Community Update

THIS SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 24, 2024
Next week marks the celebration of Thanksgiving—a time to reflect on gratitude. Yet, in the busyness of the season, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. This weekend, we’ll reflect on how to move from gratitude to worship, centering our hearts on the One who gives us every good gift. Don’t miss this special time to reset and realign our focus with a little extended worship time.

We will have a full band with a couple of new faces! If you want to listen to some of the songs ahead of time, here are a few we will be singing that we’ve not done before.

Worthy – Elevation Worship
I Just Really Love You – Red Rocks Worship
It is Well – Bethel Music
Praise – Elevation Worship


CONVERSATION AND CONNECTION
Do you have a question about Woodcrest? Would you like one on one prayer for something happening in your life? This weekend our Elders will be hanging out after the service and will be available in the Connection Center (located off the lobby). Stop by for a visit!

Our Elders serve as overseers of the business affairs of the church; their decisions are generally directional and broad in scope. They also serve as shepherds caring for the spiritual and physical well-being of our congregants. They’d be happy to answer any questions you have or pray with you.


HOLIDAY HOOPLA PARTY
Good news! The Kidcrest Holiday Hoopla Party is just around the corner. We will be hosting our 5 and under crowd on Saturday, December 7th from 10AM - 1PM. Lunch will be provided, games will be played, and Christmas crafts will be made. Please RSVP to Molly.


ELDER CONFIRMATION
We are excited to announce John Barton has received confirmation to join the Woodcrest Elder Board. John's past service and dedication have greatly benefited Woodcrest, and we are confident that his return will further strengthen our church. We are grateful for his willingness to serve. Welcome John!


HELPING FAMILIES WITH FOOD INSECURITY
One of the values Woodcrest holds is serving our neighbors outside the walls of our church. We do this through the Food Bank / Mobile Food Pantry and Loaves & Fishes. In this season, the Food Bank has not been able to send us much protein to distribute, so we have decided to purchase meat with Dollar Club funds to give out in December.

You can help in a couple of ways:
1) Donate a few bucks to the Dollar Club. Dollar Club boxes are located in our lobby.
2) Let us know if you have a contact that can help us stretch our shopping dollars (a grocery store manager, restaurant manager, etc.).

And, thanks to those that served at the mobile pantry this past Tuesday. We had our highest turnout so far in 2024, serving 215 families with groceries. If you have questions, please reach out to Sherry.


WHY DOESN’T WOODCREST PROMOTE POLITICS, PLATFORMS, OR POLICIES?
It’s intentional. Our church is a mission. We are committed to being a place that brings hope to all people through obedience to Christ’s last words (Matthew 28:19-20). The implication of this commitment is that our main priority is to make disciples and help people learn to follow the teachings of Jesus.

Therefore, there are things that we maintain a “neutral” posture regarding and do not promote. Examples include politics, alcohol, multi-level marketing, and business. In short, we encourage our leaders and congregants to also resist using our church as a platform for personal benefit or public benefit particularly on matters in which Christians differ. Not because these are not matters of importance, but because they may distract from our mission.


PARTNER WITH US!
As we approach the end of 2024, we invite you to join us in prayerful reflection about how God may be calling you to support His work through our church. Your generosity has been a cornerstone of our mission, enabling us to impact lives and share Christ’s love in meaningful ways. In the coming weeks, we’ll share more details about how your year-end gift can make a difference and close a gap for us. For now, we ask that you begin praying about how you might partner with us in this effort, as we continue to pursue the vision God has placed before us. Together, we can step into the future with faith and hope!


REAL PEOPLE, REAL JOURNEY, HOPE FOR ALL
Rooted in Jesus, we are a community on a mission—a place where anyone can find hope, help, and healing. Together, we embrace the call to invite those who may feel thirsty, wounded or searching, to a life of real faith, purpose, and hope. Let’s journey forward, making space for everyone to experience the transformative love of Christ!


HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Happy Thanksgiving, Woodcrest family! As you celebrate this week, we encourage you to take a moment to pause and reflect on all God has done for you. In the midst of the food, laughter, and time with loved ones, soak in the good things around you—the blessings of His love, grace, and provision. Let’s carry hearts full of gratitude into this season, remembering the One from whom all blessings flow. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!


OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF
• Check out Kidcrest, our children’s ministry HERE
• The Loop: sign up for our student ministry newsletter HERE
• Watch services at WoodcrestWorldwide.org
• Engage on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter Instagram
• Download the Woodcrest AppCLICK
• Last, but definitely not least: Set up a recurring donation

Community Update

THIS WEEKEND - Sunday, November 17th, 2024
Join us this weekend as we wrap up our journey through the Book of Ruth with something fun! We’ll celebrate the storytelling God who remains faithful, even in the dark places of our journey. Plus, we will share in communion, so if you're joining us online, be sure to gather your elements to celebrate and hold space with us.


SHARE THE WARMTH: HOLIDAY EDITION
Thank you to all who donated to our Share the Warmth drive. We met our goal this past weekend!!!! The items collected will be distributed through our Outside the Walls ministry and in conjunction with the 5th Saturday meal at Loaves and Fishes on Saturday 11/30. We are asking that you pray for each person that will be receiving caps, gloves, and socks. Thank you again for your generosity – what a great representation of Jesus to our neighbors!


PRIME TIMERS
We will be meeting in The Studio at Woodcrest on Thursday 11/21 at 1:30pm. Kristi Powell will join us for a bit to talk about Woodcrest’s prison ministry. After that, we will be prepping the items from Share the Warmth collection - removing tags, making pairs of some of the socks and gloves, etc. Bring a treat to share on 11/21 - nothing fancy. If you have any questions, please contact Marilee or visit our webpage.


MULTIETHNICITY
At Woodcrest, one of the values that guide us is to ensure people of all backgrounds/economics are welcome, serving, and leading. We want our body to reflect the Kingdom of God, and our goal is to be intentional. We are doing this with:

• RUM: Reconciliation and Unity Ministry*
• Elder Board: 4 women (2 of color) and 3 men (1 of color)
• Volunteers, Creative Arts, Midweek Ministries all reflect this value
• Linking arms with other diverse churches

*R.U.M. (RECONCILIATION AND UNITY MINISTRY)
Woodcrest Chapel's Reconciliation and Unity Ministry (R.U.M.) is dedicated to fostering a church culture that values diversity, unity, and reconciliation as central expressions of the Christian faith. This ministry goes beyond simply embracing diversity; it emphasizes authentic unity across racial, social, generational, and economic divides, grounded in the understanding that true reconciliation reflects God’s intent for wholeness and flourishing. Rooted in theological principles, the ministry encourages honest conversations, emotional health, and empathy, while challenging structural inequalities. Through continuous learning, self-reflection, and intentional community practices, R.U.M. aims to build a safe, compassionate environment that heals divisions and celebrates the unique gifts of all backgrounds, echoing God’s love and justice in the world.
 
Look for upcoming events and opportunities of how to get involved in 2025.


OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF
• Check out Kidcrest, our children’s ministry HERE
• The Loop: sign up for our student ministry newsletter HERE
• Watch services at WoodcrestWorldwide.org
• Engage on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter Instagram
• Download the Woodcrest AppCLICK
• Last, but definitely not least: Set up a recurring donation