
With You I am Well Pleased
January 17
Unwrapping Gifts
January 24
Rev. Robert Chase
Director of Intersections
International, a Ministry of the
Collegiate Churches of New York
January 31
One Thing
On Friday, January 22, we will discuss
The Golden Egg by Donna Leon.
We will meet at 7 p.m. in Rooms 1 & 2.
For more information contact Kay at
or call 212– 787-1285.
BOOK CLUB
