Newsletter Title
October 2016
1 — Apple Picking, leave at 9 a.m.
2 — Adult Christian Ed., 10 a.m.
Worship, 11 a.m.
The Story of Joseph, 12:15 p.m.
Benevolence Fair, 12:30 p.m.
Wholeness Center, 1 p.m.
4 — Church, 4 p.m.
Soup Kitchen, 4:30 p.m.
AA, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.
5 — Men’s Group, 6 p.m.
Taizé, 7 p.m.
AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.
7 — Kids Club, 6 p.m.
Youth Group, 7:30 p.m.
9 — Adult Christian Ed., 10 a.m.
Worship, 11 a.m.
The Story of Joseph, 12:15 p.m.
Klezmer Brunch, 12:30 p.m.
Wholeness Center, 1 p.m.
10 — Church Office Closed
in Observance of Columbus Day
11 — Church, 4 p.m.
Soup Kitchen, 4:30 p.m.
AA, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.
12 — Taizé, 7 p.m.
AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.
14 — Kids Club, 6 p.m.
Youth Group, 7:30 p.m.
16 — Adult Christian Ed., 10 a.m.
Worship, 11 a.m.
Blessing of the Animals
Wholeness Center, 1 p.m.
Ellen Alexander
Memorial, 3 p.m.
18 — Church, 4 p.m.
Soup Kitchen, 4:30 p.m.
AA, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.
19 — Taizé, 7 p.m.
Pub Theology, 8 p.m.
AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.
21 — Kids Club, 6 p.m.
Youth Group, 7:30 p.m.
23 — Adult Christian Ed., 10 a.m.
Worship, 11 a.m.
with Chamberlain Brass
Faith Forum, 12:30 p.m.
Wholeness Center, 1 p.m.
25 — Church, 4 p.m.
Soup Kitchen, 4:30 p.m.
AA, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.
26 — Taizé, 7 p.m.
AA, 7 & 8:15 p.m.
28 — Halloween Party, 6 p.m.
Book Club, 7 p.m.
30 — Adult Christian Ed., 10 a.m.
Worship, 11 a.m.
Wholeness Center, 1 p.m.
So... How’s It Going? by Pastor Michael
Summer vacations are over,
the kids are back in school,
and work is ramping up.
Now is a good time to ask,
how’s it going? Does the
year feel fresh with a new
routine and new possibilities?
Or is it beginning to feel like
every other year—the same
routine and the same expectations?
We often start new seasons
with great expectations for
change, and then very quickly we’re back in the same old
routine
we’ve
always
followed. Familiar routines
are not a bad thing. But if we
know in our hearts there is
something more we yearn to
do, we should not settle for
what’s
familiar
and
comfortable.
There is a passage in scrip-
ture that I often go back to. It
says, “There's an opportune
time to do things, a right time
for everything on the earth”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1). It gives me
a sense of urgency because it
reminds me that there is an
opportune time to do certain
things… and then that time
will pass. I don’t want opportune times to do things with
my spouse to pass by. I don’t
want opportune times with
my children to pass by. I
don’t want opportune times
with my church family to
pass by. The truth is that none
of us want opportune times to
pass by. ……………………
There is a right time for everything on the earth, and our
calling is to know when that
time is. But how do we know
this? Let me offer three simple ways to approach this:
Pray about
it.
Talk
about
it.
Write about
it. Praying
gives us a
sense
of
what’s most important, talking with friends helps clarify
what we sense from prayer,
and writing it down gives it
a concreteness that allows us
to take action.……………..
It’s never too late to recalibrate our lives, so this month
spend time praying, talking
and writing as you seek to
know what your priorities
should be in this new
season.
Becoming Wise by Pastor Jes
Recently I've been taking some
intentional time to think about
the way of Wisdom. The type
of Wisdom that the Book of
Proverbs speaks about. The
type of Wisdom that was with
God at the beginning of the
world sustaining the imagination of the Creator. The type of
Wisdom that is slow and
beckons the follower to pay
close attention to the Spirit of
God in the details. The type of
Wisdom that we all have access
to by slowing down and
listening.
In Krista Tippet's new book,
Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into
the Mystery and Art of Living,
she says "I’m a person who
listens for a living. I listen for
wisdom, and beauty, and for voices not shouting to be heard." We
are people who listen to the Holy
Spirit's still small voice rising up
in our souls wanting to be known.
The way of wisdom is slowing
down and listening to the whispering voice of God drawing is
closer to Love. Wisdom is in the
subtleties.”
As the leaves turn color, and the
cooler air approaches, let the
slowing rhythms of nature beckon
us to Wisdom. It takes quietness,
prayer, and the community to
discern Wisdom's Way. Join us
for the return of Taizé this month,
October 5th, 7:00 p.m. to practice
listening for Wisdom.
Together with you – Pastor Jes
-Pastor Michael
Page 2
We will meet on Wednesday, October 5 at 6:00 p.m. Join
us as we continue to deepen our faith and friendships
while we journey through life together.
Pub Theology
October 19
8 PM
The Dublin House
“Christian Faith
and
American Politics”
How does faith influence how we vote?
What does the public
faith of the candidates mean for the
election? This is a
time of thoughtful
engagement and joyful fellowship. Free
pizza and you cover
your drink!”
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.
The Story of Joseph—Better than Game of Thrones!
Continues after worship on October 2 and 9
The story of Joseph and his dysfunctional family has it all: teen fantasy, blind parental
favoritism, savage sibling rivalry, calculated seduction, political intrigue and family reunion.
Join Pastor Howard for these remaining two classes as we explore Joseph's saga.
Music Notes from Cynthia Powell
It’s been thrilling for me, and I
think you, too, having The West
End Choir back in the choir loft!
We have some beautiful new
pieces to offer that grace our
services and underpin the
message each Sunday with their
rich choral sound.
Taizé services resume on
Wednesday, October 5, 7 - 7:45
p.m., then continue every
Wednesday. These beautiful
gatherings have become a favorite mode of mid-week worship
for a growing number of people,
providing a candlelit space to
breathe in the calm and beauty
of our sanctuary and just plain
chill out. A number of fine
singers and instrumentalists lead
the worship, and we’ll have
some new chants to add to the
repertoire this season.
The West End Concert Series
begins on Sunday, October 9
with special guest ensemble,
Metropolitan Klezmer. They
will play for worship at 11 a.m.
with the West End Choir,
followed by a Klezmer Jazz
Brunch in the chapel.
What is “Klezmer” you may
ask? The Yiddish word
"klezmer" originally meant
"musician." Klezmer music is
intended to replicate the human
voice, including sounds of crying, wailing and laughing
(generally the clarinet’s job).
Our Klezmer band will consist
of clarinet, trumpet, accordion
and drums. The choir will sing
a number of pieces with the
band,
including
some
“nigunim” (a nigun is a wordless song sung on syllables like
la,la, la or bim bam). This will
be a frolicking, rocking upbeat
service, so bring your friends!
A special visit by the
Chamberlain Brass is
planned for Sunday,
October 23 during the 11
a.m. service.
Melodia Women’s Choir
returns
on
Sunday,
November 20 with a concert of gorgeous music
for women’s voices and
strings
by
Vivaldi,
Gjeilo, and Dvorak.
Some truly great music
awaits us!
See you in church,
Cynthia Powell
Minister of Music
“Excellent Klezmer…impeccable ……
yet electrifying arrangements … ….
Delightfully rambunctious…” ……...
- Village Voice
Page 3
As the Leaves Turn by Ian Carr M cPherson
I can hear the final gasps of summer 2016. The sun sets earlier in
the day, the air feels crisp around
me, and the leaves in Riverside
Park are starting to turn. Autumn
has long been my favorite season, and not just because coffee
shops start promoting their
Pumpkin Spice Lattes! I think
it’s my “New Year” for many
reasons, not least of which is that
I’ve been following various
school calendars my entire life.
I’ve been programmed to see fall
as the beginning of my academic
year (and now, here at the
church, the beginning of my program year). For me, this is a time
of new beginnings and renewal.
this season? Watching the news,
I know that it is a time of deep
mourning for many among us.
Perhaps others of us have been
surprised by personal joys even
with so many systemic evils
dominating every news cycle.
My hope is that, wherever we
find ourselves, we might all bask
in the presence of God’s love
and grace.
may keep your law
and observe it with my whole
heart.
As the leaves turn, so may our
hearts turn toward God. As
Psalm 116: 33-37 states:
Turn my eyes from looking at
worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of
your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
Amen.
With what attitude will be begin
Give me understanding, that I
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
X and P by Pastor Howard M ajor III
Ever wonder about the prominently superimposed letters X and P at the front of our sanctuary? They
look a bit like a brand logo, don’t they? Actually, in a sense, they are. Together they are an ancient
symbol for Christ and the Christian church.
Greek was the lingua franca of the time and the language of the New Testament. The X is the Greek
letter chi and the P the Greek letter rho. They are the first two letters of Christ in Greek (Christ,
incidentally, not being Jesus’ last name but rather his title of Messiah or Savior). The chi/rho, also
called the Labarum, was an early way for Christians to identity themselves to one another, especially
when persecuted.
Incidentally, beneath the Labarum are two more Greek letters. They look like an A and an upside down
U. They are first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They are reminders of Jesus' statement in the
book of Revelation: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (of all things).”
Looking for an opportunity to volunteer?
CONSISTORY CORNER
October 2 at 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel
Benevolence Fair – Learn about the organizations WECC supports through the offering of our time and money.
Perhaps you’ll find an organization with which you can personally volunteer.
We are pleased to announce that Jenni Minter Wolf and
Nathan Stilwell will be ser ving as deacons on our consistor y.
They are replacing Don Thompson and Steve Berger, whose
terms have ended. We’re thankful for the great contributions
Don and Steve have made, and we’re excited for what Jenni and
Nathan will bring to our leadership.
October 4 at 3 p.m. in The Parlor/Chapel
Soup Kitchen Church - We need 3 more volunteers to help
register people to VOTE .
Available? Email Pastor Jes [email protected]
Thank you to all who submitted nominations to help with this
process.
SERMONS
The October 28 book is…
October 2: Redefining Friendships
Part 3: What We Dream
October 9: Open to Peace
October 16: Blessing of the Animals
Why We Love Our Pets
October 23: Violence Is Not Inevitable,
a Conversation with Shamil
Idriss, President & CEO of
Search for Common Ground
(SFCG).
SFCG works globally in places where there is
deep and destructive conflict. Shamil will be
giving a TED talk on this topic just prior to
being with us.
October 30: Glimpses of the Divine
Join a Small Group!
Beginning this October, we’re launching
small groups. Over the course of ten weeks,
the groups will meet three times. They will
be exploring the topic “Redefining Friendships,” which is based on the sermon series
Pastor Michael completes on October 2.
There is a signup sheet in the back of the
sanctuary, or you can email Robby Davis,
our Parish Administrator…………………..
([email protected]), to let us know
you’d like to participate. It’s a great way to
deepen our friendships and our faith!
The Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. in Rooms 1 & 2
The November book is W hen Breath Becomes A ir
by Paul Kalanithi. This is a non-fiction/memoir.
A Neighborhood Church for all People